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I went to a pig butchering demo a few weeks ago at a local restaurant. It was on a Sunday morning when the restaurant wasn't open. Admission was $50. They had

I went to a pig butchering demo a few weeks ago at a local restaurant. It was on a Sunday morning when the restaurant wasn't open. Admission was $50. They had about 20 people there. That's $1000 to the restaurant on a Sunday morning when they are usually closed to the public. They were butchering the pig anyway, but by turning it into a $50/seat class they were able to significantly increase their profit margin on that pig. It didn't get in their way, it didn't cause them to lose focus. What it did was increase their profits and get people excited about eating at their restaurant. I know I wanted to go back and taste some of that pork. It's great business.

jakewalker 16y ago
Reminds me of Zingermans in Ann Arbor, where Ari & company have turned a deli into a deli, baking classes, creamery, cheese-making demos, business training center, restaurant, dinner events, etc. For every new business Zingermans opens, they find a way to turn the business into a place where they can host events (dinners, earlier in the summer they had a bacon festival, they sometimes teach their method of opening their books to all employees, etc.) and really create profit and excitement in non-traditional ways. See http://www.zingermanscommunity.com/our-businesses http://www.zingermanscommunity.com/our-businesses Jason's right; while not everyone may be able to turn their office into a place where people pay $1,000 a head to attend a workshop, there is certainly something to learn from thinking about how to utilize your business/office space/etc. to earn incremental revenue and promote your business.
- tptacek 16y ago
  Zingermans is amazing (it's one of the three things I miss about living in Ann Arbor). But I'm chiming in here to add that Zingermans doesn't just host random events; just like Jason Fried, Zingermans teaches workshops on "how to be like Zingermans". The Marion Street Cheese Market down the street from me in Oak Park went to one, and are rabid disciples.
abalashov 16y ago
I'm glad it worked for the restaurant; that's why I said "most" companies.
- tptacek 16y ago
  It works for many restaurants. Vie in Western Springs also has a pickling demo I'm thinking about going to; they also coordinate a co-branded CSA basket with classes. Restaurant demos are a very widespread practice.
tptacek 16y ago
Did you go to Mado? I just bought a whole pig through them and was considering the butchering demo. Worth it? (I f'ing love that place).
- jasonfried 16y ago
  Yup, it was Mado. The demo was definitely worth it. You get to go home with a few cuts of pork as well.
  - tptacek 16y ago
    Get a quarter or a half pig from Slagel Farms through them. It's cheaper than supermarket pig, no-shit blind-test 10x better, and the Mado staff is unbelievably cool about the whole thing (Rob Levitt helped carry my pig out to my car during the dinner rush). Can't say enough good things about that place.
mkramlich 16y ago
Gruesome.

jakewalker 16y ago

Reminds me of Zingermans in Ann Arbor, where Ari & company have turned a deli into a deli, baking classes, creamery, cheese-making demos, business training center, restaurant, dinner events, etc. For every new business Zingermans opens, they find a way to turn the business into a place where they can host events (dinners, earlier in the summer they had a bacon festival, they sometimes teach their method of opening their books to all employees, etc.) and really create profit and excitement in non-traditional ways. See http://www.zingermanscommunity.com/our-businesses http://www.zingermanscommunity.com/our-businesses Jason's right; while not everyone may be able to turn their office into a place where people pay $1,000 a head to attend a workshop, there is certainly something to learn from thinking about how to utilize your business/office space/etc. to earn incremental revenue and promote your business.

tptacek 16y ago
Zingermans is amazing (it's one of the three things I miss about living in Ann Arbor). But I'm chiming in here to add that Zingermans doesn't just host random events; just like Jason Fried, Zingermans teaches workshops on "how to be like Zingermans". The Marion Street Cheese Market down the street from me in Oak Park went to one, and are rabid disciples.

abalashov 16y ago

I'm glad it worked for the restaurant; that's why I said "most" companies.

tptacek 16y ago
It works for many restaurants. Vie in Western Springs also has a pickling demo I'm thinking about going to; they also coordinate a co-branded CSA basket with classes. Restaurant demos are a very widespread practice.

tptacek 16y ago

Did you go to Mado? I just bought a whole pig through them and was considering the butchering demo. Worth it? (I f'ing love that place).

jasonfried 16y ago
Yup, it was Mado. The demo was definitely worth it. You get to go home with a few cuts of pork as well.
- tptacek 16y ago
  Get a quarter or a half pig from Slagel Farms through them. It's cheaper than supermarket pig, no-shit blind-test 10x better, and the Mado staff is unbelievably cool about the whole thing (Rob Levitt helped carry my pig out to my car during the dinner rush). Can't say enough good things about that place.

mkramlich 16y ago

Gruesome.