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News of interest to Kansas retailers.  You must log in to submit comments.   
  • Thursday, October 03, 2019 5:05 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    3x3 is committed to making your liquor store smarter; And, as a KABR member, you can sign up for free!

    To claim your free membership and learn more about how 3x3 can help you grow  your bottom line, please attend our special CEO presentation at the annual KABR meeting Saturday, October 5, 2019.

    We deliver critical insights to independent retailers through DataBar™, our easy-to-use dashboard, which goes beyond the capabilities of any POS system to help you:

    • Run more successful promotions
    • Drive bigger baskets and higher sales
    • Better understand trends in your local market
    • Earn new and loyal customers

    Interested in speaking with a 3x3 team member at the event? Make sure to click the link to schedule a time to chat with our Director of Retail Partnerships, Emily Newton. 

     Schedule A Time To Chat 

    See you all this weekend!

    Sincerely, 

    The 3x3 Insights Team

    Emily Newton

    Director of Retail Partnerships

    c - (401) 862-8424

    o - (646) 442-5829


  • Monday, September 30, 2019 5:31 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The Kansas Association of Beverage Retailers has partnered with Heartland & Patrick Schreiner to offer you a full suite of business solutions to help your business provide impressive service and establish strong connections with customers.  This decision was based on Patrick’s long history with the industry – more than 18 years in Kansas - and strong reputation for personal service.  Heartland & Patrick support locally owned businesses, and understand your needs and concerns.

    • Convenient, fast, cost effective & customized to your needs payment processing 
    • Payroll and HR 
    • Valuable customer engagement tools
    • Gift & loyalty card programs
    • POS integration - Cheers, EZSpirits, Cloud Retailer, Liquor POS, PC America and many more
    • Helpful analytics 
    • Lending
    • Local partners 

    To learn how Heartland Payment Systems & Patrick can help your business grow and thrive, call 913-748-1414 or e-mail patrick.schreiner@e-hps.com today.  In addition to working for your Kansas business, the Heartland partnership will provide support to the Association and its member programs and advocacy.


  • Thursday, September 19, 2019 8:35 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Since the Beer Law became effective April 1, we have been watching the numbers to see what they can tell us. The Division of ABC reports the number of liquor store licenses have gone down from 748 in January 2019 to 727 in September 2019.  This is a downward trend that started two years ago when the law was passed.  There were 761 licensed liquor stores in 2017. Tax data is not as straightforward.  A report of enforcement tax receipts by county seems to show that liquor store sales are down when comparing June and July 2019 to June and July 2018.  However, different numbers were reported at the Legislative Budget Committee meeting.  We are pursuing answers from the Department of Revenue and will continue to monitor this data.  KABR members will be updated as new information becomes available.

    Violations of the Liquor Control Act and the Cereal Malt Beverage Act can be reported directly to the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control through the website https://www.ksrevenue.org/abcindex.html We are aware of numerous instances of pricing violations addressed by the agency.


  • Tuesday, September 03, 2019 8:38 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    By now, you have already received information about the annual conference in your inbox – but if you are a little behind with your email, you should check out the enclosed flyer!  You won’t find a more convenient and affordable opportunity for off-premise retailers to gather together, network with colleagues and share best practices to improve their businesses.  In one day, you can get employee training, business education, and get your questions answered by the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC).  This is also your opportunity to hear from state legislators about what is happening at the State Legislature and add your voice to decisions being made about future law changes. 

    See more at www.kansasretailer.org or register now at https://kaobr.wildapricot.org/event-3546881  


  • Monday, July 01, 2019 7:42 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The Supreme Court struck down the Tennessee 2-Year residency requirement applicable to retail liquor store license applicants.  They held that it violates the Commerce Clause and is not saved by the 21st Amendment.  The ruling states that “protectionism” is not a legitimate state interest to allow skirting the nondiscrimination requirement of the Commerce Clause.  And so – we now know that this court does not consider the 21st Amendment enough to protect all state liquor laws.  This means that the Kansas residency law is at risk and we will have to be prepared for action during the 2020 Legislative Session.  Additionally, it could open the door to challenges by out of state retailers who want to be able to ship into states that allow in state retailers to ship product.  

