6 minute read
Featured Affiliates
CORNERSTONE PROCESSING SOLUTIONS President Brad Palubiak says that Cornerstone Processing Solutions began working with the TLW in 1999 and has attended 41 consecutive trade shows. “We are a service organization,” he says. “The products and services we offer really cater to the taverns, bars and restaurants throughout Wisconsin.”
When asked what’s new, Palubiak says TLW members should know that, in many cases, credit card rates are lower than they’ve ever been and that Cornerstone offers low-cost, high-efficiency point-ofsale (POS) systems. The company is based in Oshkosh, but serves the entire state of Wisconsin and even clients nationwide.
Sales manager Robert Sawitski explains that the company’s POS systems are easy to use, but for those who want to go even simpler, cash registers are available that are fully programmed and offer a lifetime replacement warranty for TLW members. He says the company understands that tavern owners don’t want to look through a thick book and try to program a register, so Cornerstone Processing does that and provides support for the product.
Sawitski explains that one of the topics affecting TLW members right now is how to handle cash discounts and surcharging programs. “If [the system] is set up incorrectly and not compliant, businesses are putting themselves at risk of incurring fines to being shut down,” he adds. “We set them up correctly, provide the correct signage and, in a lot of cases, save them upwards of 80% to 90% of their credit card costs and fees.”
Compliance is always a huge issue, but Palubiak and Sawitski say Cornerstone simply wants to help TLW members save on the fees that have been thrown at them when the system is not set up properly.
Palubiak says that, with a decades-long relationship with the TLW, he considers Cornerstone a consultant to the organization and explains the company is happy to offer help to members, even if they’re not customers.
“We’re not afraid to tell people they’re getting a fair deal and it’s in their best interest to stay where they are, even if it’s not beneficial to us,” adds Sawitski. “We just want to make sure you’re getting the best option from a provider that you can talk to and not just a sales rep.”
In addition to its commitment to helping taverns, Cornerstone maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, a level of achievement these two are proud of. “That’s extremely hard in our industry,” admits Sawitski.
PECATONICA BEER COMPANY Tom Quinn and his twin brother, Tim, were born and raised near the Pecatonica River in southwest Wisconsin. Their hobbies of growing hops, home brewing and remodeling old buildings, then turning them into taverns, eventually brought them full circle into running their own craft brewing company.
“We saw there was a void of sessionable, good-tasting beers and we wanted to make beers to fill that space,” Tom says.
The flagship product for Pecatonica Beer Company was its Nightfall Lager, a dark lager that offers a light, crisp flavor. He says it isn’t as heavy as other dark beers, and is a good drink in both winter and summer. One year of pulling it from the shelves in winter led to people asking for it, so the company now brews it year-round.
Quinn’s Amber Lager, the company’s second beer, won a gold medal at the 2015 World Beer Championship and is what Tom calls a “good, classic Wisconsin amber.” Next, Pecatonica came out with a Pecatonica India pale ale (IPA) made from Centennial and Cascade hops, mostly from Wisconsin.
A seasonal favorite is the company’s Oktoberfest beer, but its bestseller by far is its final offering, the Muskelager. It’s a 4.2 alcohol by volume (ABV) beer that Tom says is an all-day drinker — a light, golden lager. The label graphics show two men holding up a large musky, which he jokes about, saying Tim and himself are in the Northwoods having a good time on the lake.
The Muskelager is available in 12- and 16-ounce cans, as well as on draft and in bottles. It’s a good fit for the outdoors market, which is thriving in Wisconsin. The other Pecatonica brews will be available in cans in the future. TLW members can find these beers statewide, through General Beverage and Fabiano Brothers.
“We have a well-rounded selection of beers and they have been tested in the market for years now. People love them,” Tom says. “We’re not looking to do anything different this year, but are out in the market a lot, working hard.”
He says the TLW is a strong partner and, as longtime tavern guys themselves, he and his brother (along with the business’ other partners) trust in the organization’s mission and vision. “It’s always good to see a TLW sign on the door walking into a business, knowing they share our commitment to hard work, quality products and extraordinary service.”
PECATONICA BEER COMPANY 5875 Main St., Unit 1A, Gratiot, WI 53541 (608) 558-1943 | pecatonicabeer.com
4.875" PRECISION POURS INC. In terms of profitability, Rick Sandvik, owner of Precision Pours Inc., says that one-eighth of an ounce of liquor can make the difference in three to four shots per bottle and this is where his company comes into play. With decades in the business, Sandvik says the TLW does a great job for its members, and takes really good care of its trade show vendors and, in his case, affiliate members.
“What our company does goes hand in hand with the Tavern League, which is one of the strongest trade organizations in the country,” Sandvik explains. “We help [members] save money on liquor costs, and ensure the guest experience is the same no matter who’s pouring or how busy the tavern is. Each drink tastes the same every time it’s poured.”
Portion control is a must in this industry. Sandvik uses burgers as an example to show the impact it makes. “If you’re in the food business, and your chef was making third-pound burgers versus quarter-pounders, you’d be losing money,” he explains. “The same concept applies here. If you’re losing four to five drinks a bottle, that’s probably $15 to $20 each bottle.”
He is an admirer of the TLW’s SafeRide Program, and says it’s something he’s proud of the organization for pursuing and offering to members. Sandvik encourages all taverns to become members of the TLW, saying that it costs pennies a day, but that cost is recovered so fast in discount programs.
As for Precision Pours, the company is excited to share its newer spouts with flip-top shields, especially as Wisconsin approaches the summer season. He says patio bars, outside tables and other outdoor venues are looking for ways to control fruit flies, and these shields are just the fix.
“If [some states] find a fruit fly in your bottle, they make you dump the entire inventory out and fine the tavern,” he says.
Another new item is the tap beer brush, which he says toes into the nozzle of the tap and helps clean it, but can also be left right in the tap overnight to keep fruit flies (again) from being pests.
Precision Pours has been a TLW affiliate member since 1997 and isn’t looking to stop anytime soon. Sandvik says he went to his first show in 1980 and hasn’t looked back.
He thanks you all for your business and is excited to see you at the TLW Spring Conference!
PRECISION POURS INC. 12837 Industrial Park Blvd., Minneapolis, MN 55441 (800) 549-4491 | precisionpours.com
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