The unpredictability of modern-day events calls for a flexible solution. Enter, the modular bar – a ‘pop-up’ solution that can add an instant vibe to your party, and keep customers satisfied. One simple installation could transform your event, and see your profits soar.

Cater for the shy and retiring types

Not every party is full of extroverts. Some may be deterred from a stacked-out static bar where they can barely hear themselves order. A smaller mobile bar is instantly more inviting to those shy customers. Draw them away from the crowds and welcome them with a smile – they’ll reward you with their repeat custom.

Showcase something different

Christmas parties, corporate events, weddings – they can all succumb to the same humdrum drinks and dinner layout. A mobile bar gives you the chance to liven up your event. Consider a separate cocktail bar, or even use it for demonstrations and presentations – finished with a drink, of course.

Go against the grain

As above, large-scale events can tend to get a bit samey, and we see this a lot at trade shows. Think of any industry where food and drink have no starring role. A manufacturing trade show, for example, might lack the party vibe – but not for long. Turn your trade show stall into a welcoming entertainment space with a mobile bar. It’s up to you which drinks you serve, and you’ll instantly garner attention among a landscape of lacklustre event stalls.

Add a splash of colour

If you’re working in an event space whose décor leaves a lot to be desired, a pop-up bar can help. Our Barlok® bars offer a colour controllable lighting system, bringing instant ambience to even the dullest function rooms. Looking to attract a new audience with different ideas? Catch their eye with a refreshments corner that pops.

Make the most of a space

If you’re looking to increase footfall at your event, you’ll need to make sure you’re using space efficiently. Our range of portable bars comes in all shapes and sizes, whether you’re sneaking into a corner space or making your bar the main attraction. Serve new customers from all angles or be the secret spot that everybody’s talking about. 

Ask the experts for more tips on attracting new customers to your business

At Barlok®, we’ve enhanced more events than we’d care to remember. Whether you’re running a hotel, exhibiting at a trade show or just entertaining staff, we’ve got you covered.

Get in touch with us today to speak to our expert events and entertainment teams. We’ll advise you with key event planning tips such as:

• How to get more from your space
• Which colour scheme to choose for your theme
• Selecting a drinks menu to wow new customers

Whatever your budget, there’s a bar for you. Get in touch today.

The post Start attracting new customers to your business with portable bars appeared first on Barlok.

Clean it properly

After you have finished using the portable bar, it must be cleaned thoroughly. Drink and food residues can cause the portable bar to become unsanitary if left on the surfaces. Wipe down all bar surfaces and ensure everything is thoroughly clean and dry before packing away the mobile bar.

Remove any perishables

Snacks, drink garnishes, and other perishable items should be removed from the bar before packing it away. Whether it’s going to be some time before you use the bar or not, it is advisable to remove all foodstuffs. Even if you are going to use it very quickly after packing it away, items may move around in transit and cause a mess inside the bar. You will have more cleanup to do when you have to set the bar up again, so removing everything will save you work in the long run.

Packing away a portable bar

After any event, you should check your portable bar and bar equipment for signs of damage. Folding up the bar when components are broken or damaged may cause more issues and make it more challenging to set up at the next event. The Barlok bars range is made for quick and easy construction and is just as easy to pack away once you are done with it. Quick setup and packing are done with positive locking, so you won’t need any fixings or additional tools to set up a portable bar. Trays, racks, and other bar accessories should be packed away as per the instructions for safe storage. 

Pack the portable bar in its case

Portable bars usually include a customised case to hold the components safely and securely. With a Barlok mobile bar, you will have a case that is designed for the specific portable bar you have. The flight case holds each of the bar components in a secure position to ensure everything is safe during transportation. Whether you are moving it from one floor to another or going from venue to venue, the protective flight case for the portable bar makes sure your bar stays in excellent condition.

If you are looking for a bespoke portable bar or want a bar for an upcoming event, we can help. At Barlok Bars, we pride ourselves on supplying high-quality mobile bars. We have a range of portable bars to suit your needs, and you can customise your design, so you have all the elements you want. For more information or to buy a Barlok portable bar, contact us today.

The post How to store your portable bar equipment appeared first on Barlok.

1. Know your expenses

Before you start making any changes around your business, you need to know where you are starting from. Conduct a full expense analysis of every sector, from staff wages to your energy bills. Without this, you won’t know which areas need to be cut back the most, or which are already within a good range. 

2. Have a flexible team

A large expense within any industry is usually wages, but one way you can cut back on this is by having a team that are able to perform multiple roles. If you have staff that are trained to help sign in new guests or take bookings as well as other roles, then you are able to cut back on the number of staff you need. However, you must ensure that the number of staff available to guests is kept appropriate- you don’t want unhappy guests who are unable to get help!

