books&brews

The Business Model

 

The business model of Books & Brews is what sets us apart. We appeal to all demographics because we appeal to nostalgia with a related commitment to developing lifelong fans. Books & Brews is a unique place where you can go and see a group of businessmen sitting next to a group of gamers next to a family of five next to a table of college students. How do we pull it off? Because we aren’t trying to be all things to all people, we are just trying to be something to  someone.

 

This formula has allowed Books & Books to see an unprecedented level of customer loyalty and number of regulars. Even more important than profitability is the satisfaction of knowing our franchisees are making a difference in both their own lives and the lives of others - creating and inspiring others to create!

 

The Experience

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There are a lot of restaurants and breweries that have great beer and great food, so what sets them apart? Why do people want to come to our flagship location - a old office-warehouse space tucked out of sight behind Home Depot - when they can find other high-quality options on the main streets? The answer is simple - the experience.

 

At Books & Brews we believe strongly in the saying that, “People rarely remember what you say, but they always remember how you make them feel.” In other words, our main goal is cultivating a culture that feels inclusive - we want our customer to feel like a regular the second they step foot in the door - in order to provide a personal touch that is difficult to find in today’s marketplace. We’ve developed a system that can help you repeat this experience in your stores, providing your customers with a  unique experience that they can’t find anywhere else.

 

The Brews

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The Books & Brews Used Bookstore and Taproom model maintains all of the appeal of a brewery without any of the heavy build-out investment, expensive equipment, labor cost, or logistical problems. By eliminating the brewery component, franchisees cut the initial investment in half, operational costs by a third, and trim the staff by more than twenty percent. The result is brewery-fresh beer delivered straight to your door without worrying about equipment maintenance, delivery, ruined batches, or cleanliness problems that plague the brewing  industry.

 

As a Books & Brews franchisee you will be required to carry no less than five of our flagship beers at all times with the ability to fill the guest draft lines from a list of approved vendors. We’ve done the research, made the mistakes, and put in the hard work to make sure you don’t have to give a second thought to your beer menu. Simply put in the order, connect the keg, and watch the beer flow!

 

The Books

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Although the books aren’t a huge part of the bottom line at Books & Brews, they are an integral part of the business. It is important to set aside space in your floor plan to allow for bookcases in order to create the nostalgic ambiance that our customers love. All of our books in the used bookstore are donated by customers and therefore any revenue you can make off the books is the proverbial icing  on the cake. They also encourage conversation amongst the guests and get people out of their seat, emphasizing our casual community-seating atmosphere.

 

At Books & Brews we have a passion for giving back to the local community. That’s why we require at least 10% of the proceeds of the used books you sell to be donated to a charity of your choice. Our flagship locations donate to Indy Reads, an organization that helps promote adult and family literacy in Central Indiana. Find out more about Indy Reads at www.indyreads.org.

 

The Locally-Sourced Menu

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We believe in using local products as much as possible. Today’s customers are more educated and aware of what they are eating than ever before and they don’t mind spending an extra dollar or two for a quality local product. We will work with you to pick the best local options that have long shelf lives, minimize waste and spoilage, and keep training costs low in the kitchen. Our model proves you don’t need a five-star chef in the kitchen to put out a five-star product quickly, efficiently, and   consistently.

 

Authenticity

 

We love what we do. We love it. And it’s important that our customers know that the second they walk into the store. Books & Brews CEO and Founder Jason Wuerfel hand-built all the furniture for the original two locations and we will preserve that atmosphere by requiring all furniture be ordered through our company-owned affiliate, Bookworm Trading Company. The appeal is immediate: a lot of time and effort went into the space and the result is a feeling of warmth and creativity that can’t be matched by store-bought  furniture.

 

Teamwork and Support

 

Once you’re in the Books & Brews family we will work hard to ensure your success. More so, we expect each Books & Brews franchisee to work hard to ensure the success of their fellow franchisees. That is why we will use an open source system within the franchise program for everything from menu items, best practices and policies, events, logo design, and  more!