ePortfolio SWOT Analysis Comm 323

Newport News is a city in Virginia, located in the Hampton Roads area. Although there are various attractions to visit in this city, Newport News does not have its own brewery. This past June “Tradition Brewing Company,” opened its doors for the very first time. This was the first brewery to open in Newport News, Virginia. With the opening of this brewery brought about some attention, especially from the local beer lovers and people who were looking for a place to have some fun. With this being the first brewery in Newport News, many people don’t know about Tradition Brewing Company. The location is near City Center which is a business district in Newport News. City Center is actually a great location which offers food, entertainment, and shopping. For Tradition Brewery Company, the advertising department needs improvement in order to reach more locals. This is why I developed a SWOT Analysis for Tradition Brewing Company.

Strengths

• Head brewer Dan Powell has been making beer for over 25 years.

• Has been an apprentice at a number of breweries.

• No competitor in the Newport News area.

Weaknesses

• The Marketing department needs improvement.

• Wouldn’t hurt to grow the staff.

• Establishing a presence on social media platforms.

• Creating a reputation in the Hampton Roads.

Opportunities

• Partnered with craft beer enthusiasts from Newport News, Virginia.

• Head brewer Dan Powell is a member of the Master Brewers Association & American Homebrewers Association.

Threats

• Have to stand out among craft beer companies in the Tidewater region.

• Popular breweries handle control of supply and distribution.

In order for “Tradition Brewing Company,” to establish a reputation, it is important to address the weaknesses of the company. The marketing department needs improvement, the staff needs to grow, and establishing a reputation in the Hampton Roads area and on social media is essential for growth. The internet is everything right now, and establishing communication on social media platforms between craft beer lovers and the staff of Tradition Brewing Company is a key to success. The need for someone to tag themselves at the location, search local breweries, and share information about the brewery will help the Tradition Brewing Company tremendously.

In order to reach local craft beer lovers, potential guests, and natives looking for a nice place to hang out, Tradition Brewing Company will host a small event. This event will be planned by Tradition Brewing Company staff and the goals will be clear and precise. The goal of this event is to simply reach. Tradition Brewing Company wants to reach people from the Hampton Roads area. If the event is a success, the reach will extend pass the Hampton Roads area and attract people from all over. A small event for the Tradition Brewing Company is ideal because of the budget. Since this is a fairly new company, investing too much money without knowing the end result could lead to complications. With it being Fall, there any many Fall Festivals going on in the Hampton Roads area. This would be the perfect place to set up a booth and offer samples of the craft beers from Tradition Brewing Company. Participating in a Fall Festival will bring the locals which is exactly what the Tradition Brewing Company needs. The Fall Festival itself will bring in many people due to advertisements featured around the city. It’s a chance for the locals to meet the staff of the Tradition Brewing Company and what they stand for. People love to learn about the history of a company and feel like they really know the people behind the scenes. This event will give people the chance to also taste the craft beers the Tradition Brewing Company features. Connecting with people and learning the market is essential to success. This Fall Festival will definitely give the Tradition Brewing Company the chance to turn those weaknesses into strengths, and the threats into opportunities.

References

Bringing Traditions Together. (n.d.). Retrieved September 26, 2016, from http://traditionbrewing.com/team/