fbpx

ginger tipple

Tipple on the Catwalk

by

Panningen 2018

About one month ago, Ginger Tipple’s distributor in Herentals asked me if I would like to do an event with a customer in Panningen on Sunday April 8th, I answered positively. It was not on Passover, and my sons would be here to help, so it sounded like a great idea.

Step 1 – Where is Panningen?

Ginger BeerPanningen is a small town of 7,500 people in south-eastern Holland. It is also the location of Wijnhuis Panningen, a beautiful wine, spirits and beer store which also stocks Ginger Tipple. Each year Panningen hosts a classic car and fashion event in the town center.

One upmarket clothing store which was exhibiting in the hourly fashion show is called Ginger, run by Elly van Bilzen, who has ginger hair.

For the first anniversary of her store what could be more appropriate than to offer Ginger Tipple to Ginger’s customers?

Expectations

Ginger BeerWe expected to be in a small shopping mall, but were happily surprised to be outside the shop on the main shopping area right next to the fashion show. There were ballet performances from the local girls’ dance school and a local fitness studio staged an impressive exhibition of weight training and boxing.

It was most probably the first time citizens of Panningen saw orthodox Jews with their skullcaps on their heads, but it did not seem to affect the flow of people to our stand.

The people there were very friendly and open to talking to strangers.

We were really lucky with the weather, a pleasant and sunny 25 Celsius; had it rained, a common occurrence in this part of the world, the whole fashion show would have been a disaster. One of the local wine bars had a notice which read “A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine.”

Feedback

Ginger BeerThis was the first event where we were presenting both the regular 8.5% ABV Ginger Tipple and the 4.5% version, Ginger Tipple 4. Also, the stronger Tipples were older, two years as opposed to two months. The Tipple 4 was considered more refreshing while the regular Ginger Tipple came over as more of a “drinker’s” drink.

Thanks to Caspar and Lindsy at the Wijnhuis for their help in initiating and organizing the event. Hopefully we’ll be back next year.

 

Stuttgart Flemish Beer Tasting

by

The German Approach

When the Flanders Investment and Trade Agency advertised the Flemish beer tasting event in Stuttgart a few months ago, I jumped at the opportunity. Breaking into a new market takes time, and every country is different, especially Germany. The timing was difficult, to travel 550km each way a week after returning from Kosherfest in America was tough but manageable.

Flanders Investment and Trade

This agency is efficient and we had to submit our list of invitees and descriptions of our products in German about two months before the event. The agenda included a dinner the night before the event with the Belgium ambassador to Germany. Fortunately, they were able to arrange a kosher meal for me from the local Jewish restaurant.

Ginger Beer

The tasting was held in the Stuttgart Cultural center, and I was proud to be among the 16 brewers there, especially since Ginger Tipple was placed above Duvel  and Westmalle in the program!

The time before the event opened was a wonderful opportunity to meet with some the top brewers and salesmen in the Belgian brewing world.

When they came to taste this newcomer to such an event, I really appreciated their feedback.

The Ambassador

The ambassador really surprised me, first of all he liked both the regular Ginger Tipple and the Ginger Kriek which immediately makes him a good man. He looked at the label and said, “OKp, it’s pareve?” When I told him it was for Passover the replied that he will buy some bottles to take to his friends in Cleveland with whom he will be celebrating the Seder.

Ginger Beer

The Presentation & Tasting

The Agency invited a German beer specialist, Irina Zimmerman, to present all of the breweries. At least she could pronounce my family name properly.

I did not make any secret of being Jewish etc.  and Mrs Zimmerman was very interested in the kosher aspect. However, there were some guests who did not come to the Ginger Tipple stand, even though the trade attaché and Mrs Zimmerman strongly recommended that they do.

Perhaps they don’t like ginger 🙂

As I had to drive back that evening, I was unable to really enjoy the beers on presentation, although I was given a few complimentary bottles.

Ginger Beer

In Conclusion

Unfortunately, only about one third of the people came and there were not many importers and distributors who are the gateway to the German market. However, most of the guests enjoyed tasting Ginger Tipple and Ginger Kriek, and the restaurants, bars and shops were all interested in ordering. One very hip bar wants Ginger Tipple at its annual craft beer festival in March.

 

 

Kosherfest – Here We Come

by

Kosherfest 2017

To be precise, here I come.

I have exhibited at trade show before for companies where I have worked, but this is the first time it is my own business.

Kosherfest is considered the largest trade show for kosher food in the world and it attracts over 5,000 visitors, all of whom have to be in the business. It is not open to the general public. The tickets cost $100, and trust me the booths are much more expensive.

Importing Beer in the US

Immediately after booking the booth I investigated how to ship samples of Ginger Tipple to the US. I am entitled to import into the US bottles of beer which will not be for sale and only for use at a show. It is called a COLA exemption. Sounds simple, until your bottles arrive the the port of entry.

None of the shipping companies can estimate the cost of customs clearance, and a missing logo, symbol or warning will mean that you goods are stuck there. Then you have to pay for storage at customs and even more to the customs agent who now has to do more work to sort out the labels.

I would also have to find an importer to be the FDA importer of record, not too difficult, there is a company in France which will arrange it for $650. But once they are on record, if you want to change to a different importer they have to be willing to relinquish the honour. I was warned that there have a quite a few cases where they charge you a lot of money for the privilege.

Belgium in a Box

Kurt from Belgium in a Box specialises in shipping beer to the US and he advised shipping the beer by parcel post. It was quite expensive, but he has a very high delivery success rate. There are the big advantages of neither customs nor the FDA getting involved.

The bottles have arrived at the logistics company for the show – they charge an arm and a leg for receiving the boxes, holding them for 2 weeks and bringing them to the show.  And if your boxes arrive after a certain date, they will charge even more. But, for that price you are guaranteed that your boxes will be in the right place on the right date.

To date, all of that has been arranged and now I have to finalise the marketing materials and an assistant for the show.