Today on the podcast we hear from Jeremy Cowan, founder of Shmaltz Brewing and Coney Island Brewing. Jeremy shares his journey from starting to selling his breweries and lessons learned along the way. Jeremy talks about one of his passions: Helping breweries to lose less money . This may not be the most optimistic way to frame the problem (losing money) but it can be a very practical first step for breweries working towards profitability. Key Topics Lessons learned in starting, running and selli...
May 06, 2023•1 hr
In today's podcast you'll hear the audio version of our webinar with Kegshoe on Managing Your Keg Fleet: The Hidden Costs and Opportunities. The old saying goes that "kegs have legs", and they tend to go missing. On average breweries lose 5-10% of their kegs each year, which can add up to a lot of dollars. However, breweries using Kegshoe lose only 1% of their kegs each year - a substantial improvement, and substantial savings for your bottom line. It is super important to have a good system to ...
Apr 19, 2023•52 min
On today's podcast we hear from Tess Gorman from Attensi, the global leader in gamified training simulation. Brewery owners are always on the lookout for ways to improve employee training, and Attensi just might be the solution. Key Topics How to connect brewery KPIs to training so that you can see measurable improvement Train staff to increase sales using the upsell Training programs to reduce employee turnover How to use training for career development Resources Learn more about Attensi Get th...
Apr 13, 2023•30 min
Michael Varda, founder of Craft Beer Advisory Services, shares his insights on how to use data to drive more customers to your taproom. Michael's firm is the first and only full service market research firm exclusively dedicated to the craft beer industry. And he has a lot of profitable information to share. Key Takeaways Using data to create a dynamic marketing plan Beer industry trends, and keys to success in 2023 A sneak peak at the Top Taprooms of 2022 Resources Get the free brewery financia...
Feb 08, 2023•27 min
Today we hear from Bart Watson, Chief Economist for the Brewer's Association. Bart breaks down 2022 beer data, shares trends, volume and market share on the beer industry. Key Topics Beer data and trends to watch On premise vs. off premise volume and growth Trends in pack counts, sizes, formats Brewery openings and closings Bart's forecast for 2023 Resources Learn more about Bart's work with the Brewer's Association Get the free brewery financial training newsletter...
Feb 03, 2023•33 min
Today we hear from Candace Moon the Craft Beer Attorney. Candace shares her knowledge and experience around the laws and considerations when opening and running your brewery. Key Topics Important legal documents for your beer business What you need to know about securities laws when raising investor money Brewery contract basics Best practices for compliance with state and federal rules How to build your team so that you don't have to do all this yourself Resources Learn more about the Craft Bee...
Jan 26, 2023•59 min
Today we hear from Michael Varda from Craft Beer Advisory Services. Michael's company helps craft breweries increase sales and sharpen marketing with consumer intelligence research. Michael shares tips and tactics from his consumer intelligence research: What makes customers drink what they drink? What decisions drive where they go? And how can you can use this data to make intelligent business decisions for your brewery? Key Topics Top reasons why customers will come back to your taproom The 6 ...
Nov 17, 2022•44 min
Today we hear from Chris Overlay from Get Hoptimized.com, a digital marketing agency that is laser focused on craft beverage. Chris shares the details on the wifi-gateway. What is the wifi-gateway? Possibly, the best marketing tool you've never heard of. Key Topics Recent trends in brewery marketing Chris' Hot Takes: Google Display, Loyalty Programs, and the wifi-gateway Top SEO metrics to track: bounce rate, pages/session, time on site How to win more customers by understanding the customer jou...
Nov 10, 2022•38 min
Interest rates are rising and the cost to borrow money is getting more expensive. In today's podcast, Jason Sleeman from UCBI shares his insights on how to deal with the effects of inflation and rising interest rates. Key Topics Top banking and financing trends facing the beer industry The nuts and bolts of re-structuring your loans Tips to find grants and outside equity Resources Podcast: Brewery Financing Tips for 2022 Get in touch with Jason Sleeman: jason_sleeman@ucbi.com Get the free for th...
Oct 28, 2022•41 min
In today's podcast you'll hear the audio version of our recent webinar on How to Build Your Brewery Financial Plan. We'll review how to put together your sales plan, margins, operating expenses and bottom line. Key Topics Financial planning best practices Budget pitfalls to avoid 6 Steps to build your financial plan Tips to overcome the 'overwhelm' when preparing a budget Spreadsheet models and tools to get you started Resources Register to watch the brewery financial planning webinar Get access...
