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Apply HN: Tiz.com

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Re: Apply HN: Tiz.com

#11

Post by tboxer »

jeffmould wrote: post #9

From a bar/restaurant manager perspective, I never understood why distributors don't integrate technology. When I managed a large bar/restaurant, ordering $1000s of dollars of liquor/beer each week, I would have to call each order in to my rep's voicemail and leave a message. If he had any questions he would call me back and ask for clarification. In almost every order though there was at least one issue where the wr…

Great thoughts and exactly the problem we are trying to solve.

We actually have our system setup to work with Bevinco, which comes in and takes your inventory in the middle of the night and then generates an inventory report. We have a quick order page that matches that so they can just run down a list (opposed to driving through a catalog, which is our main way).

Our plan is to eventually have inventory be apart of our system so we can have machine learning on par levels, consumption, ordering.

Re: Apply HN: Tiz.com

#12

Post by lfjmfkekdk »

tboxer wrote: post #5
wehadfun wrote: post #3

Are the distributors mom and pop shops or big corporations? How does Walmart/Costco/Big grocery store chain place orders for liquor now?

There is a pretty big range - but it ends up being a nice mix of large, medium and small. Large distributors will typically be your macro beer and liquor brands. Mom and pop distributors will typically be niche wine distributors. A handful of chains have developed systems to create PO's, but a majority just rely on sales reps to service the account.

Can you elaborate on the who the large distributors are? Are those like Budweiser and Coors, who also distribute alcohol from other manufacturers?

Re: Apply HN: Tiz.com

#13

Post by buss »

tboxer wrote: post #10
buss wrote: post #8

Can you explain a bit more about how the current system works, and how your software would make it better? Are the distributors and wholesalers going to save more/make more money by using your software? How?

1) Accounts (bars, restaurants, wedding halls, grocery stores, etc.) are either served by a sales rep or the orders have to be phoned in if you don't have a sales rep. If you have a sales rep, you place your order by calling, texting or emailing. The problem is that all ordering and product info is then reactive to the rep. You can't login and see prices or products available, you have to reach out to your rep to ans…

Wow, that's madness. You've definitely found a great market to modernize.

How big is this market?

Re: Apply HN: Tiz.com

#14

Post by davemel37 »

tboxer wrote: post #10
buss wrote: post #8

Can you explain a bit more about how the current system works, and how your software would make it better? Are the distributors and wholesalers going to save more/make more money by using your software? How?

1) Accounts (bars, restaurants, wedding halls, grocery stores, etc.) are either served by a sales rep or the orders have to be phoned in if you don't have a sales rep. If you have a sales rep, you place your order by calling, texting or emailing. The problem is that all ordering and product info is then reactive to the rep. You can't login and see prices or products available, you have to reach out to your rep to ans…

Strange question - Is there a reason it is still done this way? Are there entrenched distributors and commissioned sales reps that are incentivized to keep things the same way?

Many wholesale & distributor businesses seem to operate this way, but the reason is rarely due to lack of available technology solutions... Just a thought worth thinking about.

Re: Apply HN: Tiz.com

#16

Post by 6thSigma »

Do distributors currently have software that you can tie into to get up-to-date stock and prices?

Are there any legal hurdles with scaling this across state lines?

Re: Apply HN: Tiz.com

#17

Post by Gargoyle »

tboxer wrote: post #6
PM_NAKED_PIKS wrote: post #2

Nice idea. But that's the problem, it's just an idea.

So in order to get distributors onboard, we have been signing up bar and restaurant groups to use our service to send sales reps orders. Our goal is to go back to distributors and ask for integrations once we have the orders to back it up.

Have you talked directly to distributors (or even their salespeople) to ask why they haven't done this? What are their concerns?

Re: Apply HN: Tiz.com

#18

Post by numlocked »

I'm involved in placing POs for CPG products (I work for a retailer). Why would the process be fundamentally different for liquor wholesales & retailers? I get that it's currently an inefficient system, but if you could snap your fingers and put the tech in place, what about it is differentiated enough from existing purchase order systems to justify focusing specifically on the liquor biz? Genuinely curious!

Re: Apply HN: Tiz.com

#19

Post by tboxer »

davemel37 wrote: post #14
tboxer wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1) Accounts (bars, restaurants, wedding halls, grocery stores, etc.) are either served by a sales rep or the orders have to be phoned in if you don't have a sales rep. If you have a sales rep, you place your order by calling, texting or emailing. The problem is that all ordering and product info is then reactive to the rep. You can't login and see prices or products available, you have to reach out to your rep to ans…

Strange question - Is there a reason it is still done this way? Are there entrenched distributors and commissioned sales reps that are incentivized to keep things the same way? Many wholesale & distributor businesses seem to operate this way, but the reason is rarely due to lack of available technology solutions... Just a thought worth thinking about.

The sales reps could see it as a threat depending on how it works with them. We always say that there is a place for good sales reps, we just don't want them to be glorified order takers.

You do also have a lot of old school distributor owners that view sales reps as hand to hand combat and are afraid of losing that touch point.

Re: Apply HN: Tiz.com

#20

Post by tboxer »

buss wrote: post #13
tboxer wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1) Accounts (bars, restaurants, wedding halls, grocery stores, etc.) are either served by a sales rep or the orders have to be phoned in if you don't have a sales rep. If you have a sales rep, you place your order by calling, texting or emailing. The problem is that all ordering and product info is then reactive to the rep. You can't login and see prices or products available, you have to reach out to your rep to ans…

Wow, that's madness. You've definitely found a great market to modernize. How big is this market?

There are 5600 distributors in the country. Our software could also work though for self distributed beers, liquor and wine, as they have to take orders also.
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