Competition for customers in the restaurant industry has never been so high. The number of food and drink establishments on British high streets has steadily increased by 17 per cent over the last six years – more than double the rate of growth in shops and supermarkets.
With the growth in the number of independent and national chain pubs opting to serve cheap food as well, diners have never had so much choice and prices have never been so low.
For the restauranteurs, running a successful business is getting very tough. Minimum wage, food prices, VAT, business rates and alcohol price competition have all risen dramatically in recent years leaving less for the business.
It has never been so important to get ahead of the competition and the number of successful independent restaurants branching out to other cities shows that it is possible to thrive in these tough times.
Finding the right method is a journey for each restaurant and there is no one-size-fits-all way as each business is different and can take time with trial and error. Trent Furniture has put together some quick and easy tips and advice to boost your bookings and attract more customers through your doors.
Be Inspired by Your Brand
Firstly, your eatery is unlike no other, so make it look that way. Get creative and give your restaurant a unique look and feel that will leave your diners in awe and leave a lasting impression on them. Remember though that your personal style isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, so play around and create different areas of the restaurant that will appeal to the different demographics of your target market.
The latest trend to sweep the nation’s eateries is a stripped back warehouse look that can be done on any budget. This style offers a casual eating experience for customers with interesting industrial touches to the interior. The brilliance with this idea is that there is no right or wrong, pair up some of our Poseur tables with a variety of stools and chairs to add different areas of dining and it brings a sense of dimension to your restaurant.
As many people in the restaurant and hospitality business know, periods of when your venue is busiest can be a good thing and a bad thing. When your restaurant is busy, passers-by and the public will know that your business is good because it is so full. However, turning away customers due to long waiting times is not a nice experience and getting a bad reputation can destroy lots of hard work.
Relaxed Lounge Furniture can make a big Difference
By providing a small waiting area with comfortable restaurant seating and a relaxed atmosphere, customers have somewhere to sit and socialise while they wait for their table to be ready. Offer guests a drink and provide menus for them to look at, if possible and if waiting times are longer than usual, take orders before they are shown to their table. This way you are keeping customers happy as they are not just waiting around and reducing waiting times as diners do not have to wait for their table to order.
Comfortable commercial seating such as our sofa, armchair and tub collection will suit any interior design and they are all built to the highest quality for durability. Combine a relaxed area with plenty of side tables and coffee tables for guests to put their drinks down while socialising.
A great way to keep your guests occupied while they wait is by proving free wifi. A reliable, super-fast broadband connection is becoming increasingly affordable and more customers are demanding free internet use as an industry standard.
The Internet is your Most Valuable Marketing Tool
A lot of younger people now base their decisions on available wifi when looking for somewhere to eat as much of their time is spent on the internet.
Remember to also make it accessible, choose a name that is recognisable for your customers, i.e. has the restaurant name in. Or, if you think it’s appropriate for your business, go for a novelty name that will get your customers talking. Have the wifi password visible around the restaurant or on your menu so customers don’t have to ask your staff for the password.
When your customers are using the wifi, there is no doubt that they will be using social media. To get the most out of this opportunity have photo-friendly décor, contemporary decorations with related slogans or personalised accessories will make your diners want to take plenty of photos and share them with their friends.
This low-cost marketing will get your name out on social media and draw more customers to your restaurant. There is no limit to the creativity and imagination you can use, the more interesting things and features in your restaurant the better.
More restaurants need to be making the most out of social media, just a little bit of extra time and money can go a long way. Make sure you have up-to-date accounts on every platform there is and make them look interesting and different with the correct tone of voice.
Post the most appealing photos and short videos of your food to get people drooling over their phones and heading straight over to your restaurant. Interact with customers and make them feel that you offer friendly customer service.
Don’t forget about TripAdvisor, make sure that all of your details are correct and up-to-date. Again, post your best photos and the food and restaurant to show customers what they can expect. Don’t be afraid to comment on good and bad comments, always thank customers for good feedback. Bad feedback is always inevitable for every business so don’t take it personally, sympathise with your customer and explain why things didn’t go to plan.
Finally, if you have invested a lot in your restaurant, you need to show it off. Have a grand reopening with offers on food and drinks to show new and old customers the changes you have made. Meet and greet your customers and show them how great your restaurant looks and how good your food tastes.
Sources for statistics within the guide:
- https://www.gov.uk/government/news/high-streets-to-battle-it-out-to-be-named-top-of-the-shops