What would you tell you local Pool Room/Pool Bar Owner to do, to improve their business, and keep customers coming back.
What would you tell you local Pool Room/Pool Bar Owner to do
- Thread starter CocoboloCowboy
- Start date
For starters I would recommend room owners to view the owners forum.
Secondly, I would look at what areas you want to improve. Perhaps even go so far as to categories the business and create individualized marketing plans for each category. Keep the categories simple.
For example:
Category 1: League players
Take a look at the demands of the players. Look at your competition. Find their strengths and weaknesses. Create a plan to provide the players the best possible league based on what is required to be the best.
Explore options for tournaments and charity events to get people that play pool but not in leagues exposed to your league and the benefits of joining.
Entertain ideas that think outside the box for marketing your leagues to the uninformed market.
Category 2: Regular customers
Look at solidifying your relationships with your beverage suppliers and any other supplier you have. Work with them to create special nights to cater to your regular non-playing clientel.
Category 3: Unfound market
Create a plan to market your business to the unknown market. Understand your target market and create a plan detailed for that market.
Hope this helps.
Secondly, I would look at what areas you want to improve. Perhaps even go so far as to categories the business and create individualized marketing plans for each category. Keep the categories simple.
For example:
Category 1: League players
Take a look at the demands of the players. Look at your competition. Find their strengths and weaknesses. Create a plan to provide the players the best possible league based on what is required to be the best.
Explore options for tournaments and charity events to get people that play pool but not in leagues exposed to your league and the benefits of joining.
Entertain ideas that think outside the box for marketing your leagues to the uninformed market.
Category 2: Regular customers
Look at solidifying your relationships with your beverage suppliers and any other supplier you have. Work with them to create special nights to cater to your regular non-playing clientel.
Category 3: Unfound market
Create a plan to market your business to the unknown market. Understand your target market and create a plan detailed for that market.
Hope this helps.
Customer appreciation drinks, in New York there was a small bar (no more than 10 seats) and every 3rd drink was free. I think that was rather extravagant but when you have good customers you might want to throw them a bone every once in a while.
In Hawaii they have poker chips for free drinks and I'm sure you could print up some coupons or something, make it special and nothing that would hurt your bottom line by much. But try to make your customers feel good, money is hard to come by and they're spending it in your place.
In Hawaii they have poker chips for free drinks and I'm sure you could print up some coupons or something, make it special and nothing that would hurt your bottom line by much. But try to make your customers feel good, money is hard to come by and they're spending it in your place.
Fart sniffer said:
Biggest problem with the free drinks is you are opening yourself up for a lawsuit when someone leaves the bar and gets a DUI or worse, kills someone. We had a bar/restaurant in this area that just had this happen. Lets just say that they are no longer in business, and will probably never get their license back.
Mark
Bluesteel said:
Maybe I am ignorant, but I can't see a big difference between a bought drink and a free drink when it comes to liability. The bartender still uses his/her discretion on serving and the person uses their discretion when imbibing, how does the cost of the drink come into play?
Not trying to start an argument, just trying to learn. Oh and do you have a link to the news article, I would be interested in reading about it. Thank you.
Edit: Damn typo, thanks Jude for quoting since that's the only way I caught it
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Fart sniffer said:
Actually, I think you asked an excellent question. I'm also under the assumption that for whatever reason, free drinks are viewed somewhat differently. You should also know, in many places, alcohol laws are rarely logical.
Not sure about other states , but in Michigan The Liquor Control Commision does not allow giving of free drinks. Even 2 for 1 specials are not allowed. edit: This doesn't mean that it doesn't happen on occasion.Bluesteel said:
Happy Hour specials and discounted drinks are okay.
Steve
ps
This is what I've been told and someone can correct me if I'm wrong.
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Yea
In Indiana, I believe it's against the law to give away free drinks. No Happy Hour specials either. They even changed the law, so if you charge $2.00 for a beer during the day, you're not supposed to change prices when the band starts up.
One of the major steakhouse chains opened here a few years back, and had some beer special for the grand opening, like 1 cent or 10cent beers. Guy left and hit someone headon, and the place got a major lawsuit. Finally settled out of court recently.
Taking care of your regulars, making them feel comfortable and appreciated is about the best thing you can do. They will at sometime down the road tell their friends about how well you treat them and bring more in. When I had my poolrooms open, I'd buy the regulars a soda or something occasionally. I had 2 guys who came in every Saturday and played 6 or 7 hours, and I'd always knock a couple of bucks off their table time, or buy them a couple of sodas.
