Valentine’s Day is another one of those only-in-America, marketing-driven events designed to get people to buy chocolate, flowers, greeting cards and sausage. Wait, what?
Processed organ meats are not most people’s idea of a romantic gesture, but when it’s offered in the shape of a heart and nestled around a bottle of beer, feelings change.
The Market & The Butcher Shop in downtown Hollister this year sold what it called “The Man Valentine,” which its website called “the guy version of chocolate & flowers.”
For $44.95, a lady could buy her man fresh, artisan, hand-made sausage fashioned into a heart shape and packaged with a bottle of that guy’s favorite domestic beer. Clever. That’s why their site capitalized the words “MEAT & BEER” under the image of the man valentine.
Guys don’t want a box of chocolate and flowers. We want meat and beer.
“People are entertained by it,” said co-owner Carla Thorning. “Everyone who has seen it in the store has said, ‘Oh, my gosh, it’s a good idea.’ We’ve gotten some orders on it. The response on our sausage in general has been really good. We have a hard time keeping it in stock.”
Thorning came up with the idea after thinking what her husband and business partner, Zeph, would like for Valentine’s Day.
“Zeph’s a very manly-man – a guy’s guy,” she said. “You see gadgets, office guy stuff, but when you have a guy who is more outdoorsy, I always had trouble finding stuff for him. Guys love our sausage and beer” and so the idea for the Man Valentine came to be.”
Since The Market & The Butcher Shop opened last August, the Thornings have tried to think outside the box when marketing the business.
“We try to keep it fun and lighthearted and interesting,” Thorning said, citing as an example the beer and bacon happy hour that they offer from 4-6 p.m. Mondays.
“If you get a dine-in beer we’ll give you some crispy bacon to have with it,” she said.
She also offers in-store “wine tours” on Fridays and Saturdays, during which guests are given a placemat, are asked to pick red or white wines and are given a tasting glass with samples of five local wines.
“They get a cork and a stamp pad and get to rate the wines,” Thorning said. “You can taste all of these great wines without having to take the drive.”
The store recently started a supper club on the first Friday of every month for which it offers a set, multi-course menu paired with wine.
“It’s a party atmosphere,” Thorning said. “We’ve done them three times already and have filled up every time.”
In uncertain economic times, new and established businesses alike are forced to get creative to bring in the customers.
The Market & The Butcher has gotten good response to its gourmet take-home dinner options as well as its dine-in options and grocery items. An on-site butcher – Carla’s father-in-law – has been a drawing card as well.
“The word is getting out there more and more every day,” Thorning said.
For more information on The Market & The Butcher, located at 756 San Benito St., visit its Facebook page or themarketthebutcher.blogspot.com.
