Hey friends,
Check out our new division created solely to serve Craft Breweries and Distilleries.
Hey friends,
Check out our new division created solely to serve Craft Breweries and Distilleries.
Recently, taproom POS (point of sale) questions keep appearing up on my radar. More specifically, people want to know which tablet application is best for their taproom. Within the last 5 years many POS startups have moved in and commanded respect in the space. The introduction of the tablet in business, coupled with these subscription POS systems has granted increased access to reputable/respectable products. One major benefit of using a iPad or Android device as a POS is the up-front investment. Compared to a traditional POS, the “price to play” is about 1/3rd. Most tablet based POS systems’ have a monthly subscription pricing structure, often with the only upfront cost being the hardware. (*Note many are now using the hardware as a giveaway to win the business) A traditional POS system can cost between $10-15K when you factor in all the hardware and printer paper? Printer paper? WGAS about printer paper you ask; trust me it all adds up.
Here are some questions I have seen lately:
So why scrap the old skewl cash register?
Couple of reasons: 1) Depending on how you set up your items, super useful reports can be generated on what is selling and what is not. 2) Cash controls are far better with a POS. 3) A frekin iPad looks cool in the taproom.
Which one should I get?
I have played with many subscription based POS systems and while the prices are sweet, the functionality may not jive with your processes. For example, Vend, Shopkeep, SalesVu, Square, are all considered retail POS systems. This would be perfect if you were just a packing store,; but if your people are drinking onsite (host onsite consumption space), creating tabs may give you a issue. **Breadcrumb is one true restaurant POS that falls in the subscription space. These systems usually have a free trial. My suggestion would be to sign up, test, and see if it works for your space.
What about the big boys, they all seem to have tablet options now?
Micros, Aloha, Calypso have all rolled out some tablet version of their software. Problem is they are all still expensive. Look, if you are pulling down $150-200k and have multiple terminals in your taproom, then the big boys is the way to go.
Conclusion:
Subscriptions based POS systems are here to stay and tablets are making them a viable option for the taproom. With all the options out there, you may need to test a few or get with a expert who is going to help you pick on that will fit in your processes.
The next phase in brewery development is what I call “the commitment.” Capital is committed, a location is committed, equipment is committed and en-route, construction starts and anxiety sets in. You are actually doing this! Along with your commitment to brewing awesome beer, you also have a commitment to your financial fitness. Bookkeeping, payroll, brewers reports, tank labels, and brewing & packing schedules are a FEW of the items you must keep in order to ensure your fitness. **I caution new breweries not to skimp on the back office expense for the sake of saving a few dollars in the beginning.** The old adage “you get what you pay for” also applies to the accounting and consulting world. After reading the remote accountant reviews, and coming to a conclusion, here are a few steps to take that ensures that your back office is in order:
Your commitment to financial fitness is as important as the beer you produce!
Potential interview questions:
To keep up the momentum of the last post I have come up with a list of five “thought points” a potential brewery should consider while planning their arrival; enjoy:
West Coaster’s bear with me; Midwesterners please be patient. I know what I am about to say is SO a decade-old for yall, but here I go. I am excited about craft brewing!!! This industry is less than 5 years old to my wonderful city, and the momentum is not slowing. While I love beer, my excitement stems from the contribution these businesses are having on the US economy.
Two years ago I was given the awesome opportunity to help open a local brewery. While I spend most my time in the back office, I can feel the energy. The smells, employees, fork-lifts, tanks, patrons, all exude positive energy. What makes craft breweries so exciting? I came up with a few thoughts:
Craft Breweries are here to stay. The economic development they bring to cities is awesome and communities love them. This excitement is why I love to serve the industry.
Does anyone know what happens 9 months after a new Apple device is released? Ok, me neither but I have a theory.
Last week I had the opportunity to hang with some of the brightest minds in the Advertising, Accounting, Legal, and IT industries. This was the first “Verasage Fellows and Friends” event since the passing of Steve Jobs, so you can imagine with a group of innovators, Apple was top of mind. We discussed how Apple creates over $6k per sq ft in each location, compared to Tiffany’s $3k or JC Penney’s $150. We rattled off some more amazing figures but it wasn’t until we began talking about Apple’s attention to detail that I became emotionally connected. More specifically, the experience of opening a new Apple product. I am torn between the beautiful box and that damn cute card that awaits me, reminding me to enjoy. Enjoy. Itsmagic delivered on a business card.
