"Building a Tiki Experience - What's important, and how to do it?" - General Tiki

A AceExplorer Grand Member (8 years) Deep in the Jacksonville Flori-duh jungle. Joined: Apr 03, 2008 Posts: 2564	A AceExplorer Posted posted on Wed, Mar 15, 2017 2:00 PM Good idea to look at what standards you will need to hold high. Another couple of ways you could look at it: What would cause the local press to celebrate your place? What achievements or experiences would the press get excited about and want to share with their readers? What would be so unique that it would get people excited about your place, generate tons of word-of-mouth, and stimulate repeat business? It's not necessarily about paying top dollar for bar staff as it is in finding the staff who have enthusiasm and will be committed to your vision of what needs to be achieved with each guest. Your leadership must inspire them, but then they must be able to catch and carry that vision day-in and day-out going forward on their own. If they fall flat, you will too. For theming -- "easter eggs" are something I think you've hinted at, and I think that's a great idea. What can you have that will be programmed to light up ONLY BRIEFLY and ONLY ONCE EVERY TWO HOURS, or move a bit, or make a sound? Now THAT'S unique and memorable and will give the press something to get their arms around and your guests something to sit on the edge of their seats for. But don't break the bank with something complex. Simple is definitely ok if it makes a strong impact on the guest. Make them sit on the edge of their seats and wait to see your magic and come back often with friends. These things could be the icing on top of your good drinks, your great bar staff, creative theming, and decent food. One more thing - location, location, location. But rent will be higher in more desirable high traffic areas. Just don't handicap yourself right at the start with super low rent which comes with little or no visibility or unsafe or poor parking. We could make a list of things which are "death" to success just as easily as the things which inspire and interest us to keep coming back for more.

Good idea to look at what standards you will need to hold high. Another couple of ways you could look at it:

What would cause the local press to celebrate your place?
What achievements or experiences would the press get excited about and want to share with their readers?
What would be so unique that it would get people excited about your place, generate tons of word-of-mouth, and stimulate repeat business?

It's not necessarily about paying top dollar for bar staff as it is in finding the staff who have enthusiasm and will be committed to your vision of what needs to be achieved with each guest. Your leadership must inspire them, but then they must be able to catch and carry that vision day-in and day-out going forward on their own. If they fall flat, you will too.

For theming -- "easter eggs" are something I think you've hinted at, and I think that's a great idea. What can you have that will be programmed to light up ONLY BRIEFLY and ONLY ONCE EVERY TWO HOURS, or move a bit, or make a sound? Now THAT'S unique and memorable and will give the press something to get their arms around and your guests something to sit on the edge of their seats for. But don't break the bank with something complex. Simple is definitely ok if it makes a strong impact on the guest. Make them sit on the edge of their seats and wait to see your magic and come back often with friends. These things could be the icing on top of your good drinks, your great bar staff, creative theming, and decent food.

One more thing - location, location, location. But rent will be higher in more desirable high traffic areas. Just don't handicap yourself right at the start with super low rent which comes with little or no visibility or unsafe or poor parking. We could make a list of things which are "death" to success just as easily as the things which inspire and interest us to keep coming back for more.

Post #774065 by AceExplorer on Wed, Mar 15, 2017 2:00 PM