EDITOR’S NOTE StateWays
It’s Not Too Late to Learn
O
ne of last year’s best pictures (even though it lost to The King’s Speech at the 2011 Academy Awards) was The Social Network, a look at the founding and rise of Facebook. It may surprise some people to know that the social networking site
was created in 2003, long before social media became a mainstream phenomenon. While many industries have consistently ignored Facebook and its online brethren for the past decade, in 2011 they do so at their own peril. Our technology feature “Logging In” (page 38) profiles six control state operations
currently in varying degrees of implementing online initiatives. They span the country and represent all sizes of control states. Their initiatives range from allowing licensees to file renewal forms electronically to automating their ordering systems through a web portal to Tweeting updates to followers on Twitter. Some are already seeing their efforts pay off, others earlier in the process are optimistic their journeys will be worthwhile. I was at the BDLive! conference earlier this month, a gathering of off-premise
retailers from the non-control states sponsored by sister publication Beverage Dynamics. One of the hottest topics was online technology, and one speaker advised attendees that the first thing they should do upon leaving was “learn about social media.” Reading the six operations we’ve profiled is a good place to start learning. StateWays is also proud to debut our newest development, a section called “Spotlight On:” (page 10). This issue’s column illuminates the control system in Minnesota. Rather than rely on a state agency for beverage alcohol control, hundreds of cities and towns in the North Star State maintain autonomy over their municipality’s alcohol sales. Few towns’ regulations are alike, but the decentralized system works for the people of Minnesota. As we forge ahead with new ideas and technology, it’s also important to look back and assess the industry. Our annual Growth Brands feature (page 14) provides a detailed snapshot of the spirits and wine markets. It identifies which brands have managed to continue growing (or take off) during economic uncertainty, which are poised to hit their stride as the recovery strengthens, and which are back on track after a slight dip in sales. All deserve recognition.
Executive Vice President and Group Publisher Charles Forman Tel: 845-426-6072 Fax: 845-426-6423 email: cforman@m2media360.com
Managing Editor Jeremy Nedelka email:
jnedelka@m2media360.com
Art Director Adam Lane
Contributing Editor Cheryl Ursin
Associate Publisher Anthony Bongiovanni
Senior Regional Sales Manager Mark Marcon
Senior Regional Sales Manager Debbie Rittenberg
Senior Regional Sales Manager Jeanette Sims
Vice President, Circulation and Collateral Services
Joanne Juda-Prainito
Research Director Eric Schmidt
List Rental Manager Cheryl Naughton
®
M2MEDIA360 President/CEO Marion Minor Vice President, Finance & Operations Gerald Winkel
Jeremy Nedelka, Managing Editor
StateWaysis published by The Beverage Information Group, a division of M2MEDIA360 Editorial and executive offices are at 17 High St., 2nd Fl., Norwalk, CT 06851 Telephone: (203) 855-8499 Fax: (203) 855-9446 e-mail:
jnedelka@m2media360.com 6 StateWays www.stateways.com March/April 2011
