Secret Hopper
Creating more memorable and profitable taproom experiences
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Strategies for Adding Food to Your Taproom
Strategies for Adding Food to Your Taproom

When guests plan out their next taproom visit, it’s not just about pleasing the beer nerd. It’s about attracting and maintaining the attention of everyone from that beer nerd to everyone else in their party. This may include the 4-year-old they’re bringing along, the guest who doesn’t drink beer, and the customer just looking for a bite to eat. Because of this, the taproom guest is much more intentional when choosing where to visit. When you’re able to please all these demographics, you unlock the potential for a greater audience, that will spend more time and ultimately more money.

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Andrew Coplonfood, brewpub, customer experience, brewery food, upsell, engagement
The Power of Taproom Data
The Power of Taproom Data

It wasn’t too long ago that “data” was not yet part of our daily taproom vocabulary. However, when making quality beer is a prerequisite, running a strong business can be your advantage. Our panelists will share their expertise and insights into leveraging taproom data to drive business growth, enhance customer experiences, and streamline operations. From analyzing sales trends to motivating your team, this session will explore facets of the taproom (teaser: all of them) where bettering your grasp on data can help your brewery see greater success.

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Andrew Coplontaproom, guest experience, hospitality, taproom data, taproom insights
Taking a Bad Taproom Experience and Making it Awesome
Taking a Bad Taproom Experience and Making it Awesome

Even the best businesses have bad days. It is important that you not only provide your team with the tools to offer engaging taproom visits, but also the strategies to create a world-class experience when things go wrong. They won’t remember the negative. They will have a deeper connection with your brewery because of how they were wowed by your staff.

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Andrew Coploncustomer experience, customer service, hospitality, problem solving, empathy, taproom, taproom staff, training
Why Beer Flights Matter
Why Beer Flights Matter

Flights SUCK! They’re no fun to pour, can back up your line on a Saturday afternoon, and they take way too long to explain. What a waste of effort and time.

But wait! Is your brewery looking to attract new customers? Does your brewery like helping each guest find the perfect beer? Are you a taproom owner/manager/employee that wants to make more money? 

If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, then flights may be the answer.

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Andrew Coplongen z, millennials, taproom experience, beer flights, beer education, hospitality, brewery finance
Taproom Spending Habits by Generation
Taproom Spending Habits by Generation

In 2024, it seems I can’t escape conversations on how taprooms can attract new audiences. No longer can a brewery survive off the consumption habits of your stereotypical beer nerd, but rather, they must now appeal to greater demographics, with changing preferences. So, why should your brewery go forth on a quest to get new and different butts in seats? Money.

Well, money, and your desire to not only create more profitable experiences, but also give new audiences a reason to return.

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Andrew Coplontaproom, millennials, gen z, generations, boomers, gen x, spending habits, taproom trends
What Taproom Guests Want in 2024
What Taproom Guests Want in 2024

The taproom landscape is changing. No longer can a brewery simply make quality beer. The perfect brewery experience now exists at the intersection of delicious beverages, a memorable atmosphere, and engaging staff. When you successfully understand your guests’ goals, expectations, and exceed them, you create a repeat customer that craves your taproom.

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Andrew Coplontaproom, taproom trends, guest experience, hospitality, brewery experience
What Taproom Guests Want in 2024
What Taproom Guests Want in 2024

The taproom landscape is changing. No longer can a brewery simply make quality beer. The perfect brewery experience now exists at the intersection of delicious beverages, a memorable atmosphere, and engaging staff. When you successfully understand your guests’ goals, expectations, and exceed them, you create a repeat customer that craves your taproom.

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Andrew Coplontaproom trends, taproom, brewery, brewery experience, what guests want, taproom data, innovation, hospitality
Maximizing Taproom Revenue by Building Loyalty
Maximizing Taproom Revenue by Building Loyalty

We’re all guilty of it. Signing up for loyalty/reward program or mailing list just to get a little discount. 10% off your first purchase, free shipping, perhaps a free cookie when you buy your next coffee. Some of the largest brands in the world have successfully found the right offers to get us to share our contact information. While many consumers will quickly unsubscribe, the company gets their foot in the door and now has easier access to these potential customers. The exact value varies, but hospitality businesses consistently flaunt greater per visit revenue and more frequent visits from these engaged guests. But despite the customer’s willingness to offer up their email address, are breweries getting better at grabbing it?

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Andrew Coplonloyalty, customer experience, email marketing, membership, loyalty programs, engagement
5 Years of To Go Beer Taproom Trends
5 Years of To Go Beer Taproom Trends

It’s been 5 years since we first analyzed data on the impact of encouraging beer to go in taprooms. In 2018, we discovered that taproom staff were encouraging beer to go on 19% of visits. When they did not suggest it to a guest, the customer only made a to go purchase on their own 9% of the time. However, when staff did suggest it, the guest made the additional purchase 49% of the time. A guest was also an astonishing 408% more likely to purchase to go when asked vs visits when they were not asked.  So, in 2023, what progress have we made with to go beer?

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Andrew Coplontaproom, taproom staff, taproom data, to go beer
Top 5 Characteristics of High Engagement Taproom Visits
Top 5 Characteristics of High Engagement Taproom Visits

When working with breweries nationwide, we collect data that helps better the level of service and build more meaningful connections. Through this, we wanted to see what the top contributing factors to experiences where taproom staff truly wow the guest. Upon analyzing these high engagement experiences, we discovered 5 behaviors that are found in over 96% of the these visits.

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Andrew Coplontaproom experience, taproom staff, customer experience, hospitality, brewery
"Hi, my name is...": The Value of Introducing Yourself to Taproom Guests
"Hi, my name is...": The Value of Introducing Yourself to Taproom Guests

Eminem may not have known it, but he was onto something. Introducing yourself to your audience goes a long way and can help build deeper connections. Not only does it have the potential to propel you to a (controversially) successful career writing hit songs like “Lose Yourself” and “Without Me,” but offering your name will put you on the path to higher tabs, greater tips, and a busier taproom.

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Andrew Coplonhospitality, engagement, introduction, taproom staff, taproom experience
3 Breweries' Tips to Grow
3 Breweries' Tips to Grow

More and more we are seeing breweries consider not plans to be the next big regional or national player, but chart a path that includes expanding their presence into other communities. With this growth, comes the need to maintain the same high level of quality and experience across locations. As a follow up to Tips to Maintain Consistency Across Multiple Taprooms, we will hear from several breweries on the strategies that have been most successful as they grow.

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Andrew Coplontaproom, consistency, multiple taprooms, growth, staff training, company culture