This episode’s guest hails from the state of Maine where he lives with his wife, his six year-old daughter, and a hundred-pound chocolate lab.
During the final semester of his MBA in the spring of 2014, Jim O’Brien and fellow Vacationland Distributors co-founders hatched the idea for a brewer-focused craft beer distributor. After graduation, Jim left his career in higher education to work full-time at the startup he helped create. In addition to his MBA, Jim has a B.A. in Psychology.
Jim, learned about the industry from a brewer: Ian McConnell formerly of SixPoint Brewery; started Banded Horn Brewing in Biddeford, Maine
Resources provided:
“We provide logistic support; we provide marketing support; we provide connections; we provide a sales staff; we provide event management; promotions. Those types of things.”
Top 2 Qualities Vacationland looks for in a brewery:
- People
- Partnership
Notable quote from the interview:
“As we evolve as a distributorship, one thing that is really important to us is to get better at coaching up new brands and brands transitioning from self-distribution to a more traditional distribution model. To help them understand what really is expected.”
“I don’t want to put us on the pedestal as the guru on top of the mountain that knows everything but we’ve done this a couple of times before already and we have learned some things that have made so of these things go really well. And we’ve found a couple of landmines and we now know to avoid those.”
Related Articles:
by Chris Crowell at Craft Brewing Business:
Economic impact of beer distribution further proves importance of an independent third-tier
by the Market Development Committee at BA Insider:
Key Qualities in Craft Brewer-Wholesale Relationship
Jim O’Brien’s contact info:
Web: http://www.vacationlanddistributors.com/
Twitter: @VlandDistribs
Instagram: @vacationlanddistributors
John Squadrito’s contact info:
Instagram: @vacationlandjohn
