Category: Restaurants

Local Restaurant Promotions Guide: 12 Best Promo Ideas

Post author By Jonathan
Post date December 15, 2020
No Comments on Local Restaurant Promotions Guide: 12 Best Promo Ideas

Unsure about using restaurant promotions to attract customers to your local restaurant? That’s understandable considering you can lose a little in profits initially but the returns can open up streams of continued business over time.

Rest easy with this comprehensive restaurant promotional guide freshly updated with the 2020-2021 climate in mind.

First, let’s quickly go over some general pros and cons of offering restaurant promos.

Why Are Restaurant Promotions Important?

Restaurant promotions can be manifested in many forms but the end goal remains – to bring in more business. Additionally, restaurants create an opportunity to attract new guests and win them over as regulars. With a great overall experience, they may want to spread the word to their friends and family, doing wonders for brand awareness.

So why do promos work for getting new diners through the door? We’ll let the data speak for itself:

30% of consumers will be swayed to try a new restaurant from their usual casual dining choices when presented with an attractive deal (Valassis)
80% of diners are highly likely to consider a new restaurant if there is a deal (RetailMeNot)
57% of millennials seek out restaurant coupons (Valassis)

These statistics show the psychology behind why they work and why restaurants successfully attract new customers with specials, all year round.

Even more of a reason to offer restaurant promotions is the active eco-system of coupons available on the internet. The internet is littered with coupons for just about anything and their convenience is pushing physical coupons to extinction. The expectation to find good deals online makes local restaurant promos an absolute necessity.

Are There Any Disadvantages?

If promos bring restaurants more business in the future, then the short-term loss from reduced prices becomes miniscule.

A concerning disadvantage however lies in the fact that online promos can be harder to regulate. Physical coupons are becoming less common as more promos are being distributed digitally. As a result, restaurants don’t know who sees their deals online and can’t restrict who grabs it in many cases.

The restaurant’s goal may be to attract a new customer but they can’t control it from getting into the hands of a long-time customer.

Additionally, offering too many promos can dilute a restaurant’s brand image by losing its value from being perceived as a “discounter.”

So to recap, the pros and cons of restaurant promotions are:

Solutions to Restaurant Promotion Limitations

Build real relationships with customers. Give them an amazing dine-in experience and have a loyalty program to give them a reason to come back.

Many restaurants are even launching their own apps for loyal diners to download. Having your own app will allow you to offer exclusive deals and send reminders through push notifications.

ChowEasy is also a solution that allows restaurants to attract new local diners with custom promos without the risk of looking like a “discounter”. With the ChowEasy app, restaurants anonymously enter a special deal on the app for local diners to bid on. Once the diner commits, the restaurant’s name is revealed.

Best Local Restaurant Promotion Ideas:

Don’t Let Events Go Wasted

Is your city hosting a big sports game? Is there a live show or major convention? Often times, big events like these bring tons of people from out of town and many are looking to dine at local restaurants.

Use these moments to your advantage by offering specials before the live concert, exclusive promos for ticket holders to a convention and many more. For example, 10% off for all season ticket holders.

Work with Influencers

Perhaps one of the currently top trending restaurant marketing strategies involve influencer marketing. Some local “foodies” have garnered unbelievable numbers of followers on their food blog or on Instagram.

A food blogger who runs their own Instagram page may visit your restaurant and take pictures. They will then post flattering photos of your food with an enticing caption for their thousands of followers to engage with.

Some food bloggers may mention your restaurant in a blog post that gets read by passionate enthusiasts of the cuisine you serve.

This is publicity at its finest without a huge budget. Often times, local restaurants will either pay an influencer or offer them a meal for free in exchange for a social media post or blog post.

Rewards for Gift Cards

Many restaurants during the 2020 lockdowns pushed gift card sales to stay afloat. After all, if a customer is a regular, they might as well spend more upfront and “save” their future meals for later.

To help boost restaurant gift card sales, restaurants started offering additional rewards with the purchase of the card.

Here is a short list of many examples we’ve seen:

Applebee’s – $50 gift card purchase gets you an extra $10
IHOP – $25 gift card gets you an additional $5 coupon
Joe’s Crab Shack – $25 gift card gets you a scratch-off ticket for a mystery prize
AMC Theaters – $30 in giftcard puchases gets you $5 in concession bucks

Restaurant Giveaways

You get a car, and you get a car! Okay, you may not have cars to give away like Oprah, but maybe you have a new bike you don’t use. Whether you choose to invest in a giveaway prize or giveaway something you own, giveaways can get people in the door.

Set up a raffle or a competition for the prize. Bonus tip: with raffle tickets, you can easily acquire email addresses and add them to your restaurant’s email list.

