If the failure of Prohibition taught anything, it was that the liquor industry will survive. As such, today’s liquor stores may think they don’t need to spend time or resources in marketing. Put up the bottles and they will come, right? Not so fast.  

All of those closed, boarded up liquor stores may have a different opinion. It’s important to find ways to promote the store and its products if business owners want to be the go-to shop for their target audience to spend their money. Most liquor stores are probably using one or two of the marketing tactics on this list, but is there certainty that target customers are as informed as they can—and should—be? This is where using in-store audio can help make all the difference.

Read on to find out 5 ways in-store audio can take a store’s “pretty good” tactics to a whole new level of marketing success.

      1. Special Food Pairing Events

Many liquor store shoppers wouldn’t consider themselves experts in pairing food items with their favorite wine, beer, or cocktail. Offering samples of potential pairings allows for customers to learn about the different offering available while simultaneously drawing in a more sophisticated customer demographic.

But, what’s the point of hosting these events if no one knows about them? In-store announcements leading up to the event can be a great way to keep customers in the know. Putting up flyers can help reinforce the message, but often customers will walk right by without reading or even noticing them. Using audio can help ensure that even the savviest beverage connoisseur marks the event on his or her calendar.

      2. Showcase a Seasonal Cocktail or Beverage

A customer is wandering about the store completely confused about what beverages to serve at a dinner party that night. Then, suddenly, the voice on the store’s speakers announces that the store has all the makings for a wonderful new seasonal cocktail. Boom! Problem solved.

Many liquor stores run specials on products that are more likely to be purchased during certain times of the year. For example, a lighter beer or wine in the summer and something a little heavier, like a good barrel-aged bourbon, in the winter. Using announcements to showcase those selections can be extremely valuable to customers who aren’t sure what they should serve, or are just looking to try something different.

      3. Unique Tasting Events

Similar to pairing events, what is the point of bringing in the best wine rep in town to offer a tasting of their rare vintage Pinot Noir if no one shows up? These events can be great for drumming up excitement around a new brand or product—but only if customers actually know about it. Alerting customers of a free tasting of a new liquor brand via an in-store announcement—while they are already shopping—can be a great way to bring them back and, ideally, encourage them to buy again.

      4. Special Deals and Promotions

If the store is running a special, it makes sense to use every marketing avenue to make it successful. Running ads in the local paper, radio, and television may be helpful, but are relatively expensive and can easily be missed by target customers. Using an on-demand in-store audio announcement can hit customers while they are already shopping in the liquor store. They may not be there on the hunt for beer, but when they hear about the great deal the store is offering, they may just have to grab a six-pack (or two) before they go!

      5. Reminders Around Holiday Parties and Events

Most everyone can relate to the last minute scramble before a holiday party. It can be easy for someone overlook picking up the all-important bubbly before a holiday gathering, even though they were just in the liquor store the day before! But the scenario can play out differently: while they’re picking up their go-to beer, they hear an in-store audio reminder to remember champagne for that holiday party. They suddenly remember that they’re guests at a party the next night, so they grab a few bottles and are extremely grateful for the reminder.

There are so many ways that liquor stores can use in-store audio announcements to help with making their marketing events and promotions successful, becoming the one stop shop for customers. And it’s not an option—they need to engage in order to survive. With increasing competition from grocery stores, not to mention the added issues that come with a heavily government regulated industry, liquor stores need to work to find new ways to educate customers and keep them coming in for all their beverage needs.

Interested in learning more? Request a demo of Vibenomics today and learn how you can start creating on-brand music and messaging for your in-store customers.