AnUpsetStomach Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 Since 2001, I thought it would be a great way to make a career. I think i had visualisations of happy people coming in about to start a great night out and wine enthusiasts scoping out your stock hoping to come up on something for their collections. I began saving frantically around 2001, and just last month the bank approved my business loan. It didnt seem wise to jump into though so I explained my situation to a liquor store owner to see if he would let me do some work experience. He jokingly said he wouldnt train someone who was about to go into competiton with him but he eventually agreed. Can i just say, this was not was I predicted the liquor industry to be like at all. Some highlights from the passed few months has told me: 1- No amount of loss prevention methods will prevent loss. It's usually easier to let that drunken lowlife walk out with that $20 bottle of rum than apprehend him put on a fight, make customers uneasy, wait for the police, have to do paper work and witness things that will make you have to spend a day in court to testify. 2- I see kids come in with their parents as young as 3 with the most beat up shoes and ripped clothing. Seems the parents can't afford a $30 for a new outfit for their children but can afford to spend at least $150-200 on booze and cigs a week. 3- There are occasional cheery customers looking for suggestions on a nice bottle of red to take to dinner but for every one of those you have about 30 lowlives who cant even wait to open that bottle before taking it out of the store. Drinking cheap vodka STRAIGHT out of the bottle erghhhhh! I guess i have to chose a different way to spend my mid 30's. This shits depressing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blood Feast Island Man Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 try working in a bookies. it's like a liquor store except instead of people buying things, they just lose money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweet Tooth Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 sounds more like you want to own a wine store Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
^ . ^ Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 yea, why not open up a nice little wine and cheese place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meateater Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 ^^^^^^hahahha are u serios! , he will have to buy a skirt to! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schnitzel Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 did you expect any different? Alcohol is a drug same as any other Maybe it'll vary from area to area. Can you go to an upmarket area??? then you'll at least get more of the wine type bit and a bit less of the shoplifting and lowlifes or at least you'll get a richer class of lowlife. But i guess the big chains force the sole traders into areas they don't want to operate in. It's not my dream but good on you for going for it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnUpsetStomach Posted May 23, 2007 Author Share Posted May 23, 2007 While I admire the passion possessed by most white enthusiasts, dealing with pretentious and status seeking people isnt something im interested in. I guess I was just looking for a balance between the two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
^ . ^ Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 i think adding cheese to the menu would boost good business. just sayin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*42 Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 Open said store in a nicer area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayne hits Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 you'd get customers like me. you wouldn't want that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnUpsetStomach Posted May 23, 2007 Author Share Posted May 23, 2007 The other problem is that you just cant compete with the big guns, I was on the phone to a Jack Daniels representative the other day and i was like: "How can the chain a few blocks away afford to SELL their bottles at 10% LESS than i buy them from you for!" He responded with. "Because they order in a month what you do in a year" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnUpsetStomach Posted May 23, 2007 Author Share Posted May 23, 2007 Open said store in a nicer area. I considered that, but when I talked to liquor store owners who have been in the business 25+ years whose stores surround multi million dollar homes they said the same problems exist (although not as frequent) More importantly though there is no way i could afford the leasing in some of those areas. Even if i was prepared to run at a loss for the first couple of years theres no way the bank would give me a loan that high to handle those kinds of overheads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*42 Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 Ah, see around here there are a lot of places being built that are in pretty nice areas, but since they are newer a lot of the rent isn't so bad. Opening a higher class establishment will attract higher class customers, no matter where you are. As soon as the grimeys see that you don't have 40s of King Cobra they'll stop coming. Carry a lot of micro brews and dudes like me will keep you in business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CALIgula Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 open a small bar/pub or a nice little restaurant or a very small night club or if you are gonna do the liquor store thing anyways....get one in a small college town. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mauler5150 Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 Ahh man, you have come to the right place. I worked in bottlo for 2 and a half years. Man, don't worry about what any of these people tell you, owning a bottleshop is a licence to print money. You are right, it is depressing dealing with drunks everyday. Man, the stories I could tell you! Your best bet is to install as many security cameras as you can, so at least the cops will have some decent footage with which to prosecute the repeat offenders. And not to make a generalisation, but 98% of the people who steal from you will be indigenous australians. So the best method is too just go and follow them around the store from the moment they walk in (might sound stupid but it works). Another thing I can recommend is to get good staff, you won't believe how many dipshits want to do it as a job. Read my coworker horror stories in the other thread. And always try to have 2 staff on at all times at a minimum, 3 or 4 during the busy periods, as this is when theives are most likely to strike. Any other questions, just ask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mauler5150 Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 And you have to go and sit your approved liquor licencing course asap. Wheh I sat it I did it with Dean Cox, who bought some bottlo in Claremont with his old man. If that isn't telling you of how good a long term investment a bottleshop is, I don't know what is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THANKYOU Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 with liquor stores, its all about location. gotta be in a good area / neighborhood. otherwise, yea its pointless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Quickwood Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 straight out the bottle? what the fuck are you supposed to drink it out of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mauler5150 Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 I don't think that location plays as big a part in Australia (Perth especially), as probably once a month, a gang of thieves will get in a car and just drive, suburb to suburb, shop to shop stealing as they go along. If they get denied/stopped from stealing at one place, then it is on to the next. As you have realized, it doesn't matter what area you are in (especially here) as they like to try hit the stores in upmarket areas as they will usually have less staff on. And don't freak out the first time you are held up with a gun/needle/axe or whatever. It is going to happen, the longer you are doing it for the more chance that tomorrow is your day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeBee Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 Liquor store is a guaranteed way to ake bread, nod oubt about it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tails0nE Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 since u work at a liquor store... how bout hookin it up with some of that O.E.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViolentByDesign Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 I'd make a sick ass night club full of hot bitches and the occasional celebrity. Sell booze and have more fun doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pfffffffffft Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 POURing liquor is the moneymaker!!! its unreal how much you can make off a bottle of liquor.. after 3 drinks the bottle is paid for..the rest is pure profit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRUNKEN-ASSHOLE-ONER Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 did you expect any different? ^What this guy said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRUNKEN-ASSHOLE-ONER Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 I don't think that location plays as big a part in Australia (Perth especially), as probably once a month, a gang of thieves will get in a car and just drive, suburb to suburb, shop to shop stealing as they go along. If they get denied/stopped from stealing at one place, then it is on to the next. As you have realized, it doesn't matter what area you are in (especially here) as they like to try hit the stores in upmarket areas as they will usually have less staff on. And don't freak out the first time you are held up with a gun/needle/axe or whatever. It is going to happen, the longer you are doing it for the more chance that tomorrow is your day. I'm surprised liquor stores don't go the way of beer stores and Chinese stores with the bullet proof windows having the clerk go to the back to grab what you ask for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shitting Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 yo i seriously can't believe you had this vision of owning a bottle shop being a fun way to work. Running a small business has got to suck so hard. Especially a bottleshop yikes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaolinmasta Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 Small business is hard work but it would probably pay off in the long run But you have to accept the fact that you have to put a lot into it and it's basically going to run your life and you will have little to no leisure time at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shitting Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 fffffffffffuck that shit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest R@ndomH3ro Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 i need about....20 lotto tickets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SneakV2.0 Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 POURing liquor is the moneymaker!!! its unreal how much you can make off a bottle of liquor.. after 3 drinks the bottle is paid for..the rest is pure profit ding ding ding!!! i work in a pub. we buyt bottles of 2 litre bottles of Smirnoff for £12. we sell it in shots of 25ml, at £2 (approx) each. so after 6 shots, we made our money back and everything is profit... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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