Time of the Day

Is lunch from 12-2pm or Mondays your notoriously slow times for dine-in traffic? Instead of offering different deals all the time, create a lunch special to bring in more traffic for a reduced price. If used right, this can be very effective to combat slow days.

Examples: Reduced prices on drinks on Wednesday nights, lunch specials

Seasonal Events

Seasonal events and holidays create a unique opportunity to make diners feel like they are missing out on a great deal. Since seasons and holidays quickly pass by, diners will want to take advantage of limited time deals before they miss out.

Cinco de Mayo is one such example where you can you offer Mexican beers at half the price. Diners are also likely to visit in groups for holiday specials and that’s always great for business.

Everyday is a Holiday

Did you know that January 25 is National Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day? Many businesses use everyday holidays to plan their social media posts. If you haven’t checked out the holidays before, you’ll be surprised to see so many days dedicated to cuisine. Take advantage of this to come up with endless promo possibilities any time throughout the year. Check out nationday.com for inspiration and get creative!

Examples: National Pizza Day, National Gumbo Day, National Gluten-free day, National Buffet Day, Drink Wine Day, etc.

Source: PDQ via Facebook

Happy Hour

Yes, this classic marketing term is still used by many restaurants today for it’s effectiveness. Offer discounts on alcoholic drinks, menu items, and free appetizers during strategic times in the day like right as people get off work.

Day of the Week Special

Offering specific deals based on the day of the week really does stay in the mind of consumers. Some classic examples include: margarita Monday and taco Tuesday. When old Joe is feeling indecisive and sitting at home on Tuesday night, he’ll remember that it happens to be taco Tuesday.

Here are some more catchy examples:

Meatloaf Monday
Tequila Tuesday
Wine Wednesday
Wing Wednesday
Waffle Wednesday
Thirsty Thursday
Stir-fry Friday
Fish’n Fries Friday
Spaghetti Saturday
Sandwich Sunday

Bundles

Offer combos that consist of appetizers, the main meal, side dishes, dessert and a drink for a reduced price.

Multi-Buy Promotions

Upsell by launching multi-buy promos like buy 1 get 1 free or buy 2 get 1 specials. For example, offer free soda with order of two large pizzas.

The incentive doesn’t always have to be free. You can offer something like $1 on draft beer for two orders of buffalo wings.

Now…Time to Maximize Profits From Promos

The purpose of offering restaurant promotions and discounts is to get more business in the end. Just because you’re offering deals doesn’t mean you have to act cheap.

Here are some ways to maximize profits from restaurant promotions:

Train Staff to Upsell, Upsell, and Upsell Some More

The reason why dine-in customers bring in the most profits for a restaurant is because of upsell potential. The customer may have walked in to get a burger with fries but maybe he/she orders an appetizer or dessert alongside it.

There are always upselling opportunities and guests need help deciding. Training servers to form the habit of consistently recommending menu items, combos, and drinks to customers could raise margins drastically.

Leverage Social Media

Share your promotions on social media for your dedicated fanbase to see. If they follow or like your restaurant page, they most certainly would love to see great deals come from you. They may even bring a friend who just might be your next loyal customer!

Build a Loyalty Program

Start a loyalty program if you don’t already have one. Let’s face it, not everybody who visits the first time through a promo will return. A loyalty program will help plant a seed for the diner’s next visit well after their first time.

Example: Starbucks loyalty program

Final Thoughts

As you can see, restaurant promos are an essential tool to attract customers and can be offered in many ways. If you have some promos in place or are at least thinking about it, good for you! This indicates that you are growth-focused and are planting opportunities that will yield more business over time.

If you would like an easy way to grow your local restaurant business, please consider the ChowEasy app. You can offer promotions to diners in your local area who are in the mood for the cuisine you serve. Unlike other deal sites with hefty costs and brand dilution, ChowEasy enables you to offer promos on your terms in as little as 60 seconds. Try it now!

The Real Cost of Using Groupon for Restaurants

Post author By Jonathan
Post date June 18, 2020
No Comments on The Real Cost of Using Groupon for Restaurants

Whether you are a consumer or business owner, you have likely heard of Groupon. Since 2011, Groupon.com has billed itself as a site for thrifty consumers that are looking for a great deal and merchants that want to drive traffic to their stores or build awareness for their brands. Many restaurants have jumped at the chance to offer promos to the site’s nearly 44 million active users. However, before you decide to enter the fray, make sure you know the real costs of using Groupon for restaurant promos.

