5 WAYS Restaurants Can Keep Customers Coming Back for More This Fall Season

by Nick Kubarycz 

KEEP CUSTOMERS COMING BACK FOR MORE

Fall is busy with activities like the start of Football, holidays and events like Veterans Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and much more. Fall is also the time to celebrate the change of season and take advantage of the harvest of delicious fruits and vegetables. 

Here are 5 Ways to easily transition into the Fall season:

1. Create a Fall Season Atmosphere –

            Start with the Entrance Outside; Decorate with Cornstalks, Hay bales, Pumpkins, etc. Keep it Simple and Welcoming

            Continue the Fall Theme through the entrance-way; Use items depicting Earth tone colors; Browns, Tans, Burnt Orange, Golden Yellow

            Set up a Fall Table display in or near the waiting area featuring Fall Items on the menu; Acorn Squash, and other varieties, Zucchini, Apples, Pumpkins, Sweet Potatoes, Cauliflower, Brussels sprouts

            Use your Uniforms to Create a seasonal look for the Staff; Get their ideas and come up with an inexpensive “Fall Look” (ex. Brown Aprons with an Orange accent)  

2. Food Menu –

            Feature Specials based upon local fall produce - Earthy type foods, squash, pumpkin, apples, cauliflower, etc. Be Creative and Focus on Warm, Homey, Comfy foods. Spotlight Different Areas of your menu, Appetizer, Main course and Dessert. Choose between smaller portions or those that are meant for “Sharing.”

             Appetizer Recipe  

              Main Course Recipe  

              Dessert Recipe  

3. Beverage Menu –

Hot Cider Drinks; Spiked Apple Cider Cocktails; Pumpkin Pie Vodka Recipes  

Spiced Pumpkin Cocktail Recipe

4. Football –

 Game time Specials Mon Night, Thurs Night Sunday

NFL Schedule

5. Upcoming Holiday Promos –

Be sure to Include All Your Holiday plans; Offices, and Families will be on the lookout to book their Holiday parties early.

Veterans Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas

There are Many opportunities this Fall to gain new customers, and keep your current customers coming back for more. Be sure to take advantage of Social Media, Text Messaging, and Email marketing to promote All your events and specials.

5 Common Mistakes Restaurants Make

RESTAURANT INDUSTRY MISTAKES

It’s a Tough Competitive Jungle Out There

Multiple Restaurants competing for the shrinking disposable income of a more sophisticated consumer

Here are 5 common mistakes that can be easily fixed, and help separate your Restaurant from the pack

1.      Leaving One of the Entrance Double Doors LOCKED

This effects almost Every Customer that enters your premises. They grab the wrong door handle and have a negative experience even Before they come inside – Welcome Your Guests and OPEN Them BOTH Up

2.      Restrooms Poorly Maintained

Most guests in your restaurant will utilize the restroom facilities during their visit.

- REGULAR ATTENTION Here is a MUST! It is an Extension of Your Hospitality, and Will Have an Effect on your Business.

3.      Servers in Dirty or Soiled Uniforms/Aprons

The Standards of Uniform is a part of the Image of the Restaurant. Unfortunately uniforms can go through some tough times during a shift and many times get overlooked. Your Staff Represent Your Restaurant – Keep Them Looking Sharp.

4.      Dirty/Soiled Table Tents

Sitting on Every table, and handled by Guests, Servers, Bus persons and who knows what else. They become bent, soiled, sticky, etc. very Quickly.

These can be a Very Effective Marketing Tool, and they look Great when they are New and Crisp – Change Them Out Frequently.

5.      Hot Plates Served with Dirty/Soiled Pot holders, etc

Many times covered in old food, and stains that your customers observe as their food is being handled and delivered. This Creates an Unappetizing picture, Just as they are about to consume their meal - Wash and or Replace DAILY.

Increase Your Profits Without Increasing Your Prices

Your MENU is the MOST IMPORTANT Marketing Tool You HAVE !

