Business Guide to Bar Supplies

Bar supplies encompass a wide array of products that are important to run a bar-based business smoothly. As the business owner, you need to understand what supplies are most commonly used in bars and where you should go to buy them. When starting up, you will likely need ample chairs and tables to provide your clients with a good place to relax. One of the most essential bar supplies you will need is the ice machine, or ice maker. You can buy this equipment online or from retail outlets. A large number of online stores give you the convenience of shopping 24/7 while allowing you to check the availability of items, request for quotes, know the estimated delivery time, and avail yourself of sales promotions.

Benefits

Generate additional income

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, sales for places that serve alcoholic beverages totaled $18 million in 2007. This revenue includes fees for admission and sales from snacks and meals in these establishments. Purchasing bar supplies and adding a bar service to your restaurant is a good way to generate additional income. If they know a bar is on the premises, customers will typically purchase a drink while waiting to be seated at their table.

Add to restaurant atmosphere

Bar supplies can contribute to the overall atmosphere of the restaurant. They come in a wide variety of styles and colors, which allows you to match them to your restaurant’s color scheme. Many bar supplies can also be branded with the name and logo of the restaurant. This way, if a customer steals your glassware, it can serve as a source of advertisement for your restaurant.

Serve drinks properly

To create drinks the correct way, bartenders require proper restaurant equipment. If they don’t have the bar supplies they need, it may take them longer to make drinks or they may not make them the right way. Another problem that could occur is the drink may not taste like it should because it is not being served in the proper glassware. For example, red and white wines are served in different types of stemware to maximize their individual flavors. Alcohol that is not served properly may lead to customer complaints and lower food bills.

Keep costs low

Bar supplies such as jiggers keep costs low because they allow bartenders to properly portion drinks. Without the right measuring devices, customers may be served more than what is profitable for you.

Adhere to government regulations

All state governments have public health regulations that restaurants must adhere to. Bar supplies can help bartenders serve drinks in a manner that complies with the law. For example, ice scoops are used to put ice in a cup in a convenient and sanitary way.

Pitfalls

Supplier reliability

As a business owner, the way you manage your bar supplies can significantly impact your profit margins. There are a number of pitfalls that you should try to avoid when handling this type of restaurant equipment. One of the most important issues of concern is establishing relationships with reliable suppliers of consumable bar supplies, such as cherries, syrup, and whipped cream. You have hundreds of vendor options in the restaurant business. It is important to have the types of relationships in place that ensure you have the raw materials needed to make consistent bar products for your customers. An unreliable supplier can negatively impact your business in a matter of days. It may take you months to fix the situation by finding a substitute and obtaining a replacement delivery.

Generic decor

Be careful not to assume that all bar supplies are created equal. Your glassware, stools, shakers, and all of the other restaurant equipment that your bartenders use to make your products are part of the customer's buying experience. Restaurant equipment can be used to establish a theme and a mood in your establishment. There are many outlets for discount bar supplies, but it may be more important to craft a memorable experience for your customers than it is to purchase the cheapest supplies.

Overstocking

Liquor is one of the biggest categories on your list of bar supplies. Alcohol can be stored for long periods of time without any loss in quality. You may be tempted to stock ample amounts of every type of liquor that your bar may need. Some bar owners use their stock of liquor as a decoration, creating a wall of wines, for example. There are significant potential pitfalls in managing your bar supplies in this way. Every bottle that sits unopened represents money that is tied up in inventory and unavailable for use if your business needs cash. Bottles are also breakable. If anything happens to your facility, it can destroy your inventory completely.

Pricing

Keeping the bar stocked and operating smoothly can bring in a significant income for your business. In order to do this, you have to ensure that you have all the supplies your workers need. Glasses, alcohol, mixers, juice, soft drinks, napkins, straws, stirrers, ice, salt, and other supplies are necessary to keep up with the demand.

The price you pay for bar items will depend on the quality you choose. Generally, glasses are more expensive than disposable cups; however, you can wash and reuse glasses if they aren’t broken or chipped. Name-brand alcohol, juice, and soft drinks are more expensive than their store-brand counterparts, but the taste is often inferior with store brands.

In addition to basic bar supplies, you may opt to put a cash register at the bar to make it easy for customers to pay for drinks and employees to keep track of sales. The average electronic cash register lasts 10 to 15 years but may need upgrades around five to seven years, according to CostHelper.com. You can expect to spend at least $110 for a basic register. If you want upgrades like a printer, digital customer display, or locking cash drawer, the price will increase.

Conclusion

Providing bar supplies is a good way to earn supplemental income from your restaurant business. When you print your business name on the bar supplies, this will serve as another form of promotion. You can use the Internet to get the right type and quantity of supplies and equipment your business needs. Making sure that your restaurant does not run out of supplies is the best way to keep loyal customers. You can do this by partnering with reliable suppliers. Overstocking is a concern you should consider to avoid hurting your inventory. Finally, you need to strike a balance between price and quality to realize the best profit and customer satisfaction.