Groupon Restaurant Promotions Can Hurt Your Bottom Line

Customers looking for a deal are likely to find one. But the cost to merchants can be staggering. While there is no cost for restaurants to create an account and share a deal with the Groupon user base, the real damage to the wallet arrives after you make a sale. Though commission rates do fluctuate, Groupon will always take at least 50% of revenue from each sale. Let’s look at this simple example:

You run a local pizzeria and the business is doing fairly well. You’re interested in broadening your customer base and decide to give Groupon a try to see if you can get customers outside of the local area and maybe even tourists in town. You decide to offer a deal on your medium pepperoni pizzas, which typically cost $20, at a 40% discount to compete with other pizza shops on the site. Customers purchase the deal for $12. Your revenue? $6.

This Groupon restaurant promo for pizza that you would typically sell for $20 just cost you 70% of revenue. You can calculate the profit yourself since this depends on your mark up, but it’s likely just shy of breaking even. Or, worse still, you might be losing money on the deal.

The poor pizzaiolo or pizzaioli who put effort into making the delicious pie just had his/her work devalued so significantly.

Groupon Can Diminish Your Restaurant’s Brand Image

Have you ever visited a restaurant that markets itself like this? “We are a middle of the road eatery that uses discount produce and values quantity over quality. We don’t really care if you come back.” Ridiculous, right? You don’t need to be a marketing maven to recognize the pitfalls of discounting your product or service. By listing your restaurant on Groupon, you run the risk of diminishing your brand. Your high quality standards for service and food will not be recognized as such. The perception will turn to: how can it be that great when it’s so cheap?

Let’s start with your existing customers. You run the risk of annoying your current clientele by offering your meals to a select few at a discount price. Using the example of the pizzeria, a repeat customer who consistently purchases your pies might wonder why they’ve been getting “ripped-off” this entire time if your food could be had for half the price. And if they knew that you were only taking home half of the revenue from the deal, they would sour on your brand even more. Sure, that’s unlikely, but all it takes is one annoyed customer and your break-even Groupon deal just sent a sure thing to your competitor.

As for the prospective clients who found you through Groupon, you’ve now been introduced to them as a discount seller right from the start. Groupon customers are rarely repeat customers. Those on the site looking for a deal will look for another when your bargain window runs its course. “That $12 pizza was delicious, but I won’t pay the full $20. Let’s see what other pizza deals I can find.”

When the goal of any business is to build sustainable revenue streams, and the cost of acquiring customers is much greater than keeping them, using Groupon to promote your restaurant becomes a brand risk you cannot afford to take.

Can Groupon For Restaurants Be Beneficial at All?

As with any strong marketing plan, diversity of channels is the key to success. The reality is that the pizza example is oversimplified and Groupon can be a part of your restaurant promo strategy. The two most important things to remember are to not put all of your marketing efforts into Groupon and to be smart about the bargain you are offering. Groupon clients are, more often than not, one-time clients and should not command a significant amount of your restaurant marketing spend. Yes, the math starts to make a lot more sense when the 40% discount is 20% or less, but investing in promotions for existing clients is even more cost-effective. Remember, too, that Groupon is not the only restaurant deal site that is out there. Be smart, do your research, and plan for long term success rather than short term marginal gains.

Looking for a fun way to grow your restaurant business? ChowEasy is a restaurant marketing app that helps locals discover your restaurant by matching their appetite and mood. Get full control of your promos by offering them on YOUR schedule and YOUR terms with your restaurant name revealed ONLY to committed diners. No upfront costs or commitments! Learn more now.

Tags groupon, restaurant promotions

Dine In Diners Organic & Local Restaurants Trends Uncategorized

The Most Cost-Efficient Plastic Straw Alternative is…

Post author By Jonathan
Post date April 22, 2020
2 Comments on The Most Cost-Efficient Plastic Straw Alternative is…

If you haven’t heard yet, you might want to jump on this new restaurant trend fast. Well, it’s not quite a trend yet but it’s right at the tipping point. There is a movement to ban plastic straws and replace them with sustainable alternatives.

Don’t believe us? Then consider the fact that Starbucks announced plans to eliminate plastic straws by 2020 and that McDonald’s has already started mobilizing plastic straw alternatives in Europe. Then there is the State of Seattle, which jumped ahead of all of us by banning plastic straws back in July 2018!

As you may know, many restaurant trends involve going green such as using biodegradable packaging. It’s become so widespread that almost any restaurant you visit today will have an eco-friendly take-out box. Just like this, plastic straw alternatives are the next to take over the restaurant industry.

Which Plastic Straw Alternative is Best For Your Restaurant?

It takes a whopping 200 years for plastic straws to decompose and 500 million are thrown out daily. That’s a gazillion straws in the ocean over two lifespans.

