Creating Your Purchasing Playbook: 3 Initiatives for Any Size Brewery

This presentation is about helping ‘craft owners/operators' accomplish two things, 1) creating a purchasing playbook for their business and 2) developing clear near-term actions they can take back to their brewery/distillery/etc. The discussion starts with outlining how organizations can use a few simple documents to create the necessary data to drive a procurement process. Specifically, starting to outline their current state of costs; what are they buying, from who, per unit cost, etc. (Free downloadable template to be provided)

With both a playbook and content/data established – Negotiating is the next topic. Many people are uncomfortable with negotiating. This presentation will touch on reframing this approach to working with your suppliers. Less on either, ‘us vs them’ or the ‘supplier friendship’ issue and more on approaching negotiation with transparency. Also, we’ll review a host of things that a small craft business can negotiate on besides just price.

Lastly, rounding out the purchasing playbook discussion is how to think of cost savings exercises as important as increasing sales. Now, more than ever, it’s critical for the craft industry to realize that the challenges of supply chain, inflation, and increased competition aren’t going away. But cost reduction measures can help organizations avoid the trap of working harder for less money. A purchasing playbook can be a great tool to help you do more in years to come without impacting your craft. We’ll share benchmark percentages for running a lean operation that creates a foundation to build on.

Who should attend? New craft owners, those thinking to start a business, or legacy craft experts - all could find a tip or two on how to create/update their playbook to address the challenges ahead for 2023.

My name is Dan Klasen and I’m the Founder and President of the Beer & Wine Federation (BWF). The BWF is a Group Purchasing Organization that provides procurement services to its craft members, focused heavily on cost savings measures.

Starting the BWF has combined my passion for meeting new small business owners, negotiation, and cost-saving programs. I have worked with every size organization in my career, from small family-run companies to fortune 500 businesses.

As I moved from a technology firm, to sales, to project management, to purchasing in a large manufacturing company – I was continually drawn to talking to people about what it would take to get the project done right and on budget. Specifically, how could I share best practices and improve the outcomes.

I recently completed my MBA with a focus on negotiation and finance. And when I’m not meeting new breweries and wineries to discuss purchasing strategies on running lean, I spend my weekends trying to convince my two little girls that Mario Kart (N64) is the best video game ever created.

Join us in-person for CBP Connects | Half workshop, half networking

Milwaukee, WI | June 19-21, 2023

Grab your spot now at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cbp-connects-milwaukee-presented-by-arryved-pos-june-19-21-2023-tickets-420534529097