    The good news is that the decision cites examples of other kinds of state laws that can be used for the purposes of meaningful liquor regulation without discrimination, such as limiting both the number of retail licenses and the amount of alcohol that may be sold to an individual, mandating more extensive training for managers and employees, or monitoring retailer practices and taking action against those who violate the law. 


  • Monday, July 01, 2019 5:44 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The 2019 Beverage Alcohol Retailers Conference was full of interesting information – we will be sharing some of the highlights over the next few weeks.

    The opening keynote was provided by David Jabour, owner of Twin Liquors.  They have 80 stores in Texas.  It is always fascinating to see that the bigger stores face many of the same operational challenges as smaller stores.  

    Twin Liquors began as a single neighborhood store.  Jabour’s father was in the business and had a twin brother.  The chain was actually started after his father retired from his original store, and missed the business.  David and his sister now run the company – keeping it a family business.  Jabour shared his ideas in response to a number of one-on-one questions.

    On pricing - value doesn’t mean price alone.  Liquor stores can sell below cost in Texas, but Twin Liquors tries not to do that.  It is important to add value to the product.  Value equation is different in every market.  Need to be competitive, but what does the store offer?  How excited is the customer to shop with you?  If they are just shopping with you for low prices, the consumer will easily go to the next guy.  Shoppers want to be connected to “their” store.

    Changes in Texas – certainty that we all have is that all of the laws under the 21st amendment will continue to be challenged.  As retail focuses on the beverage alcohol category, pressure will increase.  Historically, the laws have focused on safe regulated sale of the product, which has created some very good laws for our industry.  Walmart is challenging a number of our laws in Texas – and moved in federal district court.  In late April, became an Appellate Fifth Circuit case.  Very interesting.  Will get a decision from that in the next few months.  We will see what that brings, but it could be an overnight change in our state.  We have to be prepared for that.  What does that mean?  Always try to be the best that you can be.

    Courts are changing the rules.  Tennessee – first spotlight in Tennessee – more and more is going on in the courts more than the statehouses.  That is going to continue.  (Tennessee is the residency case.)

    You have to be involved in your state trade associations.  ABL provides an amazing conduit for all of us to dialogue in a format that exchanges issues and best practices among the states.  If it is going on in another state, it is likely to come to your state.  We are all here because of those state trade associations that have put good laws in place for our industry throughout the years.  Jabour is an ABL board member.  Stay involved.  Stay engaged in trade associations.

    BARC is also a great venue to exchange best practices.  Not necessarily just state laws, but other challenges and opportunities that we have.  Things that we are doing here today make us better.  The more that we can communicate, the more we share best practices, and we can pick up valuable lessons from others.

    "We know that beverage alcohol is at its best with independent retail.  We do not want to be a dying breed, we want to be a thriving breed."

    Will Twin Liquors expand to other states?  Texas is a big state.  Not really looking to invest outside of that.  The moment you quit investing in growth is the moment you are slipping behind.  We continue to look to invest in growth / acquisitions as they come to us.  We have never acquired a company where we were looking to grow.  Maybe it was a family business that didn’t have a succession in place or didn’t want to continue to run the business.  We’ve never gone out and aggressively pursue those acquisitions, they have come to us.

    Choices to add services or locations come down to answering consumer demands.  If the consumer wants it, then we are going to look at it – part of our business plan is to respond to the consumer demand.

    Some of the new technologies and strategies in the business are disruptive to our current business model, how do you address those challenges?  We want to be prepared to respond to change, but the challenges are the disruptions.  The current regulated model works today and we need to continue to convince politicians and judges that it works well and why it is important.  At the same time, we have to recognize what our customers want and will support.  Be prepared for change.

