Birds + Shiner

Shiner and Birds Barbershop have joined forces: Birds will cut your hair while you drink a Shiner. I’d rather a Shiner than a Lone Star, but would really prefer a Real Ale Full Moon Pale Rye Ale or maybe a Austin Beerworks Fire Eagle IPA. Still, it’s an improvement. My hair is getting kind of shaggy actually. Who is up for a lunch hair cut?

Press Release:

BIRDS BARBERSHOP ROCKS THE BOCK

Award-winning Austin salon upgrades by going back to Texas roots, taps Shiner as official brew

AUSTIN, TX, JULY 1, 2011 (EMBARGOED), (birdsbarbershop.com, shiner.com) Today, Birds Barbershop proudly begins serving Shiner Bock and Shiner Light Blonde to all customers, in a co-branding partnership with the Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, Texas. Previously, Birds clients were served a complimentary Lone Star Beer with a haircut.

“Every drop of Shiner is brewed right here in Texas, and the incredible people behind the company are here too,” said Michael Portman, Birds’ co-founder. “We share a lot of Shiner’s values, including our passion for music. But making someone’s day is the ultimate co-branding opportunity, and nothing does that quite like a free Shiner to go with a new haircut.”

Portman and his co-founding partner Jayson Rapaport believe that serving Shiner Bock and Shiner Light Blonde will be a major upgrade to their clients’ experience and options, with no added cost.

Like many of Birds Barbershop’s marketing efforts, the Shiner partnership relies more on audience-sharing than cash-swapping. Shiner
will supply the beer for Birds’ four central Austin locations, including a fifth Birds opening in the Hyde Park neighborhood this Fall. Shiner will be involved in ongoing Birds Barbershop promotions and events, including a late summer partnership kickoff party at Birds Barbershop on South Congress. Further invitation details will be included on a free koozie that will accompany all Shiner beers served at Birds Barbershops starting later this month.

“It’s a natural fit,” said Stacey Williams, National Director of Marketing for The Gambrinus Company. “We’re Texas born and raised and share our belief in fan loyalty with the folks at Birds Barbershop. This partnership gives us each another way to enhance the customer experience, be it with a great haircut, a cold Shiner beer or in most cases, both.”

With franchising underway, there are plans for future Birds Barbershop growth outside of Texas, giving Birds and Shiner the opportunity to
boost each other’s brands in markets outside their home state.

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Tags: austin, birds barbershop, breweries, shiner, texas, tx