StateWays is the only magazine exclusively covering the control state system within the beverage alcohol industry, with annual updates from liquor control commissions and alcohol control boards and yearly fiscal reporting from control jurisdictions
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"These are special, non-listed, allocated items available as a value-added pack or as a seasonal item," explains Dan Noble, Direc- tor of the Department. "It's an example of an extra way we can help our suppliers by shar- ing more of their products." New products are also a focus of the Di- vision's sales strategy. Like most other states across the country, Wyoming is experiencing customer demand for product variety. As indi- viduals become more educated about different beverage categories, they request additional items. Although whiskey has long been in high demand across the state, Wyoming con- sumers are requesting more Canadian whisky, as well as other options. "We've defi nitely been affected by the bourbon craze," says Greg Cook, Division Administrator. "It's a constant challenge for us to try to get our hands on all these products to meet demand and offer the best possible selection for our customers." Wyoming is unique in that it offers next- day delivery service of all in-stock items to all licensees across the state. The Division also offers the option of split-casing every item that is available in the warehouse. Use of a superior pick-to-voice technology system helped the state optimize overall warehouse operations over the course of the past sev- eral years, reducing the number of pickers used from 17 to fi ve, with three employees consolidating orders. While the new system has been in place since 2012, Noble says the Division constantly seeks out ways to refi ne and improve its performance, and has culti- vated detailed reports to help aid in product replacement and replenishment. As a result, the system boasts an accuracy rating of nearly 100%, and has the capacity to pick more than 900 bottles an hour. The Division's record for the number of bottles picked in one day is more than 18,000. Noble says that continuous operational enhancement will remain a priority for the Division. "By constantly pushing ourselves to look for new ways to improve, we in turn keep de- veloping new ways to make processes easier for our customers," he says. Wyoming's continued focus on improve- ment across the board, even during the state's diffi cult economic times, illustrates the com- mitment of the entire Division to keep mov- ing forward no matter what. • WSLA. "Once retailers recognize the accuracy of the program, they send their employees to it voluntarily. The skills people develop through this program really make a positive difference." ENHANCING THE CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE In addition to its new legislative bills and educational programs, the Division also continues to hone its operational and customer service practices. It's been fi ve years since the agency moved into its current 145,000-square-foot warehouse space, which boasts plenty of room for product storage. Wyoming has increased its total amount of listed items to more than 2,300 products, and also offers an additional 41,000 items that are available as special orders (in fi scal year 2016, the Division pro- cessed a record number of 26,029 special orders). Additionally, Wyo- ming has increased the number of one-time buys available for retailers to purchase. StateWays | www.stateways.com | July/August 2017 16 agency agency profile WYOMING PROFILE The agency moved into its 145,000 square-foot warehouse about five years ago.