Jan.04 Restocking
Transcription
Jan.04 Restocking
Jan.04 Restocking 12/10/03 11:58 AM Page 1 2004 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION: Stop bad purchasing habits By David T. Kratt Y ou made it through all those crazy company Christmas parties. Then made it through the granddaddy amateur night of the year – New Year’s Eve. Now a well-deserved break is in order as soon as year-end physical inventory is finished. ning of the year is the perfect time to make some changes. First of all, a physical inventory represents the stock on hand at a particular point in time. It doesn’t show stock usage over a period of time, which should be the basis for your stock ordering decisions. Ordering liquor only when liquor bottles are emptied isn’t a good basis, either. For example, you had 2.1 bottles of some liqueur in inventory. Someone must have ordered a frappe or something over the holidays because now you have only two bottles. Do you replace the empty bottle? Stock usage numbers would have showed that two bottles of this Then comes the bad news. The physical inventory shows how far off the mark you really were with ordering stock for the holidays. You already knew you ran out of some key stock over the past week but you also ordered enough of other stock to last through next New Year’s Eve. You don’t even want to know how much money is tied up in this yearend inventory. You can’t help but think, "Who’s the amateur now?" Whether you’re a self-anointed amateur of the New Year or seasoned professional always on the lookout for ways to improve, the begin- liqueur should last at least three months. Calculating stock usage for every brand of liquor, beer and wine and even bar supplies takes a lot of the guesswork out of ordering from week to week and allows you to compare any period in the current year to the same period the year before. Use stock usage numbers to establish and then adjust par values during the year, which helps keep inventory dollar levels lean and mean while minimizing stock outages. Also compare usage to sales numbers to narrow down cost-of-sales problem areas. The accompanying example of an inventory worksheet should give you an idea on how to INVENTORY WORKSHEET 1 2 PAR INVENT O/B PURCHASES Absolut 12 5 12 17 Ketel One 3 1.3 0 Stolichnaya 6 6.1 0 INVENTORY ITEM 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 Work Station #2 STORAGE INVENT C/B (5+6+7) USAGE (4-8) ORDER AMOUNT 1.5 2.3 4 7.8 9.2 6 1.3 0.9 0 0 0.9 0.4 0 6.1 0.9 0.8 3 4.7 1.4 3 TOTAL STOCK Work (2+3) Station #1 6 VODKAS Sample of an inventory worksheet to assist licensees with repurchasing needs. Jan.04 Restocking 12/10/03 11:59 AM Page 2 revamp your inventory worksheet. The formula for calculating stock usage is as follows: Inventory opening balance (INVENT O/B) Plus purchases (PURCHASES) Total stock available (TOTAL STOCK) (Less) Inventory closing balance (INVENT C/B) Total stock usage (USAGE) Here are a few restocking tips to keep in mind for the next busy holiday or special event: • Stick to the basics Inexperienced purchasers start with the "A’s" on the inventory sheet and work down to the "Z’s" and end up overstocking and overspending. Experience tells you that there’s a cap on what can be spent, even for an upcoming busy holiday. And the dollars add up real quick. The experienced purchaser first focuses on high-volume well- and call-liquor, beer and wine and has an idea of how much they are spending before moving on to the odds-and-ends stock. If they do over order, it’s stock that will be used in RESTOCKING the near future. If there is an outage, it’s with stock that’s not that big of a deal to run out of. • When there is no substitute Captain Morgan drinkers, for example, want Captain Morgan and may not have a second choice when it comes to what they drink. Ketel One Vodka drinkers, on the other hand, probably may be happy with Absolut or Stolichnaya if you do run out of Ketel One. • Flavors of the month New schnapps and new shot and drink recipes prepared with new liquors are coming out all the time. Fads come and fads go and you might be stuck with this stock if you overstock. So restock lightly, if at all. This also applies when thinking about ordering, for example, extra Galliano and Sloe Gin for the people who seem to go out only once a year – New Year’s Eve – and still think Harvey Wallbangers and Sloe Gin Fizzes are popular. • Cost of running out What’s the worse that could happen with a stock outage? Scenario #1 – A customer orders a St. Pauli Girl. Your bartender says, "We just ran out but have plenty of Beck’s." The customer says, "That’s fine." Scenario #2 – A customer says, "You don’t have any vodka?" Your