I’ve always scratched my head to see places that sell only alcohol, tobacco, and junk food go out of business. After all, if you can’t make money from people’s cravings - what can you make money at?
(I’m sure there are exceptions… I have a friend who runs a liquor store in a rural community, and I’m sure it’s not dealing with the same “clientele” of the places I’m recalling which closed. Unlike my friend’s shop, these didn’t ever serve any “upscale” customers. The places I’m thinking about, for instance, would never host a “wine tasting”… maybe a snuff-tasting, but not a wine tasting.)
But to show how tough times are, at least in the UK, even beer sales are falling to Depression levels. I’m not sure if anyone’s closed shop, but in this case the problem is identifiable – rising taxes.
But I’ve also heard that hops are less accessible to smaller brewers than ever in the US and prices are zooming in that market.
On the other hand, beers from smaller breweries with more alcohol and unique flavors are doing well by some accounts. Headline: Craft Brewers grabbing Market Share
Go figure.
Homejobsite on July 29th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Times are tough for a lot of people, but with the right eyes and Internet Marketing tools, there is always Beer money available!
Reginald on July 29th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Perhaps the smaller breweries are doing well because they have invested their time and effort into creating a quality product.
Quality is always a good buy.