What’s the only thing your customers love more than their favorite cocktail?
Saving money.
That’s why liquor store promotions are critical for your small business’ success. The right promotions bring new customers through your door and turn them into lifelong fans of your store — keeping the sales flowing long after the discount is over.
In this blog, we’ll share six creative liquor store promotion ideas to excite your shoppers and give your bottom line a boost.
What To Do Before Launching a New Liquor Store Promotion
Before launching any new liquor store promotions, there are some essential steps you need to take.
1. Check State and Local Laws
Researching your state and local laws is a must before diving into the world of alcohol promotions.
Some states prohibit “happy hour” alcohol discounts, while others have specific laws about how you can advertise your liquor store’s promotions.
Understanding and complying with laws like these is key to keeping your liquor license in good standing and avoiding fines and penalties.
2. Study Your Sales Reports
One of the best ways to plan your liquor store promotions is to analyze your past sales data.
Your store’s sales reports will reveal your bestselling spirits, underperforming products, and customers’ shopping habits — all of which can help you design effective, intentional promotions.
For example, if you notice a drop in beer sales during the fall and winter months, you might consider launching a promotional campaign focused on local, seasonal brews to bring beer sales back up.
3. Make Sure Your POS System Is Up to Task
Your point of sale (POS) system is your most valuable partner in making your liquor store promotion ideas a reality.
Your liquor POS system should make it a breeze to create, schedule, and edit promotions from anywhere, letting you run last-minute flash sales, create exciting product bundles, and plan your deals ahead of time.
Related Read: What’s the Best POS for Liquor Store Promotions?
4. Revamp Your Marketing Strategy
A sale can only be effective if your customers know about it — which is why marketing is essential for successful liquor store promotions.
Make sure to use a combination of email newsletters, timely SMS messages, and social media posts to let your customers know about your latest deals and encourage them to stop by your liquor store.
Our Favorite Liquor Store Promotion Ideas
Now that you’re ready, let’s explore our top six liquor store promotion ideas.
1. Promote a Cocktail of the Month
Selecting a “Cocktail of the Month” is a great way to expose your shoppers to new flavors and to boost your sales of spirits and mixers.
To leverage this promotion, choose a seasonal or trendy cocktail, craft an eye-catching sign with the recipe, and create an engaging display with the spirits, mixers, and tools needed to make it.
For even higher sales, consider offering a special discount when shoppers purchase one or all of the ingredients.
2. Highlight Seasonal Flavors
As any liquor aficionado knows, a mojito is a summer drink and a hot toddy is perfect during the colder winter months.
That’s why your liquor store promotions should account for seasonal shifts. As the weather starts to heat up, your promotions should highlight ice-cold beers, margarita-ready tequilas, and fresh mixer flavors. As it cools back down, your sights should be set on giftable wines and warmer spirits.
Along with offering enticing discounts on these products, make sure to update your displays with seasonal decor and signage.
3. Launch a Liquor Loyalty Program
Looking for a “set it and forget it” type of promotion? We recommend launching a liquor loyalty program.
A loyalty program rewards your regular shoppers, expands your customer base, and gives your bottom line an overall boost.
Whether you let members earn points on every purchase or unlock exclusive discounts when they spend a certain amount, your program should incentivize them to visit your store often and spend more each time they stop by.
4. Plan a Tasting Event
A tasting event is a great way to bring new customers through your door and stand out from the competition.
During a tasting, you can give customers a chance to sample your most popular wines and spirits, then offer them a special discount if they decide to purchase one.
To get your community even more engaged, consider partnering with a nearby distillery, brewery, or winery to spotlight local products.
5. Curate Bundles
Bundle deals are a win-win for you and your customers. They take the guesswork out of shopping, and they give your sales a boost.
To create a bundle deal, curate a selection of products that go together, and offer customers a discounted price when they purchase all of them.
Here are a few bundle ideas to inspire you:
- Launch a craft beer collection and offer a mix and match discount to encourage customers to try them all.
- Offer a beginner mixologist’s bundle that includes your most popular spirits, mixers, and cocktail-making tools.
- Create an “around the world” gift basket filled with spirits from across the globe.
6. Leverage Limited-Time Offers
Urgency is a crucial ingredient for a successful liquor store promotion. The more your customers worry about missing out on a great deal, the more likely they are to take advantage of it.
To create urgency, plan flash sales and offer storewide discounts — but only for a limited amount of time.
Give Your Liquor Store Sales a Major Boost With POS Nation
Looking for more ways to increase your liquor store sales?
Along with making promotions a breeze, POS Nation offers a full suite of features designed to help your liquor store run more efficiently and profitably. Our software includes robust inventory management, a built-in customer loyalty program, advanced reporting and analytics, and more.
Learn how POS Nation can make a difference for your small business by scheduling your live demo today.
