Tag: stocktaking tips

6 summer stocktaking tips

Bar stocktaking, news, Pub stocktaking, Restaurant stocktaking

Summer stocktaking tipsThe summer is fast approaching so we thought now would be a good time to share some of our Summer stocktaking tips to help you prepare your pub, bar, club or restaurant for successful trading during the busy holiday season.

Our 6 summer stocktaking tips

So here are 6 summer stocktaking tips for pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants:

1. Review those stock levels

A good spell of warm and sunny weather will see your popular beer garden fill up and your stock turnover start to increase. Before the season gets into full swing review your stock levels to make sure you will be able to cope with a surge in demand.

A good tip is to look at your turnover from the year before in a good weather spell to see how the demand changed.

2. Don’t forget your summer drinks

Of course, it is not only the volume of drinks sold that can change during the summer, it’s also what people are drinking. When reviewing your stock level don’t forget to have plenty of Pimms, lighter real ales, a selection of ciders (bottled flavoured ciders are popular), alco-pops, cocktail mixers and soft drinks ready to go!

3. Check your selling prices

While the summer brings seasonal trade it is important to make sure you are maximising your income during this season. It’s worth discussing with your stocktaker your summer selling prices to make sure you are maximising your contribution towards achieving your annual GP.

4. Check those fridges!

Should we be lucky enough to enjoy a prolonged warm spell, having a cool storage area and effective fridges in bars and kitchens become important.  Before the weather really heats up it is recommended that you check all your refrigeration including your cellar cooler is working effectively.

In particular, we recommend that you check around under counter coolers in the bar and fridges in kitchens to make sure the condensers are free from dust and debris.  Failure to keep these condensers clear can result in the overheating and breaking down.

A condenser running efficiently will also use less energy, saving you money.

5. Reinforce your Bar Tab procedures

Letting customers run a bar tab during their visit is a great way to encourage them to consume more and stay longer.  However, during the summer when more of your trade will be in the beer garden or terrace it is important that guests don’t leave without paying.

Our tip is to ensure that for bar tabs you always take a credit card to keep behind the bar, in exchange for a wooden spoon/table number for example.

To keep credit cards behind the bar it will help to set up a space & system for keeping them safe and with any related paperwork (order receipts etc).

If you wish to be ultra secure there are credit card safe products that you can purchase that locks the credit card away in exchange for a key.

6. Are you licensed for outside service?

It is often overlooked, but if you are using a garden, patio or outside area for providing table service you need to ensure that you are licensed correctly to do so.

Summer stocktaking advice, support and services

Paul Hunt, of Hunt Management Solutions, is a qualified and experienced licensed trade stocktaker covering Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Bath and the South West of England.

If you require stocktaking services for your pub, bar, restaurant or club please contact us on 07917 176 005.

 

2018 off to a busy start – stocktaking update from Paul Hunt of Hunt Management Solutions

Bar stocktaking, news, Pub stocktaking, Stock & Inventory Valuations, Year End certificates

A busy stocktaking year ahead

I’m delighted to say that 2018 has got off to a great start with a busy month of stocktakes across the south west of England.

While there has been the usual month end work & monthly stocktakes, January also sees an increase in the quarterly work & year end stocktaking – many clients have the 30th December as their financial year end and so require end of year valuation certificates.

Changing times

While it continues to be a difficult trading time for pubs and the hospitality trade, I’m pleased to have gained two new clients this month.

Also a sign of the times, is that some of our new business has been won from clients whose current stocktaker is retiring.

Continuity of stocktaking service

In a profession that relies upon on expertise built on knowledge and first-hand industry experience, turnover due to retirement is to be expected.

As continuity of stocktaking services is so important to businesses in the licensed trade, Hunt Management Solutions offers a seamless stocktaking transfer service to new clients… so that their management reporting is uninterrupted and consistent.

Please get in touch to find out more.

1st April year end looms & over Easter!

The next big time for stocktakers is the 1st April with the financial year ends.

If you have not booked your end of year stocktaking date, then it time to get it done as soon as possible, particularly as this year it falls over the Easter Weekend.

