Government Christmas 2008 drinks campaign

The Government has abandoned plans for a centrally-led Christmas alcohol crackdown for 2008 targeting sales to under-18s and drunks.

Instead, local councils and police are to target priorities in their area, with the focus not necessarily on the trade. Grants of up to £30,000 are available per police force, with the Home Office investing £1.5m overall.

The Home Office says bids may 'build on' previous ones involving Government-led crackdowns on sales to minors and people who are drunk. I guess this means that we have not seen the end of “sting” operations cracking down on under-age drinking or sale to those who have had enough already!

And in a new move, bids for funding to cracking down on proxy sales of alcohol are being invited to support local problem-solving projects, which can address local priorities that stem from alcohol-related issues. Hopefully, this will also target the off-trade as well as licensed premises.

Successful bids must address one or more of the Government¹s three-part "delivery strategy" for reducing alcohol-related harm. The first part targets rogue alcohol retailers. This could mean action against sales to under-18s and drunks, and other issues such as disorder and flouting licence conditions.

The other parts focus on supporting and acting against heavy drinkers who cause problems, and actively promoting responsible drinking in the wider community.

So, as operators focus on promoting events and activities over the festive season, a key element will be refreshing their staff training on controlling the door, identifying under age drinkers and managing guests who have consumed enough alcohol at any point during the trading session.

National Minimum Wage

Avoid the pitfalls of underpaying your staff

by John Hicks of Nightclub Marketing.co.uk

Approximately one million workers benefitted when the national minimum wage (NMW) increased to £5.73 per hour on Wednesday 1 October – but the legal penalties for employers who fail to pay the correct wage rate are serious.

So, I suggest that you quickly double-check your next payroll run to make sure everything is in order.

The 3.8 per cent increase in the NMW (from £5.52 to £5.73) will be the ninth increase since it was introduced in April 1998. Over the last nine and a half years, the NMW has increased by 59.2 per cent, compared to a 44.2 per cent growth in average earnings.

If you have any queries on the rate, your local Business Link is a good first contact.

Binge drinking claim refuted!

British pubs, bars and nightclubs are allegedly "actively encouraging drunkenness", says a UK Government report into binge drinking.

It condemns licensees for promoting cut-price offers and serving people that are "already drunk".

The critical report questions the role pub, bars and nightclub in binge drinking and why they continue to serve people who are either drunk or underage.

The Home Office commissioned gravy train specialists, consultants KPMG, to write the report, A Review of the Social Responsibility Standards for the Production and Sale of Alcoholic Drinks, in February.

It was due to be published in May but it is understood to have been delayed because it raises the question whether deregulation has fuelled underage and binge drinking.

A team of researchers visited nearly 600 pubs, bars, nightclubs, off-licences and supermarkets in England over a five-day period. The locations visited included Coventry, Hackney, Harrogate, Manchester, and Swindon.

All inclusive admission and drinks offers have largely been stamped out by Licensing Officers and common sense and "happy hours" are mainly confined to small pubs now.

Service of people already drunk is already an issue monitored very closely by bar managers and door staff - with strict legal penalties if a bar tender is caught. Customers buying drink for other people who are drunk is more of a practical problem and there is no easy way round that one. But for the report to rely upon amateur anecdotal evidence from survey staff, sorry I meant "
consultants", is extremely irritating!

Wait for it folks! The most amazing bit is that the report also adds that most supermarkets are complying more fully with the industry standards, by displaying signs encouraging sensible drinking. Nonsense! I have never seen such cheap booze offers as supermarkets are currently running. Even my local corner shop was offering 2-4-1 on cider recently. I had a party at home recently and it was cheaper to buy from Tesco than it was from my trade cash & carry wholesalers.

The increasing "nanny state" tendencies of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government knows no limit but when it relies upon consultants who take huge chunks of public money to tell the government what it wants to hear then its low credibility rating sinks further into the mire!

PLEASE REDIRECT TO OUR NEW WEBSITE

This blog was the original foundation of the Nightclub Marketing resource service, now visited by up to a thousand people a week.

To improve our service, we launched our new-look website in July 2008 and we would love to see you there at

www.nightclubmarketing.co.uk

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whose nightclub and bar celebrity launch parties are legendary!

Nightclub Marketing is a resource from Headline Promotions, Press & Public Relations

http://www.headlinepromotions.co.uk/

Nightclub marketing and promotions get helping hand

PRESS RELEASE
26th June 2008
Basingstoke, England

Nightclub marketing and promotions get helping hand

Nightclubs, late night bars and restaurants, cue sports bars and live music venues are all facing a difficult time as the UK economy falters.

Basingstoke Public Relations consultant, John Hicks of Headline Promotions, Press & PR (http://www.headlinepromotions.co.uk/), deals with this particular sector and is confident that effective marketing and promotions will enable them to keep their head above water until times get better.

Back in 1969, John established an on-line resource site for owners, operators and managers in the hospitality and entertainment industry. This offers advice and information about all aspects of the business sector, from marketing through to the use of celebrities for special events.

John’s background is that he has worked in public relations, marketing and promotions for many years, across many sectors. He specialises, however, in the leisure, internet radio broadcasting, hospitality and entertainment sectors.

He formerly operated a busy 750 capacity 24/7 snooker and pool hall, Chinese restaurant, sports bars and live music venue in the south of England - in addition to previously being a national promotions manager for a division of Europe's leading late night venue operator and a promotions manager for a global drinks manufacturer.

Now, John has re-launched the Nightclub Marketing website with a new-look design, in the format of a book with chapters on specific topics including new developments such as “running your own radio station”.

The re-launch coincides with the introduction of his new Mentoring Scheme.

The mentoring programme, allows for a venue management team to have in-depth support from John for a week. During that time, they will work together to devise a SWOT and competitor analysis, a marketing and PR programme, training needs analysis and a customer relations strategy.

