21 Bar Promotion & Merchandise Ideas You Should Try
published
September 17, 2025
With rising inflation, research shows that bar-goers are forfeiting their tabs to cope with the cost-of-living crisis. Bars and pubs across the country are feeling the weight of this drought. That means that searching for promotional and merchandise ideas to bring their regulars and newbie customers in for a round (or two) has become a top priority!
We’ve put together 21 unique bar promotion ideas for your establishment, including branded merchandise must-haves that will create a buzz.
1. Tap into Social Media Marketing
To create a buzz around your bar establishment, leverage social media to spread the word far and wide. While every business’s social media marketing strategy is different, we recommend the following best practices to reach as many potential customers as possible:
- Create posts and stories regularly (to keep the algorithms in your favor).
- Use Live features or Reels to show patrons exclusive, behind-the-bar content.
- Encourage your barflies to like, share, and comment on your content.
- Benefit from more tags and shares by hosting giveaways for branded drinkware and other customized bar merch.
2. Host Weekly Bar Game Nights
Hosting regular bar game nights is an excellent way to build a strong community among your regulars and newbies. Choose a variety of branded indoor and outdoor bar games, such as:
3. Commit to Regular Happy Hours with a Twist
When most folks go out in this economy, they’re looking for a deal, not the same-old drink specials or one-hour ordering window. Holding nightly or weekly happy hour events is a sure-fire way to get them through the door.
You can shake it up by:
- Pouring drinks into branded bar glasses that they can take home.
- Offering complimentary shots in a customized shot glass that they can keep.
- Letting them take a spin on the Happy Hour Prize Wheel for a chance to win free drinks or personalized bar merchandise
4. Hold Wine & Beer Tasting Events
Appeal to their intellectual side by holding a monthly wine or beer tasting event. You could choose from six to eight wines or artisan beers and have your bartender or an outside sommelier or wine merchant host it. They can discuss tasting notes, aeration techniques, and even which foods pair best with different types.
To remember the night, let each guest go home with a branded limited edition tasting beer pint or customized wine glass.
5. Give away Branded Barware for Customer Appreciation Gatherings.
While new customer outreach is always important, so is showing your regulars that you appreciate their loyalty. Selecting customized barware for customer appreciation events doesn’t have to be expensive, either. Consider the following bar swag ideas to show your patrons how much they mean to you:
6. Create a Loyalty Program They’ll Love
Create a bar loyalty program to keep them coming back for another round. After so many visits or drinks ordered, they can earn a designated prize or reward, such as:
- Free drinks
- Exclusive access to loyalty-member events
- Personalized barware
- Bar Fly of the Month Status with special privileges
- Taxi or rideshare credits/gift certificates
- Top-tier bar gifts, such as the Rosewood Wine Set or Moscow Mule 4-Piece Gift Set
7. Keep Customized Giveaways on Tap
Some of the best bar merchandise ideas are simple and affordable. Keeping branded bar swag on tap is an easy way to give patrons a small token to remember their experience and pass the word on to others.
Consider keeping a supply of the following customized giveaways behind the bar:
8. Design and Sell Branded Bar T-Shirts
Plenty of famous bars and pubs worldwide sell eye-catching and iconic customized T-shirts that everyone’s thirsty to buy. Your patrons are no exception. Design a branded t-shirt that includes:
- A unique design that represents your brand, with collectible variations per the season or event
- Funny quotes and slogans singular to your style that telegraph an upbeat atmosphere
- Your location, so that patrons advertise for you every time they wear it
- A choice of colors and styles, such as classic V-Neck Tees and custom long-sleeve t-shirts
9. Offer a Unique Limited-Time Pub Grub Menu
One of the most effective bar promotion ideas is offering a limited-time pub grub menu to complement your drink specials. Opting for choices like street tacos, mini sliders, or even a nacho buffet will keep patrons in your bar longer.
Advertise your new menu with an Economy Wood Chalkboard A-Frame and, of course, on your website, and across all social media channels. You can then print your new bar menu on 8.5”x 11” Laminated Cards and display them at the bar and every high-top table. Be sure to change the menu at least every month to keep customers excited about what you’ll serve next.
10. Draw in Thirsty Crowds with Outdoor Promotional Events
Take advantage of your outdoor space to accommodate even more guests. You’ll also catch the attention of any passersby who may mosey over and order a round. So, making the space eye-catching is key.
Start by setting up a custom promotional tent. Doing this will get their attention and serve as a protective cover for guests if the weather changes. You could even set up large, branded umbrellas around your tables.