That’s deep folks.
I will admit when I open a Apple product, I get the goosies. The pleasure/comfort part of my brain is firing and it feels good. And I know I am not alone; I am not alone because Apple activates hundreds of thousands of devices a month and delivers the goosies to all those people. Now lets take it one step further. What if I said I believe the pleasure sensation felt from opening a new Apple product had direct correlation to sex. Could you deny it? Would you deny it? Just remember the feeling when you opened that iPad. Yes, one could argue, “Chris, thats like saying a purchase from L.L. Bean could start a baby boom.” And I would call you a bozo. The sacred experience begins when you are holding the shrink-wrapped box. Then comes the unwrapping, followed by the opening. Finally your product and that damn cute card.
So yes, I believe 9 months after Apple releases a new product we experience an influx of newborns.
Did I mention my wife got a iphone yesterday, enjoy.
Last week, I had the opportunity to hear Jim Cederna speak. The majority of Jim’s talk focused on his fundamental approach to change.
Executive Summary:
Financial Success comes from two places:
1) Ecstatic Customers
2) World Class Operations
How do you achieve those?
1) With a Plan
2) The right People
3) Productive team environment
The talk went into great details on the 3 P’s and many awesome examples were given.
Thanks Jim!
Ok, so here’s the deal. Many of you may or may not know, I struggle with the “people” part of the equation. (When I say people, I am talking about the team, not customers) Its the truth, I am not going to deny it; some people say I have a harsh(er) delivery than most. I never fluff reality; I get straight to the point. Last week my “a-ha” moment came when Jim suggested that we lead our team with strengths and surround our self with the opposite. What a simple idea!! Two Chris’s in the same office would be a challenge. This got me thinking, what are Chris Farmand’s strengths? I came up with: Caring, Charmer, Listener, Selling, Comforter, Witty, Clever, Sees the world from 30k feet, Energy cultivator.
So here it is people………..
I am a energy farmer looking to align myself with people who can process energy into RESULTS.
Can ya feel me?
ps: We are hiring
pss: Share your strengths below
I spent the last 48 hour in chilly Chicago with a group of thought leaders who command attention in the accounting arena. Jody Padar organized the first annual (maybe quarterly) IC Opportunities Event which brought together practitioners, vendors, media, marketers, state societies to discuss the direction of the profession. Greg Kyte, our resident comedian, welcomed us with a colorful keynote. Vendors in attendance included representatives from Intuit, Thomson Reuters, Wolters Kluwer, Sharra Chan of Orange Door, Jennifer Warawa of Sage, Kasey Bayne of Freshbooks, Sarah Johnson of Inovautus, Peter Wolf of Azamba Consulting, Kathleen Echeverria of bill.com, Tamera Loerzel of Convergence Coaching and Michael Redisch of Cloudsway. Our media friends were Danielle Lee of Accounting Tomorrow and Rick Telberg of CPA Trendlines. Oh, and how can I forget, Jackie Brown representing the MACPA, only the COOLEST state society in the land.
Jody started the brain dump bright and early with a discuss on “the Gap.” The four areas we focused on were Mobile, Could, Social, and Project Management. In groups, we discussed the external and internal forces that prevent firms from adopting. The discussion moved to suggestions on how the four areas could gain more traction with the traditional firms. In the afternoon Geni Whitehouse, Jason Blumer Kasey, Sharra, and Joe Manzelli moderated deeper round table talks on Social, Cloud, and Project Management.
I was honored to be invited to an event like this. I was so happy to leave the comfort of my office, during tax season, and engage my brain in the future of accounting. My take-aways from the event were; the profession is moving in a direction to offer creative services above and beyond the traditional “tax-man” services. Acceptance of cloud and mobile technology will be a must for these services to flourish.
Jody, when is the next one?
Self-proclaimed Googleites,
Come one, come all; and feast on the work-around to listen to Greg and Jason‘s Thrivecast on your Andriod device.
Copy the link below and paste it into your RSS feed reader or Google Reader, it will update automatically.
http://www.screencast.com/users/JasonBlumer/folders/THRIVEal%20Podcasts/itunes
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