Investing in Funky and Fancy Glassware
The fun tiki glasses and classy crystal glassware that you see all over social media seem like a good idea for your bar. They look cool and everyone you see with one in a bar is always happy and always posting photos of them.
They’re a great idea! But there are a variety of factors you need to consider before you invest in quirky glassware. For instance, how do you prevent it from being stolen? Do you have the funds to replace them when they do break or wander away from your bar? Here are the pros and cons of having funky and fancy glassware in your location, and some ideas on how to mitigate the cons.
Pros
Free Advertising!
Social media is an awesome way to connect with your guests and put your name out there. It’s also an awesome way for your customers to promote your bar for you, and having quirky glassware is a sure-fire way for this to happen.
Higher Prices for What’s Inside!
Drinks served in quirky glasses often demand a higher price, thus increasing your bottom line. This increase is not because the cocktail itself is more expensive it is because you have to cover the cost of the glass, and because people are happier to pay higher prices for a beverage that looks really cool, be it in a multi-colored, tiki, skull cup.
Increased Sales of These Beverages!
If you have these glasses people come in and ask for “that drink served in that glass”. This “I saw I want” style of ordering is very common. Also, once sat in your location, people will see the glass at the bar or on the table next to them, point and say “I want that” without even knowing what the glass contains. The glassware alone is enough to sell the drink!
It Gives You Identity!
It is hard to stand out amongst the multitude of bar competing for customers, but getting crazy or classy with your glassware will allow you to do just this.
Cons
Expensive to Obtain
Most tiki style glasses are expensive. The same for fancy crystal glassware too. However, the latter of these two can be found in antique shops in your area for very cheap. You might find some ceramic tiki-style glassware there too but don’t count on it. If these little treasure chests don’t turn up all of -or at least a large portion of- what you need then you’re going to end up purchasing brand new, beautiful yet expensive, glassware.
Hard to Clean
Coming in a variety of shapes and sizes, funky and fancy glasswares can be a pain for your bar staff. The varying sizes and shapes means that most of these glasses need to be cleaned by hand, is this an extra task you feel your bar staff can handle during busy shifts? Also, fine glass and crystal are fragile and will break easily, especially in glass washers.
Storage
Most of these glasses aren’t stackable and will occupy considerable space behind your bar. Ensure that you have enough space to store all of this extra glassware before you decide to order it. Some locations use their funky and fancy barware as bar decorations when they’re not in use, can you do this in your location?
Walking Out the Door
Your guests photograph them because they’re awesome, they’re awesomeness may also cause them to disappear forever! Your new investments walking out of your door is one of the biggest detriments to this glassware program. Loss prevention methods include offering the glasses for sale, and only serving them at your bar (guests elsewhere in your location get standard glassware for this drink).
Funky and fancy glassware can give your location a good reputation, bring in new customers, bring back old customers, and increase your bottom line. However the pros and cons need to be carefully weighed before you commit to funding a new collection of glassware. If your location can cope with the extra tasks and you can put in place processes to mitigate theft and breakages then you could be onto some free advertising and increased profitability!
