SFMixology provides education and consulting services for alcohol and beverage service professionals who wish to increase their productivity, knowledge, and earning power. We also work with businesses to create workshops and classes to train their employees and representatives.
Retail managers and brand representatives we have worked with have benefited by increased knowledge of their product line. By solidifying their core competencies, companies can expect improved quality of service, general increased understanding of the industry and specific brands, as well as improved knowledge of current mixology trends by their representatives and employees.
Promotion
Our staff is experienced with using all forms of information resources to gain awareness for your food and beverage program. We will utilize our contacts at local media firms to promote public relations. Local blogs and forums will be used to hype your opening and discuss your concept. Social media will provide increased awareness of your programs. In the end, the sophistication of our business model, and the execution of the program will keep your customers happy and returning regularly.
Location
Without a location locked down it is difficult to gauge exactly who your clientele will be, and what date and times business will peak. This will directly affect all aspects of your cocktail program, training and hiring of staff, level of ongoing commitment, and relationships with your suppliers. We are available throughout the Bay Area to help you find and evaluate the optimal locations for your business.
Bar Design
The amount of work needed on the design of your bar is dependent on whether you begin with something already in place, its present placement and design, and how much re-design it will need. We specialize in cost-effective solutions for creating a bar that is highly efficient on both sides of the isle. We’ll maximize your bar to this end or design one from scratch. There exist aspects of the bar design and flow that are independent of your bar concept. We have developed standard rules of bar design which have proven to assist the bartender to promote an environment where the customer will feel welcome and attended to, while maintaining a high level of operational efficacy. The customer side of the bar must be comfortable and inviting, and focused. Effective branding, promotional material, and interesting décor will maximize the focus of the bar. Your bar concept will promote the bar’s appeal and drive traffic.
Cocktails and Menus
We are adept at understanding the fine balance between cocktail excellence, production cost, and execution. We’ve developed standard rules that are replicable and easy to implement to facilitate optimization of this trifecta. Your bar need not be so complex that only specific types of highly skilled bartenders will be able to operate it with long wait times for drinks. We can create simple cocktails which stylize your specific theme, and/or have historical significance, and are designed to pair well with the menu. Where necessary for ease of execution, you can pre-prepare ingredients. For example, one effective strategy in pairing cocktails is to work with the chef and utilize the sauces of the kitchen to incorporate the flavors of the bar.
Training, Staffing, and Hiring
Our extensive industry background includes training of over 2000 bartenders who have diversified into highly stratified roles from simple dive bars to the highest profile clubs and craft bars. We have a unique ability to develop the individual personality and talents of each bartender into the needs of the bar. We understand the value in differentiating and specializing forms of etiquette, customer service, and bartending methodologies. We also acknowledge the value of autonomy. The good bartender must feel that the bar is their home to optimally express their personality and talents. A happy and well adjusted bartender is a prerequisite for happy customers. To facilitate this effect, careful selection, hiring, and training of the bartenders and managers is necessary. Luckily, we have years of dedication and experience in this exact area. We are prepared to design the hiring format of your bar and make it user friendly for you. If desired, we can do all the initial hiring and training. To prepare our staff for delivery of your new bar concept, classes can be setup to teach the trainees the cocktail menu, bar etiquette, and how to deal with other logistical issues. In essence, everyone on our staff will be an expert on your specific theme and/or concept.
Inventory and Suppliers
We can create a standard system for tracking inventory and calculating pour cost and implement it. All managers and owners can be trained on how to use the system. New (and awesome) programs will be used to efficiently regulate a system for ordering and keeping track of supplies. Our extensive contacts in the liquor industry will be utilized to acquire the best incentive programs from suppliers and incorporate strong and long lasting relationships with different brands.