Operations

Beer Buying Behaviour

As business owners there are many things we all want to strategically do, but most come down to 5 basic needs: Drive Traffic; Increase Frequency/Loyalty; Grow Basket/Cheque; Differentiate vs. Your Competition; and Reduce Cost/Complexity.

If any retailer was still in doubt that delivery is the way of the future, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos has put that firmly to rest. The e-commerce giant recently bought Whole Foods for US$13.7 billion, not because Bezos wants easy access to organic avocadoes and house brand coconut water, but because he wants access to the upscale grocer’s warehouses and distribution centres.

BC Liquor Policy Changes

It’s been full steam ahead at LCLB in the months following the many liquor policy changes that took effect January 23, 2017. The work initiated by my predecessor, Doug Scott, has continued and I am proud of the accomplishments we’ve achieved so far in working toward implementing the 73 recommendations of the Liquor Policy Review Final Report.

Handling Cash

In a 2014 survey, “Measuring progress toward a cashless society,” MasterCard found that, while most Canadians use debit or credit cards, cash accounted for more than 40% of consumer transactions. In liquor stores, cash still reigns supreme among many types of customers, including those with a criminal bent. Cash theft is a threat from both within and outside store doors.

Managing Health and Safety

Your bartender twists her ankle or your cook is injured from slipping in the kitchen, and they can’t come to work. It’s a scenario you don’t even want to think about—and not just for their sake, but for yours. For a small pub or bar, you are already tight on staff, so even one workplace accident can spell disaster.

New Liquor Control and Licensing Act & Regulations

A new Liquor Control and Licensing Act and Regulations came into effect in BC on January 23, 2017. These are substantially a follow through to the BC Liquor Policy Review Final Report prepared by the John Yap. There were 73 recommendations in the report and in excess of 50 have been implemented. According to government, as of January 23, 90% of the recommendations have been implemented.