In the world of craft beer, finding the right balance between variety and simplicity in your product offerings is crucial. The number of Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) you have can significantly impact your brewery’s success. Too few, and you risk losing consumer interest; too many, and you might face inventory management and marketing challenges.
Finding the Sweet Spot
- Customer Preferences:
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- Research your target audience to understand their preferences. Craft beer enthusiasts often appreciate variety, but not at the expense of consistency and quality.
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- Inventory Management:
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- Maintaining a vast number of SKUs can strain your inventory management and storage capacity.
- Balance your desire for variety with practicality. Ensure you have the resources and space to manage your inventory efficiently.
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- Production Costs:
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- More SKUs typically mean more ingredients, brewing time, and labour costs. Be aware of how SKU expansion can affect your production expenses
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- Marketing and Branding:
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- A crowded product lineup can confuse consumers and dilute your brand identity.
- Focus on effective branding and marketing strategies to differentiate your SKUs and create distinct identities for each product.
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- Seasonal and Limited Releases:
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- Seasonal and limited-edition brews can add excitement and anticipation to your product lineup
The perfect number of SKUs for your brewery ultimately depends on your specific circumstances, target audience, and business objectives. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but a thoughtful approach that considers customer preferences, inventory management, production costs, branding, and marketing can help you strike the right balance. Remember that SKU management is not static; it should evolve with changing consumer trends and market dynamics.
State of Play is a shining example of the ‘less is more’ philosophy. They are truly passionate about their craft, and they’ve mastered the art of creating non-alcoholic beer that boasts all the rich flavours beer should have. This delightful brew is crafted in the sunny Hawkes Bay region of New Zealand, a place that undoubtedly contributes to the exceptional taste they’ve achieved.
Parrotdog is another stellar illustration of this concept. The brewery was born in 2011, in the vibrant city of Wellington, out of a deep passion for exceptional beer, driven by three individuals named Matt.
Fixation Brewing Co., based in Collingwood, Victoria, is specializing in IPAs. Fixation Brewing is dedicated to producing world-class hoppy beers. Their IPA and Double IPA are highly regarded.
The ideal number of SKUs varies, but a thoughtful approach is key. Consider customer preferences, inventory management, costs, branding, and marketing.
