Chit Chat
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17 May 15
13:19
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Date Joined:
07 Feb 11
Good afternoon chaps, Im after any advice or suggestions on how a betting shop could improve its sales. I have an interview for a managers position on Tuesday and I need to come up with a 30 day sales improvement plan.
I was a manager previously for ten years plus but have been out of the game for five years. All I can remember doing previously is giving away free goes on numbers bets when you spent a certain amount, free play on the gaming terminals (we all know they are evil so we dont need to get into that) and getting coupons, betting slips and pens into local pubs etc.
Everyone has loyalty cards these days and self service terminals so im struggling to think of ideas. I know the majority on here are here because of the better prices and the ability to get on with a decent stake, but if that was irrelivant what would get you back in the shops and what would you like to see done differantly to keep your loyalty. Its not as simple as clients betting more and more frequently, hands cannot be forced.
Any advice, hints and tips would be most welcome, even stupid, sarcastic and crazy ideas, this is Chit Chat after all.
Thanks BN.
I was a manager previously for ten years plus but have been out of the game for five years. All I can remember doing previously is giving away free goes on numbers bets when you spent a certain amount, free play on the gaming terminals (we all know they are evil so we dont need to get into that) and getting coupons, betting slips and pens into local pubs etc.
Everyone has loyalty cards these days and self service terminals so im struggling to think of ideas. I know the majority on here are here because of the better prices and the ability to get on with a decent stake, but if that was irrelivant what would get you back in the shops and what would you like to see done differantly to keep your loyalty. Its not as simple as clients betting more and more frequently, hands cannot be forced.
Any advice, hints and tips would be most welcome, even stupid, sarcastic and crazy ideas, this is Chit Chat after all.
Thanks BN.
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Replies: 40
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Can't remember last time I was in a betting shop but from what I read on here the problems are getting a bet for a decent amount at a decent price and the knowledge/attitude of the counter staff.
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I agree about knowledgable staff and attitude, that would be something under my control. The other point of getting a bet at a price I appreciate but would be (sadly) out of my hands. Thanks.
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Which shop bn?
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Tell them you drew a blank on chit chat ,what more can you do.
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It's about customer service - remember everyone's name, address them by that name, wish them luck when they place their bets, congrats when they win, always appear to be on the customers side, resolve issues immediately, empathise with customers problems as if they are your own, offer drinks on arrival, if you have the budget tipping comps during big festivals - put the winners up behind the counter each day etc etc etc
Remember what you talk about with customers. Politicians often do something called scanning - they keep a notebook of what they recently talked about to people they meet, and then refresh when they know they are going to see them again. The person they meet again thinks 'I can't believe he remembered we were talking about my daughter's school play, what a great guy' Equally, if you or your staff make a mistake, then give something back to the customer - even if it's something very small, people really appreciate it (there's evidence that if someone has a problem and you resolve it beyond their expectations, that customer becomes more loyal then if the problem never happened). No one ever went far wrong in business giving the customer more than they expected. I tell my staff (not in bookmaking industry) to act as if they are a host at a party and the customers are their guests - make nothing too much trouble... |
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Corals,Shanelee1966.
There is also a Hills, PP and Fred nearby to the shop in question. I have also done a competitor survey on the area which was pretty straight forward, it really is sales ideas im struggling with. Anything that wouldnt cost anything would be great, ideas that maybe have a small outlay would have to be measurable to see if they are succeeding. |
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Some very good points there Millhouse, many thanks.
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I`ll have a think bn. Millhouse nails it though.
Is it in Sheffield? |
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It is in Sheffield.
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If it's Corals ye need to offer toilet cleaning expertise.
If the High Street did what Millhouse suggests, then the world would be a happier place. But if ye suggested his reasoning at your meeting, then expect horse drawn and quartering.. |
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Guinness, I hear what you're saying re. the bookmakers, but in the current climate you have to offer something exceptional.
Nowadays you're either discounting at the lowest price or trying to do something different - anywhere in the middle and you're dead in the water... |
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Match the price guarantee available on the websites up to a score. Nowt more infuriating than taking a price and the price drifts out. Understand they don't want to do this but if you keep small punters in the shop they create an atmosphere that helps the shop to operate rather than walking into an empty shop with saddos playing the machines
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You know as well as i do, Millhouse, that they couldn't give a flying fahook about punters. Old - young - male - female, gay - straight. As long as some asylum seeker, rinky dink, or other fukwit with means, plays the FOBT's, then the shops will remain the same. As will the disdain with which 'punters' are treated. Blackestnight may have great intentions (as do you) but the powers that be, have no such criteria. Counter staff are not there to be nice, just to empty the machines (and clean the toliets) the most soul destroying, den of iniquity that the the Hight Street bookie, has become, is here to stay..
