Bars are constantly fighting to retain customers and attract new ones. While having a great atmosphere, having a wide variety of drinks to cater a broader clientele works initially, to maintain the momentum it is always good to conduct promotions to encourage the existing clientele to spend more while attracting new customers as well. In order to face the competitors, maintaining a healthy balance of promotions and special events are a must have for bars that are new and old alike.
Happy Hours
Customers love happy hours! Not only will they keep coming back for more every week, they will also spend more in if they arrive in groups. While it’s a promotion done by every bar, it also never goes out of style as it is a tried and tested method of increasing sales. Boosting these promotions on social media, sharing e-flyers and marking your presence within your existing community will create a top of the mind recall for your customers and attract new customers as well.
Karaoke Nights
Since karaoke bars are limited to a certain niche type of crowd, a bar hosting a karaoke night would excite new and existing customers. While most bar designs and fit outs will not typically cater to a karaoke layout, it is always a good option to have a separate area when designing or refurbishing your bar space.
It is a fun, engaging and stress relieving promotion and activity to get the customers’ spirits high whilst also improving sales for alcohol and food alike. It is important to maintain a safe environment to all customers during events such as this, and always keep an eye out for anyone that might create trouble too.
Open Mics
Open Mics, poetry readings etc. create communities within neighbourhoods, and if a bar can create the space for these like-minded individuals, they will keep coming back for the company. Hosting community led events once a month will not only improve your new customer base, but also encourage the existing, long-term customers to participate. Events with big gatherings will also pave the way for a lot of earned media on social media. And it is the best kind of publicity a brand or bar can get when compared to pushed content.
Influencer Partnerships
Influencer marketing is currently one of the most effective ways to get some short-term publicity. Partnering up with a few influencers, providing them free drinks and meals along with a promo code for their respective followers are bound to improve the footfall for a short period of time.
A small portion will always consider coming back if they had a positive experience! It is also a good way to attract the new Gen Z crowd who are more likely to go to places that are frequented by influencers.
While constant promotions will most definitely boost sales in the short run, it is the life time value of a customer that will be most profitable for any business. Maintaining quality standards, good service coupled with comfortable and safe ambiance is what will help retain customers in the long run.
