Tap room sales: best things you did?

[ngarrett]

We're building our tap room, and doing OK. Obviously your experience can benefit others! What have you tried to drive retail sales? What worked? What didn't?

[Floor Malted]

Make sure your market knows of you. Brew great beer and cook tasty food. Attentive and personable service goes a long way. Your customers are paying extra to be taken care and feel special. Give them that. Then think about doing a trivia night or something on your slower nights. Just my opinion from my experience. Good luck!

[ptrain]

Tasting Room Manager here...

1. Do you have food? Get food trucks if you do not, as it will increase visit duration times per guest.

2. Events are fun, but not major priority. Doing too many of them makes them cheesy and creates overload. Come up with fun themes for casks and stick with them. Make fun seasonal beers and get people involved. Make people feel like they are contributing to something. Have them help cut/pick fruit, press coffee, in the tasting room, etc. If you are going to do trivia, know your market and make sure you read the contract of some of the trivia companies out there. They have increasing rates and auto-renewal clauses. And is it worth spending $150, plus some free beer, and gift certificates/card for your return...do a trial period of possible.

3. Most importantly, have outstanding, attentive service. People who are unsatisfied, speak with their feet. Always think about the idea that if you make 10 people happy you might get them to tell one person, if one person has a bad experience they typically tell 10+ people, facebook blast you, twitter blast you or give you a one star on Yelp or Google. Great customer service and maintaining integrity on your beers is critical. You only have one chance to make a first impression.