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Local liquor store receives revamp
By Kalea Hall
AUSTINTOWN
Customers of One Stop Shop may notice a difference when they check out the shop’s liquor section.
One Stop Shop, located inside Austintown Plaza on Mahoning Avenue, is one of six state liquor stores that was selected to have its liquor shelves reset to make the liquor-selection experience better for customers, and ultimately improve sales.
“Customer feedback is what we are most interested in looking at,” said Jim Canepa, superintendent of the state’s Division of Liquor Control under the Department of Commerce. “What we are trying to do really is to de-mystify the experience and improve the customer experience.”
Of its 465 contract liquor stores across Ohio, the Division of Liquor Control found stores that represented everything from big-box stores to the mom-and-pop shops. The state also wanted to get the stores that were interested in participating.
“I think it will help with the newer customers who don’t know the store,” said Scot Homlitas, general manager of One Stop Shop. “Liquor sales are always good. There are always thirsty people out there.”
The shelves are more organized and appealing to the customer at One Stop Shop now. There are also some educational materials that show what can be mixed with some of the vodkas.
The state hopes to create consistency across its stores, provide education and please the customer.
“We are trying to move things off the shelves and replace it with what the demographic wants on their shelves,” Canepa said.
Throughout the reset displays there will be educational materials for customers on different liquors.
“The objective to see what works and what doesn’t work, and then roll it out to the other stores,” Canepa said. “I know personally when I walk in a liquor store, I still have this feeling of being overwhelmed. I want to make it a more comfortable experience.”