Oct 13, 2022•58 min
The craft beer industry is filled with great people, but none better than today's guest, Andrew Coplon from Secret Hopper. Secret Hopper is a mystery shopping company for taprooms. In today's podcast, Andrew explains how it works and why it's valuable for taproom managers and brewery owners. Key Points 4 data points you need to know to grow taproom sales Tips to grow taproom sales as we head into Fall and Winter How to create more memorable (and profitable) experiences in your taproom Top takeaw...
Oct 10, 2022•33 min
Today on the podcast we talk with 5th Ingredient Founder and CEO Pulkit Agrawal. Pulkit shares how brewery management software Beer30 uses data to help you produce better beer and better business results. Key Topics When do you need a brewery software system? 10 steps to implementing brewery management software ( watch the video ) The questions to ask when researching brewery software Top brewery KPI's and key metrics to track Resources Learn more about Beer30 Sign up for the brewery finance new...
Oct 03, 2022•41 min
Today we hear from Kyle Rheiner from Arthur Hall insurance. We talk about year end planning tips for breweries, the impact of inflation on insurance costs, and the main drivers of insurance expense (and what you can do to reduce them). Kyle C. Rheiner is a Certified Insurance Counselor and is the Food & Beverage Practice Leader at Arthur Hall Insurance in West Chester, PA. Kyle has over 20 years’ experience in the hospitality industry along with actually brewing and distilling craft beverage...
Sep 23, 2022•50 min
In this podcast you will learn about a new 1-on-1 financial service just for craft breweries: The Brewery CFO in a Box. What is it? Customized in-depth financial analysis One on one consulting Full financial training program for you and your staff Developed based on my 25 years of experience as a CFO in the beer industry Why do I need it? Get 1-on-1 help to set up your financial budget, analyze your financial statements, and benchmark financial results Get monthly support from a brewery CFO to h...
Sep 19, 2022•10 min
We are excited to welcome Chema Mora, Business Development Manager of the Cicerone® Certification Program. We talk regularly of the importance of professional development, and programs like Cicerone are a valuable opportunity for you and your brewery taproom team to further your education. The Cicerone Certification Program offers a path to advance your career and the knowledge of your team. Join Advanced Cicerone Chema Mora, Business Development Manager for the Cicerone Program, as he shares an...
Aug 29, 2022•59 min
Today we hear from Tim Irvin and Chris Murphy from Clifton, Larson, Allen, LLP, a CPA firm that specializes in craft beverage businesses. Tim and Chris share their insights and best practices on brewery financial planning, cash flow planning, debt structures, and wealth management. Key Topics Brewery financial planning best practices Tactics to get a good understanding of your brewery cost structure How to develop your capital plan Wealth management considerations and resources Resources Learn m...
Aug 22, 2022•46 min
Today we talk about open book management with Larry Chase. Larry served for eight years on the brewer's association board of directors on the finance committee and as treasurer. Larry's passion is to show brewery managers and employees how their role impacts the financial success of the business. Key Topics How to build a culture of ownership Keys to high involvement planning Tactics to create consistent financial results in your business Larry's favorite industry publications Resources Connect ...
Aug 14, 2022•35 min
Today we hear from Nancy Trigg, Chief People Officer at Arryved. Arryved is the point of service system built specifically for the craft beer industry. Nancy shares her perspective on the most important features of a POS system, key questions to ask when selecting a system, and her favorite taproom key metrics. Key Topics Critical measurements for your taproom business Essential reports to run from your POS system Tactics to improve customer loyalty Future innovation for taproom point of sale sy...
Aug 08, 2022•32 min
In today's podcast we hear from Lift Bridge Brewing CEO Dan Schwartz. We talk about all aspects of financial planning, business planning, compensation structure and much more. We'll dig into the nitty gritty of the brewery financial planning process. Who should be involved, how long it should take, and exactly what you should be doing to build your plan. Key Topics Best practices to improve financial results in your brewery Brewery software stack used by Lift Bridge Brewery Tips to build a detai...
Aug 03, 2022•35 min
In today's podcast we talk strategies for marketing beer to women with Kristen Bernier. Kristen is a brand and communication strategist, and shares her insights on how breweries can grow sales in a challenging market. Key Topics How do identify what your brand is, what you stand for, and how to stand out from the crowd How to be intentional and build your brand 'on purpose' Data points: 75% of buying decisions are made by women Tips and strategies: What breweries can do to appeal to women beer d...
