AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO IMPROVING YOUR BEER REVENUES
Congrats! As a brewpub owner, you’ve made your wildest dreams come true, and you’re pursuing your passions. You have crafted a microbrewery with a pub, that you’re proud to call your own.
But, success comes with a steep price.
Just a few years back, you may have been the only craft brewery in town. But, with the tremendous increase in popularity of craft brews, you now have to deal with stiff competition, not only from the big name brands but also from other craft breweries.
So, here in today’s article, we help you find the answer to the following questions, “How to stay relevant and set your craft brewery from your competition? What tactics to employ to catch the attention of the new-age patron?”
Without further ado, let’s dig right into the heart of the matter.
#1: DON’T MESS WITH WHAT WORKS WELL
This is one piece of advice often offered by successful craft brewers. While craft brewing is all about experimenting with new tastes and pushing boundaries, most brewers stay away from messing with what works well.
Instead of just offering new flavours, make sure that you have a well-rounded list that includes all the major flavours, both traditional ones as well as risky ones. This ensures that all palates are satisfied – from adventurous drinkers to picky drinkers.
Also, when it comes to the foods you offer with your brews, opt for hearty and full-filling choices and keep the ingredients simple and clean. Remember that a brewpub is not the place where people are looking for a fine-dining experience.
#2: GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR BEST FEATURES
If you’re a full-service restaurant in an area filled with pubs that offer only snack food, let it work to your advantage. Make sure that your diverse menu is well-advertised and try to attract the audience who are looking for good beer along with good food.
Alternatively, if your brewpub is located in an exotic location like a beachfront, then maximise on it. Instead of placing your tables in a cooped building, move your tables and the bar to the wide, big outdoors.
Take a hard look at what sets you apart from your competitors. It may be something as simple as your chef’s special burgers or something big like your extensive list of flavours. Whatever be it, try to build on it. Market it. Spread the word about your features and let it pull in your audience.
#3: DON’T LOSE FOCUS OF WHAT YOU SET OUT TO DO
Travel back a bit and try to remember what your aims and aspirations were when you initially set up a brewpub. It can be that you fell in love with the rich taste of craft beer and wanted to spread the experience with others. Or it may be that you wanted to educate people about beer culture and craft beers in general.
Whatever be the reason, don’t lose sight of what you set to do. In the never-ending demands and responsibilities that come with running a brewpub, it’s quite common to lose sight of your aims and goals. Keeping an eye on your primary goals is the best way to keep your passion kindled and prevent you from straying away from your track.
#4: TELL YOUR STORY
Brewpubs are businesses that are highly dependent on their customers. And not just any customer but the right ones. To establish a connect with your target audience and to convert them into regular patrons, you must impress them with the story of your brand.
The best way to tell your story is to infuse it into your wait staff. After all, they are the people who interact with your audience directly. So, when you hire staff, be it a waitress or a bar-tender, ensure that you appoint people who are willing to travel the extra mile to tell your story to your audience.
When it comes to today’s consumers, they are highly tech-savvy and intuitive. Anything contrived or fake, they are sure to spot it out quickly. Make sure that you tell your true story if you want to create a rapport with your audience.
The same principles apply to your social media pages. Make sure that the voice you use reflects your brand’s personality. Never appear phony or over-the-top, as these are a big No-No for today’s consumers.
#5: EMBRACE CHANGE
You would have come across the saying, “Change is the only thing that’s constant.” This is very true when it comes to the beer industry. What works today need not work tomorrow. So, make sure that you are poised to deal with all the changes that come your way.
This doesn’t mean you have to adapt your principles to accommodate every passing fad. However, make sure that you embrace change and grow with it if you’re to remain relevant in the field.
Just a few years ago, the pub scene in India was pretty limited, and consumers weren’t expecting huge offerings. But today’s young professionals are adventurous when it comes to their culinary tastes and want something new and cool, that they can flaunt on social media.
So, ensure that you offer something unique while getting the basics right if you want to improve your sales and expand revenues.
#6: ABOVE ALL, NEVER COMPROMISE QUALITY
Even if you have the fanciest offerings on tap, if your quality isn’t up to the mark, then you can be pretty sure that you’re going to lose out in the long run. While it’s alright to have an occasional off-the-mark batch, make sure that you provide consistent quality.
THE LAST WORD
The craft beer scene is now better, like never before. More and more savvy customers are willing to experiment with flavours. So, now’s a great time to turn your dreams come true by opening up a brewpub. Not sure where to begin or how to proceed? Worry not, get in touch with our expert team, headed by Rohit Jafa. With more than two decades of experience, we provide you with comprehensive support.
Right from facility planning, procuring and fine-tuning equipment, providing you with tailored recipes and helping you find the right staff, we help you do it all. Just drop in a line at sales@microbreweryindia.com to start your magical brewpub – that draws in crowds with the right combination of great food and great beer. Let’s get started.