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Well written. in some research I did for Guinness many years ago we discovered what factors influenced customers to order Guiness when they entered the pub. These factors were, in order of importance: 1) If the barman gave them a prompt like "it's a good day for a Guinness"; 2) If they saw lots of other customers drinking Guinness (indicating the pub has a good reputation for Guinness and a good beer flow through its lines and you weren't going to get a stale pint that had been in the line overnight) and 3) If the pub had a traditional rather than a modern Irish pub decor and atmosphere. It was this research which led to the "Irish Pub" decor concept being invented and eventually going global. In beer terms, a travesty, I know, but in marketing terms, one of the most successful marketing campaigns ever.

Index of Frank's Diaries
by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Thu Jan 24th, 2013 at 11:13:56 AM EST
You bastard! So it's all your fault!

(Having said that, I have an "Irish pub concept" joint where I hang out occasionally in Lyon.)

As for Guinness, it remains a complete mystery to me, can't get over the overwhelming caramel. But probably that's because I don't know where/how to drink it.

It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II

by eurogreen on Thu Jan 24th, 2013 at 11:26:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Six Nations is coming up.
Need to find a beer-drinking rugby fan or two to hang out with.

Sadly, said "themed" pub has two Irish (Guinness and Kilkenny) and ZERO English beers, the rest being reasonable Belgian or globalized eurodross. I drink Kilkenny, for sentimental reasons.

It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II

by eurogreen on Thu Jan 24th, 2013 at 11:53:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]
So !! It's all your fault.

fortunately the profusion of non-Guinness pubs in Dublin and the real ale world suggests they missed a trick somewhere

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Thu Jan 24th, 2013 at 11:27:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Technically no - I did the research and the marketing people decided how to implement the findings. But it was always a concept intended for export -like how many "Pizza Hut Italian Pizzerias" are there in Italy anyway? I was amused to find them ordering vast quantities of specially aged "antiques" and "memorabilia" to furnish all their Irish themed pubs abroad.

Guinness does not own a significant estate of Pubs in Ireland and Irish pub owners are notoriously independent and resentful of Guinness as a near monopoly supplier. (It's a V. long story). So they were always, understandably, anxious to diversify beyond Guinness group products, and wouldn't take too much advice on how to furnish their establishments unless Guinness was offering merchandise and equipment for free.

No doubt today's marketeers are studying how they can create a chain of "free", "independent", "real" ale pubs world-wide...

Index of Frank's Diaries

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Thu Jan 24th, 2013 at 11:48:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]
No, the marketers have realised that craft beer (quality keg) can be used as a wedge product against real ale and are promoting that.

An essay will be forthcoming

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Thu Jan 24th, 2013 at 12:20:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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