    Today, every consumer wants everything now.  That mentality gets going and the confluence of that with the three tier system looks like tectonic plates merging.  It creates tremors and we have to try not to build on a fault line.  That’s what disruption is.  We have to be prepared to have those conversations with our elected officials.  Most of them want to help – we are the face of the communities we serve and they want us to be there and to provide jobs.  They have conflicting pressures on them, so you have to be there to educate them.

    Ultimately, it has been fun to build from one little 700 foot store into the current company.  But it is about more than that.  We have built brands and other things.  We’ve been part of this industry going back to Prohibition.  It is all about how to make this industry better.  Take a brand like Tito’s.  I can think back to the infancy of Tito’s and how we helped to grow that brand.  That is one of the fun things.  Told story about encouraging Tito to resist the urge of getting into flavors.  And he did - think that was a good decision.  Deep Eddy is a growing brand.  Remember when it had base flavor and sweet tea.  Was thinking about their flavors, habanero and lime were considered – he urged them to do the Texas Ruby Red Grapefruit – loved sharing the ideas, knew it could grow and be popular.  That was a fun thing to do – to share those ideas and see them succeed.  Takes all of us to make it better and do that ten fold over.  One conversation at a time.

    The Q & A with David Jabour was very interesting.  Hope you find something of interest to take from these notes!  We will share more from the conference in upcoming communications.


  • Friday, April 05, 2019 6:21 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Apr 5, 2019   https://governor.kansas.gov/governor-kelly-signs-bill-supporting-licensed-retail-liquor-stores/

    Encourages Kansans to continue to shop local, signs five additional bills yesterday

    Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed several bills yesterday, including one that provides support to local licensed retail liquor stores and the Kansas citizens who own them.

    “Throughout my years of serving in the Legislature, I have supported our licensed retail liquor stores and the Kansas citizens who own them,” Kelly said. “I know that April 1 has brought new challenges as well as new opportunities for these small Kansas-owned businesses.”

    House Bill 2035 simplifies the tax duties of licensed retail liquor stores, as it relates to the sale of cereal malt beverages and strong beer products. It also provides for uniform law enforcement under the New Beer Law that became effective on April 1, 2019. This legislation will become effective upon its publication in the Kansas Register.

    “I encourage Kansas shoppers to continue to choose to shop at local businesses where the profits and tax dollars support the local economy,” Kelly said.


  • Wednesday, April 03, 2019 5:46 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    KABR is asking Governor Kelly to expedite signing HB 2035 which was passed by the Legislature late last week so it can be published in the Kansas Register - triggering its effective date.  HB 2035 establishes the tax rate for cereal malt beverages by a retail liquor store at the 8% enforcement tax rate - equal to the tax paid on other alcoholic beverage products.  This bill also provides for uniform law enforcement under the new Beer Law that become effective April 1.  This bill is basically another trailer bill for 2017 Sub for SB 13 - the Beer Law.  KABR, KWSWA, Division of ABC, Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police, the Kansas Sheriff's Association and the Kansas Peace Officers Association had lobbied for the bill to be final prior to April 1, but there was a delay for House concurrence.  

    The Division of Taxation sent a notice Tuesday night telling retail liquor stores to charge sales tax on cereal malt beverage products until this legislation is implemented (on publication in the register). Currently, liquor stores pay enforcement tax on all beer, wine and spirits products. This is an issue for programming point of sale systems and recordkeeping.  This is, of course, evidence that cereal malt beverages have not "gone away" as advertised by the Uncork proponents.

    Additionally, any charges filed by a local law enforcement officer and submitted to the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control since April 1 could be challenged because HB 2035 was not final prior to the April 1 rollout of the Beer Law.

    We will let you know as soon as the bill is signed, but in the meantime, liquor stores must collect sales tax on the sale of any 3.2 products (cereal malt beverages).  It may be worthwhile to keep these products off the sales floor until the bill is published in the Kansas Register.     


