Running a liquor store takes careful planning, attention to detail, and a lot of hard work. From making sure your store holds the necessary permits, to growing your clientele on social media, the duties of liquor store owners are varied and complex.
But, lucky for you, we’re here to help! Read on for liquor store responsibilities you should be aware of, as well as tricks of the trade and resources you can use to simplify the day-to-day of your liquor store.
1. Obtain the Necessary Licenses and Permits
In most states, you will need to obtain a liquor license in order to sell alcohol, and potentially a sales tax permit. Other possible licenses and permits that you may need include:
- Building permit: If you are constructing a new building or making significant renovations to an existing one, you will likely need a building permit.
- Sign permit: Depending on your local ordinances, you may need to obtain a permit for any signs you want to display on your premises.
- Zoning permit: If you are opening a business in a specific area, you may need to obtain a zoning permit to ensure that you are in compliance with local laws and regulations.
It’s important to research and obtain all necessary licenses and permits before opening your business, as failure to do so can result in fines and other legal consequences.
2. Stock Your Liquor Store
Determine what types of liquor you want to sell based on your location, target market, and local laws. Consider the following factors:
- Target market: If your target market is young professionals, consider stocking more premium spirits such as vodka, gin, and whiskey. If your target market is college students, focus on more affordable options such as beer and cheaper vodka brands.
- Local laws: Research local laws regarding what types of liquor can be sold and in what quantities. For example, some states may only allow the sale of beer and wine, while others may allow the sale of all types of alcohol.
Deciding your inventory composition isn’t a one-and-done job, however. When you stock your liquor store, your objective is to maximize profits – know your best-sellers and make sure they’re always on the shelves – and minimize losses by preventing overstocking of items that aren’t selling as well.
Point of sale systems can analyze your sales data and recent trends to create inventory reports, allowing you to quickly identify which items are flying off the shelves and which ones need to be discontinued.
For example, Bottle POS’s auto ranking feature grades all your items on a scale from A to D, color coding your stock based on sales patterns. The next step? Creating purchase orders that ensure your store is stocked to perfection.
3. Promote Your Small Business
Use marketing and advertising techniques to attract customers to your store. This can include social media, email marketing, local advertising, and in-store promotions.
Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter should be used to showcase your products, share customer reviews, and offer promotions and discounts. This can help to attract new customers and engage with your existing ones.
Make sure to develop an email marketing campaign to send newsletters, special offers, and product updates to your subscribers. Segment your email list by interests and alcohol preferences to ensure that your messages are relevant and targeted to each individual.
And, of course, offer in-store promotions and discounts to incentivize customers to visit your store. This can include loyalty programs, buy-one-get-one-free offers, and special deals for first-time customers. Utilize customer reviews and testimonials to showcase the value and quality of your products. This can help to build trust and credibility with potential customers and encourage them to shop with you.
Don’t forget: The best customer is a return customer! After all, a five percent increase in customer retention results in an average of a 25 percent boost in your small business’ profits. A customer loyalty program will be a huge part of promoting your business – and once again, a POS solution can help.
Many systems, such as Bottle POS, come with a loyalty and reward program baked into the software, as well as a customer display to entice your shoppers to sign up.
4. Follow Local and State Alcohol Laws
Last, but not least! Make sure you are following all local and state laws regarding the sale and distribution of alcohol. This includes checking IDs, not selling to minors, and closing at the appropriate times.
Additionally, be aware of any special regulations or restrictions on the sale of alcohol, such as designated dry areas or licenses required for certain types of events or locations. It is important to properly train your staff on these laws and regulations to ensure compliance. Ignoring or disregarding these laws can result in serious consequences, including fines, loss of license, and even criminal charges.
Fortunately, a point of sale system can lift some of that burden. Many liquor store POS systems incorporate age verification software into the checkout process. When an age-restricted item is scanned, your POS software will prompt you to enter the customer’s date of birth, making sure that verifying your customer’s age never slips your mind.
And to simplify the process even further, POS hardware, such as an ID scanner, guarantees rapid age verification. Protect your business and customers by following the law and maintaining a responsible and legal alcohol sales operation.
How To Run a Liquor Store With a POS System
Running your own liquor store involves multiple moving pieces – but liquor store point of sale systems offer painless and efficient ways to consolidate your responsibilities. Smart inventory tracking, customer loyalty programs, and age verification are just the tip of the iceberg – certain POS solutions, like Bottle POS, even expand into employee management and store security.
Feeling confident that you know how to run a liquor store? Want to give Bottle POS a spin? Schedule a demo with our team to run your liquor store in style!