3. Bulk buy what you can

More often than not, if you are able to buy items in bulk then it will lead to a discount. Take a look around your business and see what you buy regularly (only items that don’t have short expiry dates like food and beverage). Consider items like bedding, towels and even complimentary toiletries, all of which add to the hotel experience but do not bring in money. Try to ensure that the items you buy are still of the same quality, but reduce your outgoings.

4. Be more energy efficient

This tip has multiple benefits attached to it. Reducing the costs of running your building from an energy standpoint will see a knock on effect on your energy bills. Small changes such as using more energy efficient bulbs in every fitting, putting in signs to guests rooms asking them to reuse their towels to reduce the amount that need washing every day, etc. The other obvious benefit is that you will also be helping to reduce your carbon footprint and therefore saving the planet! What you may not think however, is that making such changes put your business in a good light due to being eco-friendly. This could then draw more people to your hotel and generate more revenue while saving you money.

5. Reduce marketing costs

A simple fact of marketing is that people trust other people more than formal marketing efforts. By changing up your marketing efforts to include more user generated content and focusing on the reviews that your hotel has, you are able to reduce your costs. You will have to create less organic content to engage with prospective guests, and it will likely be more effective due to the response from social proof being used. 

6. Invest and buy equipment

When looking at how to save money in the hospitality industry, you’ll find that your ongoing expenses to hire equipment can quickly build up. Consider everything you hire and how much money you have spent in doing so- during that time you could have probably bought all of that equipment and paid it off, leaving you without the yearly or monthly expenses!

For example, you could hire a portable bar for every event, but you would be better off financially by buying one and an added benefit is that you could customise it to suit your business.

Our portable bars are able to be customised to your branding, designed to suit your function room and can be stored away very easily in our storage units. 

7. Preventative maintenance

There is nothing worse than when everything breaks at once, which tends to be the case. This can end up expensive to have everything fixed at one time, as well as cost you valuable income if it affects the stay of your guests. By having all your equipment, tools and fixtures maintained on a regular basis you will be able to reduce the need for expensive repairs that catch you by surprise. 

8. Use all your space

Unused space within your building or grounds is wasted space. Chances are, you are spending money on lighting and heating those areas, while they are not earning their keep. Give each space a function that could help in either earning you good reviews (and therefore more guests) or generating more revenue. Consider things like pop-up events, information desks where local businesses can pay to advertise or even something as simple as more social space for guests. 

Hopefully, now you know how to save money in the hospitality industry and keep your costs down in your very own business. If you are looking to save money through buying a portable bar to decrease your hiring costs, contact our Barlok team today or check out our portable bars for inspiration. 

The post How to save money in the hospitality industry appeared first on Barlok.

Individual modules

One of the main benefits of having a portable bar is being able to adjust the size to your own needs. If your space for a bar is limited, or you only need it for limited stocks or events, then you can opt for a slightly smaller bar by using a few modules rather than a full size bar that is much too big. Alternatively, if you want to be able to make a custom bar for a large room, you can add modules until you get to a size you are happy with. 

The possibilities with modular bar set ups are endless. Gone are the days of having to have a straight bar no matter the shape or size of your room. With our individual modular bars, you can add curves or even have a full circle if that’s more your aesthetic!

Buy preset

If coming up with a creative design isn’t your forte, then we have plenty of options to get you started. Whether you need something preset for ease or just ideas to get the creative juices flowing, we have something for you. 

Take a look at our impressive range of preset bars, like the Barlok Revolution or Side Car.

Accessories

A bar isn’t just a countertop for you to place drinks onto for your customers. It’s about efficient storage and accessibility for everything you need for the night (or day) ahead. When planning your portable bar, you might want to consider some of the optional extras that we have available. This include:

• Standard shelves
• Ice shelves
• Speedrails
• Back bars

These allow for your bartenders to have everything within reaching distance, promoting quick service and higher streams of income. If you don’t need all the shelves at all times, some can be removed in order to fit a triple door fridge, perfect for chilled drinks and glasses.

Our ice shelves also include space and gastro tubs for storing all your essential garnishes throughout the night, keeping them fresh for each new drink. 

The back bar is extremely useful to be able to host a range of drinks, keeping your customers happy with the variety. These are free-standing and therefore can be placed anywhere along or behind your bar. If you are buying a larger, longer bar, then it may be worth considering having more than one of these units, to avoid staff crowding around one area. 