    From: KDOR_ABC Email [mailto:KDOR_ABC.Email@KS.GOV]
    Sent: Tuesday, April 02, 2019 4:47 PM
    Subject: Division of Taxation's Notice to Retail Liquor Stores regarding Taxation of Cereal Malt Beverage Products

     

    NOTICE TO RETAIL LIQUOR STORES

     

    2019 H.B. 2035 amends K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 41-308 to provide that all alcoholic liquor, cereal malt beverage and nonalcoholic malt beverage sold by a holder of a retail license shall be subject to the liquor enforcement tax imposed by K.S.A. 79-4101.  This change is effective April 1, 2019 and upon publication of the act in the Kansas register.  Until such time as such publication occurs, holders of a retail license shall continue to collect retailers’ sales tax on the sale of cereal malt beverage.  On the day of publication of the act, liquor enforcement tax shall be collected on such sales.

     

     

    Kansas Department of Revenue - Alcoholic Beverage Control

    Mailing Address:  Mills Building , PO Box 3506 , Topeka , KS 66601 -3506

    Physical Address:  109 SW 9th Street , 5th Floor, Topeka , KS 66612

    Phone:  785-296-7015

    Fax:  785-296-7185

    Email:  KDOR_abc.email@ks.gov

    Website: www.ksrevenue.org/abc.html

    Facebook:  www.facebook.com/KansasAlcoholicBeverageControl


  • Sunday, February 10, 2019 4:19 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    NOW IN ITS THIRD YEAR, the Beverage Alcohol Retailers Conference is the only national event that provides off-premise retailers the opportunity to gather together, network with colleagues and share best practices to improve their businesses and KABR members are eligible for a 50% discount registration using the promo code PARTNER.  https://bevretailersconference.com/ 

    Join us in Louisville on June 10-12 for another education-first BARC, where you’ll meet our contributors, editors and our most avid readers. Our track sessions, panel discussions and keynote presentations will all provide valuable educational material, which will make leaving your store for a few days worthwhile. Over the past two years, the event has grown by 20% in attendance. If you have attended in past years, we hope to see you in Kentucky next year, as we have some unique opportunities you will only find at BARC. If you’re new to BARC, please consider joining us in 2019!

    Top 100 Retailers

    In 2019, Beverage Dynamics will once again recognize retailers from throughout the country who demonstrate innovation, excellent customer service and superior beverage alcohol industry knowledge. Will your store make the list?

    Nominations for the 2019 Top 100 Retailers are now open through the end of February.

    Winners will be honored at the Beverage Alcohol Retailers Conference in Louisville on June 12, and featured in the July/August 2019 issue of Beverage Dynamics.


  • Monday, January 21, 2019 3:39 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Retailers are preparing for change on April 1 2019, when the laws regulating the sale of strong beer in Kansas will change.  CMB retailers will be able to sell beer up to 6.0% ABV and liquor retailers will be able to offer other products besides alcoholic liquor. Depending on your perspective, this change may be welcome, or you may be dreading the experience.  Many retailers are making changes to ease the transition and hope to carve out a new space in the retail market.

    KABR hosted its annual conference in October, featuring education regarding the upcoming changes to Kansas beer sales and strategies for retailers.  Since then, AB Inbev and Coors/Miller have hosted retailer gatherings to share information about the transition and what to expect.  Debbi Beavers, Director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, participated in these events and shared the presentation linked below to help retailers navigate the changing rules.  The information has been updated as new questions have come forward.

    Remember, KABR is in regular contact with the Director and others in the industry.  If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will do our best to get what you need.

    CHANGING BEER SALES IN KANSAS - ABC Presentation

    ABC RETAILERS HANDBOOK - Updated 2018

    INDUSTRY NOTICE January 2019


Call Us:  785-969-1617

Email

Address:
P.O. Box 3842
Topeka | Kansas 66604-0842

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