Whether you care for the environment or not, eco-friendly alternatives are a trend and adjusting to them can help you win over customers. In addition, these alternatives are reusable and can help you actually save on costs.

So which is the most cost-efficient plastic straw alternative? Let’s take a look.

Paper Straws

Paper straws are a relatively cheap alternative to plastic straws that are quite high in supply. They are great for the environment for their fast decomposition time in the ocean of 2-6 weeks and won’t harm wildlife if ingested.

What about on the business side of things? Well, just like the great contradiction of saving the environment by taking from forests, it’s not so brilliant.

The straws actually get a little soggy and alter the taste of your customer’s drink. For this reason, restaurants that use paper straws usually provide multiple straws for one drink. So although paper straws are cheap, they can add up to a more costly option for you and the change in taste can give customers a bad experience.

Bamboo Straws

The idea of bamboo straws is undoubtly cool and can really add to the aesthetic of an Asian Fusion or Tiki-themed restaurant. In addition to their cool look they are reusable unlike the paper straws.

Being naturally grown and free of preservatives they also offer many attractive natural benefits. These benefits include being naturally anti-microbrial and highly resistant to rotting.

The strength and durability of bamboo also make it great for use with hot beverages. All-in-all they will save you money because they are cheaper than most alternatives and you can reuse them for a long time.

While they do have many great natural benefits, it may not actually be the right fit for your restaurant. Bamboo straws can actually absorb drinks and alter taste. It can even absorb saliva which would pose a health risk. Also, due to having a smaller hole, it is not ideal for thicker drinks like smoothies. So if you serve mostly water and can dedicate time to clean the straws effectively, it might just work out for you.

Pasta Straws

Unlike bamboo straws, pasta straws don’t alter the taste and they are more durable than paper straws because they hold their shape up to 3 hours. Their make up of wheat and water make it an ideal alternative for eco-conscious restaurant goers for it’s 100% biodegradability.

The issue with pasta straws however, is that it could be a health risk for those who are allergic to gluten. This makes it an alternative that can’t be catered to every guest and therefore isn’t the most efficient for your budget. And even though 1 pasta straw lasts as long as 3-5 paper straws, it is still a 1-time use alternative.

So even though it may be a better alternative for the environment, it isn’t outstanding for the bank. The goal is to find the plastic straw alternative that hits the sweet spot of benefiting both the green in the world and in your wallet.

Glass Straws

Glass straws are perhaps the most versatile of them all. They can be made with various colors and withstand both hot and cold beverage temperatures. They also don’t alter taste like paper and bamboo straws do.

All in all, they are a pretty good cost-efficient plastic straw alternative that can save you a lot of money because of their re-usability and easy cleaning. The only real big disadvantage is that, well, they are glass and still breakable. If your kitchen is careful enough, the glass straws may be a great long-term investment.

Metal Straws

There are metal butter knives, forks, spoons, and cups so why couldn’t metal straws be a norm? Obviously the strongest of all the straws mentioned in this post, metal straws are reusable and if needed to be disposed of, the most recycle-friendly.

Metal straws do have some drawbacks however. They are very sensitive to temperature and can become hot or cold with the beverage. Hot beverages in particular could pose burn risks and would be a restaurant liability.

What is the Most Cost-Efficient Plastic Straw Alternative?

The best plastic straw alternative that will save your restaurant the most money varies widely across manufacturers since it is still considered a novelty. Regardless of the price differences, we can conclude that reusable straws will be a better long-term investment than single-use straws.

This leaves glass and metal straws the winners of this plastic straw alternative shootout. Both are highly versatile and reusable but have their own unique disadvantages. Which one do you want to use in your restaurant?

Tags bamboo straws, eco friendly straws, metal straws, paper straws, pasta straws, plastic straw alternatives, plastic straw ban, Restaurant trends

Marketing Restaurants

Restaurant Color Design: All Colors Matter

Post author By Jonathan
Post date April 12, 2020
No Comments on Restaurant Color Design: All Colors Matter

All colors matter. They are everywhere and they play with your emotions without saying or doing anything to you. You, as a restaurant owner, can incorporate the power of color to grow your business strategically. Read to equip yourself with industry insights on common restaurant color design tactics.

But first, there is something to keep in mind: like cake, too much of one thing isn’t always a good thing. Too much of one color can backfire by causing reduced appetite.

Don’t go for just 1 emotion, learn these color design practices so you can bring out a range of desired emotions!

Restaurant Color Design and the Influence it Has on Customers

Listed below are common color schemes used in restaurants and how they affect customers.

