Are we still a ways out on being able to buy these for consumer use? Looks like most of the sales partners are industrial/commercial use. Couldn't dig up anything on their site about home use.
All of the initial production from this plant is spoken for. Part of the deal that secured the funding, exemptions, fast-tracking, tax breaks, etc. is a big public utility battery facility in the state (MI).
Super happy they unloaded the overstock! What an incredibly stressful time, been there before and it can feel like the world is crumbling.
In a past life, I ran a small business selling lip balm to small grocery / specialty stores. It started small and then with some good ol' fashion cold calling, we got into more and more stores. Eventually direct store sales is too much for a handful of folks to operate (and if your goal is to expand outside of your local region).
The next step (which they are at) was to start working with one of the big distros (I'm guessing for them it was UNFI or KeHE). You eventually get to a point where most buyers at larger store chains (Kroger, Whole Foods, etc.) eventually just want to streamline their ordering, which means moving to a distributor (also the Regional / National buyers for the categories eventually just push that way if your sales are growing rapidly).
Looks like they mentally had gotten to that point and did the right thing, find and expert to take you there.
If I had to guess on how this whole issue actually went down, the broker / consultant negotiated all the terms with the distro and basically they (the biz owners) didn't clearly read the contract details (putting all your trust in the expert without much verification). I was in that same position once and learning the distributors industry terms is tough to figure out without outside resources / guidance. As they write in the post, the broker basically let them down, while they equally leaned on the broker too much for obfuscating industry knowledge.
Apiary Simulator - Manage a your honey bees year round from pollination to honey harvesting and overwintering. Thinking something like Starcraft mixed with Sim Farm.
Has anyone switched from Brex to Ramp? Or vice versa? I’m having trouble understanding any significant differences between them other than competing on cash back.
I’ll Stan Alamo til the day I die. Even took my family there immediately after I got married ha!
Here is why Alamo has set the bar high for being more than a “movie theater”, in no particular order:
1. Their programming AKA the movies they choose to show is highly curated. You’ll have your standard summer blockbusters, a weird Wednesday film (usually a cult classic from the past generations), screenings with Q&A after the film with directors, actors, etc. As a movie goer I engage a ton with their marketing to look out for these events, because yes, I would absolutely love to see Uncut Gems and have the Safdie brothers and Adam Sandler talk about their experience. Those are more rare but just another opportunity to create a long lasting memory of a film, even if it sucked.
2. The pre-programming is custom, curated and so clever, it makes me ALWAYS want to get there earlier. For most movies they find similar footage or clips that have intertwining themes to the main film (early footage of actors in the movie, etc). It’s usually on the funnier side of things.
3. The no bs talking and phones policy is amazing. It’s enforced and if you want to experiment being a rat, you can even alert servers of guests that are breaking the rules without fear of retaliation. Finally a place to enjoy the film without most distractions.
4. It’s nice to plan a dinner and a movie and have it be all in one place. While the food is fine and not completely mind blowing, it’s good for a movie night and the popcorn is fantastic. Also +1 the queso as well. Alcohol selection is great and you can basically order whatever you want and will likely be able to make it (cocktail-wise).
5. When it existed, the Alamo season pass was amazing. $30 bucks a month, a movie a day and you select your seat ahead of time (you select your seat regardless of the pass, but still). I hope it comes back!
Some downsides:
1. You sometimes will smell food that might not be your favorite. Your a veggie that doesn’t like the smell of a burger, sorry, you likely are gonna have all the food smells.
2. Servers darting around the theatre for a lot of the movie. They are usually pretty sneaky but you get some Paperboy PTSD of enemies coming out in your peripheral vision.
3. YMMV with each Alamo. Pre-pandemic some were franchises and some were corporate. The corporate ones were so much better and the franchises just seemed to be poorly run across the board.
So many other things they hit out of the park, screenings for families and folks with autism (you can talk, etc) as well as screenings for parents with young kids (more talking and likely some more crying). Lots of accessibility screenings for the deaf and blind. The list goes on…
If The restructure for Alamo works out, you’ll be seeing more and more of the old guard changing things to align more like Alamo, and that definitely will be a good thing for the film industry. Just my 2¢