Jun 03, 2022•35 min
Beer industry expert Bump Williams joins today with an update on retail beer sales. Bump shares trends in packaging, pricing, brands, styles and market channels. As a special bonus, Bump gives his Top 3 Brewery Sales Growth Tactics that every brewery owner should consider to achieve sales success in 2022. Key Topics Trends in pricing and promotions New product innovation Market share tracking tactics 2022 Summer selling season outlook Resources Learn more about Bump Williams Consulting Sign up t...
May 26, 2022•48 min
Financial literacy is a super power. It means learning to understand the numbers of your business so that you know how your business is doing financially. Marketing literacy is a super power. It means learning how to identify your customer and communicate the value your brewery has to offer. When you combine marketing and finance together...well, you have something special on your hands. In today's podcast, I talk with Chris Overlay from Hoptimized Digital, a marketing firm for craft breweries. ...
May 19, 2022•47 min
How much should you spend on brewery marketing? What is the right amount, and how do you figure this out? Julie Rhodes from Not Your Hobby Marketing Solutions joins the podcast with answers. Julie specializes in helping breweries optimize retail sales plans, execute digital marketing plans and improve distribution management. And she has lots of great information to share about proven and profitable brewery marketing strategies. Key Topics How to budget your marketing dollars (benchmarks and rul...
May 12, 2022•33 min
Today we talk about the research and development tax credit with Brent Williams from Small Batch Standard. Brent breaks down what the R&D tax credit is, how the calculation works, and how to determine if your brewery business will qualify. Many breweries don't realize they qualify for this tax credit, and could be leaving money on the table. Listen to the podcast to learn whether your business qualifies. Key Topics How the R&D tax credit works How to know if your brewery qualifies What t...
May 06, 2022•32 min
Today we dig into the legal side of contract brewing with attorney Derek Allen from Allen Stahl + Kilbourne. Derek shares best practices on how to create the brewery service agreement (the document that will govern your contract brewing arrangement) and where to turn for help on navigating the state regulations around contract brewing. Key Topics Contract brewing vs alternating proprietorships Reasons to contract brew (that you might not have thought about) What you need to get right in your bre...
Apr 28, 2022•34 min
Brewers Association supply chain subcommittee chair Mitch Steele joins us to share tips and best practices on how brewers can navigate today's challenges. In the podcast Mitch shares his outlook for the next 6-12 months, and strategies to navigate ongoing supply chain issues. Key Topics Mitigation strategies for supply chain challenges Best practices for purchase contracts: cans, malt, COs, etc. How to build relationships with your key suppliers Resources Learn more about Mitch Steele and New Re...
Apr 20, 2022•33 min
In today's podcast we'll review best practices to improve cash flow in your brewery. You'll learn the cash flow reports to run, metrics to track, and how to focus your time and energy to create a solid cash management plan for your brewery business. Key Topics The main drivers of brewery cash flow (and how to manage them) How to build cash flow metrics for each manager in your brewery Best practices for your brewery financing plan Resources Get the financial training newsletter for craft breweri...
Apr 06, 2022•22 min
Today we talk with Tim Near from Agrowgate, a group procurement organization, that helps breweries manage their supply chain and buy better. Pound for pound, supply chain purchases represent the largest outlay of cash for a brewery. In today's podcast, you'll learn tips and tactics from a supply chain expert to improve purchasing in your beer business. Key Topics The 5 Rights of Purchasing...and why they are important to your brewery How to implement a 9 Step Sourcing Model Sourcing strategy exa...
Mar 18, 2022•42 min
In this podcast we'll talk about best practices for recruiting and hiring for your brewery. Finding the right employees is harder than ever these days, but a few simple tips can make the task easier. Key Topics Use a template for your job descriptions and job postings - get it in writing, and get it in the hands of the job candidate Be crystal clear about the priority or goal for the position - how do you define success? Set proper expectations for the position People exist to make a difference:...
Mar 04, 2022•17 min
If you sell beer through a wholesaler, you have inventory management challenges. In today's podcast we talk with Bud Dunn from GP Analytics and hear about a solution to these challenges called the Craft Portal. The Craft Portal is a tool that allows you to easily track inventory and orders without losing time, money or your mind. Wholesalers and breweries can quickly track what was sent, what is inbound and what is needed in the future. The rapid expansion of brands and SKUs in the beer wholesal...
Mar 03, 2022•49 min