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Good luck with the interview btw, Blackestnight.
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Guinness, they don't give a **** about winning punters - you're spot on about that...
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Just put free biscuits/sweets on counter along with free tea and coffee and business will increase - 100% guarantee
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I'm sure you've had accounts 'restricted' for just beating the price, Millhouse. We've had this discussion many many times before on the lunatic asylum forum. They just don't want HR punters. It's now them and us, more than it ever was..
Anyway, the poor lad's probably sorry he asked the question now  |
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I do miss our battles with Banned_Banks though on the lunatic forum..
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A methadone and meths bar,with free nibbles and needles.
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Ask for a cashier with huge t1ts..
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Preferably female
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Price boosts, best odds guaranteed, money back as a free bet if beaten by a nose or less, faller insurance (back at slightly shorter odds but if it falls then you get your stake back), place betting (poor odds), FOBT tourneys where the winner gets a certain amount of money/credit.
These are few things that happen where I live, nothing original I'm afraid. |
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Put a sign in the window saying
Free toilets Come for a piss stay for a bet |
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Or 'come for a bet, we'll take the piss'
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flushgordon1
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Put up a sign
Recycling and in small letters Dole Money |
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keep a results board in the shop, so punters can pop in to get info on what has happened to their money
get some decent coffee, like a tassimo machine and serve from pots with bookies names on, you can give problem punters a paper cup so they dont throw it at you get two copies of racing post so regulars can be sure to get a decent look in the morning learn the names of your customers, and treat them with respect |
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Put up sign saying, "Strippers Today" on the day you have a bit of decorating done. Don't think it'll work every day though but they are thinking short term anyway.
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We accept cheques ,your little sister,stolen goods and animal pelts.
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Tell them you're a gambling addict and you'll guarantee them your business.
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When Paddys opened across the road from my shop I managed to convince the regional manger to offer money back if your horse finished 2nd up to a ton
 The shop was packed solid for 2 weeks until someone further up got twitchy and pulled the plug  Ruined Paddys big opening splash though  |
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Carol prob worst big player. I use the word big with considerable caution, within 3 weeks you will be pushing a machine competition trying to get the most vulnerable on to the Crack Cocaine of gambling. Use Your feet and vote with your conscious, The Local Foodbank are always looking. Viva Labour.
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4/5 and 10/11 winners in singles settled at evens up to £100 stake.
Full odds paid on dead heats in singles and multiples (how often do you get one these days) And somebody should keep on at the tote to accept 10p lines in Jackpot perms. The pools would be massive on rollover days. |
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guinness2dear 17 May 15 15:41
You know as well as i do, Millhouse, that they couldn't give a flying fahook about punters. Old - young - male - female, gay - straight. As long as some asylum seeker, rinky dink, or other fukwit with means, plays the FOBT's, then the shops will remain the same. As will the disdain with which 'punters' are treated. Blackestnight may have great intentions (as do you) but the powers that be, have no such criteria. Counter staff are not there to be nice, just to empty the machines (and clean the toliets) the most soul destroying, den of iniquity that the the Hight Street bookie, has become, is here to stay.. POST OF THE YEAR. at last someone has put it in words of less than 3 sylabubs so the masses on politics will understand. |
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It's not true though of the major companies who employ mystery shoppers to ensure that staff are courteous and knowledgeable.
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I woud imagine that most of the suggestions are beyond the discretion of the manager.
Through the doors of the office at a Hills shop there is, drawn on a white board, some mantra about saving money. e.g. tips on how to cut down on drinks, toilet paper, cleaning materials etc etc. They would love to hear all that bs. As has been suggested, middle aged, divorced, flirty, female cashier with low cut top and lower morals. Anything really, to detract from their pathetic odds and offers. |
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Mikael D'Haguenet 17 May 15 18:51
Or 'come for a bet, we'll take the piss' Fecking brilliant well done sir. |
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Issue each customer with a Willy Wonka Golden Ticket per month which entitles them to one bet at the odds offered to return a max of £1000.
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Up till when I was working in High Street North the manager of a local independent had a tipping comp each day, you picked three horses & the returned SP had to add up to twenty that could be two 9/1 winners or a 20/1 shot, if it was not won it went up a tenner a day till it was won & when it inevitably reached three figures which happenedon many occasions interest really perked up, the proviso was you had to have at least £2 worth of bets in the shop on the day you did your selections, he said it really improved his turnover.
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