HomeBrew Supply Store

[WooBrew]

We are in the busisness plan development stage of opening a homebrew store in our area. We are looking for comments, suggestions, or ideas that you would like to see in a homebrew store. Let us know what you've seen and liked so we can see if it would fit into our model.

We are toying with the notion of having an all grain system on premises that people can use for a fee. In addition, we would use the equipment for training seminars.

Also toying with selling craft beer in the store as well as most homebrewers I know, enjoy drinking craft beer as much as they love making it.

 

[McGarnigle]

How much have you looked into the craft beer aspect? I would think that's something you either have to do heavy or not at all. My local beer store sells LHBS stuff....tons of beer, some homebrew stuff. I'm not sure if the other way around would be tougher due to issues of freshness, distributors, etc.

Would you sell fresh extract or just cans? Any of your own kits, or just Cooper's, True Brew, etc. You have to sell some canned kits as a lot of people use those.

 

[samc]

Couple of recent threads on this subject, you should read those.

For me it would be store run by people who understand business. It rarely is the case. My favorite LHBS has been having issues keeping stuff in stock. They are loaded with liquid yeast of all varieties but recently trying to get US-05 or Notty has been tough. The list goes on with supply issues.

I also like places that have complimentary hobbies, wine/cheese, etc. available with someone knowledgable brought in to demo.

 

[TheMan]

I rarely shop at my LHBS, mainly for one reason. If my LHBS sold the specialty grains in less than 1 pound increments I would buy from them...They do not though, and I have no desire to buy 1 pound when I only need 4 ounces...

So I buy online from the guys that will send ounce by ounce increments.

And this one is a no-brainer, but price plays a huge part. My LHBS is far more expensive than the online stores for just about everything. On top of this I have to buy a whole pound of X grains when as mentioned above, I only need 4 ounces per say. This just makes them far more expensive, even without shipping. I would probably pay the premium price for their yeast and other stuff if I could buy grain in smaller increments.

 

[Brad1775]

Freshness is key for me, I've never bought any canned kits, helped friends with them, but they aren't as exciting as weighing your own lme, crushing your own grains (find your average price point on grains, our LHBS has all for 2.42/ lbs). Start with not much equipment for sale, afterall, there is surplus and sales online. you are looking to bring people back often, maybe a recipe punch card? Every 5 kits you buy, 6th is free or something. Oh, have kits prelate, of course, so people can qualify. I dunno man