Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from Thrive Advisors – Blog Year in Review

Though the liquor license consultants at Thrive are as busy as Santa’s elves this time of year, we also take time to pause, reflect and be grateful. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanza, we hope you have a wonderful holiday season. May you have health and prosperity in the New Year!

This year, we published 48 posts to our blog (24 articles and 24 news items). Below, we’ve summarized the most notable posts of 2023.

January: “Annual Liquor Store Business Plan Targets  – A Liquor Licensing Consultant May Be Key”
Find out how our consultants work with liquor stores on annual planning. We provide many services relevant to operational strategy, including liquor licensing, optimizing store setup and layout, product performance reviews and employee acquisition.

February: “Why Liquor Stores Should Stock & Market Low Alcohol Beer & Wine”
Millennials are the largest working-age group in Canada and have significant spending power. Because of their demand for healthier alcohol choices, the no- and low-alcohol market continues to be one of the hottest growth categories.

March: “Annual Alcohol Sales in Canada Hit Record Low”
In February 2023, Statistics Canada released alcohol sales data for 2021/22, which revealed a decrease in alcohol sales for the first time in a decade.

April: “Will Cannabis Consumption Spaces Be Approved in BC and How Might They Work?”
In 2022, the BC government released a “What We Heard Report”-  a summary of public engagement on cannabis consumption spaces. The article discusses highlights of the report.

May: “Is Your Liquor Store Inventory Meeting Current Demands and Trends?”
Discover how an inventory audit by Thrive Advisors can ensure you are meeting consumer demand.

June: “How Does LCRB Compliance and Enforcement Work?”
LCRB compliance and enforcement can be time-consuming and costly, which is why our liquor licensing consultants frequently emphasize the need for consistent compliance checks.

July: “BC’s High Liquor Prices Driving Locals to Purchase Bootleg Booze from Alberta”
It’s illegal to ship most alcohol from other provinces into BC, yet some of Alberta’s private liquor retailers are selling to BC consumers. BC has some of the highest liquor prices in the country while Alberta has among the lowest.

August: “LCRB Minor Agents are Watching – Liquor & Cannabis License Compliance Training is Vital”
Read about minor-age secret agents hired by LCRB to attempt to purchase alcohol from liquor stores and other liquor licensees.

September: “Why BC Casinos Use Hospitality Consulting Services”
Casino facilities usually include restaurants, catering, bars, lounges, live entertainment venues, and accommodations, all of which have specific licensing needs.

October: “Top 3 Reasons for Cannabis License Application Failure”
Spoiler alert: the top 3 reasons are lack of community research, incomplete applications, and a lack of public consultation presentation. Read the details and find out how working with Thrive increases the chances of license approval.

November: “Preparing Your Liquor Store for Christmas & Holiday Season Sales”
As any retailer knows, strong sales over the holiday season can really offset leaner months. Find out how to optimize your store for maximum sales.

Thrive Liquor & Cannabis Advisors Wishes You the Best in 2024!

Thanks to you, our clients, for your patronage in 2023! We are honoured by your trust in our experience and work on your behalf. We hope that 2024 brings your business every success!