Bluesteel said:
In Indiana, I believe it's against the law to give away free drinks. No Happy Hour specials either. They even changed the law, so if you charge $2.00 for a beer during the day, you're not supposed to change prices when the band starts up.
One of the major steakhouse chains opened here a few years back, and had some beer special for the grand opening, like 1 cent or 10cent beers. Guy left and hit someone headon, and the place got a major lawsuit. Finally settled out of court recently.
Taking care of your regulars, making them feel comfortable and appreciated is about the best thing you can do. They will at sometime down the road tell their friends about how well you treat them and bring more in. When I had my poolrooms open, I'd buy the regulars a soda or something occasionally. I had 2 guys who came in every Saturday and played 6 or 7 hours, and I'd always knock a couple of bucks off their table time, or buy them a couple of sodas.
sde said:Not sure about other states , but in Michigan The Liquor Control Commision does not allow giving of free drinks. Even 2 for 1 specials are not allowed. edit: This doesn't mean that it doesn't happen on occasion.
Happy Hour specials and discounted drinks are okay.
Steve
ps
This is what I've been told and someone can correct me if I'm wrong.
Yes, I believe in New York there is a law against buy-backs. That is to say, I am under the impression drinks on the house are fine but you cannot have an official buy-back policy (ie., buy two, get one free).
I am not certain of how the LCC regulation is written, but it is the standard here, in league play for the bar to buy a round of drinks for each team. Although there is one bar that refuses to give the "bar round", stating that it is against the LCC regs.Jude Rosenstock said:
Steve
Screw free drinks. Open early before work for practice time, if enough demand exists. Always be on the lookout for setting up matches, even if just for a drink or table time. The pool hall is a social gathering place and you are the cruise director! Anyone can run leagues or poker nights, but its the guy who can open at 11am on a Saturday, serve coffee and have a bunch of tables going that is going to make the dough. Challenge matches every once in a while doesn't hurt either. The key is that pool halls used to be someplace that you went to "hang out" if you didn't have anything better to do, mostly because owners made it easy to do so. I do this anymore. Never. After the nth time going and not finding anyone to play, you give up.
tim
tim
Not to be argumentitive, but why do people always want free stuff. I would rather have a nice room with a decent food menu, clean bathrooms, good equipment, and just someone to appreciate my business. Just my opinion
Recover the tables, they're an embarrassment
Clean the tables daily.
Lower the price/hour.
Put a partition around the toilet in the men's room separating it from the urinals.
What a cheap bastard.
Turn down the damn music.
Lower drink prices. He charges like he is a high-end night club.
Teach the wait staff "pool etiquette".
RECOVER THE TABLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Clean the tables daily.
Lower the price/hour.
Put a partition around the toilet in the men's room separating it from the urinals.
What a cheap bastard.Turn down the damn music.
Lower drink prices. He charges like he is a high-end night club.
Teach the wait staff "pool etiquette".
RECOVER THE TABLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Diamond tables for starters
I'd ask "my pool room owner" to get more Diamond tables
I'd ask "my pool room owner" to get more Diamond tables
Are we trying to get return business from the serious pool players, or from the recreational players? From my limited experience working in a pool room (in a college town, so maybe not the best example), I don't know that the two will necessarily match up all that well, and I don't know that the room can survive without either group.
We made our money from the night and weekend crowd which was composed almost entirely recreational players. They were generally a rowdy bunch who ate, drank, played loud music, and played for 1-2 hours at a time.
But, the serious players who played 5-6 hours at a time kept us from operating at a loss during those other, slower times. And, it was a completely different atmosphere during those times. They played pool, had a drink or two, and mostly wanted the music off.
Either way, I think this one is overlooked by many room owners. I can appreciate that the staff has got a job to do, but it doesn't take much effort to learn and observe some of the basics, and it goes a long way in my book.
We made our money from the night and weekend crowd which was composed almost entirely recreational players. They were generally a rowdy bunch who ate, drank, played loud music, and played for 1-2 hours at a time.
But, the serious players who played 5-6 hours at a time kept us from operating at a loss during those other, slower times. And, it was a completely different atmosphere during those times. They played pool, had a drink or two, and mostly wanted the music off.
catscradle said:
Either way, I think this one is overlooked by many room owners. I can appreciate that the staff has got a job to do, but it doesn't take much effort to learn and observe some of the basics, and it goes a long way in my book.
