You've recently launched your restaurant to rave reviews. It's a great little cozy place, perfect for a night out. You've got yummy food, dedicated service, and a comfortable atmosphere. You have a small success story on your hands.
What's next for you? Let's see if you can kindle that flame and expand your restaurant business. In this article, we'll take a look at ways by which you can increase your popularity and, as a result, your revenue.
1. Hold regular promotions
People can't resist an opportunity to save money, and you should continually offer them that option. Time these promotions during holidays or noteworthy events, such as Father's Day, Valentine's Day, and New Year's-understood to be very busy days for restaurants. Entice your customers with great promotions like a two-for-one meal on Valentine's Day, or a special dessert for mothers on their special day. If you can afford it, give your special customers a treat on their birthday, as long as they show ID.
Take advantage of the proliferation of social media as well. Offer a discount for people who like you on Facebook or follow you on Twitter. Use Pinterest to host tempting photographs of your best dishes.
You could also hold regular events, such as wine tastings. These work particularly well during the less busy parts of the year, injecting much-needed interest in your restaurant. Let's not forget the power of discounts. Offering that crucial coupon or promotion for special events may just be the trigger for a potential customer to visit your restaurant instead of your rival's.
2. Participate in the community
Everyone loves to eat, and there will be many opportunities for you to showcase your wares. Offer to join school events, such as bake sales and other fundraisers. People will have a chance to try out your food, leading to effectively free advertising.
If your town hosts culinary fairs, join in. Perhaps you'll win, leading to even greater recognitions. Night markets are making a comeback-and the different crowd during the later hours of the evening are a whole different market than what you are usually accustomed to. Always look for ways to spread the positive word of mouth about your restaurant.
3. Introduce cooking classes
The worldwide popularity of celebrity chefs and the globalization of cuisine have sparked a very real interest in learning to cook. You can try having a cooking class on less busy days, like Saturday afternoons-people will jump at the chance to learn to cook in an actual restaurant. You can also hold mixology lessons. These will give your often-unsung cook or bartender the some attention, and will also provide additional income.
This practice can evolve into a monthly cooking class and dinner for some of your brightest students, best customers, and local media. Holding such an exclusive event will generate positive buzz, attracting people to your establishment.
4. Cultivate a memorable brand
Branding is the single most important thing about your restaurant. If your customers have the best steak that they've ever had at your place, but can't remember your name, then your culinary expertise will have been for nothing.
Make sure that your restaurant also excels in the design aspect. Hire or recruit a professional to create your name and logo, making sure that it is easily identifiable but not too ostentatious. Transform this branding into a sign that proclaims your identity to the world.
5. Sell iconic souvenirs
Souvenirs are a fantastic way to bring home their restaurant experience home. As an extension of your branding, ensuring that your food is unforgettable will be a key element of your restaurant's identity.
If you have a particular sauce or seasoning that is only available at your restaurant-and is reasonably popular-you should package that up and sell them to your customers. Is that secret sauce for your beer-battered chicken to die for? Let your customers take them home for a tidy little profit.
This strategy isn't just limited to condiments, either. Do you make a killer baguette? Sell them when they're fresh. Is a dish like lasagna one of the hottest items on your menu? How about your apple pie? These can be easily prepared, frozen, and sold, which will create extra income with minimal effort.
Restaurant owners are talented people. As a restaurant owner, you are likely characterized by a plethora of interests and skills-the culinary and the business sides of your store, after all, are not to be taken lightly. Use this creativity and acumen to spice up your restaurant in a variety of ways, and watch your popularity and revenue grow.
What's next for you? Let's see if you can kindle that flame and expand your restaurant business. In this article, we'll take a look at ways by which you can increase your popularity and, as a result, your revenue.
1. Hold regular promotions
People can't resist an opportunity to save money, and you should continually offer them that option. Time these promotions during holidays or noteworthy events, such as Father's Day, Valentine's Day, and New Year's-understood to be very busy days for restaurants. Entice your customers with great promotions like a two-for-one meal on Valentine's Day, or a special dessert for mothers on their special day. If you can afford it, give your special customers a treat on their birthday, as long as they show ID.
Take advantage of the proliferation of social media as well. Offer a discount for people who like you on Facebook or follow you on Twitter. Use Pinterest to host tempting photographs of your best dishes.
You could also hold regular events, such as wine tastings. These work particularly well during the less busy parts of the year, injecting much-needed interest in your restaurant. Let's not forget the power of discounts. Offering that crucial coupon or promotion for special events may just be the trigger for a potential customer to visit your restaurant instead of your rival's.
2. Participate in the community
Everyone loves to eat, and there will be many opportunities for you to showcase your wares. Offer to join school events, such as bake sales and other fundraisers. People will have a chance to try out your food, leading to effectively free advertising.
If your town hosts culinary fairs, join in. Perhaps you'll win, leading to even greater recognitions. Night markets are making a comeback-and the different crowd during the later hours of the evening are a whole different market than what you are usually accustomed to. Always look for ways to spread the positive word of mouth about your restaurant.
3. Introduce cooking classes
The worldwide popularity of celebrity chefs and the globalization of cuisine have sparked a very real interest in learning to cook. You can try having a cooking class on less busy days, like Saturday afternoons-people will jump at the chance to learn to cook in an actual restaurant. You can also hold mixology lessons. These will give your often-unsung cook or bartender the some attention, and will also provide additional income.
This practice can evolve into a monthly cooking class and dinner for some of your brightest students, best customers, and local media. Holding such an exclusive event will generate positive buzz, attracting people to your establishment.
4. Cultivate a memorable brand
Branding is the single most important thing about your restaurant. If your customers have the best steak that they've ever had at your place, but can't remember your name, then your culinary expertise will have been for nothing.
Make sure that your restaurant also excels in the design aspect. Hire or recruit a professional to create your name and logo, making sure that it is easily identifiable but not too ostentatious. Transform this branding into a sign that proclaims your identity to the world.
5. Sell iconic souvenirs
Souvenirs are a fantastic way to bring home their restaurant experience home. As an extension of your branding, ensuring that your food is unforgettable will be a key element of your restaurant's identity.
If you have a particular sauce or seasoning that is only available at your restaurant-and is reasonably popular-you should package that up and sell them to your customers. Is that secret sauce for your beer-battered chicken to die for? Let your customers take them home for a tidy little profit.
This strategy isn't just limited to condiments, either. Do you make a killer baguette? Sell them when they're fresh. Is a dish like lasagna one of the hottest items on your menu? How about your apple pie? These can be easily prepared, frozen, and sold, which will create extra income with minimal effort.
Restaurant owners are talented people. As a restaurant owner, you are likely characterized by a plethora of interests and skills-the culinary and the business sides of your store, after all, are not to be taken lightly. Use this creativity and acumen to spice up your restaurant in a variety of ways, and watch your popularity and revenue grow.