Within a few weeks I will be going to the 2017 Bowl Expo in Opryland. It is supposed to be the biggest and best attended one in years. I hope that is true. It would be nice to see some more familiar faces.
I will be sharing my time between the Kids Bowl Free Booth, where I am a partner, and the BVL booth, where I am a consultant.
But in both booths I will be thinking about you and how I can assist you to achieve your marketing objectives. Lots of new successful programs and new digital marketing options that won’t cost you a fortune. In fact, some of the newest ideas will cost less than a Pepperoni pizza. Promise.
So please come by and I’ll give you a VIP sneak preview before my formal product launch.
One subject that we haven’t spent a lot of time on recently is food and beverage and I know that more and more proprietors are starting to pay attention to this profit center.
For the first time ever, the BPAA reported that food and beverage is now a bigger percentage of a center’s revenue than bowling.
For newer centers, boutique centers and more elaborate FEC’s, food represents an even bigger percentage of the income than bowling
Why is that?
Because the American consumer demands it.
Demands more and better food choices.
More attention to presentation and value.
Because dining out is now more the norm than eating at home.
Or if not dining out, then “taking out” is a strong runner up.
Simply put Americans view eating as entertainment in the same way they view your bowling center…as entertainment.
In fact, much of what consumers buy these days can be viewed through the lens of entertainment.
It’s the old adage, “they buy to increase their pleasure or decrease their pain” and entertainment, in its many forms, can achieve both.
So I encourage you to look at your own food and beverage operation to see what opportunities exist for maximizing revenue in that area and as always, should you have a question or two, just give me a buzz and I’ll be happy to help.
But by all means, if you are going to be at Bowl Expo, please stop by so I can give you that VIP sneak preview I spoke of earlier.
Will you share this email or Facebook post with two friends who might benefit from this advice? I’m certain they’ll thank you for it once they’ve read it.
Our food sales at Dynasty Lanes was up 40% this May over May of 2016. While food has been up ticking slightly every year for the league bowler for the past 12 years or so food sales among open play bowlers is through the roof. My guess is 90% of them eat something (snack to meal). We have utilized big screen televisions in our bowlers area, upgraded the menus we give out and trained our staff to ask for the sale.