Please get in touch to find out more about our Year-End services.

Stocktaking tip: spring clean & rotation

Now is  great time to spring clean your stock offering by checking the dates on your stock. Often over the busy Christmas & New Year period stock rotation gets overlooked because it’s such a busy period.

Also have a conversation have with your stocktaker to find out what stock is and is not selling. For example, your stocktaker will be able to give you thoughts on what low selling stock you need to promote to reduce/remove your stock holding.

Stocktaking tip: price increases

While, I don’t wish to finish on a negative… it’s also that time of year that the Breweries start to bring in price increases! So this is a good time to seek advice from your stocktaker on what the impact is going to have on your margins and what adjustments you should be making.

Paul Hunt
Hunt Management Solutions
07917 176 005

 

9 Christmas stocktaking tips & festive holiday season advice

Bar stocktaking, Hotel stocktaking, Licensed Trade, news, Pub stocktaking, Restaurant stocktaking

Christmas stocktaking: 9 top tips for festive holiday stocktakingAs we head towards another hospitality festive season, Hunt Management Services has put together our list of 9 Christmas stocktaking top tips to help the licensed trade have a successful trading period.

Christmas and New Year stocktaking top tips

Whether you run a pub, bar, club, restaurant, hotel or festive hospitality, we hope that you will find some stocktaking tips that will work for you.

1. Seasonal drinks.

With the colder weather and the celebratory nature of the festive season it’s a good idea to review your stocks of seasonal drinks, particular favourites for this time of year are:

  • Mulled Wine or Mulled Cider are both are popular at this time of year especially on those colder nights.
  • Darker Real Ales & Porter styles are a preferred choice at this time of year as opposed to lighter ales that are popular in the Summer.

2. Customer profile

The Christmas and New Year party season may bring a different sort of crowd to what you have seen during the rest of the year, with different tastes and preferences. So it’s worthwhile taking a look at your stock reports from last years festive season, to see what stock was moving quickly and revise your festive orders accordingly.

3. Spread the cost

To spread the cost of purchasing stock for the Christmas period, it is an idea to start building stock of the most popular products by ordering extra  in the weeks before Christmas.

4. Protect your profitability

Although turnover is usually good during the festive period, there are periods where trade is quiet. Offering Mini Prosecco and Wine bottles are a good alternative to offering it by the glass as it prevents stock of large bottles going flat and increasing waste.

5. Make the most of discounts and offers

At this time of year many suppliers offer deals and incentives in their Christmas Brochures that could save you money on all your orders – check them out before placing your order.

6. Protect your stock

Stock is one of your most important assets, and over the holiday season you will have more on site than normal and so it is important that it is secure.

  • Make sure that the larger December deliveries are properly checked & signed for at outset.
  • Ensure that your cellar and anywhere else you hold stock is safe and secure – especially if you are using new spaces because of the extra stock.
  • Make sure that in January any dated products are stock rotated properly, especially in the fridges.

7. Don’t forget to record information for your stocktaker

If you are  offering a discount by pre-ordering wine for Christmas meals, then make sure the amount of the discount is recorded for your stocktaker. Similarly, make sure any complimentary drinks, for you and your staff, are recorded accurately.

8. Special offer recording

If you are offering a package deal of drink & food then make sure the split between the two categories is recorded.

9. Christmas staffing

Throughout the holidays most establishments are rely on a greater number of casual staff than they have for the rest of the year. Therefore it is important that all those working are clear on the stock and till processes to ensure everything is recorded accurately.

From an owners perspective it is also a time to be extra vigilant on stock, monitoring any till shortages or till surplus. On a busy night some establishments will swap the till drawer & do an x reading on the till & credit card machine.

Expert stocktaking in Bath, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire

Paul Hunt, of Hunt Management Solutions, provides food & beverage stocktaking services for the hospitality industry across Bath, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. Paul works on a daily basis with pubs, bars, clubs, restaurants, cafes, hotels, theatres, cinemas, student unions and a lot more.

If you need support from an experienced and qualified licensed trade stock auditor please contact Paul on 07917 176 005.