Beverage Dynamics

Beverage Dynamics March-April 2013

Beverage Dynamics is the largest national business magazine devoted exclusively to the needs of off-premise beverage alcohol retailers, from single liquor stores to big box chains, through coverage of the latest trends in wine, beer and spirits.

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FYI Retailers Gather in Dallas for Third Annual BDLive! By Jeremy Nedelka he BDLive! Conference is the only national event dedicated to the off-premise beverage alcohol industry. Once again, nearly several dozen beverage alcohol retailers gathered in Dallas at the Crowne Plaza Downtown for the third annual event, held on February 14. "I really enjoyed the topics discussed and gleaned much from all the presentations," said Hermen Key, VP of Operations at Texas-based Spec's. Jeff Jansen, owner of Van's Liquors in Illinois, concurred. "This is my second year attending and once again it was a really great conference," he said. "The information was useful and T Emcee Darryl Rosen kicks off the thirdannual BDLive! Conference. Beverage Information Group EVP and Group Publisher Charles Forman presents the 2013 Retailer of the Year Award to Mark Notarius. Notarius accepted on behalf of the Notarius Family, which includes his father Burt, owner of Premier Wine and Spirits, and his brother Jon, co-owner with him of Premier Gourmet, both in Amherst, NY. Laura Welsh, a client director at Nielsen, presents the latest beverage industry research report: "Transforming Trends into Sales." the content was right on. I look forward to next year!" The event began with the opening-night "I Love Dallas" reception, which featured the Dallas Bar Stars, local mixologists who created signature drinks created for the Cheers Beverage Conference and BDLive! The following day's events opened with remarks from Beverage Information Group Executive Vice President and Group Publisher Charles Forman. He introduced emcee Darryl Rosen, a management consultant and no stranger to the off-premise beverage alcohol industry. Paul Santelle's keynote, "How to Survive – and Thrive – as an Independent Brick-and-Mortar Retailer," offered advice for keeping up with warehouse and online competitors. Santelle is the President of the New Jersey Liquor Store Alliance and the owner of Garden State Liquors. "I have 50 stores within five miles of mine, three of which are warehouse stores," he shared with attendees. Among his advice for how to compete in a crowded marketplace? "I started going to competitors' stores and talking to the customers there. And I've made adjustments to my own store based on their comments." This year's retail panel, moderated by Darryl Rosen, featured Mark Notarius, co-owner of Premier Gourmet in Amherst, NY; Brian Rosen, COO of Evolution Wines and Spirits in Chicago; Jim Dean, owner of Hazel's Beverage World in Boulder, CO; and Paul Kaspszak, Executive Director of the Minnesota Municipal A retailer panel moderated by Darryl Rosen discusses the latest issues facing the off-premise industry. Panelists included Jim Dean, Owner of Hazel's Beverage World; Mark Notarius, Coowner of Premier Gourmet; Brian Rosen, COO of Evolution Wines and Spirits; and Paul Kaspszak, Executive Director of the Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association. 12 • Beverage Dynamics • www.beveragedynamics.com • March/April 2013

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