Big ideas to beat the credit crunch

Related tags Credit crunch Gramophone record Chitty chitty bang bang

Threat...or opportunity?Despite last week's £37bn bail-out of the banks the effects of the credit crunch go on - and many decent, hardworking...

Threat...or opportunity?

Despite last week's £37bn bail-out of the banks the effects of the credit crunch go on - and many decent, hardworking publicans are struggling to make a living.

But turn it on its head. Have a look at the businesses which are thriving in the credit crunch - can publicans take a leaf out of their book?

Chief among them are food discounters, such as Aldi and Lidl, which have been having so much success as customers look to slash their weekly shopping bill that they have prompted a whole new marketing strategy from Tesco.

But did you know that maternity retailers such as Mothercare and Mamas & Papas have also been reporting soaring sales - as couples look to 'entertain' themselves at home?

And going back a stage, dating websites and speed-dating nights are also reporting no drop-off in interest.

Other credit crunch successes include:

• More people are going to the cinema in 2008 than at any time in the past 40 years, according to the Cinema Advertising Association. UK cinemas attracted 53.6 million visits between June and August this year, an increase of 5.6 per cent - or three million visits - year-on-year, helped by hits such as Mamma Mia! and The Dark Knight.

• McDonald's saw global like-for-like sales leap 8.5 per cent in August, while Domino's Pizza recently reported sales up by 8.8 per cent in the 13 weeks to September 28.

There's no doubt about it: people are down, but they still want to be entertained - they're just looking for something that can offer them a cheaper form of entertainment. Could that be pubs?

Check out our five big ideas that might help you beat the credit crunch. Go on - give at least one of them a go!

Make it a date - and develop a new business relationship

Boy meets girl, or err, boy…or girl meets…girl. Whatever, it's the oldest story in the world, and single people will always want to meet other singles, even in the midst of a recession.

So why not think about putting on your own speed-dating night in your function room? It'll take a bit of organising but get it right and you'll have a captive audience, that won't want to walk away until the end of the evening.

Ajaz Iqbal, managing director of Fast Love Speed-dating - the biggest speed-dating company in the North - says some of the busiest events he is running at the moment are 'elite' nights, which see punters paying as much as £25 a time.

"Speed-dating is good business for pubs and bars - they've got a ready-made customer base to sell the event to," he says.

"Pubs can put them on themselves but they should consider employing an expert if they don't want too much hassle. We've done events where a bar has paid us £300 and then they've sold their own tickets.

"The demand will never go away as there are always going to be single people: people are more mobile than they used to be and less likely to meet partners in the old-fashioned way. And they're getting married later and divorcing more!"

www.fastlovespeeddating.co.uk

Take them to the movies - in your pub

So more people are going to the cinema than they have done since the year Chitty Chitty Bang Bang first hit the flicks - why not grab a slice of the film fans' action for yourself?

The DVD age and flatscreen TVs have made it easier than ever to run movie nights in your own pub.

Studio-owned organisation Filmbank, which arranges screening licences, says it is receiving a growing number of requests from pubs. For £75 plus VAT pubs can show as many films as they like to up to 250 people for a whole year - although they are not allowed to charge an entrance fee.

Why not use a film as a great excuse for a themed evening that will keep the fun going long after the credits role?

With Quantum of Solace coming up in cinemas next week, what better time is there to run a 007 classic as part of your very own Bond evening, with customers urged to dress up as their favourite villains?!

www.filmbank.co.uk

Make a noise - with your own record club

My record player packed up recently - but if my local pub had it's own record club I'd think about digging out my old Billy Bragg records again. Have you thought about laying on your own record club?

Sales on a Wednesday night at the Star in Dorking in Surrey are up 50 per cent thanks to a regular 'vinyl night', which sees customers bringing in their favourite records to play in the pub. "We get out the old vinyl record deck and play the records for everyone," says licensee Ian Renshaw. "Takings are half as much again as they would be on a typical Wednesday night and it's working really well - I've asked a local record dealer to come in and give us a talk.

"These days publicans can't just open the doors and expect people to walk in," adds Ian, who also runs a regular film night. "You've got to work hard to make your business a venue as much as a pub."

www.stardorking.com

Dish up a credit crunch lunch - and become a deep discounter

You can't do it too much - have a close-up look at your margins and the prices you are paying for supplies. Are there areas where you can make savings that can be passed on to customers in the shape of discount food and drink?

As well as cutting deals with local suppliers, use cash & carry operators such as Booker and Makro to ensure you are getting the best prices available.

Allard Sjollema, food buying director for cash & carry operator Makro, says: "It's time for pubs to look at their current suppliers. Don't be satisfied with second best.

"Scrutinise your prices and switch to the source that gives you the best value. We would also recommend publicans buy little and often to enable better cash flow management."

Allard claims Makro is constantly checking its prices to ensure it is cheapest - and has lowed prices on some key pub lines, including Coca-Cola and Pepsi, to help publicans cut costs.

It also offers trained staff on site providing advice on fresh food, and is building a nationwide team of customer consultants, many of them ex-publicans, to offer tailored advice to licensees.

www.makro.co.uk

www.booker.co.uk

Make 'em laugh - and put a smile on the face of your business

Comedians? Every pub's got 'one, and most have got a lot more.

Last week's Magners Pub Comedy Awards, brought to you by The Publican, showed there is no shortage of pub comics. And with many people looking for a pick-me-up it's a great time to be putting them on, either with an 'open mike' night or by bringing in some up-and-coming talent and making a small charge at the door.

The Leather Exchange in Southwark, London, is one pub which has taken the latter approach, charging £4 on the door.

MC and comic Graham Foster, who organises the events, advises anyone booking comedians to do their homework before laying on an event. "Go to other gigs, go to open mike nights and you can say how good your local comedians actually are before you book them in," he says.

He adds that many up-and-coming comedians are simply looking for exposure and don't expect to be paid.

Tell us your ideas on how to beat the credit crunch. Email danielp@thepublican.com or call 020 7955 3710

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