Light, Bland Colors: Beige, White and Light Grey

Colors like white, beige, and light grey may be bland but work like magic when used the right way. Bright colors like white and beige for instance, give a spacious impression. As a result, walls and ceilings with these colors can put the clusterphobes at ease.

If your restaurant is small, you could alleviate the feeling of tightness by painting your walls and ceilings with these colors. Otherwise, these colors are still ‘magical’ for inducing relaxation, which will keep guests held captive (by their will!) for longer.

Restaurant color design with light colors for the walls and ceilings expand the room visually, promoting relaxation. Photo Credit: Flickr via‍ Compfight cc

Nature Colors: Green and Brown

Green symbolizes nature which helps promote feelings of harmony and tranquility. Along with green, brown also instills feelings of comfort and a sense of stability like roots grounded in the earth. Compounded together, these colors create an enchanted forest that encourages guests to linger and potentially order more food.

Green and brown are colors that represent nature, which help guests feel comfortable and grounded. It also compliments health-conscious menus.

Is your restaurant health-conscious? If so, using green in your interior design is the best way to place emphasis on your healthy and balanced menu.

Before you decide to paint your walls green…make sure you have good lighting or else risk giving off a ‘swamp’ vibe instead of lushly forest. Also, too much brown can create an unappetizing mood, so use it sparingly.

Fast Colors: Red and Yellow

Speed, excitement, high-energy, and superhero Flash. These describe environments that are red and yellow.

Studies show that when people see red and yellow, their heart rate and blood pressure escalates. This stimulates conversation and speedy, impulsive eating which is ideal for high-traffic restaurants.

Fast-food chains utilize these effects perfectly as their model is based on customers leaving as quickly as they came in. How many red and yellow fast-food restaurants come to mind in 1 minute?

Fast-food chains infamously utilize red to match their high-traffic model. Burger King, McDonald’s, KFC, In-N-Out Burger, Sonic, and Bojangles are few of many.

Unappetizing Colors: Blue and Purple

What is your favorite blue or purple food? If grapes and eggplants are the only foods that come to mind, then the point is made. These colors don’t encourage an appetite because they don’t remind us of any food.

What these colors do however is evoke thirst which makes it ideal for cafes, bars, or lounges. Blue also has a calming effect which entices guests to enter leisure mode and order ‘another’ last round of drinks. These effects work well in hookah bars or even the liquor spot in the corner of your restaurant.

Blue and purple are more suited for beverage shops or bars for their association with a variety of drinks

If you have a seafood restaurant, blue can encourage consumption of seafood and can help create an immersive ocean-themed ambiance.

Adventurous Colors: Orange and Yellow

Orange and yellow stand out in pretty much any setting. They are colors that represent boldness and a care-free attitude.

Cafes and dessert shops like yogurt bars are ideal for this enthusiastic color combo. It may trigger an adventurous indulgence in sugar land but that’s always good for the shop. The sugar rush will also get people talking and lounging around longer.

Orange and yellow go well with cafes, yogurt bars, and dessert shops for their carefree and fun expression

Choose the Right Color Design for Your Restaurant

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Pablo Picasso

The color combinations and their effects on customers listed in this post are only general guidelines. To determine the best colors for your restaurant, you will have to first remind yourself what you want your guests to feel and how it connects with the restaurant identity. Use this post as a guideline but never shy away from a little experimentation!

What colors will you use? Why? Comment and let us know!

Tags color psychology, color theory, restaurant color design, restaurant colors, restaurant design, restaurant interior colors

Delivery Diners Organic & Local Restaurants

4 Major Ways To Support Restaurants During COVID-19

Post author By Jonathan
Post date March 27, 2020
1 Comment on 4 Major Ways To Support Restaurants During COVID-19

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic has left restaurants and even large cities vacant

Local Restaurants Depend On Your Help

With the recent Coronavirus outbreak, businesses are being struck hard. Social distancing has been ordered to help prevent the spread of the viral outbreak. Though it is completely necessary, it has forced restaurants to close it’s dine-in operations. As a result, the restaurant industry is estimated to lose 15.6 million workers and 1/4 of annual sales. So what can be done to support restaurants during COVID-19?

All restaurants are feeling the weight on their business but a little help from their loyal customers can help! Below are 4 major ways you can help your favorite restaurant during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Order Takeout

Many restaurants are still open for takeout and some are even incorporating it into their operations for the first time ever

Since many restaurants have been forced to shut down, they are forced to modify their business practices. Establishments have now opted to limit orders to drive-thru and take out only.

The pandemic doesn’t have to stop you from having a meal from your favorite restaurant. There is no concrete evidence that the virus can spread through food or the packaging.

