The Key to Attracting Gen-Z to Your Bar: Love Island-Style Content

Competing Differently

Stop trying to compete directly with other bars by focusing on drinks, pricing, promotions, or the food menu.

Instead, start competing indirectly with industries you don’t normally consider your competition.

Example:

Airlines don’t just sell holidays; they sell an escape, freedom, and relaxation. They compete not only with other airlines but also with products like Virtual Reality (VR) that offer similar outcomes at a fraction of the price.

Focus on selling the outcome and the need, not just the product.

Back to the crazy idea…

Turn a bar team into the next love island show.

Why Do Reality Shows Perform So Well?

Reality shows excel because they:

• Use real people: Making them relatable.

• Incorporate drama and emotions: Humans love ongoing stories filled with conflict and drama.

• Offer variety and diversity: Audiences can relate to at least one person among a diverse cast.

• Engage the audience: Viewers can vote and feel involved.

• Provide an escape from everyday life: They offer a form of escapism.

Context for the Idea:

I used to work in the bar at the Novotel Darling Harbour. Lots of different people all wonderful with stories to tell and funny things happening every shift.

There was a little comms room about 2x4 metres.

The thought to just get a camera and mic and setup the room to become the ‘talking room’ just like Love Island where people could just gossip, always crossed my mind.

Breaking Down the Crazy Idea: Turn a Bar Team into the Next Love Island Show

It might sound crazy, but consider the impact of reality shows. They use psychology and human nature to create engaging and entertaining content, fostering a cult-like following.

Implementing the Idea:

• Your Brand as the Influencer:

  • Your employees become the reality stars.

  • Highlight their relatability, authenticity, diversity, and stories.

• Content Creation:

  • Use a small, accessible room in your bar as a "talking room."

  • Equip it with a camera and mic.

  • Encourage staff to share stories, whether something crazy just happened or a memorable event from the past.

• Engaging Content:

  • Create a new and different type of content for the hospitality industry on social media.

  • Tap into the proven concept of reality TV.

Objectives

Your objective with this is to help your employees go from consumer to creator.

Your employees are in the trenches on social media, they know the trends for all their interests and passions. So much too talk about and you give the platform to do it. It will develop a sports team feel where your content and vibe will attract talent itself just because of the ‘reality show’.

By turning your bar into a content machine, you’ll not only attract an unholy amount of young people but also set a new trend in the hospitality industry.