Local Homebrew Supply Store.

[BM1]

Could other businesses get involved?Like using existing stores for moving products,or reserving an amount of shelf space that we would tend to.Other vendors deliver products to convenience marts and stock it right onto the shelves.How does that work?

[john mills]

I believe the largest obstacles are commercial space, inventory and labor to manage the store.
I believe as a group, we could collect enough for a small start up inventory, have a few people man the cash register, and someone to build an internet site for mail order, but where is the store located? Like all real estate... location, location, location is important. Where to put the store? North? East? West? South is almost certainly out as home brewing is still technically illegal in Kentucky...sorry Dewayne. Best bet is somewhere low rent. I haven't been to a home brew supply store that was in a normal retail location. Any suggestions???

[sirgiovanni]

I had a buddy running a brew shop in the early 90s, pre-internet. It was really hard for him to keep. It eventually turned into a gift shop just so he could keep his rent paid. I think if you are going to be successful selling beer supplies, you have to sell big ovr the internet.

If it's just a matter of having local supplies, we should maybe define what it is we want to accomplish through goals and see what is possible.

I know we are very lucky to have Jack and Toroni's to support us with our bulk grains. And we always tend to help each other out tremendously with locating hops.

To me I think the only thing I really lack is things like yeast and sanitizer. With yeast life, I typically just order a few yeasts every 6 weeks or so. But I could do better with bulk purchases of some specialty grains and sanitizers/cleaners.

Rather than stocking a whole store, might be worthwhile if we looked into making larger bulk purchases on some of this stuff where different people might even order the different bulk at different times and we can split it out at meetings. It would take some more planning but it's just a thought. I typically know what I'm going to brew for at least the next couple months at any given time.

[john mills]

Rent would be one of the huge hurdles to overcome. A retail location not only would serve our collective needs for local supplies, a retail location would also help grow our hobby in the community...especially during these more difficult financial times, and increased alcohol taxes.
If somebody had some location that they knew of that was low rent, or free, that would be great. There could be a commercial real estate sympathizer lurking in our group willing to learn and enjoy great home brewed beer... or somebody just inherited a stash of cash, and wants to help out some cool guys.

I agree that through more careful planning we could do better with bulk ordering by splitting up more of the specialty grains, yeasts, cleaners, etc, but having the ability to run out to the store for incidentals makes life easier. I couldn't begin to count the times I thought I had something, but didn't.

[BM1]

I see some new directions here.What about something like a vendors booth.Kinda like the snow cone places where you just rent someones idle lot for a while and operate out of a trailer.You could even rent the trailer.Then,if it's not working...it could be dropped without huge losses.That probably wouldn't require as much investment as securing a building and that.

Looks like idle lots are not hard to find,so locations could be moved around if needs be. :?:Might even help someones suffering store pay his/her rent and help attract customers who might not,otherwise,notice his/her store at all.
I'd be willing to take my turn manning the booth when I'm not 'On Call'.
Hey,maybe we could do a demonstration brew session now and then to inspire the public to get into brewing.

[BM1]

Supplies
I guess,the new wore off?

[BREWsmith]

For anyone interested in forming a hop co-op, please refer to the Buy, Sell, Trade forum under the OVHA Hops Co-op post. Even if you wouldn't be interested, I'd like to know that too. Thanks.

[samijam]

I like the idea of a co-op. I'm a member at River city Food Co-Op on Washington Ave. Maybe I could get some info from people there about starting a co-op.
I can also volunteer!

[BM1]

I can volunteer also.I check this post 'bout every time I log on.I will help any way that I can.

[BM1]