Thirsty Thursdays @3PM EST

Send us a text This week 📢I talk🎙️with Rob Minucci CEO & Co-Founder at TalkHouse Encore and we discuss how he has used his experience in operations to build out a CRM and win Accounts and Distributors! 👏🍷 🎇 🎉 ✨ 👏 🥂 😁 How do RTD brands actually scale? 🍺 Rob Minucci, CEO of TalkHouse Encore, breaks down data, operations, CRM, distributors & real-world sales strategy for CPG growth. @ThirstyThursdaysat3PMEST   “Everything I’ve built is based around systems, processes, and procedures that are repeatable—with as little human intervention as possible.”  Rob Minucci Watch Here!  https://youtu.be/AeZl7vXfigo Most RTD brands chase hype. TalkHouse Encore built systems. In this episode, Jessie Ott sits down with Rob Minucci, CEO & Co-Founder of TalkHouse Encore, to break down how operations, data, and distributor trust drive real growth in CPG and beverage. 🔥 Key Takeaways:  • Why beer distributors outperform spirits distributors for RTDs  • How CRM + real-time data create sales accountability  • Building velocity before chasing expansion  • Why on-premise still matters (40% of sales!)  • How systems beat guesswork every time  • Using tastings + analytics to drive reorders This is a masterclass in execution over noise. How Rob’s Team Actually Differentiates (and Why It Works) Most RTD brands compete on flavors, packaging, or hype.  Rob and the TalkHouse Encore team compete on execution. That difference shows up in a few very specific ways. They build systems before scale While many brands rush distribution, Rob’s team focused early on operational processes that remove friction. Sales, inventory, distributor activity, and account follow-ups are tracked in real time. Less guessing. More control. They designed a CRM for beverage reality Instead of forcing reps to live in bloated software, they built a CRM that works the way beverage teams actually work: Simple inputsShelf photosAccount scoringInventory flagsRoute efficiencyIt’s not “data for reporting.”  It’s data that drives action in the field. They treat distributors like partners, not order takers Rob’s team doesn’t just hand off the brand and hope for the best. They create clarity for distributors by: Showing exactly where velocity is workingIdentifying underperforming accounts earlyMaking it easier for reps to winThat builds trust — and trust gets priority. They use focus as a competitive advantage Instead of chasing national presence, they went deep in hard markets. Fewer states. Better execution. Higher velocity.  They win on-premise to pull through off-premise With roughly 40% of sales on-premise, TalkHouse uses bars and restaurants as marketing engines. Sampling, education, and activation create demand that shows up later in retail  They remove ego from pricing and product decisions Pricing wasn’t set to “fit the shelf.” It was set to reflect quality, margin, and sustainability. The mixed vod NOW ON YOUTUBE!!! Thank you for Listening! Join us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter! Host Jessie Ott's Profile on LinkedIn