Rising like a Phoenix?
And 53% of survey respondents say they expect turnover to grow throughout 2014 (compared with just 15% believing sales will shrink).
Although cost pressures are undoubtedly still increasing — with utilities and drinks prices the biggest culprits — more than a third of licensees (37%) say they managed to post increased profits (compared with 35% reporting a decrease in profits).
While the old adage sales for show, profit for dough suggests celebrations may be premature, these figures are all significantly better than those from last year’s Pub Market Report, which leads me to encourage a glass-half-full rather than a glass-half-empty interpretation.
And though the biggest reason cited for the recovery to date has been better weather (really!?), there are other important factors within the control of licensees that have helped start to turn things around, namely increased pub investments, improved food offers and well-marketed events.
Behind the all-important word of mouth, the next three most effective routes to market for pubs are now digital, with Facebook, pub websites and Twitter ahead of — and cheaper than — more traditional promotional activities.
These findings go to show that pub licensees are not — for the most part — content to let external factors dictate their fortunes.
Proactive
It is clear you remain deeply concerned about issues such as cost inflation, tax increases, the economy in general, competition from supermarkets and administrative red tape, but you are also increasingly taking matters into your own hands to become masters of your destiny.
Not for the majority of Publican’s Morning Advertiser readers the cold comfort of victimhood and blaming third parties for their troubles. But a proactive and innovative approach to running your pubs in a way that gives you the best chance of business success. It’s really good to see.
History
On another, vaguely related point, I have just returned from a family holiday to Phoenix, Arizona. In a literal sense, you won’t find many green shoots there, though plenty of cacti!
And no real pubs to speak of. Don’t get me wrong, I found some great, busy bars serving an interesting range of beer and tasty, if less than healthy, food. But, in my experience, something always seems to be missing from the on-trade in the USA.
I can only surmise that it’s the sense of history and community that comes as standard in the classic British pub and which seems to be lacking in an American shopping-mall bar.
My trip Stateside provided a timely reminder that we have so much to cherish in our pub estate. So it’s particularly pleasing to report that it is finally returning to health.
