Bourbon and Business II

In this fast-paced 90-minute show, we discuss product sourcing, inventory selection, bar and staff prep, day-to-day bar operations, events, music, enthusiast pours, bar picks, infinity bottles, and more.

If you've ever wondered how it's done (or want to open a whiskey bar yourself), this is the show for you. Tap now to listen!

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1. What makes a great bourbon bar? - it might not be what you think.
2. Is a bourbon club a good idea and why?
3. Group palate evolution.  

The first time the bourbon club met, there were about 12 members and all they wanted to taste was Bourbon; not whiskey, not rye, and nothing too hot.  Eighty-proof was just fine and anything near barrel-proof off-limits.

After 24 months, we were tasting rock-n-rye, Old Forrester 1920 and beyond - 100 proof was a base, and tequila was just around the corner.  Should your establishment have a bourbon club? The answer is in three words, "Repeatable monthly revenue."

Our bar menu reflected lessons learned in the club and our sales grew with the rising tide of bourbon experience. We discovered a demographic and defined demand.

What makes a great bourbon bar?  Local taste.

From 2013. DOTC Prime - TheDeathOfTheConsultants, Remastered

Wandering the Wild Terrain of MpS: An Adventure Beyond Consultancy

...and here's a tale as old as the copier itself, from the summer of '13...

Quick Summary

1. Embracing a role beyond the traditional consultancy, we engage in a shared journey in the Managed Print Services (MpS) industry, aiming for partnerships rather than vendor relationships.
2. Proposing a fresh consulting model, we invite a joint venture where risks and profits are shared, challenging the conventional wisdom of industry benchmarks and highlighting the importance of unique, self-created standards.
3. Recognizing the need for continued relevance, we embed into the business culture to maintain a fresh perspective, acknowledging that providing value to others from outside can be challenging, but ultimately rewarding.

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The PC Revolution: HP's Vision of AI-Enhanced Computing

AI in PCs: Say Hello to Your New Spreadsheet Conversationalist

I was part of the "PC Revolution" - and then moving businesses off 'big iron' to local area networks.  No cloud.  5.25"Floppy install disks. Green and amber monochrome displays.

In a decade, the AS-400s evaporated and millions of desktops took their place.

I missed the beginning of the analog to digital(copier) evolution; another decade-long transformation. 

This one is different.

AI will live in the cloud BUT we will all have the opportunity to have our own, personalized AI Agent - our machines will need the newest, AI-optimized chip architecture...and this means every, single computer, laptop, phone, and smart device will need the newest microchip.

Today's devices will be obsolete in the blink of an eye, not in a decade.

HP, Nvidia, Intel...all of them no this.

Get ready.

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Ripple Effects: U.S. Import Ban on Ninestar and Xinjiang Zhongtai Shakes Office Tech Industry

When the ink dries up: The U.S. puts a cap on printer imports from Ninestar

Quick Summary of the Current NineStar Situation.

Big Win for HP - I wonder if their lobbyists had a hand in this.  It is difficult to predict the direct impact this will inflict on our industry.  Okay, maybe not that difficult.  More toner manufacturing plants here in the US?  Higher prices? Sure.  

BUT WHAT ABOUT LEXMARK?

Lexmark may be in jeopardy, Xerox had some dealings with Ninestar, and let's not forget Static Control.  

China is on the wrong side of so many issues - social, political, and economic.  This is just one more thing. 

Check out our take.

Executive Summary:

1. The United States has prohibited imports from Ninestar Corporation and Xinjiang Zhongtai Chemical Co Ltd, over human rights abuses allegations in China, disrupting the U.S. office technology industry.
2. These sanctions are part of the U.S. Uyghur Forced Labor Protection Act (UFLPA), prohibiting imports from companies identified on a UFLPA Entity List, impacting the global supply chain.
3. The DHS has examined over $1.3 billion worth of goods likely manufactured with forced labor, highlighting the scale of the issue and its potential repercussions on the global office tech market.

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"Attendence Effects a Percentage of Your Grade.": Google Treat Employees Like Third Graders

Behind the Curtain: The Real Reasons Companies Want You Back in the Office

Greg's Words

Why are large corporations mandating a return to the office?  Real Estate investment(ROI) and a survival instinct. 

If  #WFH worked during the fear of Covid, why not now? Control? Rationalization? Relevancy? When there are no employees in an office, why do we need managers? And without managers, why do we need a C-Level? 

Now throw in AI. 

AI allows two people to do the work of 10 -programmers, writers, etc. - Why office space for programmers, Marketing, H/R, Chief People Office, or general administration?

Nvidia: Revolutionizing Office Technology with Giggle-Worthy AI Powerhouses

The name Nvidia is not commonly mentioned in your copiers sales meetings or talk tracks. But this is a big deal and a pivot point.

First, who is Nvidia? 

Founded in 1993, NVIDIA Corporation is a leading global tech company, known for manufacturing graphics processors, mobile technologies, and desktop computers. Renowned for its high-end graphics processing units (GPUs), its integrated circuits are used widely in gaming consoles and PCs. NVIDIA is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.

The U.S.-China Standoff Intensifies: Recent Developments and Their Impact on Tech Trade

From Copiers to Superpowers: When Office Tech Meets International Espionage

Greg's Words

China is not our friend.  The country is not a good trade partner. The society is one of compliance with the state - China regulates everything from access to the Internet, to how many children a couple can create.  The political system is directly opposed to democracy, independence, and freedom.

But they make things really cheap - computer chips and Fentanyl. 

In the office technology niche, toner and printers from China are but a slice of the market; less than a sidebar in the world debate - somewhat analogous to a canary in the coal mine.

We've distilled multiple articles into this summary of the current situation: China wants to put a listening base on Cuba.

What we should do:

1. End the War in Ukraine
2. Invite Russia into NATO or
3. Dissolve NATO
4. Purchase the island of Cuba.

Article Executive Points -

• China and Cuba have reached a secret agreement for China to establish an electronic eavesdropping facility in Cuba, a development that poses a new geopolitical challenge to the U.S.
• The US-China relationship has further been strained by an incident where the U.S. shot down an alleged Chinese spy balloon. China insists it was a civilian airship used for meteorological research, but the US has protested against this as a violation of their sovereignty.
• These geopolitical tensions are playing out against the backdrop of an escalating tech trade war between the US and China. The tech industry, a major contributor to the US trade deficit with China, finds itself at the center of these trade disputes.

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