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Frequently asked questions

Below most common questions about how Dutch Cups glasses should be used in practice.

 

Question 1: Should we rent or buy glasses?

Do you have a one-off event then rent is a cheaper option. If you however want to use the glasses frequently at more events, or every night at your business, than buying is financially more attractive. Although you need to invest in the glass, you can depreciate the investment costs over several years or events. Moreover, the purchase of own glasses gives you the ability to print your logo and / or that from your sponsor(s).

If you choose to rent Dutch Cups glasses the cleaning and return transport is mostly included in the rental price (see our rental prices and conditions). The rent glasses are always stored in durable containers with lids.
If you purchase your own glasses they will be delivered in cardboard boxes, unless you decide to purchase the durable plastic boxes.

 

 

Question 2: What is the value of a print on the glass?

A print adds value to the glass or cup. Collector items are created with attractive prints with your logo, a nice gimmick, funny cartoon, picture of a favourite football player or actor, or a program of performing artists. This makes the glass an interesting and inexpensive merchandising product for your visitors, and enables you to generate additional revenues.

The same glasses can also be used to put the logo of a sponsor on it. In a swinging and social environment these so-called Advertising Cups are at everyone's lips. The glass becomes a perfect advertising medium!

Adding a message on the glass like the Dutch Cups Return BAR logo, make it easier to communicate the way your customers should use the reusable plastic glasses, whether your work with or without a refund system.
 

 

Question 3: How can we best collect the glasses?

For the correct way to collect at an event, in a stadium or park, we recommend applying a deposit or refund system. For instance an amount of 1 euro is charged extra for the glass and if the empty will be returned back to the bar the consumer receives this money back.
If you would like to work without a refund system like for instance in closed areas and at indoor locations, the glass can be collected by staff walking around, possibly supplemented with collection tubes, (holes) tables and shelves.
Another option is to choice for the "Virus" system where the price of the glass is included in the entrée price of the event. This glass is owned by the visitor and at the bar can be exchanged for a filled glass. After that the visitor can take it home as a nice souvenir.

Whatever system of collecting is used, reusable glasses ensure that many people bring back their glasses to the bar while ordering another round meaning extra turnover.

 

 

Question 4: We work with cash money behind the bar. How should a refund system work?

At the first order, the consumer pays extra for the glass. Ordering a new round the consumer can deposit the empty glass and pay only the normal consumption rate for the drink. Without a new order the consumer receives his deposit back in exchange for the empty glass. This may be returned at the common bars or an extra return point can be created at busy times.
To work quickly without counting mistakes we recommend your bar staff to calculate the price of the drink first and then add the refund for the glass to it. Another tip: make sure you have enough small change on hand at your bar!

 

 

Question 5: We work with drink vouchers or coins. How should a refund system work?

You work with drink vouchers or coins, then the best option is to give it a double value. The consumer pays the first drink an extra voucher or coin for the glass. Consumption and the glass have the same value. When a new order is paid the consumer only pays for the drink a new voucher or coin if the empty glass is returned at the same time.  If the consumer only returns the glass he/she receives a return voucher or coin.

Alternative ticket systems are "half value" or "separate coloured" vouchers.
half value means a voucher that is worth half the price of a drink. Consumers should therefore pay for a drink 3 vouchers ( 2 for the drink and for 1 the glass).
Choosing for coloured vouchers, the voucher for the refund/glass should have a different colour.

Question 6: How can we communicate towards the public we work with Dutch Cups glasses?

Whether you work with or without refund, good communication with your visitors is important for effectively collecting the glasses. Likewise, you instruct your bar staff as well.

We recommend at the introduction of a refund system to inform the visitors about the amount of the refund, how and where the glass can be returned, and why reusable glasses are used. This can be through the use of posters, billboards or banners. The promotional materials should be at all bar outlets visible at eye level. Besides the system and the reasons can be explained at the website, at social media sites, press releases and printed programs from the event. Perhaps even the stage host can say a few words about the system towards the public.

If you purchase printed Dutch Cups glasses, it is possible to print the icon Return BAR additional on the glass. This will increase the attention value of the glass.

In a large-scale event we always advise to set up a communication plan to work out all details. All involved parties (organization, caterer, city commune, suppliers, etc.) should play a role in it.

Question 7: How many reusable glasses?

If you choose to use the glasses only 1 consumption and after being returned immediately put the dirty glasses back in the storage boxes  ready to be mechanically cleaned, you obviously need as much glasses as you expect to sell drinks. If the glasses will be washed manually at the bar or at your premises, you can of course reuse them more frequent during the day. Same as the normal way glassware is being processed at bars. The following factors determine the amount of needed glasses:

1. Number of drinks sold, depending on number of visitors and length of their stay, the weather, visitor type (high or low consumption related use), event program, etc.
2. Number of taps or outlets, depending on the type of dispensing systems, sinks available in bar, bar staff and division of work (tapping, selling, rinsing), etc.
3. Accessibility sale outlets, easy to reach, waiting lines in front of bars.
4. Collection method, collect with a refund  or with personnel and / or collection boxes.

