Bella Lounge
Rob Farha owns the non-smoking Bella Lounge, 925 Iowa St., and The Wheel, a smoker friendly bar at 507 W. 14th St.
O'Henry
The one-of-a-kind Bella Lounge emits the feeling of the 1960s Rat Pack, from the muted lighting to oversized plush chairs. For those who enjoy sipping a martini while listening to the soothing sounds of jazz, this bar is missing one central prop: clouds of cigarette smoke.
Opened in May 2003, The Bella Lounge is the only non-smoking bar in Lawrence. "I opened Bella to give people a choice," Farha says. Farha doesn't think a smoking ban is necessary because the Bella Lounge already gives non-smoking customers the option of a smoke-free bar.
Farha says that after close to a year after opening, business is average. "I don't have a line around the corner," he says.
Employees at Bella Lounge say they have enjoyed the smoke-free atmosphere when working.
"It's really nice to know you don't have to go home and shower when you get off of work," says Casey Harbour, an employee at Bella Lounge.
When looking for somewhere to smoke a cigarette and have a cup of coffee, the doors at Henry's are wide open. Smoking is permitted in both the coffee shop and bar of Henry's. Henry's owner, Dave Boulter says that smoking is a choice and is concerned with the possible ban's constitutional conformity.
"When did the government feel like they have the right to take your choices away? It's a basic right and a crucial decision to ban smoking because they don't want to ban the sale of cigarettes, yet they will ban smoking." Boulter says. He says the freedom of choice is one solution to coming in contact with secondhand smoke. "Overwhelmingly, customers smoke and there are other alternatives in Lawrence and other coffee shops that are non-smoking. We have a choice of a non-smoking coffee shop 30 steps away: Café Nova," Boulter says.
The apprehension of losing revenue is another concern to area businesses. Boulter was recently in Colorado and spoke with bar owners at the University of Northern Colorado, where a non-smoking ban was passed. He says that bars lost 30 percent of business when the ban was enacted. Boulter says that when that ban went into effect, customers just went outside city limits, to house parties or stayed home.
"To me, it's a time when the economy isn't good and the cities don't have a lot of money. There's not enough money to fix the sidewalks and light poles in front of Henry's, let alone enough money to pass a law that will lose revenue," Boulter says. Shawn Gerrity, owner of Henry T's Bar and Grill, says the ban will have a negative impact on Lawrence businesses. Henry T's sells a total of 55 percent food and 35 percent liquor every year in comparison to a chain restaurant like Chili's that sells 80 percent food and 20 percent liquor. The percentages show that the majority of Gerrity's profits go to drinkers, who are often smokers.
"If enacted, the ban would drop sales five percent, which would be enough to close us down. It really hurts local restaurants that depend on liquor sales," Gerrity says. In response to the smoking concern and to make sure the business remains profitable, Henry T's has made additions and improvements to the restaurant. The restaurant added an ionizer, which filters out smoky air and replaced all heating and air conditioning units.
The ventilation changes made at Henry's might not suffice if the ban is passed. Look for more information on decision of the possible Lawrence smoking ban in today's University Daily Kansan.
— Laura Kinch can be reached at ikinch@kansan.com.
Audio/Video Market Research
Audio Market Research: Classes from The University of Kansas School of Business.
Class assignment for 403 students: Shop and evaluate the marketing of Audio/Video.
KU Research Findings: Four Profiles of Audio/Video Distribution. KU Marketing Research 1989
Each student is to evaluate six Audio/Video outlets: (2-Servicing Dealers, 2-Mass Merchants, and 2-Mail Order).
Information collected on sales, service, and pricing: (2,419-Dealers; 286-Servicing Dealers; Dealers in 50 States).
Research Findings
Shopping is difficult today because we are inundated by inaccurate, confusing and misleading information.
Shopping Choices
Full Service Stores, Discount Stores, Mail Order and Internet/Refurbished.
Low Price Marketing
Our studies revealed that models or brands which are not competitive are easily sold by inflating the retail price and then offering the illusion of a major discount. Less than competitive price/value products tend to be sold Discount, Mail Order, or Internet.
Deceptive Marketing
Models with the same numbers may be "A" stock; "B" stock; Grey Market or Counterfeit
Full Service Marketing
Quality "award winning" brands and models, information setup guidance,and in-store support.
Discount Marketing
Mail Order Marketing
You pay, you order, you wait, you pay the freight and if you're not satisfied,you're in the return shipping business.
Eliminating services, technical information, or purchasing quantities of budget mass produced low value (inflated retail price) products.
Internet Shopping
View with suspicion! Today, many sellers with 1-800 telephone numbers are using the internet as dumping grounds for inferior, unwanted, or refurbished goods. Want Cheapest prices? Refurbished or Grey Market goods cost less.
-Kansas University marketing class 1989
"Students were right 15 years ago... nothing has changed" Kiel's 2004
Pick your deal...
from award-winning units at KIEF'S
1 Full Service Price "A" stock
2 Discount Price "A" stock
3 Mail Order "A"stock
4 Refurbished "B" stock
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785-842-811 ~ kiefs.com