Control the front

So you’ve created your own bar, but did you know you can make it even more personal? With a full RGBW LED front, you can control the exact shade to match with your own business’ branding. When you buy your Barlok Bar, you will be provided with all the necessary cables and handheld devices needed in order to control this inhouse. 

We take pride in offering high quality, durable portable bars that suit any business needs. If you would like more information on designing your own bar, please contact a member of our team to get the ball rolling. We look forward to seeing what you create!

The post How to design your own modular bar appeared first on Barlok.

Analyse your competition

It can be easy to get caught up in what your competitors are doing. Comparing yourself to them is not always best for your business. However, when implemented correctly, you could gain valuable insights into how you can get ahead. 

Consider your prices, offers and unique selling points of your hotel- now look at the same from your closest competitors. Are they doing something that you feel you should be? If so, then think about what that could look like in relation to your own business and if it would really increase your revenue. Or perhaps you are doing something that you feel they have missed. In that case, shout about it! Get the word out about your amazing selling point, something that you can offer that no one else does- or at least not as well as you. 

Drive traffic to direct bookings 

Reducing the costs of getting customers to stay with you is one of the best tips in maximising hotel revenue. One way to do this is to cut out the middleman, also known as Online Travel Agencies (OTAs). This generally leads to higher profits, as you won’t need to pay out for that deducted commission fee for a large portion of your bookings. 

That isn’t to say that you should cut all ties with OTAs, as they can be beneficial in catching those who don’t want to book directly. 

Encourage user generated content

Simply put, maximising your revenue for your hotel would mean having more guests staying at any one time. Therefore, more bookings are needed. So how can you do this without breaking your marketing budget?

People trust word of mouth from those they know more than marketing or sales teams. Utilising this fact can help you refocus your marketing strategy to drive more people into booking at your hotel. 

One way to do this is to encourage customers to leave a review for your hotel, especially if they have come into contact with a member of staff and mentioned they had a good stay. These are not only great for other people who are looking for reviews, but also to post to social media to spread the message of your great hotel even further. 

In the same vein, reposting content that your visitors post to social media that include your hotel or hotel’s location tag will also be beneficial. If a potential guest can see that other people have enjoyed their time with you, then they will be more likely to book. 

You might think ‘how can I encourage this user generated content without being pushy?’. The answer is both simple, and complicated. The heart of any great experience in a hotel is the customer service, so creating a focus amongst the staff on this issue is likely to see a boost in happy guests and therefore more happy reviews and social posts. 

Avoid mishaps where possible

This one is not always possible, as you never aim to have something go wrong in your hotel. However, there are smart investments that you can make that decrease the chances of them happening in the first place. For example, purchasing a portable dancefloor that contains LED lights can be a pricey expense, especially if it malfunctions and needs replacing. Not only would this put you out of pocket, but would also lead to some unhappy guests within your event space. As mentioned above, happy guests will often lead to positive reviews for your hotel. Unhappy guests will either not recommend your hotel to their friends and family (therefore reducing the free word-of-mouth advertising you could utilise) or post negative reviews. 

Splashing out on quality products will not only save you money from not needing to be replaced frequently, but can also garner more happy guests- which will ultimately lead to you making more money. For information on our sister sites portable dance floors, check out their range or contact the team. 

Prompt any cancellations to rebook

Cancellations are unavoidable- maybe the guests fell ill, or travel plans changed. However, that doesn’t mean that you should just let them go. The guests that cancel for whatever reason are already people interested in staying in your hotel. This means that it would be easier to market to them again to get them to rebook, than it would be to acquire brand new bookings. 

All it takes is a few automated emails to try to get them to book again with you. Start by sending an email to acknowledge their booking cancellation and offer to rebook them for a later date. You could also include a short questionnaire to find out why they cancelled if you aren’t already aware. 

The next few emails after that should include information about your upcoming offers and deals to encourage them to book again. However, if they don’t interact with your emails after 5 or so have been sent to them, look to put them on a different mailing list. This way you can still have a touch point with them, without crowding their inbox. 

Look ahead for changes in demand

There are often things outside of your control that will cause a change in demand. For instance, bookings in hotels are frequently seasonal, or based around the school calendar. Or maybe a specific events season is coming up, like school proms or christmas parties. 

Ensuring that you are ready for these changes, and letting your potential guests know you are ready, will boost your bookings and revenue during the busier periods. This could mean that you need to pump out some extra marketing to put you in front of those who need a little nudge to book. 

Or even invest in some new equipment to make these demands easier to meet- such as including a portable bar for larger events to reduce waiting times at your main bar.