 

Somewhere, we can say that there are so many glasses needed as the total number of visitors divided by two. So with 10.000 visitors throughout the day, you will be sure enough with around 5.000 glasses. Also can be looked at the number of people present at a peak moment . Set this to 20.000 people, you require at least 20.000 glasses. However, both these principles are depending on the entire logistical organization and number of sold drinks.

At Dutch Cups it is possible to rent additional glasses as a backup stock. If these rental glasses are not getting used, you pay only a small fee for delivery and removal. This will avoid at peak moments you will have a shortage of glasses and prevents turnover to be lost unnecessary.

Question 8: How can we clean the glasses?

During your event or at your club or bar, the reusable plastic glasses can be cleaned in a similar way as normal glassware. Rinsing with standard (soft) brushes in fresh water with the addition of glass cleaner. Likewise, available washing machines can be employed  for an optimal clean result. Please employ 1 workforce extra at your larger bars for rinsing.
 For the supply of water there is a need for a connection to a water point. The discharge of waste water should be going through pipes finishing in the sewer. This problem is often easily solved with the cooperation with the municipality or can be arranged by specialized water companies.

After your event, activity or party night, we recommend strongly the used glasses are cleaned hygienically in dishwashers before storing them for long period of time. Particularly for glasses that have been lying on the ground. Please note that drying the reusable plastic glasses takes slightly more time.

If you have no means to clean the glasses afterwards properly yourself, Dutch Cups has a professional industry washing centre, at which glasses are cleaned and dried perfectly in an environmentally and hygienically way.

 

Question 9: How can we store our glasses after an event?

If the glasses after your event need to be stored  we recommend to pack them in durable plastic storage boxes with lockable lid and supplemented with a transparent plastic bag in the box to hygienically protect the glasses.

If you do not have enough space, Dutch Cups offers you to store your glasses for you for an attractive cost price a pallet or box.

Question 10: How long do the reusable glasses last?

The number of times a reusable plastic glass can be reused depends very much on the way the glasses are handled. The glass clear polycarbonate glass is eventually damaged with scratches or non-removal dirt (like chewing gum or cigarette spots) . Scratches to polypropylene cups are less visible, especially if it concerns coloured cups.

It is for the entrepreneur to determine if the glass should be taken out of circulation. The life cycle of reusable plastic glasses is determined in particular by the method of collection (are the glasses often getting on the ground), location (inside or outside), type of visitor, way of rinsing, etc. The average life time varies strongly and will be somewhere between 25 and 100 sold consumptions.

Question 11: Should we clean purchased new glasses before use?ow can we best collect the glasses?

As with real glassware it is wise to rinse brand new (printed) glasses manually or mechanically before serving a first drink in it. Although Dutch Cups has strong hygienic and competitive demands during the entire production processes, the glasses are standard packed in cardboard boxes and have been subject to the environment when being printed.

 

Question 12: What is the additional revenue from Dutch Cups glasses versus real glassware or disposable cups?

It is financially attractive to use reusable plastic glasses because there is no waste created from disposable cups and no more broken glass falls. Moreover, by reducing waste on site, the public is encouraged to put other waste in the more empty garbage bins. This keeps the area relatively clean and waste reduction is achieved up to an average between 60 and 80%! This in turn means that both the cleaning costs and the costs of removing and processing will be significantly lower.

Although you should first make a greater investment in reusable glasses, the return of investment is quickly made.  After all, you do not have to purchase over and over again a new amount of  disposable cups each event you run.

Furthermore you can decide to share the payment with sponsors by putting their logo on your glasses. And by asking a refund money you earn eventually the purchase of your first stock back. Necessary replacement of glasses is automatically financed by using a refund system.

 

Another big advantage of using absolute unbreakable polycarbonate glasses is the safety argument. A polycarbonate glass is virtually useless as a weapon and injuries of visitors or bar staff due to breakages are no longer occurring. Damage to the interior or the floor is also history. At event sites such as parks, lawns and squares you will no longer suffer from swirling cups, disposables stepped into the ground or dangerous glass shards.

 

Question 13: Does Dutch Cups has any good tips to increase turnover?

Several additional products may support the use of reusable (eco) glasses, which increases your revenues and have a customer friendly  effect:
Tip 1: Go to work with reusable plastic jugs or pitchers so that instead of glasses are returned dirty back to your bar, the pitcher easily fills up the empty glasses. This prevents the actions of collecting and rinsing large number of glasses. Besides the pitcher is much faster refilled and paid for. Click here for more information.
Tip 2: Go to work with walking bar systems (mobile backpacks). With this service-oriented system you sell drinks between the public and a empty glass of a visitor is quickly refilled. Automatically this increases your turnover up to 25% or more and your fixed bars are better accessible. Please check www.thirstsolution.nl for more information.
Tip 3: Go to work with the self-service eBeer system, the bar of the future. A unique self-service bar system in which the consumer serves and pays automatically himself. The reusable glasses can even be rinsed by the customers at the selling point. eBeer is a complete system with entertainment, narrowcasting, and a direct link with your POS and CRM. eBeer lowers your labour costs up to 50%, increases your sales (25 to 30% average growth) and strengthens customer loyalty. More information visit www.ebeer.nl