Nowadays, it seems as though the restaurant industry is at its most competitive. With new eateries popping up on every street corner, it can be easy to get swept up in the commotion and lose track of your own success. Gearing your restaurant toward that success is a matter of strategic planning and the right business partnerships. If you’re looking to make sure your restaurant is on track to be a hit, here’s what you need to know.
Not just the menu
Naturally, as a restaurateur, your ultimate goal is to serve dishes that you’re proud of. After all, if a restaurant doesn’t serve good food, it’s probably not going to be at the top of many diners’ lists. At the end of the day, the food can truly make or break your chances of success. However, several other factors account for whether or not a customer is going to rave about your establishment to all of their friends or give you a bad review.
One of the most important factors is quality customer service. Have you ever gone out to eat only to receive the cold shoulder from a waitstaff member who seldom comes to check on your table and always seems to have an attitude? Maybe the service was so slow that you were waiting excessive amounts of time for your meal. Or perhaps you were consistently served the wrong menu items. All of these things can dampen a diner’s perspective of a restaurant. While mastering customer service is a difficult task, it can be done through proper training and perseverance.
The right materials
Nothing is more horrific than entering into a dinner rush and realizing you’re short a plate for service. Not only are you going to prolong a diner’s overall wait time, you’re possibly going to lose a sale to a comped meal in an attempt to make amends. You’d be surprised to learn how many restaurants aren’t adequately stocked. Unfortunately, it’s a bigger concern for diners than most restaurant owners ever suspect.
If you’re worried about having dishes, flatware, and glassware at the ready for when your business is at peak levels, it’s probably time for you to consult with a quality hospitality company. Suppliers like VEGA Direct are known for assessing your business needs and providing you with the right materials to handle any meal service, be it a bustling Sunday brunch that needs hundreds of champagne flutes for mimosas or an busy dinner service that requires more plates than you’d imagine.
Location, location, location
It’s a tough, but true, reality of the restaurant business that your location is paramount to your overall success. If you’re on the outskirts of town and getting to your front door means a drive for the average customer, it’s not the best situation. Likewise, if you’re looking to open up shop next to the most popular eatery in the city, you’re likely to have some trouble securing their foot traffic. It’s important to choose the right location to better your odds.
This doesn’t mean you need to uproot your business so you can sign a pricey lease in the heart of downtown, but it also doesn’t mean that the suburbs have to be your permanent home. If you’re looking to capture more foot traffic, research walkable neighborhoods. If you want to take advantage of heavy commuter volumes, situate yourself near popular bus or train stops. It’s all about strategy when selecting a location.
Setting up a plan
Remember, success doesn’t happen overnight. It’s often a lengthy process, but the rewards are worth it. If you’re not willing to do some serious planning, though, you’re going to find yourself in for an uphill battle. Always be prepared for every imaginable scenario and set yourself up for a favorable outcome. You’ll have a much better chance of being the talk to the town that way.
