Guild Board Members and Committees

We presented a summary of our 2018 plan at the AGM held in Vancouver on October
20, 2017. Priorities are divided into the following key areas for success and our board
members each chair committees focused on achieving results for the following:

  • Membership Benefits – Don Farion and Adam Crandall
  •  Retail Market Committee – Mike Coghill
  • Event Marketing and Communication – Matt Lockhart
  • Government Relations – Gary Lindsay and Ken Beattie
  • Education and Member Support – Graham With
  • Tourism Lead – Paul Hadfield

Membership Benefits – Don Farion of Bomber and Adam Crandall of Moody Ales
Our focus for 2018 will be to add even more value for each member:

  • Development of a member’s only resources page where members can interact with each other, our associate members and other industry contacts regarding our day to day business needs. Due to be completed Spring 2018.
  • A member’s only card that will be available to all brewery staff offering incentives and savings at participating outlets.
  • Negotiating with major festivals to offer members discounts for participating.
  • Members only private Facebook Group for networking, mentoring and supplier information has been created.
  • A Communications Coordinator has been hired as member liaison and will maintain our member and associate member’s listings.

Retail Market Committee – Mike Coghill of Yellow Dog and Don Gordon of Whistler
Continue with quarterly meetings to discuss and confirm opportunities for our members in BCLDB.

GLS Retail Division – Discuss merchandising and promotional opportunities to showcase products with more frequency throughout the year. A couple of targets include:

  • Dedicated signage in store and on shelf for BC Craft Beer
  • Dedicated thematic programs for monthly displays 3 times per year

GLS Wholesale Division

  • Create a program for employee education and training for BDL employees.
  • Increase distribution opportunities for craft beer in new warehouse.

Market Development – Continue to build our relationship with the private channel for merchandising and promotional support for BC Craft beer.

  • Develop private retail channel opportunities
  • Create strategy based on current Long Term Market Development study
  • Work together with other industry stakeholders on lobbying efforts that affect our industry and are mutually beneficial to all parties

Event Marketing and Communication – Matt Lockhart of Phillips
We have identified we need to increase our communication interaction with our membership:

  • Members only Facebook Group created
  • Regular Newsletter sent by Communications Coordinator
  • Social Media and Event Promotion by Communications Coordinator
  • Quarterly Town Hall Calls after board meetings
  • Calendar of events selected using criteria recommended by members for festivals
  • Two industry-only buyer’s events in the spring and fall in Victoria and Vancouver
  • Proactive, not reactive in terms of participation in events

Government Relations – Gary Lindsay of Driftwood and Ken Beattie
Continue to build relationships with current government and work together to further the positive contribution Craft beer is having on the provincial economy. Our GR focus in 2018 includes:

  • Industry stakeholders panel – actively participate and contribute to this industry/ government panel chaired by Mark Hicken. Issues to be discussed:
  1. Contract Brewing
  2. Advocate and participate in Grow BC, Feed BC, Buy BC
  3. Inducement Policy
  4. Interprovincial trade barriers including Alberta Tax Policy

Education and Member Support – Graham With of Parallel 49
It is our responsibility to support and encourage the continued education of customers and consumes on the benefits of locally made craft beer. In 2018, we are continuing to focus our efforts on developing partnerships that will help achieve this goal.

Staff Training and Educational Seminars:

  • Internal: Best Practices and workplace safety programs offered to our members. Pursue funding opportunities on behalf of members.
  • External: Work with BCGLS to train their employees in the Wholesale and Retail divisions. Also discuss education of hospitality industry staff.
  • Lunch and Learn: Seminars presented by Associate Members discussing topics of interest to membership.

BC Craft Brewers Conference with Education Seminars:

  • Our first annual event on October 20, 2017 was a huge success! The event featured six different educational seminars and included a trade show with 34 suppliers. Tentative date for 2018 is October 19.

Tourism – Paul Hadfield
BC Ale Trail:

  • Increase support in The BC Ale Trail by securing additional Destination Marketing Organizations and member breweries to participate. The focus will be to draw attention to British Columbia’s vibrant and burgeoning craft beer scene among beer lovers inside and outside the province.
  • Create signage and information sessions for participating breweries to raise staff awareness and engagement in the Ale Trail Project.