In our yearly Expert Outlook that runs in the final issue each year of Brewer, we share insights from brewery owners and decision-makers. When it comes to advice for those that are in the business plan or build-out stages, there is still a lot to plan to do and experts like Short’s Brewing CEO Scott Newman-Bale and Indeed Brewing‘s Director of Experience, Ryan Bandy, recently shared their thoughts with Brewer.
Bandy said between the global pandemic that transformed every tier of the industry alongside the economics of the craft beer business, and the public reckoning with systemic racism in a generational way, there’s very little about Indeed that remains the same from 2019.
“I think the major adjustment is our internal focus — turning our attention inward to our people, processes, experiences, and business model,” he said. “It takes a lot of work to become a sustainable, independent company doing business the right way, and the last three years have proven there is no other way to do it.
“We’re 10 years old and have brought a lot of new things to the craft beer market in Minneapolis and Milwaukee, but to continue to impact our community the way we want — positively — we’re doing the hard work of making sure the company is set up to succeed another 10 years in a much different market than in 2012.”
Pricing and hiring challenges have been some hurdles that Short’s has looked to overcome.
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“The rising cost of goods has been so high it’s been very challenging to do what we do and keep pushing the limits of beverage innovation, not to mention, running a restaurant,” Newman-Bale said. “Hiring has stayed challenging because of our housing market, so in the spring of 2022 we purchased a 26-unit inn for our staff while they search for more permanent housing solutions.”
Newman-Bale said to either scale expectations or be willing to bring something unique (be it location, product, or both) to the market.
“It will be a tough few years both in getting ingredients, how much they cost, and what the terms from suppliers will be,” he added.
Get your internal structure and core values aligned right away, Bandy pointed out when asked how new breweries need to plan for the future.
”Make sure diversity of people and opinions is important to everyone. Don’t wait until you’re bigger,” he cautioned. ”Find your point of view. What are you doing that adds to the conversation? Why are you doing what you’re doing? What do you have to say? We had some of those things early when we opened, but it was more by accident than by direction. It was more, ’let’s figure this shit out!’ with every day bringing a new challenge.
”There is a lot of value created, and a lot of lessons learned, from that energy, and having a better-defined structure and core values aligned wouldn’t have canceled those gains, but it would have helped later by not having to unwind bad habits, toxic energy, or re-aligning expectations. And learn how to ask for help and don’t forget to have some fun.”
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