Welcome to our July 2009 Newsletter
Starting into the second half of 2009, feedback from members nationwide indicate tough trading conditions, particularly more pronounced since Easter. The Nightclub industry is benefiting from stronger footfall than other sectors of the on trade, but spend per head is challenging. Consumer confidence is low, belts continue to tighten, alcohol in the multiples continues as a loss leader, cars with boot loads of alcohol continue to flow down the M1, and as a result, home entertaining and home drinking increases. For the nightclub industry, sticking to your Unique Selling Point is the key. Young people still want to go out for a good night out, and still have a huge appetite for good entertainment, good value entertainment.
In terms of value, no two nightclubs are the same, and your customers expectations of value are varied. It is important to try and ensure your products and services are received and perceived as value to your customers. This might mean reducing your drink prices,it might impact on your admission prices, this might mean better or more entertainment, this could mean rewarding loyalty, birthday clubs etc. Whatever value means to your customers, it is important you try and achieve it.
If you have any feedback, or an issue you would like more information on or covered in the next Ezine, please feel free to contact us.
New Associate Members
Abbeycrest
Arachas Insurance Brokers
Barkeeper.ie
Membership Update
June 2009 Regional Meetings
Report by Dr Constantin Gurdgiev
Recent Nightclub Robbery - Garda Crime Prevention
Door Supervisors : mandatory wearing of ID badges
NERA [ National Employment Rights Authority ]
Security Industry JLC - not applicable
Guidelines on new Tobacco legislation
New Associate Members
These companies have chosen to support the nightclub industry through their Associate Membership of the INIA. We would therefore encourage you when seeking products or services, that these companies are your first port of call.
Abbeycrest Traders : suppliers of Admission, Cloakroom, Membership and texting systems.
Contact :
Roger Bourke, Managing Director.
abbeycrest@eircom.net
087 2562726
ARACHAS - The Irish for Insurance
Arachas are a leading insurance broker in the fields of hospitality and entertainment insurance, with unsurpassed experience in the nightclub insurance sector.
Contact :
Ian Kohler
ian.kohler@arachas.ie
087 6737013
Barkeeper.ie
Barkeeper is your complete online solution for the hospitality industry, everything from human resource guidance, cost control tools and measures, extensive training manuals to expert articles on a range of relevant topics.
Contact :
Barry Chandler
info@barkeeper.ie
Again, the INIA would like to thank our new Associate Members for their support, and we hope in turn, our members will support them.
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Membership Update
2009 is without doubt proving to be a very difficult year, and it is questionable as to whether 2010 is going to be any better. It is also clear, that in order to bring about the legislative changes, the industry so desperately needs, the INIA needs a healthy membership. Collecting membership this year has been very challenging, and we appreciate your needs to reduce costs. Your membership must be viewed in the context of investing in your future.
The INIA's ability to represent your business over the coming 18 months, in the face of the Sale of Alcohol Bill, is going to influence your business for the coming decade. We need your support.
If you are unsure as to whether you are paid up for 2009, please just contact us.
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Regional Meetings : June 2009
June 2009, saw the INIA take to the road, with a series of 6 regional meetings, taking place in Athlone, Galway, Donegal, Kilkenny, Cork and Dublin. The primary purpose of the meetings, was to unveil to our members and indeed non-members, what we are hoping to achieve on their behalf, and highlight, that this can only be done with their assistance, through membership and activity. The main activity in recent months has been in finalising a report conducted by Dr Constantin Gurdgiev, and also work on a best practice initiative for the nightclub industry called NightSafe, full details below.
It is quite clear that the nightclub industry will not achieve the positive licensing changes it so desperately needs without coming together, communicating effectively, and working in unity.
Paul Allen, PAA, Barry O'Sullivan INIA, Darren Kavanagh, The Palace Meath
& Ian Kohler Arachas Insurance Brokers Kevin McCarthy, Sallys Arklow
Cathal Jackson, Copper Face Jacks.
