Hopco

Hopco are all about hops: importing high quality hops, hop products and production equipment to breweries and homebrew stores across Australia. The Tasmanian based, family-owned business recently implemented CreditorWatch Collect to help them keep on top of their debtors, with impressive results.

A side-effect of growth

The craft beer movement has seen massive growth for Hopco. As the market began to change, the business began to diversify, adding production equipment to their offerings, and developing partnerships with a number of companies to increase the scope of their products’ use. And as growth brings an increase in customers, there is an inevitable increase in accounts that need to be chased.

As can be expected, by spending time making phone calls and sending emails for overdue invoices, Hopco was experiencing decreased efficiency. Chasing accounts became a low priority unless cashflow problems started to rear their head.

A word of mouth recommendation

One day, they were having a chat with one of their brewery customers about the invoice chasing solution the brewery had been using, with great results. It had been giving them more time to spend on their core business activity: making beer! And that solution was… (drum roll please)… CreditorWatch Collect.

After hearing about the brewer’s positive experiences with CreditorWatch Collect, the team at Hopco decided to give the service a try. Turns out the interface, simplicity and reconciliation with Xero were exactly what Hopco had been looking for.

“Customisation was important, along with the ability to thank customers who made a payment. The simplicity and set-and-forget schedule make it seamless”, says Jon Burridge, Hopco’s Sales and Marketing manager.

“I rarely check CreditorWatch Collect as it is doing what it says it does”, explains Jon. “I’m watching the overdue accounts decrease. Currently overdue invoices have reduced by 100%”.

But it isn’t just about increased cashflow. By minimising their time spent on chasing accounts, Jon and team can now focus on promoting and growing the Hopco business.

And by making the process less stressful, Hopco can now have fun chasing up their overdue accounts, check out out some of the inspired reminders they have brewed up:

*Fermentation Time, Overdue invoice for Hopco

Dear [Customer],

We understand how hard cashflow can be for a brewery but imagine how hard it is for a warehouse full of hops, this is why we would appreciate payment as soon as possible.

Our records indicate that after sending a previous reminder, we still have not received payment for INV-0000 for $[amount]. It was due on July 28, 2015 and is now 16 days overdue.

If you have already paid please let me know, otherwise can you please pay the invoice as soon as possible.

Much appreciated, its all about the hops!

Hopco

**Brewing Sours? Overdue invoice for Hopco

Dear [Customer],

Unfortunately at this point we really need payment!

Our records indicate that after sending multiple reminders we still have not yet received payment for INV-0000 for $[amount]. It was due on July 16, 2015 and is now 26 days overdue.

Due to this we won’t be able to send you any further hops until we receive payment for this overdue amount.

If you have already paid please let me know, otherwise can you please pay the invoice urgently.

Much appreciated, hops make the world go round!

Hopco

***Infected!!! Severely overdue invoice for Hopco

Dear [Customer],

Unfortunately at this point we really need payment!

Our records indicate that after sending multiple reminders we still have not yet received payment for INV-0000 for $[amount]. It was due on May 2 5, 2015 and is now 77 days overdue.

Due to this we won’t be able to send you any further hops until we receive payment for this overdue amount.

Plus we put you in the naughty boys and girls corner.

If you have already paid please let me know, otherwise can you please pay the invoice urgently.

Much appreciated, hops make the world go round!

Hopco

* Fermentation Time = one of the final stages where the yeast is left to create the alcohol

** Brewing Sours = Sours are a beer style that are very unique and polarise drinkers

*** Infected = Sometimes bad yeast infects a beer and spoils it