Outfit your tent with custom banners to give the space a more personalized touch. The same goes for your tables—use personalized table covers or runners for that professional panache.
11. Team up with Local Influencers
If anyone can create a buzz, it’s a social media influencer. With their large following and omnichannel outreach, they’ll spread the word about your bar at lightning speed.
We recommend sweetening the deal by giving your favorite influencers branded bar merchandise they can pass along to their followers who end up visiting your establishment. Consider hooking them up with the following:
12. Raffle Off Customized Merchandise
Who doesn’t love taking a chance at winning something? Especially when the prize is an in-demand product. Holding a raffle is one of the most effective bar promotion ideas.
Put your bar on the tip of everyone’s tongue by raffling off:
13. Reward Your Regulars with Exclusive Bar Merch
Your regular barflies are the bread and butter of your establishment. They’re there during your peak season and the slow months. Give them a chance to buy one-of-a-kind bar merchandise, such as:
14. Incentivize Bar Regulars with a Refer-a-Friend Program
Your regulars keep coming back for a reason (likely multiple reasons). Encourage them to bring friends when they do by setting up a Refer-a-Friend Program. For every friend they refer, they can earn points towards custom freebies like:
- A beverage of their choice
- An appetizer or an entree off the menu
- Admission to exclusive events (e.g., wine tastings, etc.)
- Branded barware
- Exclusive discounts
- Custom apparel and accessories
15. Offer Daily Drink Specials in Personalized Drinkware
Most bar goers have their go-to drinks. Why not spice it up by promoting daily drink specials they could try? From blueberry mojitos to liquid-nitrogen martinis, and more, word will get around quickly. Serve them up with a twist in stylish, personalized drinkware.
16. Tap into Local Talent with an Open Mic Night
No doubt you have plenty of talented musicians, artists, and others in your area. Get to know them (and gain new customers) by hosting an Open Mic Night or Karaoke Night.
Section of a stage area and hang a branded backdrop for a more professional touch. Encourage Influencers to advertise the event, shining an even brighter spotlight on the participants. You could even serve up liquid courage in custom glasses made just for the event.
17. Draw in New Customers with Wine and Design Parties
What happens when you combine booze with artmaking? A good time (and maybe a masterpiece or two will come out of it). Wine and design parties are a popular way to promote your bar. Here are some tips to make the event a success:
- Furnish the supplies attendees need (canvases, paints, paintbrushes, palettes, branded cups for water, custom aprons, etc).
- Protect your tables with personalized table covers.
- Offer a special Wine-and-Design Menu with finger foods.
- Pour drinks into custom drinkware that attendees can keep.
- Take plenty of pictures during the event.
- Encourage everyone to share their designs on social media and tag your bar.
18. Partner with Local Charities & Give Back
Nothing beats supporting a good cause, especially when you’re having a great time doing it. Partnering with a local charity and donating a percentage of your sales is among the top bar promotion ideas.
It’s also an ideal way to show the community (and potential customers) what you’re business is all about—giving back! Planning for the event may seem daunting, so here are a few tips to get you started:
- Reach out to local charities that align with your values.
- Advertise the events on your website and across all social media accounts.
- Encourage influencers to attend the event for greater visibility.
- Keep plenty of branded giveaways on hand for your attendees.
19. Host a Wine and Food Pairing Event
As the saying goes, never drink on an empty stomach. Host a wine-and-food pairing event to deepen your guests’ understanding of how wine can complement food or interfere with the taste.
For example, a full-bodied, oak-y red wine pairs well with red meats and game (like pheasant and boar). Whereas, they would typically be a poor option for citrusy foods, such as lemon cod or sorbet.
In preparation for the night, you’ll want to put out custom event accessories, such as:
- Cocktail napkins
- Classic or stemless wine glasses
- Ice buckets to keep the bubbly, white, and rosé wines chilled
- Custom party plates that hold their glass so they can eat and mingle.
20. Offer Zero-Percent Alcohol Options
Did you know that 38% of American adults abstain from alcohol? That doesn’t mean they can’t still enjoy your establishment. Keeping a diverse range of zero-percent alcohol options behind the bar is essential in a time when more and more people are going sober (or sober-curious).
21. Keep Branded Bar Freebies on Tap Year-Round
You don’t need a special promotional event to give away customized bar merchandise. Give your regulars and guests a small token to remember their time at your bar with these branded bar swag items:
Crestline’s diverse range of branded bar merchandise is practical and affordable. Plus, they’re sure to please your regulars and new patrons alike. Contact us today and make these bar merchandise ideas a reality!