Restaurants are coming up with methods for no-contact delivery, meaning food delivery without direct human interaction

For further assurance, you can even opt in for no-contact delivery. With this option, the restaurant will drop it off in a designated spot like in the hallway or front porch. Panera bread even implemented “pickup shelves” where customers pick up orders left on the counter and continue on with their day.

Since restaurants are making sudden adjustments, they are highly likely to update customers via social media. Check their social media pages for new delivery options or something akin to the Panera Bread’s pickup shelves.

Social media is the fastest way to get updated on delivery options

Buy Gift Cards

“Gift cards are like interest-free loans” – Steve Mchugh, chef and owner of Cured in San Antonio

Stocking up on gift cards is an excellent way you can help your favorite restaurant survive during the Coronavirus outbreak. When you buy, say a $25 gift card, the funds are instantly deposited into the restaurant. The result is like sowing the seeds for recuperation.

Surprisingly, many have been sold lately and restaurant owners have shown appreciative feedback. So go ahead and stock up on some gift cards for future birthday or holiday gifts! Get them for yourself even. If it’s one of your favorite restaurants, chances are you’re going to eat there anyway. You could even use the gift cards to buy merch such as t-shirts or mugs to support the business.

Not hungry? You can still use gift cards to buy restaurant merch

Sign A Petition To Support Restaurants During COVID-19

Online petitions calling for Government action are rallying tons of support

Currently there are many petitions going around to support restaurants during COVID-19 and you can easily contribute. You can find a petition to sign on Change.org. Among these petitions are:

A Call for Government action to help support food servers
Calls for emergency employment benefits for laid off workers
Requests to waive payroll tax
Rent and loan abatement requests
Permit requests for the delivery of alcohol by the bottle
Requests to waive zoning restrictions to allow interaction with potential customers via booths or tables outside

These petitions are quickly rallying up more support. A petition called “Save American Restaurants” for example had over 60,000 signatures just last week. Celebrity chefs like Alice Waters, James Beard, and more are also endorsing these petitions.

Write Positive Reviews and Give 5-Star Ratings

Giving a positive review on listings such as Yelp will help restaurants get a surge of new business as soon as things go back to normal

Here’s a powerful way you can use your time in quarantine to support your favorite restaurant. Positive reviews and ratings on local listing sites like Google and yelp go a long way for staying in business. Now that were encouraged to stay home, why not spend time on writing a quality review? When restaurants re-open, the positive review could help them hit the ground running by attracting a surge of new business.

Choose To Support Restaurants During COVID-19 Today

Is there a restaurant that’s been heavy on your mind (and stomach) during the Coronavirus outbreak? Restaurant owners work hard to host a memorable experience, support their employees and their families. You most likely dine at your favorite restaurant for more than just the food. Local restaurants have been the hub for a host of memorable conversations, budding friendships, and family-bonding. They bring our community to life. Let’s be proactive and give back today!

Restaurants Technology Trends

New Restaurant Technology Innovations To Look Out For

Post author By Jonathan
Post date March 20, 2020
No Comments on New Restaurant Technology Innovations To Look Out For

Currently emerging restaurant tech trends are going to change the industry forever

With the advancement of technology, nearly all industries can find new ways to increase efficiency and cut expenses. The restaurant industry is no exception. Ever wanted to hear every word on T.V in a crowded bar? Have you ever wished you could call over your server without saying a word at all? Take a look at some of these groundbreaking restaurant technology innovations that will forever change the industry.

Tablee – Get The Server’s Attention Without Gestures

Tablee, an innovative concept for getting the server’s attention

Ever have trouble getting the server’s attention? We totally understand and it’s not their fault with all the craziness on a busy weekend night. This however can sometimes be an inconvenience and is why Tablee was invented. With Tablee, diners will now be able to send a notification to the server through their app. Higher tips for faster service? We can only see both servers and diners benefiting greatly from this new restaurant technology trend.

Synk Delivery -Save That Gas Mileage

Restaurants will be able to efficiently map out deliveries with Synk and cut out excess expenses that most delivery apps have

The idea behind the Synk Delivery app help restaurants increase efficiency within the area that delivery companies fall short. What it does is group multiple orders from the same location for single delivery. This will allow restaurants to use their own drivers for bulk orders to the same office building, University, apartment, etc. Additionally, restaurants will be able to control radius, times, and limits of orders which will offer more power than popular delivery apps. Watch your back UberEats and DoorDash!

Tunity – Tune To What You Want To Hear

Ever wish you could hear the T.V at the bar or gym?

