1) Have in-shop tutorials
A great way to invite people into your lounge or shop, is to offer a free tutorial day. While many people love to go out and smoke shisha, encouraging patrons to learn more about hookah will make them a lifetime customer. Have a tutorial day on a semi-regular basis, give some free tips on how to set up a hookah, how to load a bowl, how to light coals, etc. This can even be a great way to drive traffic to your Facebook page – ask them to RSVP for the event on your Facebook wall, or make a Facebook coupon for the event that entitles each tutorial attendant to a free 50g of shisha.
2) Have a hookah and shisha sample day
Similar to the free tutorials, a fun event would be to set up multiple hookahs and invite your customers to try different kinds of hookahs and shisha. This is a great way for customers to learn what kind of hookahs they prefer as well as hoses, shisha flavors, ice tip cooling attachments, etc. Helping them discover what they really love about hookahs will keep them coming back for more!
3) Sponsor a Hookah Night at local Event or Bar
Getting your name out can often be one of the hardest parts of starting a lounge and growing the customer base. Some of our hookah customers have seen a great ROI from sponsoring hookah events. For example: a local charity is throwing a Casino Night Benefit. Ask if you can participate by hosting a complementary hookah table. Let tons of new people try hookah for the first time. You will be amazed by how many people are curious and want to know more, but just have never had any in-person exposure to hookahs. You will meet people interested in smoking hookah, as well as people who will want to buy one just for the look and use it as a show piece. Try this at a local bar too. Let the bar owner know you want to offer free hookahs to their customers, to extend their stay and buy more booze, while at the same time you get to expose your brand to new customers.
