Before entering into the descriptive details, however, it seems correct to introduce the subject by addressing the concept of the bar in more general terms. Understanding where the idea of a bar comes from, what types of bars exist, and how they are different according to the part of the world you are in, can also be decisive in identifying the optimal furniture to buy, the most suitable to the intrinsic characteristics of the place you want to buy.
This last assumption probably seemed too philosophical or sociological, but we can guarantee that this is not the case. Later in the guide, we will explain why the decoration of a bar must be adequate to the needs of the reference clientele, not the other way around, so studying and knowing your objective first is essential to have a good strategy.
But what is really a bar and when did it spread all over the world? The etymology of the term suggests that the word bar probably derives from the contraction of the barrier or sweep. Both versions are based on the hypothesis of the association for the sale of alcoholic products; which passed behind a special barrier in colonized South America and was totally forbidden in 19th century England (where the stores had their doors closed). The hypothesis that traces the origin of the term back to the bar that is still present in many rooms, the bronze one on which the armrests when fixed to the countertop and the feet when near the floor, should not be overlooked.
The presence of the first bars on the European continent coincides with the spread of a new drink from South America, around 1700, namely coffee.
In fact, the term coffee is very often used to replace bars, and what we know today as a bar is nothing more than the natural evolution of the so-called coffees of the past.
After this brief historical overview, we will now go on to illustrate the different types of bars scattered around the world and what are the peculiar characteristics that can be found in each of them.
This in-depth analysis is not so much about the internal organization and the target customers, but about the different conceptions of bars, the way they are conceived in relation to the company of reference. Opening a bar is not the same all over the world!
So, if, for example, you are in an Anglo-Saxon country, like England or Scotland, and you enter a bar, you will notice that it is not the same type of place in Italy. In these countries, in fact, the term bar refers mostly to a wine bar, what we commonly call a wine store.
Even more particular is the case of Australia, where until a few years ago there was a kind of sexism referred to bars, with the distinction between lounge bars (frequented only by women) and public bars (dedicated to men). Throughout the years, lounge bars have ceased to exist with their original connotations and have become places for poker games.
There are also different types of bars in the United States. In this case, the difference is not between men and women, but rather with respect to the alcohol content of the drinks on sale. In principle, in fact, we can say that there are places called beer bars, where light beverages such as beer and wine are offered, and liquor bars, where you can drink liquor of all kinds.
Italy, on the other hand, is a case in point. As you well know in our nation, the bar represents a cultural pillar instead of a public exercise. Depending on the region in which you live, the city or small town, the time you frequent it or the way you want to spend the hours you spend there, you can find different types of bars, each of which focuses on satisfying specific interests and needs. The only common themes remain those of conviviality and relaxation, while the way of living them is always totally different.
Open a bar
The procedures to be put in place before opening a bar are varied. So, if you decide to take this step, make sure you have done everything beforehand. First of all, a number of personal requirements must be met, such as the SAB course, the HACCP course and all other certifications related to workplace safety standards.
Then there is the whole inherent part of the licenses: the DIA, the SCIA, the planning licenses and the structural licenses. No less important are the hygiene and health regulations, which require you to take a series of courses, including the indispensable HACCP: a self-monitoring plan that defines the methods of waste disposal, packaging, wastewater, and inspection wells, personnel hygiene, etc. . Other laws you will surely have to deal with are those governing relations with the tax authorities. In particular, you should know at least the basics of the VAT regulation and the SIAE regulation, if you want to listen to live music in your club from time to time.
Once you have completed all the necessary and boring bureaucratic procedures, you can finally move on to the operational side, where you take care of finding a loan (if you do not have the necessary funds to start the business), do the training, learn the trade-in another bar or, in any case, try to do all the possible practices and structure a business plan.
At the end, and only at the end, of all these operations, you can finally dedicate yourself to the choice of bar decoration. Let’s see how to do it together.
What is the Contract?
When we talk about bar decoration, we often associate it with the term contract, or we can say contract furniture. But what do we mean by conract? What is it really?
Let’s start by clarifying one thing: the association of terms + furniture + contract is not formally correct, since it is not a style of decoration or a particular way of decorating with their typical shapes and colors.
Rather, the contract is a service, provided by a company called contractor, which is committed to providing furniture for all types of public spaces, with the formula “turnkey”.
To be precise, the main company can provide customers who wish to open a public business (bars, hotels, offices, restaurants, spas, multipurpose centers, shopping malls, banks, museums, universities, theaters, etc.) not only complements but a complete service that includes all necessary activities from the time of the decision to open the premises until the day of inauguration. These activities may include, for example: all the part related to the design (structural, of the facilities, architectural), the administrative practices to be carried out, the supply and placement of the signs, as well as, obviously, the supply of accessories, equipment and furnishings.
Therefore, the contractor company plays a very important role also in terms of project management because, let’s not forget, a well developed and structured project can affect the amount of final costs for very high percentages.
The design part is decisive also because it contains in itself all the agreements with the subcontracting companies. In fact, when you trust a company through a contract formula, it does not do the work in person, but chooses several different suppliers for each of the services needed to complete the entire project to open a bar.
In addition, the contractor must guarantee in all aspects to the customer any risks arising from incorrect decisions. Not seldom, in fact, if the actors in the field lack experience or, worse, try to act according to the satisfaction of their own private interests, it is possible to generate damages (not only and not necessarily economic) that obviously fall on the original client.
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