For thousands of craft breweries, bars and pubs, the coronavirus pandemic is a double-whammy. Businesses are losing income—and customers. Everyone has to deal with the new normal, with more people hunkering down at home.
But as they say, it ain’t over till it’s over. Breweries and bars can embrace resilience using these four ideas:
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Offer DIY Brewery or Cocktail Kits
Are the loyal patrons missing the brew? Bars or craft breweries can deliver “care packages.” These may include ingredients of the best-sellers.
To make these kits extra special, breweries can provide a step-by-step guide on how to make the drinks. They may even leave a lovely personal note.
Businesses can buy these items from wholesale vendors or mango puree manufacturers to reduce shipping costs. Even better, making these kits can help enterprises to earn profit and also attract new customers. It seems many deserve a nice drink these days.
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Launch a YouTube Video
The pandemic isn’t the best time to stop advertising, but businesses may need to be more prudent with their budget. They have to select campaigns that deliver the best results, and one of these is video marketing.
In a survey with digital marketers, over 85% said that video marketing provided them with excellent ROI. Eighty percent claimed it increased their sales, while nearly 90% revealed it boosted website traffic.
With most people in quarantine, the Internet is their best friend. Many of them are spending more time on YouTube, which already has over 1.3 billion viewers pre-pandemic.
For content ideas, consider the following:
Demos (how to make the best drinks, bartending tips, etc.)
Virtual tour of the pub (or the brewery)
Volunteering efforts
Message from the CEO (or the business owner)
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Host a Virtual Cocktail or Beer Event
Remember those beer and cocktail kits on tip #1? Bars, breweries, and pubs can take this service a notch higher by hosting a virtual cocktail or beer event. Here’s how it works:
Schedule the event beforehand. Be specific on what attendees can look forward to it. For example, what recipes are everyone going to make? Is there a special guest popping in? Give enough time for customers to buy what they need. Don’t forget to provide an exclusive link to the virtual event.
At least 15 minutes before the event, start streaming. It’s an excellent time to talk more about the business while the rest are prepping for the ingredients.
Once everyone’s ready, start the brewing or cocktail making. Allow customers to ask questions and encourage interaction with all participants.
At the end of the event, ask for feedback either through email or messages on social media. One can also send a survey form. The answers can give businesses an idea about whether similar events are worth it in the future.
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Update Health and Hygiene Protocols
Bars and breweries won’t remain closed forever, but states may demand stricter hygiene and health standards. Businesses can use this time to update their protocols. Some areas to focus on include:
- Number of people it can accommodate at one time (businesses may need to cut their customers by half)
- Seating arrangements (everyone still needs to practice social distancing inside, which means they cannot congregate at the bar)
- How servers and bartenders should interact with the customers
- Sanitation guidelines
- Health and well-being of employees
- Times are tough, but better days may be ahead. Right now, businesses like bars and pubs can let their creativity and innovation run wild to thrive.