Here’s a really cool one that pretty much everyone can relate to. In fact, it’s already being widely used by sports fans from all over. Imagine sitting in a restaurant or bar and finding that 1 out of 20 T.V screens that’s playing what you like. We’ve all wished we could not only see it but hear it as well. Well, you actually can now with the Tunity App! Tune in to live audio from any T.V from sports bars to gyms. The app even tracks viewing patterns which can be used for targeting offers based on these patterns. Yet another clever way to have targeted ads directed to us…

Kiosks – Even Less Human Interaction?

Use of Kiosks are a restaurant tech trend that will surely become a norm in the near future

The number of restaurants using kiosks have increased and are expected to keep on popping. Customers can simply make orders through a touch screen interface usually on the top of the order counter. It even allows the customer to make requests based on their preference (i.e burger without onions). The benefits range from reduced human error caused by miscommunication to consistent service. Some kiosks even have analytics software built into it, providing restaurants useful insights of guest trends and behaviors. Some claim kiosks only distance us further from human interaction. However, it’s been counter-argued that front line staff would be more freed up to actively engage in conversation with the customer.

PathSpot – Could This Help In Times Like The Corona Virus Epidemic?

Restaurant health hazards will be better prevented through the use of technology

Last on this list of new restaurant technology innovations is one that couldn’t be more perfectly timed. With the current Corona Virus (COVID-19) scare, many restaurants are forced to shut down. We understand that these measures are taken to prevent the spread from one person to another. But what if the restaurant or certain foods were the culprit? Introducing PathSpot, restaurant tech invented to help prevent food safety disasters in restaurants. If it works as intended, it can instantly screen for norovirus, E. Coli, listeria, hepatitis A, and salmonella. Through hand scanning technology, pathogens are indicated. Restaurants that adopt this could have employees wave hands under the scanner and prevent devastating health hazards.

Dine In Diners Marketing Organic & Local Restaurants Technology Trends Uncategorized

7 Ways To Attract Millennials To Your Restaurant

Post author By Jonathan
Post date February 28, 2020
No Comments on 7 Ways To Attract Millennials To Your Restaurant

Social media, health trends, and social responsibility are among a few things that millennials value in a restaurant

According to Forbes, “millennials have over $200 billion in buying power and will make up 75% of the workforce by 2025.” This means that millennials are an important target for restaurants and learning how to reach them will be crucial. So how do you attract millennials to your restaurant? With endless dining options available at the fingertips, you need to stand out but also align with their values. Keep reading to learn 7 things you can do to keep them coming back!

Use High Quality Ingredients

Appeal to the health conscious generation by using high quality ingredients

Studies have shown that Millennials are willing to fork over more money for high quality food. Since healthy eating is a trend more than ever before, be sure to use wholesome ingredients for everything. These include organic vegetables and meats that are free of hormones/anti-biotics. It would also help to emphasize phrases like “sourced locally” and “non-GMO” in the menu.

Boost Social Media Presence

Stay engaged and present in your millennial guests’ lives through social media

Since Millenials and Gen Z are tuned into the world of social media, grab their attention there. Your internet presence speaks volumes to these generations. Promote your restaurant and menu in engaging ways like posting a question or a raffle for a free giveaway. Also leave trails in your restaurant that lead to your social media. A couple ideas include inserting hashtags or your social media handle in menus or cups. Finally, update your directory listings and ask guests for 5-star reviews on Yelp and TripAdvisor.

Prep Food For The Gram

Posting food photos on social media is still a trend and shows no signs of dying

You’ve seen it. Pictures of food being posted by the millions. Food pictures are hot content for Instagram and Facebook feeds so why not use this in your favor? First, you’ll want to make sure the presentation of your dishes are worthy of a photo. Then, take a handful of snapshots yourself and experiment with various lighting edits and filters. Don’t be afraid to spend significant time on these. The photo you select needs to be captivating enough to stop people from scrolling. And you have lots of competition.

Build a Brand and Tell a Story

Fatt Matt’s reinforces their brand through merch items and even their very own BBQ sauce

Your restaurant is a brand and should have a compelling story. Make sure your social media, theme colors, and logo all reinforce the story of your brand. Millennials love their brands and aren’t afraid to endorse them through purchased merchandise. Make T-shirts, stickers, and other merchandise to make them a part of the story. You can somewhat easily attract millennials to your restaurant but a cool story will keep them.

Host An Experience

Create an experience to keep them coming back for more

To keep millennials coming back, you have to transcend beyond just providing a great meal. You have to provide an experience. It’s been shown that millennials prefer to live for new and unique experiences. This priority extends to eating out which you can thank the wave of pop-ups, food trucks, and food festivals for. If you don’t know where to start, just put some heart and soul in the atmosphere. You can use ambiance, art displays, music and aesthetic interior design to help create an experience. Additionally, you can keep them coming back through game nights, live music, art shows, and open mic nights. When in comes down to it, you want to envelop them in an immersive world they can’t to return to.

