Last year, the Washington Brewers Guild presented the first-ever Washington Brewers Conference, which was a big success, but a second-annual event was not in the cards this year, for obvious reasons. The WBG Base Camp is presented in lieu of the in-person conference.
Learn more and register for each session here.
Base Camp sessions are free to all WBG members—brewery owners and employees. You can Register here for each session individually. (Check out the virtual swag bag, featuring special offers for Base Camp registered attendees.)
Among the many informative, educational opportunities at this year’s virtual conference, I will be presenting a session about effectively use social media and other free opportunities to promote your brewery during these difficult times. Other topics include stuff like navigating a covid-impacted supply chain, managing brewing and operational data, adjusting your marketing strategy for today’s world, and more.
Here is the Schedule of the WBG Base Camp, virtual conference:
Monday, November 9th
11am: State of the Craft Beer Industry
Keynote Presentation by Bart Watson, Chief Economist at Brewers Association. BA Chief Economist, Bart Watson, will cover the current state of the craft brewing industry, focusing on the dramatic changes in consumer behavior, selling channels (on, off, and at-the-brewery), and economic conditions. REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION HERE.
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3:30pm: Pandemic-Forced Business Model Shifts That are Here to Stay
Forced to quickly react to on-premise closures and changes in consumer behaviors, these brewery and winery owners have found new ways of getting their product out in the market and engaging their customers. Gain insight on what changes have proved successful and will have staying power well beyond the pandemic. Speakers: Robyn Schumacher, Co-Owner at Stoup Brewing; Tim Hightower, Co-Owner at Hightower Cellars. REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION HERE.
Tuesday, November 10th
11am: Engaging with your Audience in a Covid-19 Impacted World
A brewery’s virtual toolkit is more important than ever now. It’s time to polish and sharpen those tools. The Washington Beer Blog’s Kendall and Kim Jones will show you how to make the most of your website, social media, email list, and the other tools in your toolkit to effectively reach your consumer to build your brand, attract customers, and sell beer in a pandemic-altered marketplace. Speaker: Kendall and Kim Jones, Washington Beer Blog; other guests from the industry. REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION HERE.
3:30pm: A Small Brewer’s Guide to Data
What is data and how do we use it in a brewery? This talk provides a framework for rethinking how you manage brewing and operational data. We’ll cover principles for determining what to record, how to structure it, how to use it. We’ll also take a look at how you can optimize your POS and tap its full potential to help manage and grow, especially now. We’ll use examples from popular POS to look at pulling useful data, controls to help protect both employees and the business as well as manage taxes more easily. If you are on the fence about switching systems, this session will also help you better understand what to look for and the differences between systems. Speakers: Evan Watts, Owner at Watts Brewing; Stephanie Artino, CPA, Owner at Artino Business Advisors. REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION HERE.
Wednesday, November 11th, 2020
11am: Two-Part Legal Panel with Stoel Rives LLP
Panel 1: Craft Brewery Direct to Consumer Sales – Navigating the Regulatory Requirements. Speaker: Stephanie Meier, Stoel Rives LLP.
Panel 2: Workplace Safety in the Age of a Pandemic. Speaker: Karin Jones, Stoel Rives LLP.
REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION HERE.
3:30pm: Lost in Translation – A Look At Internal Communications
There are so many ways to communicate, but which is the best for your brewery? An examination of how different breweries communicate with their staff, what’s working, and what’s not. Speaker: Haley Keller, Co-Owner, Finance & Retail Ops at Peddler Brewing. REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION HERE.
Thursday, November 12th
11am: Brewery Supply Chain and COVID-19
A comprehensive look at the brewery supply chain and how it has been impacted by Covid-19 and related Covid-19 regulatory changes. BSG’s Sabrina Merriman will provide updates on various supply channels and discuss how brewers and suppliers can help each other ensure the smooth continuation of operations and keep costs as low as possible. Speaker: Sabrina Merriman, Director of Logistics at BSG Craft Brewing. REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION HERE.
3:30pm: Pivoting Your Marketing Strategy with Intention
In a year filled with “well, we never thought that would happen…” the need for marketing and sales decisions with intention could not be more critical. With the pandemic transforming consumer habits and the realization that the White Claw Effect is far from a passing trend, many are left wondering what to do. To cut through the noise, an organized marketing plan is more essential than ever. Through our panel presentation, we will discuss steps that WA brewers can take to adapt their brands to be more resilient, excite dedicated fans, restructure portfolios, and strengthen wholesale relationships in the process. Speakers: Oceania Eagan, Founder & Creative Director, Blindtiger Design; Dane Williams, Sales & Marketing, Iron Horse Brewery. REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION HERE.
Friday, November 13th
11am: Creating Ambassadors through Education
Guest experience influences perception of your brand and a quality customer interaction can help convert a passerby to a loyal ambassador. Education resonates through elements ranging from staff training, marketing collateral, and events and can be a differentiating factor in a crowded market. Join us as we discuss the impact of employee and customer education from real-world examples such as training and building education as a pillar stone of brand culture. Speakers: Erik Fowler – Education Manager, White Labs; Grace Robbings – Co-founder, Reuben’s Brews. REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION HERE.
5pm: Virtual Happy Hour After Party
Join us for a fun and casual BYOB Zoom event with brewer friends from across the state! REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION HERE.
Visit the official website for more details and to register for each session.
