How to Upsell Drinks and Increase Profitability at Your Bar

March 13, 2023

If you own or manage a bar, you know that profitability is key to success. One of the best ways to increase your profitability is by upselling drinks. Upselling is the art of convincing customers to upgrade their order to a higher-priced option. This can be done by suggesting a premium version of a drink or suggesting a more expensive beverage altogether. In this blog, we’ll discuss some tips for upselling drinks and increasing profitability at your bar.

Train your staff:

The first step to successful upselling is to train your staff. They should be knowledgeable about the different types of drinks available, and know how to suggest a more expensive option without being pushy or aggressive. Role-playing exercises can be used to train your staff on how to make effective upsell suggestions to customers.

Use menu placement and design to your advantage:

The way you design your menu can influence customer behavior. By placing high-profit margin drinks in prominent positions on the menu, you can encourage customers to order them. Additionally, using descriptive and enticing language to describe the drinks can pique customers’ interest and increase the likelihood of an upsell.

Offer samples:

Offering samples of premium drinks can be an effective way to encourage customers to upgrade their order. It allows them to try before they buy, and they may be more likely to order a premium version of the drink if they enjoyed the sample.

Create signature drinks:

Creating unique and delicious signature drinks can entice customers to order them. These drinks can be priced at a premium, allowing you to increase your profitability. Additionally, customers may be more likely to order a premium signature drink if it’s only available at your bar.

Bundle deals:

Offering bundle deals that include a premium drink can increase the likelihood of an upsell. For example, offering a discount on a meal if the customer orders a premium cocktail can increase the chances of an upsell. This allows customers to feel like they are getting a deal while also upgrading their order.

Train your staff to read body language:

Upselling is not just about suggesting higher-priced options. It’s also about reading your customers and knowing when they may be open to an upsell suggestion. Your staff should be trained to read body language and pick up on cues that suggest a customer is open to a suggestion.

Offer seasonal drinks:

Offering seasonal drinks can create a sense of urgency and exclusivity, encouraging customers to order them. Additionally, seasonal drinks can be priced at a premium due to their limited availability.

Create a loyalty program:

Creating a loyalty program that rewards customers for ordering premium drinks can encourage them to upgrade their order. This can include offering discounts or free drinks after a certain number of premium orders.

Use suggestive selling:

Suggestive selling is a technique where your staff suggests an upsell option to the customer. For example, if a customer orders a beer, your staff can suggest a premium beer or a beer cocktail as an upgrade option.

To sum up, implementing strategies to upsell drinks is an effective way to enhance the profitability of your bar. By adopting approaches such as staff training, menu design, offering samples and seasonal drinks, creating loyalty programs, and utilizing suggestive selling techniques, you can successfully encourage customers to upgrade their orders. However, it's essential to keep in mind that upselling should be done with respect and in a friendly manner to provide customers with a positive experience. By focusing on these tactics, you can increase your bar's profitability while delivering exceptional customer service.