Craft breweries have been growing in number across the globe. This means that competition gets stiff every year. However, they are supposed to make sales to cover their production costs and make profits.
Apart from making quality beers that stand out from their competitors, they also have to create awareness and ensure that consumers know about their products. They also have to get their products to retail locations closer to consumers.
So, what marketing techniques do they use to achieve this? If you are running a craft brewery, here are a couple of things you can do to create awareness and get your products into retail locations;
Even though this might not be easy for craft breweries with limited budgets, hiring a PR firm is one of the guaranteed ways of connecting you with other businesses. These firms understand the secrets of marketing and getting your business noticed.
Through a PR firm, you can have press releases when you have something new hitting the market. For instance, when you have a new beer recipe or want to open a new brewery. Most business owners read these press releases.
In addition, they can create awareness around your brewery, something that can make you a source of news, especially when reporters want to cover beer production. With such trust, retail store owners will want to stock your products since they are guaranteed of selling them.
One of the easiest ways to get your products into retail locations is by partnering with retail stores. Even though some stores might not stock your products, they can help you move products, especially during things like fundraisers and events.
However, you should understand that managing B2B orders as a beverage producer is not a walk in the park. You should keep track of every retail store that you have partnered with and ensure that they have everything that they need on time.
You also have to make sure that payments are made on time. Fortunately, you can do this easily using a management solution. This can help you streamline your partnerships and get your products into retail locations without obstacles.
Social media platforms provide an avenue for businesses to market and interact with their customers. According to Statista, there were 4.59 billion social media users in 2022. This number will keep on growing every year.
Did you know some businesses have maximized their business potential through social media? This is something that craft breweries can also do. However, they need to use these platforms to get their products to consumers and retail stores.
If, for instance, you have customers from a certain region engaging with your craft brewery on social media, you can find out about retail stores in their region. This allows you to build a relationship with these stores and get them moving your products.
As discussed above, there are many craft breweries in the world. For yours to stand out, you need to ensure that your brand is unique. What are you doing to make your beer products better than your competitors?
There are many things you can do. For instance, almost everyone knows about local artists and influencers. Working with these professionals can show consumers that your craft brewery is special. This can help you move your craft brewery products.
You can also use special and unique ingredients for your beers. Look for certain ingredients that are rare or not common with other breweries. Ensure that you have created awareness about the ingredients you use. This will make people interested in your products. Retail stores will also want to move your products, something that every retail store wants.
Participate in Community Events
Chances are that many community events take place in your region almost every other weekend. It can be things like a park of food trucks, outdoor festivals, sports events, or competitions among community members.
Most of these events are advertised in the local papers, message boards in the shopping center, or even on online calendars. You can check these platforms to see the events coming up and explore how you can take advantage of them to sell your products.
Before you decide on the events you want to participate in, talk to the organizers. If you manage to get a stand, ensure that you display your best products. This way, you can get into agreements with other businesses and get them to move your products.
You will not get a magic formula to get your products into retail locations. As a craft brewery owner, you should explore different marketing strategies, such as the ones discussed above, to create awareness and move your products.
