Homebrew Shop advice

[Rhoobarb]

Having lived in Wiggleyville in my younger days, I have to say I agree with Cheese. I think if you want a place in the city limits on or near the north side, Jefferson Park or Edison Park - someplace where people have homes and can actually drive from place to place - would be a better choice. And don't kid yourself - you will be competing with the better Internet Homebrew sites out there. Austin Homebrew Supply, Beer, Beer & More Beer, Northern Brewer and Freshops all rank high.

Locally, The Brewer's Coop in Warrenville, Brew & Grow in Schaumburg, The Homebrew Shop in St. Charles and Chicagoland Winemakers in Elmhurst are the best LHBS' in the area, IMHO. You should take a trip out to each. Chicagoland Winemakers has been in business for a very long time. I bought a kit from then with a buddy of mine back when I was in college - in 1978!

 

[PsiWulf7]

I don't know man. HB supplies are a commodity. The trick to making it is VOLUME: move more so it's cheaper. You already know the max you can charge.

How many sales do you think a LHBS makes on average? Maybe one or two brews per day? So that's anywhere from $20-$45 on an average day.

Make money by selling equipment. Know how to weld? Start building keggles. I'd drive into the city to buy one - or some cornies - if it was cheaper then paying for shipping. Build some kettles. But that also brings up another W-ville disdvantage - no parking.

You know what WOULD be fun to own? A Grill N' Brew store that sells grills and grilling utensils (in the summer), seasonal winter items, and homebrew supplies.

That is an awesome idea. I'm going to look into that. I've actually had the idea for a grilling store before, but I don't know how viable it would be in Chicago. I HAVE thought about doing custom wine and beer racks.

 

[PsiWulf7]

Having lived in Wiggleyville in my younger days, I have to say I agree with Cheese. I think if you want a place in the city limits on or near the north side, Jefferson Park or Edison Park - someplace where people have homes and can actually drive from place to place - would be a better choice. And don't kid yourself - you will be competing with the better Internet Homebrew sites out there. Austin Homebrew Supply, Beer, Beer & More Beer, Northern Brewer and Freshops all rank high.

Locally, The Brewer's Coop in Warrenville, Brew & Grow in Schaumburg, The Homebrew Shop in St. Charles and Chicagoland Winemakers in Elmhurst are the best LHBS' in the area, IMHO. You should take a trip out to each. Chicagoland Winemakers has been in business for a very long time. I bought a kit from then with a buddy of mine back when I was in college - in 1978!

That's great! We've been talking about taking a trip to those stores for a while, and we've finally planned it for the coming two weekends.

 

[gruntingfrog]

Don't give the brew-on-premises too much thought. They take WAY too much initial investment and rarely pay for themselves. There's a reason why most go out of business fairly quickly.

You could host new brewer parties, lessons, seminars, discussion panels, etc. Don't overlook the power of education to make someone spend money. If you sell immersion wort chillers, for example, give a class on how a proper cold-break improves your beer (complete with samples given out from two batches of the same beer one using a chiller, the other using an ice-bath). Don't make it a sales pitch since people can see right through that, but if you educate them many will see the actual value of the product and purchase it.

Oh, BTW... GOOD LUCK. It will be hard work, but with the right planning and decisions you'll make it.

 

[Orpheus]

It's hard to communicate tone on the internet... I was trying to be succinct as opposed to cranky. Sorry!

Yeah I think it was a tone thing. There was another thread a while back about cranky HBS owners who looked down on their customers with scorn and contempt instead of being helpful and knowledgeable. I think he was making a joke that you shouldn't be one of those owners.

 

[olllllo]

Yeah I think it was a tone thing. There was another thread a while back about cranky HBS owners who looked down on their customers with scorn and contempt instead of being helpful and knowledgeable. I think he was making a joke that you shouldn't be one of those owners.

Woops!
Whoa!

How'd I miss that. Orpheus is right. That's exactly how I meant it.

PsiWulf7, my apologies about that.

That's why I re-itereated about answering n00b Q's and still be smiling. IMO you have to be that type of person.

 

[jezter6]

I have a different experiance with my LHBS. They are cluttered and messy and located between strip clubs in a bad part of town.

Please tell me the city you live in. Average salary range. And directions to THAT homebrew store! And can I crash at your place till I can find a job?

My LHBS (well 2 of them) are either 15 miles up into the farm country with just country roads and cattle, or 45 minutes away on the other side of the beltway.

I'd KILL to have one of them near my favorite bar...