After the week, John will remain available for telephone support for a period year for the management team. This transfer of knowledge will enable the team to manage their own destiny and help prepare newer staff for future management roles.

Of course, effective marketing and promotions will not ensure business success on their own. They have to accompany high standards of customer care and service. The new website and John’s unique mentoring service will give them the edge however.

Further details can be found on John’s re-launched website http://www.nightclubmarketing.co.uk/

ENDS


Further information can be obtained from:
John Hicks
Headline Promotions, Press & Public Relations
Basingstoke, England
john@headlinepromotions.co.uk
Mobile: 07771 575 654

You can read John’s occasional blog at: http://www.headlinepromotions.blogspot.com/


John has worked in public relations, marketing and promotions for many years, across many sectors. He specialises, however, in the leisure, local radio broadcasting, manufacturing and entertainment sectors. He formerly operated a busy 750 capacity 24/7 snooker and pool hall, Chinese restaurant, sports bars and live music venue in the south of England - in addition to previously being a national promotions manager for a division of Europe's leading late night venue operator and promotions manager for a global drinks manufacturer.
John also writes for several UK and US newspapers and blog sites as well as having contributed to a number of published works. He has also acted as an occasional advisor to City funds and investment banks with interests in the UK leisure sector.
His principal business is Managing Director of Headline Promotions, Press & PR but he is also heavily involved in internet radio, a performer management agency and leisure property development. Not much time then for his passion for live music!


Keywords: nightclub marketing, late night bars promotion, John Hicks, advertising restaurants, promoting cue sports clubs and live music venues, internet radio stations, mentoring for nightclub managers, Headline Promotions

This press release has been distributed by the Press Release Writing Service

Distributed globally on Press Exposure - view here

New product - cigarette disposal for pubs, clubs & restaurants

We have come across a new idea which appealed to us.

Butz is a revolution in the messy world of cigarette butts.

A cigarette bin like no other, it is a disposable container, neatly dealing with your used butts. No more messy emptying of the disgusting bin contents. Simply slide the Butz container from the backing plate, dispose of it and slip in a new one. Its simple, clean, safe.

By changing your Butz everyday your work place will be a cleaner environment for all, with no overfilled containers. With Butz you are providing a clean, safe way to extinguish and dispose of cigarette waste. Your Butz will always look smart and clean, unlike some bins that quickly look shabby.

Find out more on their website, just click here.

Gaining free publicity from a company anniversary

A client asked me for small business public relations advice for his retail store in relation to their 10th anniversary of trading. I thought that I could usefully share my thoughts with you.

Whatever the nature of your organisation, company, small business or retail store the fact that it is celebrating its 5th, 10th or 20th anniversary it is important to you so, naturally, you want the world to know. But if all you do is call the reporter at your local newspaper and announce the anniversary, don’t be surprised if the reporter says, “Who cares?” You need a clever hook to get free publicity if you're celebrating an anniversary.

Here are several ideas to get you started:

1 Sponsor a contest in honour of your anniversary. A men’s clothing store can have an Ugly Tie Contest, put the entries on display and ask customers to vote for the ugliest tie. Create your own day, week and month of the year.

2 Call the local radio station and donate prizes for their presenter to give away. Tell them they can have the prizes to give away however they wish, as long as they mention your store and your anniversary.

3 Take a poll or survey and announce the findings on your anniversary date. A bookstore, for example, can poll readers on the one book they would most like to have with them if they were stranded on an island.

4 Sponsor a free class at your store. A gourmet food store can invite patrons to a free class on cooking with wine. You might even invite a local celebrity chef to be the teacher. Be sure to hand out free samples of the food.

5 Ask customers to explain in 50 words or less the most unusual or outrageous way they have used one of your products or services. The winner gets a cool prize.

6 Team up with a local school or charity such at the homeless shelter, and donate products or services they can use. Ask them if they will work with the media to try to get free publicity for the donation.

7 Try and tie-in any anniversary announcement with news of a successful bid for new work, or get a testimonial from a long-standing customer (especially if that customer was with the business right from the early days!).

8 Ask your local newspaper if they will feature a competition for which you will supply the prize. If you are a club or bar, call a party! That is what you are good at so invite your regulars and get a supplier to sponsor some product to give away. It always worked for me!

9 One of my favourite stunts was to celebrate the anniversary of a restaurant. Chef baked an enormous cake and iced it in the shape of the company logo. We then took large chunks round to the local elderly persons' homes - the press loved it and we received great newspaper and local radio coverage

10 Invite a celebrity in to sign a few autographs. It costs a little but is worth every penny! There are loads of agencies you can contact or I can always put you in touch with one (see my e-mail address below).

In terms of free space in the local newspaper, you could always consider a special feature where your suppliers are all contacted and asked to support an advertising feature. The newspaper then provides you with editorial coverage and a photo. I am sure you have seen the sort of thing I have in mind. Newspapers call these “advertorials” and, basically, the suppliers pay the costs. A good photo and a good supporting photograph can make these very readable and interesting. Poor copy and a poor photo will consign your advertorial to the dustbin of history so consider spending a few pounds with your local PR consultant to make sure this is a success.

One final pointer is to remember to plan well ahead. You need to talk to suppliers well in advance, especially if they want to be involved in launching one of their new products in association with your event. Also, you need the time to make sure your advertising and marketing budget allows for special initiatives and special offers to tie-in with your anniversary.

I hope this is helpful. You are welcome to send me further ideas and, maybe, copies of your media coverage for your latest anniversary. My e-mail address is john@headlinepromotions.co.uk and you can read my blog at http://www.headlinepromotions.blogspot.com/

This article was first published on the Amazines dotcom article database - June 2008