Alan Clancy & James Burgess Finbar Gethins & Paul McCauley
The Wright Venue Boomerang Nightclub
Report by Dr Constantin Gurdgiev
The INIA commissioned Dr Constantin Gurdgeiv to do a socio-economic assessment of the various proposals of the INIA, namely the introduction of the nightclub permit, for standard trading hours across the seven nights of the week, for the re-introduction of entertainment during drinking up time, and for the reform of the system of closing times in the capital city Dublin, resulting in extended trading hours, and sequential closing of licensed premises.
A copy of the report was sent to every nightclub operator in the country. We have presented it to officials in the Department of Justice, followed by a media launch on July 14th 2009. It has since been sent to every Deputy and Senator in Dail Eireann and Seanad Eireann.
At the media Launch : Left to Right
Dr Constantin Gurdgiev Barry O'Sullivan Chief Executive INIA
Dr Constantin Gurdgiev, Report Author
Bob Tweedy, Chairman INIA
Download a copy of the report.
Sample of Newspaper Coverage
Sale of Alcohol Bill - draft Bill due in 2009
As discussed in our meeting with Department of Justice officials on June 23rd 2009, it is now the Department's goal to publish a draft of the Bill before the end of 2009. It must also be highlighted that they envisage the Bill having a "lenghty passage", that is the time from publication of that draft, to enactment of the legislation, due to the size, complexity and nature of the Bill.
NightSafe is a best practice initiative for the Nightclub Industry in Ireland. The building blocks of NightSafe are a series of best practice guidelines & policy documents covering areas such as
Crowd Control & Dispersal Policy,
Fire & Emergency Procedures,
developing a Drugs Policy,
Risk, Incident and Claims Management,
and a Security Manual.
Training, in terms of statutory requirements, new standards implemented as part of NightSafe, and also in the above policies, are key to improving standards in the nightclub industry and achieving the goals of NightSafe.
Full details will be live shortly on www.nightsafe.ie
The Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern, is set to launch NightSafe over the summer months, which we will notify you of in due course.
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Recent Nightclub Robbery
Crime Prevention Measures
A Dublin Nightclub was robbed this week, reportedly of €20,000, when staff were held at gun point leaving the club late at night. Clearly robbery and indeed tiger kidnappings are of concern to our members and industry colleagues. If you have not already done so, please give this issue its due consideration.
Please find attached details on crime prevention guidelines issued by the Gardai.
Download Garda Siochana Crime Prevention
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Door Supervisors :
mandatory wearing of ID badges
As of September 1st 2009, all Door Supervisors, are required to wear an ID badge where it can be seen at all times, while at work. This ID badge can be the PSA issued license or similar ID badge.
Full details and guidelines can be viewed on www.psa.gov.ie
Download PSA Newsletter
PSA Guidelines on ID Badge
PSA Logo for ID Badge ( we can email you a higher resolution version, contact us )
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National Employment Rights Authority
Security Industry JLC does not apply to
Door Supervisors
Following recent discussions with the Irish Security Industry Association, the INIA has learned that the Security Industry JLC ( as below ) does not apply to Door Supervisors, ie the security you employ in your nightclubs, whether they are employed directly or sub-contracted.
Security Industry JLC
The HSA has recently published "The Noise of Music - sound advice for the music and entertainment sectors", which gives you guidance on how to comply with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work ( General Application ) Regulations 2007.
Note : These guidelines were previously communicated via email.
The Noise of Music
Guidance on new Tobacco legislation
The Office of Tobacco Control, and the Department of Health and Children recently issued a "Guidance for those retailing Tobacco", on how to comply with the recent changes under the Public Health ( Tobacco ) Acts, which came into affect July 1st 2009.
Note: these guidelines were previously communicated via email.
Guidance for Tobacco Retailers
Prescribed Sign
This material is not intended to provide, and does not constitute, legal or any other advice, on any particular matter, and is provided for general information purpose only.