bartender says, "No, we’re all out." The customer says, "Not even well vodka?" Your bartender says, "No, but we have plenty of flavored vodka." First scenario is not a problem. Second scenario is a big problem. David T. Kratt writes "Behind the Bar" syndicated monthly column. Please send correspondence to P.O. Box 0638, Grand Haven, Michigan 49417 or e-mail to [email protected]. WHY TO RESTOCK AND HOW TO SELL THESE FINE BRANDS! MAISON SURRENNE COGNAC FROM CRAFT DISTILLERS • XO-level on your shelf at $35 • Ancienne Distillerie is superb single-vintage 10-year-old petite champagne. • Brilliant and complex, beautifully made. • From the rich cellars of Cognac's largest remaining family-owned house. HANGAR ONE VODKA • Double Gold for XO cognacs at SF Spirits competition. FROM CRAFT DISTILLERS • BEST BUY selection by Wine Enthusiast and Beverage Retailer. • Vodka of the year from 3 magazines – Spirit Journal,Wine & Spirits, Food & Wine. • BEST VALUE selection from Beverage Analyst. • www.surrenne.com • Infused with real fruit for spectacular fresh flavor. • Unbelievable smoothness: no sense of alcohol. • Made with exotic and expensive ingredients, plus vodka from viognier wine in the Straight. • Distilled in a one-time military structure on the former Alameda Naval Air Station. ST GEORGE MALT WHISKEY FROM CRAFT DISTILLERS • European hand methods by Jorg Rupf, world's foremost distiller of fruit eau-de-vie. • Distilled by hand on an Alsatian pot still in California by Jorg Rupf, distiller of Hangar One. • www.hangarOne.com • Barley malt toasting on hardwoods: no peat flavor. • Sophisticated aging in French, American, and port oak. • Pure, very clean, rich and fruity with great depth, complexity, and balance. Contact: Ansley Coale at Craft Distillers 800.782.8145 www.craftdistillers.com • Excellent value - $45 on the shelf. • "Complex, clean, and elegant," New York Times • www.stgeorgespirits.com THIS SECTION IS A PAID ADVERTISEMENT Jan.04 Restocking 12/10/03 11:59 AM Page 3 DANZKA VODKA ENVY • Superior vodka imported from Denmark. • Luxury Fused Liqueur. • Unique metal bottle is perfect for the freezer! • Imported from France, Envy blends together fine cognac and French vodka with natural exotic fruit juices of passion fruit and guava. • Available in Original, Citrus, and Grapefruit. • Grapefruit was awarded a Double Gold for Best Flavored Vodka at the 2003 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. • Available nationwide in February 2004. • This beautiful blue elixir tastes sensational on its own or mixed with champagne, cognac or vodka. • The sleek frosted bottle and stylish NV logo recently won a gold medal at the 2003 International Packaging Awards in New York. • For creative recipes and event photos, visit www.i-envy.com www.danzka.com Contact your local Future Brands representative for information & ordering. THE MACALLAN 1841 REPLICA 925.314.0564 [email protected] SCORPION MEZCAL • The Macallan Single Malt scotch is known as the world's most precious whisky. • Offers an aged range for all occasions, as well as a new 1841 Replica. • All matured exclusivley in oak sherry casks from Spain. • Double distilled premium quality 100% Agave Mezcal Spirit available in 4 varieties: Silver, Reposado, Anejo 1 year and Anejo 3 year (all except Silver are aged in Oak). • Artisan made in a single barrel bottling process in Oaxaca Mexico. • Each 750ml bottle is 80 proof, numbered with a real scorpion placed in the bottle by the master distiller. • The Macallan 1841 Replica was crafted from a careful selection of The Macallan Casks chosen to faithly replicate the style of whisky from 1841 and packaged in a style of that era. • Awarded Spirit of the Year,Best Mezcal,by Food and Wine Magazine (Dec. 2003). It drinks very smooth and is “a nicely balanced spirit with no sting at all!” Contact: Caspar MaCrae 212.399.4200 [email protected] 914.921.6988 www.Mezcals.com [email protected] ZYR RUSSIAN VODKA JÄGERMEISTER • Awarded a 96-100 in April's Wine Enthusiast and 5 stars in Paul Pacult's Spirit Journal. • Jägermeister is the country’s most popular shot! • "A sipping vodka best drunk neat or on the rocks," Time Magazine March 2003. • "ZYR is pure Russian, and pure pleasure whether chilled or on ice," Robb Report August 2003. • Crafted from a blend of wheat and rye, grown in the rich black soil of Russia’s heartland. • Made with 56 herbs and spices. • The 70 proof herbal liqueur is best enjoyed straight from the freezer. • Imported from Germany. • Available in NY, NJ, FL, PA and soon California. 212.645.1070 www.zyrvodka.com [email protected] 914.637.7300 www.jager.com [email protected] THIS SECTION IS A PAID ADVERTISEMENT