Which leads us onto our next point…

Promote your rooms and hotel’s selling points

Do you have something in your hotel rooms that sets you apart from your competition? Maybe you have an exquisite bar or restaurant attached to it? Think about what you have to offer during these high demand periods to draw in the crowds and outperform your competitors. 

If you worry that you might have no space in your hotel, think about investing in foldable equipment. Portable bars can help you attract new customers. More about this you can read on our blog.

Use a mix of word of mouth and more traditional marketing methods (search ads, remarketing, email marketing etc) to reach those who are needing a place to stay or a function room to hire. Think about the offers you have on during these times- do they match the season you’re promoting? Is there something extra you could bring in? 

For more information on how you could maximise your revenue through using a portable bar for events, contact a member of the Barlok Bars team today or check out our range of portable bars available.

The post 7 tried and tested ideas for how to maximise hotel revenue this year appeared first on Barlok.

1. Clean ALL surfaces

Whether it’s a sticky bar top or dirty work surfaces, you don’t want to add cleaning each surface to your set up list. After each event and before the portable bar is stored away, make sure that everything is properly wiped down with soapy water or disinfectant spray, and then dried. This includes the top of the bar, work surfaces where drinks are made and shelves- both for bottles and glasses. 

2. Scrub the soda gun

Fizzy drinks are sticky, there’s no getting around it. No one wants to handle a soda gun that has been left with drink residue over the handle, so make sure that after each use it gets cleaned thoroughly before being put away. This will include taking off the nozzle and washing that individually, as well as using a toothbrush and soapy water to clean around the buttons and dispenser. To keep the gun clean while it isn’t being used, lightly wrap it in cling film for a protective layer- but not too tight as this could cause some of the buttons to expel those fizzy drinks you just cleaned off the gun.

3. Clean out rubbish and bottle bins

If you have designated bins for your portable bar, you do not want to leave them to fester after an event. Bacteria will build up over time and leave a foul smell lingering around your otherwise pristine bar. Once the bins are emptied, throw in some soap and hot water, and give it a swill round. Give it a wipe down and then rinse it out before putting it in for storage.

Ensure extra care is taken when cleaning out a bin that has had broken glass inside, as small shards can still cut fingers. 

4. Wipe down bottles

Whether your bottles are going to be stored for the next event or put into a different bar for further use, they should not leave the bar dirty or sticky. A thorough wipe down of each bottle with soapy water and a lint-free cloth will get those bottles shining again and looking presentable for customers. 

5. Take apart the glass wash and sanitise all parts

One of the dirtiest parts of a bar is often the glass wash as it gets used throughout the event to keep up with the demand of drinks. From remnants of drinks to fluff and dirt, the glass wash takes it all. It is essential to sanitise this at the end of each event so that the bacteria isn’t allowed to build up and it can therefore effectively clean glassware again. Take each component out of the machine, including the arms at the top and bottom, and clean each part. Clean the inside of the machine and the door before putting it all back together. 

So there are our top five tips for deep cleaning your portable bar before it goes into the storage case. For more information on our portable bars, contact a member of the team today!

The post How to Deep Clean a Portable Bar appeared first on Barlok.

Pop up bars are designed to take the stress away from your main bar and act as a temporary solution to keep your customers’ hands in their pockets whilst at functions.

Barlok® is a precision engineered, modular, RGBW colour controllable led portable bar system, now in use with some of the most sought-after venues and event management companies all over the world including drink giants Monster Energy, Hilton Hotels and the brand-new International Convention Centre in Wales to name a few.

The striking design of Barlok® offers impactful visuals, but is also renowned for its practicality and versatility, with options such as speed rails and ice shelves available if required to turn a standard draft unit into a cocktail bar for different style events.
With over 8 different sections to choose from including straights and corners, the Barlok® system is designed to be installed quickly and to fit around different function spaces and sizes with all section options being completely compatible with each other. Check out the website to find out how to design your own Barlok portable bar.

Barlok® has also been a huge hit with Corporate Event and Event Management companies. Event suppliers can add Barlok® into their inventory, which allows them to offer more products to their customer base.

Liam Peake from UK Virtual Events Ltd said:
‘As a premium event supplier, we’re always hunting for the very best in design and build quality when it comes to our equipment purchases. Our most recent purchase from Portable Floormaker was the modular, tool-free, collapsible led bar system, Barlok®. We spent a lot of time researching bars to make sure we went down the correct route prior to purchasing and were excited by the products Portable Floormaker could offer’

The post Why purchase a pop up bar? appeared first on Barlok.