Community Supported Beverages

Borrowing a good idea is one thing. Knowing where else it might work is another.

In the fall of 2020, with restaurants and breweries navigating the uncertainty of the pandemic, Community Supported Beverages offered a way to bring local businesses and their customers together.

Inspired by the familiar Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model, CSB connected Lockeland Table with six Nashville breweries through a three-month subscription program. Every other week, shareholders picked up six freshly filled bottles from a featured brewery, accompanied by a snack from the restaurant.

Each sharebox also included a voucher for a free beer at the brewery's taproom. A little something extra for the shareholder, and a good reason to visit the brewery in person. At a time when getting people through the door was anything but routine, the smallest touchpoints carried some of the biggest opportunities.

The work began with the idea and extended through naming, pitching, organizing, selling, and operating the program. Member communications, beer filling, packaging, distribution, and pickup logistics were all part of making the experience happen.

The program created goodwill, introduced customers to local breweries, and established relationships that continued well beyond its final pickup. Even the corrugated bottle carrier inspired another design solution.

Three months. Six breweries. A lot of moving parts.

Sometimes the most useful thing to design isn't an object. It's a way for people to come together.

2020