You're correct that a large percentage of the people that would use the Groupon offerings are already customers of Hofbrahaus. However a majority of their customers are customers of alcohol only, not food. The Groupon offering is strictly for food. If these current customers see the Groupon, and use it, they're spending MORE money than they normally are because now they're purchasing food IN ADDITION to alcohol. It's really quite simple. Not sure why you aren't understanding it.

 

 

Trust me, my man. I'm well aware of how businesses operate and not just from a financial statement point of view.

 

The whole convo started when RE said that when a business goes to a Groupon offering it's a sign of needing more business and more cash. You then quickly responded that they're packed with a line out the door on weekends. Either you were trying to infer that their business is always that way or that the weekends were so good the other 5 days were not important. No other way to take it since RE wasn't limiting his point to the weekend.

 

No business in the world who is at capacity offers a Groupon. That's the SIMPLE point being made. Groupon does not mean you're failing or business is "declining" as some on here have tried to read into my point. It simply means you're not at capacity which is what RE was saying. Throw out all the business cliches you know "who doesn't want more profit" "Which business doesn't want to grow" and throw out the "it's really quite simple" but it still doesn't take away from the point I backed up. They're not at capacity.

 

I don't mind you disagreeing. I just expect you to disagree with what I actually said.

Trust me, my man. I'm well aware of how businesses operate and not just from a financial statement point of view.

 

The whole convo started when RE said that when a business goes to a Groupon offering it's a sign of needing more business and more cash. You then quickly responded that they're packed with a line out the door on weekends. Either you were trying to infer that their business is always that way or that the weekends were so good the other 5 days were not important. No other way to take it since RE wasn't limiting his point to the weekend.

 

No business in the world who is at capacity offers a Groupon. That's the SIMPLE point being made. Groupon does not mean you're failing or business is "declining" as some on here have tried to read into my point. It simply means you're not at capacity which is what RE was saying. Throw out all the business cliches you know "who doesn't want more profit" "Which business doesn't want to grow" and throw out the "it's really quite simple" but it still doesn't take away from the point I backed up. They're not at capacity.

 

I don't mind you disagreeing. I just expect you to disagree with what I actually said.

 

In the context of the thread, I took RE's post to mean that Moerlin will flop much like the brewery at the Drawbridge if they only sell their own beers. Several other people pointed out that the Hofbrau (who sells only their own beer) seems to be doing quite well for itself. RE disagreed, citing the Groupon deal as evidence of their struggles. You appeared to agree with this.

 

From my understanding, it appears you find the "50% off" nature of the Groupon model to be rather extreme, thus your agreement with RE. I find plenty of reason to not agree with that and have provided several plausible scenarios (drive alcohol sales, new customers, etc.) where a successful business may want to use a nontraditional marketing strategy to increase their customer base, as is the goal of any business, successful or not. You say it at least means they are not at capacity, which might be true (and I don't believe we have been debating "capacity"), but is not what RE said as he seemed to imply they were on the path to the same fate of the Drawbridge brewery and the future fate of Moerlin.

I would love to know how many people who respond to a Hofbra Groupon have never been there before. Hard to measure but it would be interesting.

 

Trust me on this one. When these deals are offered, the businesses see lots of the same people over and over. That's not what they would want, but it's what they get. On a side note, great news. Found out today that I will be able to grab a Bud Light at the new Lager House. I will be a customer. The building is awesome. I think I will start a thread about "Groupon" type deals so we can get some discussion about these bargains. Should make for some good conversation.

You're correct that a large percentage of the people that would use the Groupon offerings are already customers of Hofbrahaus. However a majority of their customers are customers of alcohol only, not food. The Groupon offering is strictly for food. If these current customers see the Groupon, and use it, they're spending MORE money than they normally are because now they're purchasing food IN ADDITION to alcohol. It's really quite simple. Not sure why you aren't understanding it.

 

We have been to the HH numerous times over the years to have one of their outstanding beers along with a cream puff or a pretzel with bier cheese but I think we have eaten there many only once or twice. If we had a coupon for 50% off many we eat there too but we go for the beer and fun and not the food!

Trust me on this one. When these deals are offered, the businesses see lots of the same people over and over. That's not what they would want, but it's what they get. On a side note, great news. Found out today that I will be able to grab a Bud Light at the new Lager House. I will be a customer. The building is awesome. I think I will start a thread about "Groupon" type deals so we can get some discussion about these bargains. Should make for some good conversation.

 

Honestly I am just asking but if the price of a Bud Light were the same as each and ever other beer they serve, would you still order and drink a Bud light?

I for one can't see going across the bridge to Cincinnati just to have a beer ,when the Hofbrau House is conviently located in Newport . Incidently a micro-Brewery that I helped to build and one that my brother-in-laws cousin is part owner . I might try it if I go to a Reds or Bengals game but only then .

 

Moerlein Lager House downtown will be quicker for me to get to than Hofbra in Newport.

Trust me on this one. When these deals are offered, the businesses see lots of the same people over and over. That's not what they would want, but it's what they get. On a side note, great news. Found out today that I will be able to grab a Bud Light at the new Lager House. I will be a customer. The building is awesome. I think I will start a thread about "Groupon" type deals so we can get some discussion about these bargains. Should make for some good conversation.

Please don't take this personal, but honestly, Bud Light, Miller Lite and their ilk is to beer what Guckenheimer is to whiskey or what White Zinfandel is to wine. I understand it's what you like, but life's too short to always drink cheap beer. Live a little and enjoy.

The majority of the times I go to the HH they are packed, but I go about 9 PM on Friday and Saturday and stay until 1 AM or so. As others have said, most people in those later hours do not eat much food, I too can see them wanting to get more people to eat, makes good sense anyway when you are drinking. I suppose they are trying to get a few more people during the day as well as weekdays.

 

Most restaurants and many bars/clubs are slow from the first of the year to into March, maybe they are wanting to make sure more people in during these slow times.

 

Rock Bottom only serves their own beer as well, they seem to be doing well when I go in there.

I'm not sure why you think I'm trying to "spin" anything. I'm simply pointing out that "always packed" and "50% off" do not go hand in hand.

Couldn't they be "always packed' with people drinking beer and the Groupon is a way to try and get those same beer drinkers to buy some food while they are in there?

I'm still interested to hear what the Hofrbau was specifically offering 50% off of and when they were offering it in their Groupon deal.

Couldn't they be "always packed' with people drinking beer and the Groupon is a way to try and get those same beer drinkers to buy some food while they are in there?

 

By definition, yes they "could."

 

Call me cynical but I doubt every table is filled every day. No way they are at 100% capacity.

I'm still interested to hear what the Hofrbau was specifically offering 50% off of and when they were offering it in their Groupon deal.

 

Me, too.

I'm still interested to hear what the Hofrbau was specifically offering 50% off of and when they were offering it in their Groupon deal.

 

Food. It's been said quite a few times in here.

Food. It's been said quite a few times in here.

 

Ahh, gotcha. I the times people had mentioned it they were just postulating. Thanks.

I'm still interested to hear what the Hofrbau was specifically offering 50% off of and when they were offering it in their Groupon deal.

 

Same here. I'm assuming it's food, but I'd be curious what exactly it says or what restrictions come with it.