The Decisions Your Customers Make are Influenced By Your MENU 

HERE ARE A FEW WAYS TO HELP THEM DECIDE 

WHILE ADDING TO YOUR PROFITABILITY

1. Menu Placement: Be Sure to Put the Items You Want to Sell the Most of at the Top and the Bottom of Your Menu. ( Your MOST Profitable Items )

2. Pictures Sell: Guaranteed to Explode Sales of Pictured Item ( You Eat with Your Eyes )

3. Add Icons: Icons Point out a Featured Item; a Simple 'NEW' will Draw Attention

4. Give the Item a 'Personal' Name: "Aunt Rosie's Pecan Pie" ( A little History adds Interest )

5. Unique House Specialties: Try Our Unique "Brick House Hand-Cut Sirloin"

6. Emphasis Add-Ons: "add a loaded baked potato, or seasonal vegetables for Only $2.95"

7. Create Combos: Match Appetizers with Main Course for One Price

8. Feature House Special Beverages: Signature Cocktails, or Wine and Craft Beer Selections

9. Secret Menu: Seasonal Menu Items that are Featured Just for that Special "In Crowd"

10. LTO's: Limited Time Offers; Nightly or Weekly Dishes, "Until We Run Out"

 Apply Some.... or All of these Steps

Guide Your Customers in an Effective Way

See the Positive Results Added to Your Bottom Line

~ HAPPY SPRING ~

Finally......It's SPRING !

Well Today It Finally Feels Like Spring.

I Certainly Hope This is NOT an April Fools Day Joke. 
This past Saturday, there was a decision made to DUMP 10 inches of Snow in My Driveway.
I Did NOT Laugh.

Not Only was it a little over the Top, it Also Weighed a Ton!
Heaviest snowfall of the year.
So, I grabbed my shovel, (for the Last time this year....I HOPE).

As I stepped outside my door, the bright warm sunshine hit me, and I was grateful. My work looked easy, as my contract plow company had Already cleared the brunt of it.
When I lifted the 1st shovel full.....My smile went away. It was HEAVY !

Having More time than I anticipated to complete this seemingly simple task, My mind wandered to More Pleasant Thoughts, as I got into a slow but steady rhythm........

SPRINGTIME PLANNING for YOUR RESTAURANT

Your Customers Will Be:

• Anxious to Get Out for Lunch, be Ready for the Extra Business
• Taking Advantage of the Extra Daylight so Be Prepared for a Slightly Later Dinner Rush
• Open to NEW Seasonal Menu Items, Take Advantage of Local Products
• Looking at the Outside of Your Business, as they Approach. Pay Attention to the 1st Impression, and Get RID of the Ugly Remnants of Winter.
• Expecting You to Freshen Up the Inside of Your Establishment. Check the Simple things Like: Lighting, Windows, Flower Arrangements, Spring Related Uniforms, Glass and Tableware, etc. Remember: Keep it FRESH.
• Wanting to Experience SPRING !                                                                        *HAPPY *SUNNY *CLEAN *NEW *PRETTY *POLISHED *SEASONAL

Be SURE to Include Your Staff During Your Planning:

They Will Have Many More Ideas to Make Your SPRING Launch BLOOM !

WHEN SERVICE IS ONLY ADEQUATE

It seems that The Term SERVICE Has Two Points of View:

1. The Customer
2. The Service Provider

SADLY…. In Many Cases They Don’t Even Come Close!

In the ALL Too Often Times of NOT Being Able to REACH a HUMAN BEING in REAL TIME via the Telephone… It becomes More Clear WHY as a Society We have Come to Embrace Social Media as a Way to Reach Out and Touch Someone.

Service is Actually an Intangible – You Cant Touch It, Taste It, or Smell It.
Service is Purely In the Hands Of the Provider, Who Generates and Delivers.

When We Actually Have the Opportunity to Connect with Someone – Face to Face, It is Really VERY Easy to Please Almost ANYONE with a Few Simple Gestures:

A Smile Will Always Crack the Ice, and Pave the Way
A Cheerful Hello Will Assuredly Promote Good Spirits
A Genuine Attitude of Wanting to Serve Will Set the Tone
A Desire to Provide an Outstanding Experience Will Overcome Any Mishaps
A Sincere Thank You is Always Appreciated

OutStanding Service is:
"When Someone Receives a Service that is ABOVE and BEYOND Expectations."

The Customer is ALWAYS Looking for OutStanding Service

As Service Providers… It is Imperative for Us to Create an Atmosphere in Which Our Customers Can FEEL Our Desire to Provide OutStanding Service

In ALL Cases - At ALL Times

Anything Else…… is Only Adequate - Which Quite Simply Put is:

JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH