Metro Detroit supports million-dollar Lottery retailers

The manager of Michigan's leading lottery retailer says "a lot of hard work" is the key to his status.

"We're in the business for long hours - 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.," says Mike Sawa, who runs Oak Park Liquor and Wine in suburban Detroit. "We have three machines to serve the customers, and I always have extra employees on hand so that they don't have to wait in line."

Michigan Lottery officials report that among more than 10,000 retailers, 45 achieved more than $1 million in gross sales during the 2009 calendar year. However, only Oak Park Liquor and Wine at 13700 W Eight Mile Road exceeded $2 million.

The store's gross profits reached the $150,000 range, even during times of an economic downturn.

"We have established our reputation during the past 13 years," Sawa says. "We lose some customers, but we gain some customers."

Of the 45 Michigan Lottery retailers to exceed $1 million in sales, 16 are in the city of Detroit. Another 18, such as Oak Park Liquor and Wine, make their homes in Detroit's metro suburbs. The remaining 11 are outstate.

This doesn't necessarily mean that metro Detroit dwellers buy more lottery tickets per capita. The Detroit area simply has the highest population density. In smaller towns and rural areas, ticket sales are shared in smaller quantities among a larger group of retailers.

At Inkster's Cherry Belt Party Store, 29395 Cherry Hill Road, owner Heida Habba says gross sales reached $1.5 million last year.

"We've been selling so many tickets that we put in a second terminal three years ago, but we have been working with the Michigan Lottery for 30 years," Habba says. "We're nice, we're friendly an dwe treat them right. We cash all of their tickets, up to $600. We don't tell them to go somewhere else. If we need to go to the bank for them when they win, we will go to the bank."

At Inkster's Cherry Belt Party Store, 29395 Cherry Hill Road, owner Heida Habba says gross sales reached $1.5 million last year.

"We've been selling so many tickets that we put in a second terminal three years ago, but we have been working with the Michigan Lottery for 30 years," Habba says. "We're nice, we're friendly and we treat (customers) right. We cash all of their tickets, up to $600. We don't tell them to go somewhere else. If we need to go to the bank for them when they win, we will go to the bank."

Another Michigan Lottery $1 million retailer is Five Star Liquor, 7951 Chase Road in Dearborn.

"We're well beyond $1 million and we want to get to $2 million, but we're not quite there yet," says owner John Yelda.

"Good service and being nice to customers - those are the keys," he says. "We are loyal to them, and that's what the customers need. If you have good relations with them and good friendships with them, they will come back to you."

Owner Micky Yaldo of Parkway Foods, a Spartan Stores franchise at 13210 E. Jefferson Ave. in Detroit, agrees that customer service is important. He also focuses on a friendly atmosphere and prompt payouts to winners. However, Yaldo says there is another factor that helps achieve Michigan Lottery $1 million sales status.

"We've had a couple of big winners lately, and that has led to an increase in customers," Yaldo says.

He explains that "an older gentleman who often drives the customers home" recently hit for $1 million, that another man won $500,000 last winter, and that two years ago a woman claimed $300,000 from a simple instant ticket.

"People believe they will have good luck when they come here," Yaldo says.

Sources:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/lottery/BSL-L-AR2009_310276_7.pdf
http://www.michigan.gov/lottery
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