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Gamer's Delight
5 Tips for Increasing Revenue with Coin-Op Attractions
The
University Area Hangout Bar in Tampa, Fla., is taking full advantage of
its pool tables, video games and other coin-ops attractions. Having
seen the success that comes from promoting the machines, the bar staff
caters every new promotion around them. These five tips from The
Hangout staff can increase revenue not only in coin-op proceeds but
also receipts at the bar.
Offer Free Games
“If you are a gamer, you want to go to a bar where you play for
free,” says R.J. Rasich, bartender and promoter. “We provide those free
games in order to bring people into the bar.”
Offering free video games and pool tables may be a loss in revenue
for coin-operated machines, but it increases customer retention rates
and also increases bar sales. The loss of $1 for a video game is
minimal when offset by the purchase of a $3 drink.
“In order to play our games for free, you must purchase alcohol
from the bar,” adds Paul Riebenach, owner. “We are increasing our
revenue in other areas by allowing the customers to play for no cost.”
Offer Prizes
“For games like Megatouch, we keep track of monthly scores and offer prizes,” Riebenach says.
“At the end of the week, the top players get free drinks.”
Offering prizes to the patrons keeps them interested in the game,
coming to the bar and purchasing alcohol from the establishment. The
Hangout also carries a popular Silver Strike Bowling machine.
“We offer prizes to the people with the highest, second and third
place scores,” says Riebenach. “While we’re promoting our machines,
we’re also getting customer contact information and building a mailing
list for our bar.”
Competition
Turning everything into a competition could result in big numbers
and publicity. And it’s arguable that nothing says competition like a
game of beer pong.
“We have beer pong and pool tables set up to promote beer sales,” Rasic
says. “The flow around the game must have the right support in order to
successful,” Riebenach adds.
“Teams sign up, pay a $10 entry fee and receive free beer until
they are eliminated from the competition,” Rasich says. “Since the game
has become so popular, the bar now averages 40 different teams per week
and offers a $100 bar tab to the winner.”
Introducing New Games
Introducing new games to an establishment can recruit new regulars.
The Hangout’s introduction of Buzztime trivia has aided its efforts
toward that ongoing mission. Riebenach also brought Silver Strike
bowling tournaments to the Hangout.
“I run a two-week tournament on Silver Strike Bowling,” Riebenach
says. “At the end of the two weeks, we give prizes to the top three
scorers and the biggest prize to the best three game series. Since the
prizes double the play of the game, we split the prizes with our
vending company, and they love the deal.”
The Hangout also brought in a boxing game that measures punching
power on the bag. “We run contests with weight classes and give out
prizes to keep customers interested in that game,” Riebenach says. “Any
bar guest that can beat me punching the bag with both their left and
right hands receives $50.”
Drinking Games To Promote Sales
“We try to always use the vending to boost alcohol sales and offer
events and a great environment to boost the vending,” says Riebenach.
“Any bar owner that is not working their vending right is losing
thousands of dollars a month.”
The Hangout combines Golden Tee Golf with its beer bucket special.
“We have special golf ball baskets that we put the beers in instead
of normal beer buckets,” Riebenach says. “People notice the buckets and
often inquire and (it) eventually boosts beer sales.”
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