Women Enjoying Beer

Women, Beer and Sports

Jan 31, 2011 Assumptions & Myth Busting, Beer, Education & Training, Something To Think About

With the Superbowl upon us, enter the conversation of beer and sports (again). If we drill down more, enter the conversation of beer, sports and advertising.

progress of beer, sports and women moves like a slug

Where are the women? Where are the real women who enjoy beer represented in ANY of the ads put out? Or are we still stuck on sophomoric outmoded and empty jiggle/guys only themes?

If you’re a brewery, you would strike gold this time of year IF you decided that pursing the 50.9% of the population that is women was worth it. And worth it – it is.

This past weekend, Women Enjoying Beer conducted a focus group centered on women, beer and sports. There was unfortunately a lot of acquiescence by the women about the television ads. They simply dismiss them because they don’t apply to them. And they still watch the game, as many do, for the commercials. Yes, some truly like football. However the juggernaut that is Super Bowl Commercials is huge. Therein lies the huge opportunity.

This are strong, intelligent, informed, beer passionate women – who will make sure they get to drink the beer they want to drink. Why then do they roll over about these ads? It’s more of a “it’s not worth my effort” feeling projected because it is the way it has always truly been. And why put the energy into something that isn’t apparently going to change. There are other things to stew about, things of greater import.

From a brewery perspective, are there? You need to make it worth their effort.

It’s an issue of respect, paying attention, shattering bad damaging stereotypes, and pushing positive change. You brew beer that pushes the envelope. Why do you also accept this practice?

When will this day come? I tell you what: the brewer who decides to jump in here stands to gain incredibly with female buy in and support. All by simply addressing women with respect and authenticity.

Who’s stepping up to the 50 yard line on this one?

Tags: focus groups, football, Superbwowl, women beer and sports

Coming Events

Nov 29, 2010 Beer & Food, Events

Save These Dates!!
1. December 2nd, this Thursday – Hoppy Holidays! Shopping $pecials from 4 – 7, event from 7 – 830, & everybody gets a present! RSVP due by 5 pm 11.30.10 (Tuesday)
2. January 11th 2011 – We’re partnering with Kaleidoscope for a full on Beer & Food dinner (makes a terrific gift!). Limited seating, RSVP by 1.8.10.
3. January 20th 2011 – Our ‘regular’ WEB meet up – Budget Helper! We’ll offer an entertaining and delicious time at a reduced price this month with more 2 or more simultaneous registrations.
4. February 10th 2011 – This months WEB meet up is at the gorgeous Salon Isabella. Come for a totally new take on a visit to the stylist!
All details and registration information is here.

One more thing about upcoming events:
Maybe you noticed we’ll have shopping & special deals on the Women Enjoying Beer goods the night of the 2nd. You can absolutely come shop even if you are unable to stay and enjoy the event with us. Shopping will be from 4 – 7 pm, cash & checks accepted. WEB Shirts, WEB Hats, Beer Gear Boxes, and a few other goodies – hopefully hot-of-the-press gorgeous WEB note cards and postcards as well…special prices good from 4 – 830 that night.

All other times they are available when you call me or buy them online here.

Some of you have tuned into the pending WEB Enewsletter too – thanks!! We’re gearing up to launch it in December. Please let me know directly if you are interested. We’ll do an intro special for a while, then with kinks worked out, it’ll go full bore the first part of next year.

Calling All Opinionated Women!!
Part of the reason the beer industry is starting to pay more and more attention to WEB is due to you – the woman with an opinion about beer. Focus Groups provide relevant and timely information that helps drive our credibility and listenability as women who enjoy beer. When you are ready to host between 4 and 12 women at your home or work for a focus group, let me know. They’re loads of fun, a great reason to assemble friends and learn more about each other. It’s easy, inexpensive and highly fascinating.

Sign-up for the events today, enjoy a good rest of year and we’ll be in touch again in a few weeks.
Kum Bae (cheers in Korean ala one woman who enjoys beer) -

Ginger & Kate

Tags: beer gear, Events, focus groups

Focused Group

Aug 12, 2010 Education & Training, Good People

One of the best resources I have come across, and then promptly devoured, was this book. Judy Langer is an extremely accomplished and still seemingly very excited researcher.

Her book helped me understand what I needed to understand to conduct proper research. It’s a tome for qualitative research.

Like Judy, I highly enjoy the research part of Women Enjoying Beer. And quite frankly I was surprised with how engrossing it is. Interesting people who want to talk and share and ponder, tons of eye opening insights, lots of repeat ideas (which is good = trends, patterns), and in general interesting psychology.

The reward is even greater for all parties since you’ve done well by the subjects and the clients.

It should be productive fun – this book helps make it so for me.

Tags: focus groups, Judy Langer, qualitative data, research

How Do You Know What Women Want From Their Beer

Aug 11, 2010 Education & Training, Something To Think About

You ask them. You talk to them about beer – about why they like it, what they want from it and what they don’t want from it.

Ginger & Gayle Goschie of Goschie (Hops) Farms are glad to talk about beer

Hold a focus group – WEB does them a lot to make sure information is current and to give an opportunity to get a group together to talk about all things beer.

They key for a successful focus group is be prepared. Have a short list of specific questions you want them to answer, between 12 and 20 is a good number. WEB just had a focus group in Portland OR and the 12 women who showed up were all directed to and back to these questions.

It’s easy to get sidetracked and to let one or two members of the FG dominate the group. You need the leader of the focus group to stay on track. Use diplomacy – introduce the group the format, tell them how it’s going to unfold including that you may guide them back on track if it gets too far off topic.

Encourage them. If they want to talk about other things, the pub or brewery where you are meeting would most likely be glad to have them stay afterwards and talk it out over a beer.

Be focused and we all come out ahead, women & men & beer alike.

Tags: focus groups, plan, talking about beer