Monthly archive for July 2016

On July 11, the Alberta government announced that it will be eliminating the lower graduated markup rate applied to beer produced by small craft breweries in the three western provinces covered by the New West…

You have undoubtedly noticed an enormous increase in demand for craft beer all over North America. In Alberta, this demand was historically being satisfied by a small number of local breweries and, thanks to our…

As far as Julie Hemmerling is concerned, preventing loss from shoplifting is pretty straightforward: it's simply good service. "We do what we do. We greet customers, we say hello," says the owner-manager of CJ's Liquor …

Termination of employment can be used as a negative consequence, a threat and even as a power statement. This should not be the case. Termination could be and should be the outcome of a carefully…

I once heard an Alberta retail client describe liquor retailing in Alberta as the "Wild Wild West of Liquor Retailing." What he meant is that the market is truly free and if someone wants to…

Maximizing a store's efficiency is crucial for the success of any business. Liquor retailers are no exception. After payroll, real estate is your number one expense, and utilizing every square foot is key to a…

Social media is a key component of your marketing program. Particularly for small businesses it is a powerful way to reach potential customers with minimal financial investment. Successful campaigns on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook can guarantee increased opportunities to connect with your audience and grow brand recognition while cultivating loyalty.

Kamloops City Council granted a variance to Save-on-Foods, allowing the store to sell only 100% BC VQA certified wines. Their original proposal to council included the sales of non-VQA BC wine, cider and sake and…

There were 2,066 liquor retailers in Alberta as of March 31st selling 21,793 products. Before privatization in 1993, there were 803 retailers selling 2,200 products.

Wholesale sales from the BC Liquor Distribution Branch to BC’s private liquor stores were strong for the year ending March 31st.

Figuring out the right signage for your store doesn't have to be a headache. First, you want to bring people in off the street. Second, once your customers are inside, you want them to be…

Flavouring spirits is not a new invention. Long, long ago, it was figured out that aging raw spirits in wood mellowed the harsher flavours and increased both the quality of the beverage and the price…