Don’t look now, but there are less than three weeks left in the year 2020. For most people, that is welcome news. Needless to say, this year has been tough on us all. Restaurateurs can especially attest to how difficult it has been to operate a business during the pandemic. With 2021 on the horizon, there is hope for better days. But how can a restaurant owner ensure that his/her business will grow in the new year?
Offer free samples to help update your menu.
Firstly, there’s nothing like “free” to entice consumers. Secondly, there’s nothing like free food samples to promote the fact that you’re updating your menu. Whenever you receive an order from a hungry customer, add a little edible freebie to the delivery in order to surprise him/her. The customer-satisfying, brand-boosting surprise, of course, doubles as a great way to get an honest opinion about a possible future menu addition.
“Once you have decided on a few new menu items, test them,” encourages Pamela Stevens on Business.com, “You could even invite some of your best customers in for a taste test. Allow employees to sample new items as well. If the idea of changing your menu is intimidating, make little changes: new dip sauces for your fries, a new salad dressing or perhaps a new protein item to a standard dish.”
Partner with another business.
Just because the calendar will flip in a few weeks, it doesn’t automatically mean that the pandemic will be behind us. What the new year will require is a new strategy towards gaining new customers.
By partnering with another business, you help your restaurant to secure interest from otherwise-oblivious consumers. Reach out to local businesses to discuss some advertising swaps in order to help each other grow your customer bases.
Support locally-sourced food providers.
Supporting local businesses helps your community to get through the awful COVID-19 pandemic. Now, more than ever, it’s important to give your local businesses a hand. By doing so, you’ll showcase your restaurant’s dedication to the community. The support that you receive, in response, will help to grow your eatery’s brand image well into the future.
“Locally sourced food is trendy for a reason,” says Stevens, “It gives you the opportunity to support local farmers, wineries, breweries, cheesemakers, bakers and ranches, and the more people you have good relationships with, the better. If you work with local providers, they and their associates may also become your customers in turn. And most people are willing to pay more for local fare.”
Allow your customers to order from your restaurant online.
“As a locally-owned small business, you probably worry that the expense of developing a proprietary app for cell phones and tablets is too much of an investment,” writes Jonathon Henderson of Modern Restaurant Management, “For many businesses, the cost outweighs the benefits.”
With dining in often prohibited as a COVID-19 safety measure, it’s practically mandatory you allow customers to order takeout. With Unity Payments, you can quickly set up an online ordering system for your restaurant! To learn more, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-661-3761 or email us at info@unitypayments.ca.
