With Growth comes Opportunity

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Today State Of Play welcomes the first paid employee!

My accountant says I should enjoy paying tax, and this month we will be adding PAYE.

It's a cool feeling taking the step to grow the team. Going from corporateer to beerpreneur has been good frantic the last 24 months. Starting small and bootstrapping narrows choices for resourcing. Basically one choice - do it yourself!

With growth comes the opportunity to invest in people.

After a season over at Camp America my Son Leo is officially on the State Of Play books. Just over 2 years as a one man band the brand has grown to the point the business needs to level up and resource up for more sales in more stores to more customers more often.

Why are we doubling staff?

The alc-free segment is growing 50% YOY and State of Play 78%!? All our 6-packs are performing in store, especially our mix pack.? Online sales are double.? Plus we get more of our packs into grocery stores this month after category reviews.

We have a very cool campaign about to launch that we will want your help with (more on that next week). It is going to be so much fun and we are going to do things a bit different.

Our new product is VERY close to brewing in Napier.? The packaging is done, the cans in the schedule for production - this beer is going to go down very well too and attract a whole new crowd to the brand, in more occasions.??

You will be able to have State Of play beer, anywhere.?

I know Leo will be amazing

He loves structure, process and a plan - he is a gamer and with these honed skills he is quick on the update of the rules and the mission.? He will probably also try to find my mute button....

He is on a?gap year?and this has been a great move.? His age group (19/20) did it real tough during lockdown (in Amsterdam he missed 1 & 1/2 years of in-class school & hanging with mates time.? No formals or trips or leaving celebrations).?

I'm going to show him everything, and he will be able to run the operations of this business by February (which is lucky because I will be in Spain for a month walking the Camino).??

I took 48 years to release my inner beerpreneur, maybe for Leo it might happen earlier?

Here is the first week plan:

Monday - He will pick up all the on line sales and logistics - so?please place an online order?to give him something to do and you might even get a?hand written note?from him!!

Tuesday - Xero.? Say?hello to the numbers.? Reconcile the books and look at reports and P&L.

Wednesday - Foodstuffs South Island?customer connect.? We will again manage sales directly to stores in the South (we previously had a tie-up with Giesen group).

Thursday - get?New Business!?

Friday - Set up our new Logistics process together, and our 90 day plan.

The first task we will need to agree on his job title.? I got out my business cards Lagunitas Brewing Co for some inspiration - I always loved and used -?Intergalactic regional vice Commander of Global Zymurgicological Through Space, Time & Dimension.

Any ideas for the next State of Play cards?

Are you drifting along with you Sea Anchor?

As well as State Of Play Beer, there is State Of Play consulting.

This week I was facilitating a strategy and planning workshop with the Leadership team at Auckland Rugby. To kick off the day Kevin Biggar shared his story.

Kevin’s Profile?linkedin.com/in/kevinbiggar ?KevinBiggar.co.nz ?

I had never met Kevin before, and i'm very glad I did.? A fantastic tale told.??He has rowed oceans, traversed snow continents.? Author of a best seller.??Best of all, what he has learned he can apply and connect to all of us and the businesses we work in.

I won't give away his content as a spoiler,?except two stories that really stuck.

The sea anchor?- in competitive ocean rowing the elite teams all row?Fast, except when they take a break or drop their sea anchor (to rest or shelter from the elements).??

His challenge he shared with us was - when the going gets a bit tough do you put the breaks on and stop (innovating, spending, growing) like your competitors or do you stick to strategy, refocus, do more with less and push ahead??

Note: by?not?dropping their sea anchor they won the trans Atlantic challenge!

He also talked about ramping his goals.??The ramp?approach keeps you in the game and allows you to adjust to outside conditions and maintain a winning mindset.??

I have already built this thinking into my next 90 days.? It's quite a steep ramp!!

If you have a team big or small that could do with some inspiration from perspiration, motivation from dedication then Kevin is your man.

I also think he is quite right on the?Bastard rule.

Post workout Beer?

After Conquer class at LesMills AKL City I walked out past?The Specialty Drinks Bar . A great cafe at the entrance to Les Mills.

Spoke to Charles the owner who agreed the fridge could welcome in more good choice.?

Beer at a gym? What if I told you non-alcoholic beer is the perfect sports recovery drink.

It’s isotonic and full of polyphenols for anti-inflammation and hops are known for anti-oxidation benefits.?

It’s the alcohol in beer that negates all these benefits.?

If you want to share a beer without the drama of inviting Mr Alcohol then now you can!

Because StateOfPlay Brewing Co is 100% non-alc it is clear when you hold a can you love beer, anywhere.?

Also. Citrus73 is soooo good.

Paola got her beer!

We are going hard with distribution of the Mix Packs.? We have a way to go.??

Finally Paola found the treasure at Moore Wilson in Wellington CBD!

If you have a New World, PNS or 4 Square that needs State Of Play send me their name and i'll get onto it.? The Mix Packs will hit all Woolworths stores next month.

The Backyard Ultra & State of Play

The runners will cover 6.7 km every hour.? Hour after Hour after Hour.? The winner is the one that is last to finish.? If a runner is not ready to start the next lap they will finish the race and enjoy a delicious can of State Of Play.? How Good!?

A quality non-alc will go down so nice.? No red tape for the organisers to worry about, and like having our beer at Les Mills Cafe in AKL - it's the best sports recovery drink you can get!!

Check out the race details?here

Last year at the world champs in Tennessee the number of laps/hours was 102!

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Beer Reviews - Untappd

We get some great reviews on Untappd. This is all about beer.? You get to upload your comments, score, where you had the beer and a photo.?

I thought this one was a cracker for Sunbreaker Ale, and a cheeky Tail.

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Why reviews matter.? If you have a minute it would be great to hear from you

Here is the link to the review tab for? Nectaron Pale Ale

Here is the link to review Sunbreaker Ale

Here is the link to the review tab for IPA

USE UNTAPPD click HERE

And if you have a cool photo you can post on one of your favourite social channels and tag @stateofplaybeer? #stateofplaybeer If you want to contact State of Play flick me a note [email protected]

TOGETHER WE ARE BREWING A REBELLION!