Barry Chandler - The Bar Blogger » bar owner

Bar owner takes a scary ride

ianmara — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:31:29 +0000

Here’s a story to keep in mind the next time you’re deciding how important it is to chase after a customer you think has stolen something from the bar.

Back in December the 62-year old owner of Lincoln Karaoke – “Chicago’s premiere Private-Room karaoke” (duh) – followed outside a patron he believed had walked off with one of the microphones. The customer proceeded to get into his BMW and drive into the older gentleman (presumably the owner was standing in front of the car, though reports aren’t clear on logistics), sending him onto the hood.

That’s when things got crazy.

According to police reports the owner of Lincoln Karaoke held onto the hood of the BMW, T-1000-style, for “about half a block.” The driver stopped the car, sending the man flying onto the pavement. At this point the driver tossed $150 in cash down at the owner before “urging him not to contact the police.”

Last week the bar owner was finally able to ID the microphone-thief and on Jan. 12 he was arrested on a felony count of aggravated battery.

(ChicagoTribune)

Five great ways bars and restaurants are using Foursquare

barblog — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 16:32:43 +0000

Many bars and restaurants are taking advantage of Foursquare, a location-based mobile platform. Foursquare allows users to “check in” and share their location with friends while earning virtual badges and discovering nearby deals and discounts.

Foursquare boasts over 5 million user since its 2009 launch. Tens of thousands of venues are currently implementing special offers through Foursquare.

There are endless opportunities for unique deals on Foursquare that will keep your customers coming back and bring in new faces as well.

Offering Foursquare-Only Specials

Bars can encourage customers to check in to take advantage of your current deal. Deals can include 10% off their bill or a free drink, just for checking in. Once you claim your venue, Foursquare will even send you a window cling to remind customers to check in.

Offering Special Deals for the Mayor

Why don’t you give the mayor something besides bragging rights? There are endless creative ways to reward your most loyal customer. At the same time, you can encourage other customers to come back often and dethrone the current mayor.

Bars can offer the mayor a special menu , an amazing discount, VIP seating, or even a prime parking space.

Rewarding Loyalty

Foursquare offers the opportunity to reward and encourage customer loyalty. Bars have the opportunity to offer incentives for repeated check-ins. For example, bars can offer a free happy hour after 5 check-ins, 25% off a meal after 10 check-ins, and so on.

Hosting a Swarm Badge Party

Bars can promote an opportunity to earn the coveted Swarm Badge by encouraging users to check in at a designated time. This is how AJ Bombers increased their sales by 110% in one night.

Taking Advantage of Location-based Marketing

Foursquare users have the opportunity to submit tips about your venue. These tips become visible to anyone in the area. This means that if someone checks in at a competitor’s venue across the street, your tips and deals will become visible. If your deals are really great, you might just convince them to check out your venue instead.

If you want to learn more about foursquare and its benefits for a business, visit http://foursquare.com/business.

I can help you set up and claim your Foursquare account. This includes creating specials, targeting new customers and implementing the strategies listed above. I can also help you get set up properly on Facebook, Twitter, and Facebook Places. Click the button below to schedule a free 20 minute phone call where I will personally recommend ways to improve your current online activities.

Are you preventing your customers from promoting your Facebook page?

barblog — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 22:19:22 +0000

Encouraging customers to tag themselves in photos on your Fan Page is one of the easiest ways to encourage interaction and engagement.

Tagging is a way for users to identify themselves in photos. Once someone has been tagged in your photo, it will appear on their profile as well. More tagged users means more people are likely to see your photos.

There’s just one problem: Facebook automatically restricts fans from tagging photos on a Fan Page.

After searching long and hard, I have discovered the trick to changing this setting.

Unfortunately, Facebook made this one a bit tricky, so follow along.

Step 1: From your Fan Page, select “Edit Page”

Step 2: Select “Apps”

Step 3: Underneath “Photos”, select “Go To App”

Step 4: Select “Allow fans to add photos” and “Allow fans to tag photos”

Now your fans can tag themselves and their friends in your photos. They can also upload their own photos to show everyone else how much fun they had at your bar!

Have you run into any other issues with your Fan Page?

Florida Bar Owner Claims Sign Not Meant To Be Racist

barblog — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:34:46 +0000

The owner of a Tampa Bay bar that posted this sign says it was not intended to keep black people out — but rather stop the emblems or “colors” that rival biker gangs used. What do you think? Could it have been worded more appropriately?

Full Story Here

Bar Owner Fined $13,000 For Open Wi-Fi Network

barblog — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:51:41 +0000

Alcohol has been blamed for some pretty outrageous things over the years, but this is the first time I’ve heard anyone blame it for copyright infringement.

It’s a bizarre argument to make, but its likely one a UK bar owner will be considering after being handed down an £8,000 fine, which works out to about $13,000 USD after a customer downloaded copyrighted material over the open wi-fi hotspot in the bar.

According to Internet law professor Lillian Edwards of the Sheffield Law School, open Wi-Fi operators “should not be responsible in theory” for the actions of their users. What’s next?

Full Story Here

Get Rid of that Bartender. Today!

barblog — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 22:27:03 +0000

I went out on Saturday night for a few beers (Strongbow Cider and Schneider Weiss, if you must know…) and watching the bartender reminded me why there is no place for Ego in business. Certainly not if you’re a bartender.

Before you construe this as an attack on the noble profession, nothing could be further from the truth. Having spent many years behind the bar, I consider no profession more respectable and I believe that a great bartender can make your bar.

On the other hand, a bad bartender can break your bar. A stuck up blond bartender with an ego and an attitude can be devastating. That is what I had the “pleasure” of experiencing on Friday.

When a guy who is clearly out for a good night out with his friends approaches the bar and politely asks the bartender for four shots of whatever she recommends, this is an opportunity for the bartender to make some money for the bar and herself, and if she’s clever, will extract a lot more revenue during the night than that one round.

On the other hand, looking down your nose and shrugging your shoulders saying that “I don’t know what you like…” before turning on her heels is the very antithesis of what bartending is about.

Was it because the customer and his friends were dressed more like Napolean Dynamite than Zac Effron? Should it matter?

I wasn’t the only disgusted customer. Many more shook their heads in disbelief and the customer retreated in defeat to find another bartender.

To the bar owner, get rid of her. Get rid of any poison that infects your business. If you feel that you need that kind of service to make your bar work, then maybe you need to lose the ego yourself.

The cast of Mean Girls called. They’re missing a bi**ch….You should let them have her back. As a customer, I don’t want her serving me and as a bar owner you can’t afford to keep her around for long.

Do you know what your customers say about your bar when you’re not listening?

barblog — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:16:27 +0000

Whether you choose to listen and engage or not, your customers are talking about you. And others are listening. What are they saying and where are they saying it?

We’ve put together a video to show you how to track the comments today!