Quantity:
We are testing the influence of quantity of shuffleboard tables. The theory is when you have higher quantities shuffleboards, the overall shuffleboard operation is more successfull. This is because when people see other people play and have fun, they also want to have fun and try it out. When you only have one shuffleboard, it is occupied or not occupied. When it is occupied it has the attraction factor, but other people cannot book another shuffleboard anymore. When the shuffleboard is not occupied, it has less of an attraction factor. This theory we want to research in Antwerp Amusement Center.
Pricing strategy:
We are also testing the pricing strategy for the shuffleboards. In general there are 2 common pricing strategies: pay per table or pay per person playing. Both strategies can have their own benefits, but I'm a pro of pay per person. I will tell you why:
If you have a price point of €30,- per table per hour, and you are with only 2 people (a date for example), you have to pay €15,- per hour. This is quite a lot.
If you ask €7,50 per person (What Antwerp Amusement Center is asking), the step to buy shuffleboard is lower for 2 people. And when you have more than 4 people playing, you are not limited to €30,- revenue per hour. With a group of 6 people you earn €45,- per hour which is a lot more than standard €30,- per hour. What we see a lot of venues do, they set a minimum of 4 people per shuffleboard in the peak hours. On a Monday evening it is okay for only 2 people to occupy the table. but on a busy Friday night you don't want the table occupied by only 2 people when you can have a full group op people at the shuffleboard.
Package deals:
Shuffleboard is still a pretty unfamiliar game in western Europe. Therefor, when you first place shuffleboards, it is important you have as many people playing it as possible, to make it more known and to create an attraction value to other people in your venue. An easy way to do this is to link shuffleboard to a well known activity such as bowling, karts or lasergame. If you make a package which is only a few euros more expensive than bowling (karts or lasergame), then you will easily persuade people to try shuffleboard. They will stay longer in your venue and you can sell some extra F&B. I believe the importance of offering great package deals is a key factor to the success of shuffleboard in the early stages, which by a lot of venues is underused. Using shuffleboard for upsells is an important tool to making shuffleboard popular and well known in your venue.
Do you want to chat about improving your operation venue? Send us a message!
