Stateways

StateWays - September/October 2016

StateWays is the only magazine exclusively covering the control state system within the beverage alcohol industry, with annual updates from liquor control commissions and alcohol control boards and yearly fiscal reporting from control jurisdictions

Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/730392

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 18 of 43

StateWays | www.stateways.com | September/October 2016 19 already licensed in Michigan, but the Commission is always open to suggestions and new ideas to make sure the services they are providing are keeping up-to-date with changes in the marketplace. "And, of course, our professionals of the Enforcement Divi- sion are always happy to work with licensees and applicants on understanding our laws to make sure they are in compliance and that alcoholic beverages are sold, served and consumed safely," Loepp says. "There are all kinds of ideas, tips and best practices that we have seen and can pass along to others to consider using within their own establishments." In addition to the benefi ts PLCB+ provides chains in view- ing and conducting licensing business for multiple locations, licensees are encouraged to use the agency's Licensee Online Order Portal, or LOOP. As Brassell explains, LOOP is an online wine and spirits order- ing system that brings a new level of functionality and convenience to bars, hotels, restaurants, clubs and other retail liquor licensees. "Not only does LOOP replace an archaic ordering system of phone calls and faxes to stores with a web-based portal offering 24/7 access, it also affords licensees new visibility into product availability, sales and promotions, which can be used to plan purchases around sales and achieve cost savings," Brassell says. LOOP offers additional value and convenience to high- er-volume licensees including chain restaurants and bars, through its Licensee Delivery Program (LDP), which offers di- rect delivery of wine and spirits to licensees ordering 20 cases or more per order. LOOP also provides customizable tools and reports that can help licensees manage their business, and similar to PLCB+, LOOP offers the option to tie multiple licenses under a single LOOP account. "This way, chains can perform central ordering for multiple locations and access order histories, order templates and other reports for all their locations," Brassell says. The State of Michigan is also focused on being customer-driven and business-minded toward chains and non-chains alike. "A lot of positive changes in our processes and procedures at the Commission have been made, but there's more to do," Loepp says. "We continue to work on a daily basis to identify challenges and develop solutions to those challenges. There are always new developments in how operators go to market to be successful, and there are always changes in what customers are demanding from operators. We will continue to be open to hearing from our customers, listening to thoughts and ideas, and developing solutions to make sure that businesses can compete." As Brassell explains, it's diffi cult to predict what the future holds in Pennsylvania as it relates to chains streamlining their re- lationship with the agency, because they're just now embarking on the most signifi cant changes to liquor law since Prohibition. "We have been talking with chain accounts and the indus- try associations to ensure we successfully develop this new part of our business collaboratively with our wine-to-go wholesale customers," Brassell says. "There are tremendous new opportu- nities for restaurants in Pennsylvania to sell wine at retail for the fi rst time in more than 80 years, and we imagine the beverage alcohol market will change considerably over the next few years as businesses and the PLCB strive to meet consumer demands and increase convenience and service." • MAURA KELLER is a Minneapolis-based writer and editor. She writes for dozens of publications on a variety of business-related topics. When not writing, Maura serves as executive director of the literacy nonprofi t, Read Indeed. "Not only does LOOP replace an archaic ordering system of phone calls and faxes to stores with a web-based portal offering 24/7 access, it also affords licensees new visibility into product availability, sales and promotions, which can be used to plan purchases around sales and achieve cost savings." —ELIZABETH BRASSELL, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AT THE PENNSYLVANIA LIQUOR CONTROL BOARD (PLCB)

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Stateways - StateWays - September/October 2016