Before you buy a RealStraw, let me tell you a little secret about how to get the most value from your RealStraw. As a former restaurant owner and currently working bartender with over forty-two years' experience, I have personally served over a million guests.
Since 2019, I have personally introduced RealStraw to literally
thousands of guests, so I can share some key takeaways.
The best news: a RealStraw can be a cost neutral solution.
Here is a super easy system that makes it so:
Simply discontinue the practice of putting tall straws
in water and soft drinks, unless requested.
The money you save will more than cover the cost of occasionally using a RealStraw.
Instituting a "straws on request" policy also saves on your stir stick cost,
which is where a RealStraw really shines.
To get the most value out of your RealStraw, you can
try my tested approach that works great:
I call attention to the RealStraw when I present the drink. If it is a tall straw, I ALWAYS MENTION that we switched from plastic and paper to grain stem straws that are actually grown in NY State (as opposed to imported from halfway around the world).
This will get their attention and begin engagement.
With a tall straw, it is important to note that a RealStraw takes a bit practice, as you can't squeeze them hard, because they will break. I tell people that handling a RealStraw compared to a plastic straw, is like handling a potato chip versus handling a pretzel.
Also, they are not for very young children, as you cannot chew or eat them.
A RealStraw 5" stir stick is much sturdier, and is placed in all cocktails.
Question: Why not make 5" stir sticks an "upon request" option?
We tried it a few times at various venues, and always met with very strong resistance.
Why the push back? For one, NOT placing a stir stick means that you immediately do not meet guests' expectations. Guests expect one. That simply will not change.
Why start by disappointing your guest?
Plus, a stir stick has a utilitarian purpose: It stirs the drink,
and continues to stir the drink until the drink is finished.
Think about the things you put in a seven dollar drink: lemons, limes, olives, cherries, orange slices. Those all cost money, and they all meet a guest's expectations.
A RealStraw 5" stir stick does that, and more: It tells your guests that you care about what goes in their drinks, you care about the environment, and you are doing something about it.
As a one person Farm to Table operation, I pretty much limit my wholesale
business to a few established, sustainably-focused (farm to table/craft cocktail ) accounts.
A RealStraw is a top of the line straw that is labor intensive to produce.
Like you, I don't play in the discount space.
If you want to deliver the highest quality straw
in your highest quality craft cocktail, and tell your guests
you care about what you put in their drinks, I can help.
For a limited time, outside of my established acccounts, I am accepting orders for
5000 count (10 boxes of 500 straws each), 7" cocktail straws and
our (most popular) 5" cocktail straws.
Just click the button below to get there.