November 23, 2018 | by Ian Foster
With a few pricing adjustments, and a slight shift in pricing strategy, most bars and restaurants could add significant profits without selling more drinks.
The good news is that there are immediate action items you can take to improve profits in your bar operation. The key is moving from an overly simplistic pricing model to a more strategic pricing model.
Read this ebook to discover some of the ways you can increase your sales and profits without having to build new business through advertising, renovations, promotions or discounts. Read more
November 7, 2018 | by Buzztime
October 24, 2018 | by Brianne Shelley
A girl walks into a bar… takes out her phone and posts on her Instagram story.
In today’s day and age, snapping photos of a cool space is the norm. But is your establishment worthy enough to make the cut?
Word-of-mouth has always been an essential tool for the restaurant industry. However, the concept has evolved in recent years and taken itself online.
Bottom line—if you want free publicity on Instagram, you have to make your offerings and your bar look good.
To get you started, here are a few ways to make your bar Instagram-worthy:
October 4, 2018 | by Sculpture Hospitality
Summer meals tend to be served cold and consist of lots of fresh fruits and vegetables that are available in abundance during this time of year. As the weather turns cold and people spend more time indoors, we tend to gravitate towards hot meals, roasted vegetables and other comfort foods. This shift in eating habits also means that our favorite fruity summer cocktail might not pair as well with autumn inspired meals. With that in mind, we have put together perfect spirit pairings that will bring out the best in fall meal flavors.
September 20, 2018 | by Sculpture Hospitality
Bar Rescue is a binge-worthy reality show where Jon Taffer and his team of experts visit bars around the country that are drowning in debt and struggling to stay afloat. The show follows Taffer as he uncovers underlying problems and gives owners and staff some tough love and tries to help them turn their business around. During the course of six seasons, there have been some reoccurring themes, which we have compiled into a list of top lessons that you can use to start improving your own business.
August 29, 2018 | by Sculpture Hospitality
Even the most successful bars and restaurants will have to deal with a turnover rate that is significantly higher than other industries. That makes it even more important to have an effective hiring and onboarding process in place. Without a strategic approach to ensuring employee success, you will have to deal with even higher turnover, potentially poor diner experiences and a declining business. Follow these simple tips to create a smooth and effective hiring and onboarding process that will help everyone succeed:
August 3, 2018 | by Sculpture Hospitality
Mixing up batches of punch to serve to customers is one of the easiest ways to take some of the burden off bartenders while also driving profits. Summer tends to be a busy season, especially if you have a welcoming patio where guests can enjoy the outdoors while they dine. Instead of mixing individual drinks, save time and earn more revenue by relying on large batches that feature fresh, seasonal fruit. Here are a few profitable summer punches that are sure to be a hit:
July 18, 2018 | by Buzztime
Great bar and restaurant social events get people talking – and get guests in the door. Here are 9 social event ideas designed to help improve guest experiences and get people talking about your venue - from grown-up summer camp to interactive trivia games, these are ideas for restaurant events that no guest can resist.
July 3, 2018 | by Sculpture Hospitality
The 4th of July is all about getting together with friends and family, enjoying great food and drinks and celebrating the birth of America. For bars and restaurants, it is also an ideal time to run strategic promotions that will bring in customers. Millions of people will be looking for the perfect place to spend the holiday and you can make your establishment the clear choice by incorporating some of these ideas:
June 21, 2018 | by Sculpture Hospitality
The weather is beautiful. The evenings are longer and people want to soak it all in while it lasts. For bars and restaurants with a patio, that means a significant increase in business that may require some adjustments. If you haven't set up a strategy for managing the summer crowds, it is time to get your patio ready for summer. In honor of the first official day of summer, here are some tips and tricks to get the most out of this busy season and meet staffing demands.
June 15, 2018 | by Sculpture Hospitality
There is no doubt that dad will be happy with any gift you give him this Father's Day, even if it is another tie, but why not give him something he truly wants? Since the holiday falls on June 17th, right at the beginning of summer, it is the perfect time to celebrate your dad with a line-up of summery craft beers. Here are a few suggestions that capture the tastes of the season and provide a refreshing beverage on a summer day.
June 8, 2018 | by Sculpture Hospitality
Bartending is a real art form, which means rookies will have to practice their craft and learn from their mistakes. We all have to start somewhere, but there are some common mistakes that are preventable. Helping rookie bartenders avoid these mistakes will allow them to focus on making great drinks without causing too much trouble behind the bar and attracting the unwanted attention of frustrated managers. Here are a few common mistakes and ways to prevent them:
May 17, 2018 | by Sculpture Hospitality
May 11, 2018 | by Sculpture Hospitality
Spring is here, which means that people are naturally coming out of their winter hibernation and looking for things to do outside the home. As people gravitate to outdoor patios to enjoy the warmer weather and a fresh cocktail, you are sure to see a spike in business, but you can take things a step further by running food and drink promotions that celebrate spring. With the right strategies, you can make sure that customers are walking through your door instead of going down the street to the competition.
May 2, 2018 | by Sculpture Hospitality
Spring has finally arrived, and that means warmer weather, longer days and time to do some spring cleaning when it comes to your cocktail menu. It's time to replace winter favorites with refreshing drinks that match that season and incorporate fresh ingredients that will be hitting the markets. With that in mind, here are some light, breezy cocktails that will help you and your customers raise a glass to welcome spring.
April 11, 2018 | by Sculpture Hospitality
For bars and restaurants, the importance of establishing inventory management procedures can't be overstated. If you aren't keeping accurate records of what you are selling, then it is virtually impossible to identify problems and make improvements. Without a plan in place, you are blindly running a business and simply hoping for the best. Instead of taking the "by the seat of your pants approach," use these inventory management best practices tips to add a little organization to your bar or restaurant while also increasing profits.
April 4, 2018 | by Sculpture Hospitality
One of the best parts about being a bartender and mixologist is that you are only limited by your creativity. There are classic cocktails and flavor combinations that have stood the test of time and are perfect for anchoring a menu, but there is always room for new cocktails to shine. If you are looking for some inspiration or easy ways to spruce up your existing menu, here are some of the latest craft cocktails that are creating a stir.
March 22, 2018 | by Sculpture Hospitality
Happy hour can be both a fun time for customers to let loose after work and take advantage of some drink deals and a lucrative window for your bar or restaurant to make some extra money and build a reputation. It doesn't take a lot of effort to transform what can be a quiet time of the day into one of your busiest. With a little planning, your location can become an after-work destination that helps people relax after a long day. Here are just a few things you can do to create a more compelling happy hour experience:
March 13, 2018 | by Ian Foster
If you are unfortunate enough to go through a sales tax audit of your bar operations, you’ll be required to pay sales tax on drinks you never sold.
February 27, 2018 | by Buzztime
You post on social media. You run a great loyalty program. And you’ve mastered email marketing. Still not seeing the foot traffic you want? It’s time to deploy your bar or restaurant’s secret weapon: in-venue entertainment with an interactive, super-social twist.
February 23, 2018 | by Sculpture Hospitality
As someone who works in the bar and restaurant industry, you are probably familiar with potato vodkas, but you might not be up to speed with the latest trend: sweet potato vodka. Traditionally, potato vodkas are more popular in Eastern European countries where there is easy access to plenty of inexpensive potatoes, but Americans have jumped on the bandwagon and taken things a step further with the emergence of sweet potato vodkas. Here is everything you need to know about this growing trend.