Owning and running a single bar can be challenging, but if it’s something you are particularly successful at doing, why not be ambitious and set up a chain of bars? The hospitality industry took a real hit in the UK and worldwide over the last few years. Many bars, cafaés, restaurants, and hotels were forcibly closed and couldn’t earn money or welcome customers for a long time. We came up with this piece on tips for bar owners about how to expand your business and set up a chain of bars. Continue reading to learn more.
Cater To What Customers Want
In the hospitality industry, the customer is king, and you will not succeed if you don’t listen and cater to their needs and preferences. But how can you find out what customers want from your chain of bars? One way is by speaking at length with lots of different customers in your current bar to gauge their opinions. You can also look at online reviews and customers feedback and post polls and surveys on your social media accounts and company website. Questions should be centered around favourite drinks and meals, what live sports you should show, suggestions for live music acts, etc.
Treat Your Employees Well
Employees are at the heart of any small business, and if you want to expand to set up a chain of bars, you must treat your employees well and create a strong team spirit. Why not get your staff special team shirts with your bar brand’s logo emblazed across them? If you’re looking for quality printed shirts customised for your business, check out Screena Textiles, specialists in screen printing and embroidery.
Employee morale will also be higher if you pay your staff fairly. You don’t have to go wild with it and overspend on wages, just an amount they can live from to pay their bills.
Get Your Original Bar Making Regular Profits
You won’t be able to launch into expanding operating and setting up a chain of bars if your original bar cannot regularly generate profits. Getting affordable beverage suppliers, keeping the spending on your interior décor as low as you can, and making the most of advertising your establishment for free online are some ways you can keep costs down as a bar owner.
Serve Wonderful Tasting Food And Interesting Beverages
Of course, modern bar owners must ensure that standards remain high regarding reliably serving customers with fantastic, delicious food and fresh-tasting beverages. It could be good to offer customers some more unique drinks that they may not have tried elsewhere. Some customers love to try drinks brewed locally.
Remember also to be inclusive with the range of food and beverages you offer, as people have varying dietary requirements and not everyone drinks alcohol. For instance, providing customers with vegan, veggie, gluten-free, halal food options, non-alcoholic soft drinks, and ‘mocktails’.
Many bar owners have dreams of potentially expanding one day, yet setting up an empire of bars in towns across the country is certainly no mean feat. Nevertheless, if you have the right vision with a positive attitude and investors who are willing to back you, there’s no reason why you can’t expand your business and succeed at setting up a chain of bars.