After just opening last year in Dinkytown ( Minneapolis ), MN , this Top Ten Liquors location boasts a variety of alcohol beverages as well as cannabis products .

spirits and THC beverages . It ’ s a nice way to get our weekend off to a fast start ,” he notes .

Halper contributes the chain ’ s success to their customer service strategies . “ For many years , we focused on important services such as short lines and carrying products out to cars for customers ,” he says . “ Over the last four to five years , we have been putting a heavy emphasis on meeting every customer in the aisle . Each shopper that walks in , we ’ re doing our best to interact with them .”

Honored as a Market Watch Leader in 2023 , and now as a Top 100 Retailer in 2024 , Top Ten Liquors ' success is certainly being noticed .

A TASTE OF TOP TEN LIQUORS

One of the ways that Top Ten Liquors is able to make personal connections with customers is through their in-store tastings . Halper explains that not only does it help to introduce shoppers to new products , but it also helps to educate them on the different spirits .

“ Tasting a product is very important in order to sell brands ,” he says . “ We ’ ve been tremendously committed to tastings in all of our stores for a long time .”

According to Halper , they particularly target Friday nights to offer tastings since it ’ s their busiest night of the week . “ We ’ ll offer a few different options such as wine ,

KEEPING CUSTOMERS LOYAL

Another aspect that has brought success to Top Ten Liquors is their loyalty program .

With more than 150,000 active members , Halper says that it has been significant to business growth .

“ Club members get preferred pricing on a significant portion of the items we sell , and it ’ s super easy to sign up . We have built a strong customer following because of the prices in the program ,” he says . “ People can also accumulate points to earn gift cards , discounts and birthday rewards .”

The liquor-store chain recently revamped their loyalty program , implementing a process for members to use their loyalty points on certain allocated items in the store . They also have Sunday specials that members can take advantage of .

“ I would say that over 80 % of transactions are tied to club accounts , so this program has been very significant to the growth of our business ,” notes Halper .

CANNABIS BEVERAGES HIT SHELVES

The Minnesota-based liquor store chain offers a variety of beverage alcohol products , including beer , wine , vodka , rum , whiskey , tequila , gin , brandy / cognac , cordials , liqueurs and RTDs , among other non-alcohol merchandise . They recently added cannabis beverages to their product lineup and Halper says sales have been doing very well .

“ We have a variety of cannabis products , including seltzers , gummies and other items ,” he notes . “ This is a new business for Top Ten Liquors that began last June when it became legal www . beveragedynamics . com 2024 Top 100 Issue • Beverage Dynamics 17