For the Love of Beer
A cool part of being on the Signs By Sam team is that working with different companies every day often gives us a behind-the-scenes look at some pretty awesome things going on within a particular business. We are going to cut to the chase. It’s the week of Valentine’s Day. People love beer. So it only made sense to put the two together for our next feature! We really enjoyed turning this delivery van into a mobile billboard by adding these vehicle graphics and we LOVE the idea of beer home delivery!
Sometimes our careers don’t pan out like we hope, but a lot of times it unknowingly leads to something better. This was just the case for Braden Jeannette and Shenango Beverage.
Braden Jeannette, owner of Shenango Beverage
Graduating from Riverside High School, Jeannette went on to study at Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA. With a promising career path, he graduated in 2001 with a degree in computer science. However, upon graduation, the tech bubble burst, sending graduates just like him on the job search longer than anticipated; Braden soon decided to start his career in outside sales. Later down the line in 2009, he was working in pharmaceutical sales when he was in the midst of facing a seemingly second stroke of unfortunate luck – his company was in the middle of laying off 900 employees.
It was here that Jeannette started to seriously consider pursing the niche retail market that is present with beer distributors, much like those with tobacco stores. After discovering Shenango Beverage, not only did he love the location, he saw nothing but potential. Much like how he grew up in the surrounding area, the building had been in business for over 20 years; it served as a restaurant, convenience store, and beer distributor, bringing character and connections itself. Now Shenango Beverage, located off Route 22 in New Castle, PA, is a new and improved walk-in, drive thru, and delivery (!) based beer distributor, carrying hundreds of craft, domestic, import, and seasonal beer; packaging ranges from singles, all the way to kegs.
I remember after almost a year of building the website and database, doing my first test transaction. I remember when it worked I was so excited, I started screaming and running around the store like I just won the Superbowl – luckily nobody was around.
The interior of the beer distributor
Beer Me
In an age of convenience, Shenango Beverage has certainly upped the ante with their newly established online ordering and delivery service. Imagine this – you’re sitting on the couch, watching the game with your buddies and last minute, you realize you need more drinks…or you’re a stay-at-home parent who is preparing for a get-together later that day but are finding it hard to escape the house with kids in tow. With this new service, customers can now simply order online and have it delivered to their house (within a 15 mi. radius and a $25 minimum order) in an hour or less. With all the one-click, 2-day shipping luxuries like Amazon, preparing for your next party – or heck, Friday night on the couch – has become so much easier.
With the addition of the delivery service, Jeannette’s team quickly grew from four to eight employees; it is his hope that this number continues to expand to 20 by the end of the year. Customer service is their number one priority at the store, and the Shenango Beverage owner takes great pride in the hard work his employees put in day in and day out.
…I value my employees and their opinions; without them this business doesn’t exist. We pay a higher wage to our employees than other retail stores because the employees are what make a business thrive. Good employees and happy customers are essential for a retail business, or any business, to survive.
One of their most popular, legendary items offered are their Party Starter alcohol slushies. Hello, Sweet Summertime.
“Beer me” has taken on a whole new meaning and creating quite the – shall we say, buzz? To experience it for yourself, you can enter the promo code “beerme” at checkout to get your first delivery FREE. Not only does Shenango Beverage make home deliveries, drop-offs can be made to corporate events, wedding venues, campgrounds, etc.
In his spare time, Jeannette takes advantage of spending time with his beloved wife, Abby, as well as his two children, Emma and Max. If you do happen to catch him during the work day though, you may run into his third child, Rubble – his dog that, he claims, is another big reason people stop by! But can you blame them? Beer and dogs? Golfing, fishing, and laying on the couch are also simple things that this entrepreneur enjoys most.
Signs By Sam is grateful to have had the opportunity to provide a variety of signage to Shenango Beverage – from vehicle graphics & magnets to raised 3-dimensional exterior building lettering and from beer cooler magnets to their building & pole banners. We are even more grateful to have been able to meet and work alongside a great team at the distributor. So next time you want to enjoy a cold one, be sure to head over to the store or (if you don’t want to enjoy this cold weather) shenangobeverage.com to see what they have waiting for you.
Cheers.
Shenango Beverage
3102 New Butler Road
New Castle, PA 16101
(724) 924-2016
Hours
Mon-Thurs: 10am – 8am
Fri-Sat: 10am – 9pm
Sun: 11am – 5pm
Order/Browse Online: shenangobeverage.com
Like them on Facebook: @shenangobeverage
Follow them on Instagram: @shenangobeer
And remember folks, signage is an amazing type of long lasting advertising.
“A business with no sign is a sign of no business.”
Eric Venezie Owner & Operater, Signs By Sam