Have A Unique Menu

Millennials like taking risks with bizarre novelty menu items like the donut burger from “Sublime Donut Burger” in Atlanta

As mentioned in the paragraph before, Millennials live for experiences. This means that novel menu items will go a long way with this generation. This generation is the most diverse and open to new cultural cuisines. With that being said, offer something fusion and even quirky. To top it off, give your dishes distinct names that’ll catch their attention. You don’t want to only offer what millions of restaurants can. For instance, offering only pizza in a market where you can get pizza anywhere. This is why many restaurant chains are closing.

Be Socially Responsible

Millennials intentionally endorse restaurants that aim to protect the environment and support social causes

Being a restaurant that demonstrates corporate responsibility will go a long way. With the accessibility of information through the internet, any news of unethical or controversial actions can be found. Studies show that millennials would rather support businesses that do good and have no hesitancy to boycott. Due to this, establishing a good online reputation and supporting a good cause would be key for longevity. To start, you can make it known that you use biodegradable wear and consistency recycle. “Millennials don’t mind spending more money on things that are good for the planet.”

Take Your Restaurant To The Next Level

Going through the list, it can seem like a demanding task to attract millennials to your restaurant. Though it takes a lot to catch the attention of this generation, your restaurant will improve in many ways. Have fun with it while you become more than just a restaurant, but a brand!

Tags Attract millennials to your restaurant, business owners, food industry millennials, millennials and restaurants, millennials favorite restaurants, restaurant marketing, restaurant owners, restaurant social media, Restaurant trends

Diners Restaurants Trends

Whole30, Keto, and Paleo – Demystify The Menu!

Post author By Jonathan
Post date February 14, 2020
1 Comment on Whole30, Keto, and Paleo – Demystify The Menu!

“I’m not dieting, it’s a lifestyle!”
-Your health conscious friend

Many Restaurants Are Adapting To Lifestyle Diet Trends – What Are They?

With increased awareness of how different foods affect our biology, many people have adopted Keto, Paleo, and Whole30 lifestyles. These lifestyle diets serve a variety of health-related functions and people with specific needs are infusing them within their everyday life.

Due to their popularity, many restaurants now provide Keto, Paleo, and Whole30 menu options to harmonize with their guest’s lifestyles.

Chipotle for instance, introduced “Lifestyle Bowls” containing ingredients that adhere to the diet regimen of customers following a Keto, Paleo, or Whole30 lifestyle.

It is no question that restaurants are starting to see the value in adapting to popular trends as more people convert. Have you seen these diet options in the menu but don’t know enough about them to place an order? Learn to demystify the menu today!

The Ketogenic Diet

More Fat = Weight Loss

Eat more fat to lose weight? Yes, the healthy kind mind you. Like there are good and bad carbs, there are healthy fats that are preferable to saturated and trans fats.

The ketogenic diet has gained a lot of traction with those who want to lose weight or stay lean. The diet consists of high fat, moderate protein, and low carbs. As little as only 20-50 grams of carbohydrates are consumed daily which forces the body into ketosis.

During ketosis, fat is broken down into ketones, which are then used as the body’s main energy source. In other words, the purpose of a keto diet is to essentially trigger the body to use fats instead of carbohydrates for energy.

The Paleo Diet

Eat like a caveman for optimal health!

Inspired by our paleolithic ancestors, the paleo diet suggests that peak health is obtainable from the hunter-gatherer lifestyle that humans evolved with. It’s followers blame obesity and metabolic diseases on food processing instigated by the Agricultural Revolution.

The paleo diet consists of foods that are rich in lean meats and seafood, accompanied with plenty of fruits and non-starchy vegetables. It is protein-rich, moderate in healthy fats, and low in carbohydrates.

The Whole30 Diet

Identify your trigger foods with Whole30

Cleanse your body. The whole30 diet is all about resetting your metabolic system by eating with a quality over quantity mindset. By temporarily adopting a pattern of quality eating, the body is being cleansed of inflammatory or digestive issues left by certain foods.

Many people participate in the cleanse to help identify the specific foods that are acting as triggers for a particular reaction. The foods to be avoided in a whole30 diet include: Added sugar, legumes, alcohol (cooking and drinking), dairy, soy, and grains.

Ingredients of processed foods such as carrageenan, MSG, and sulfites are also avoided. Lean meat, seafood, eggs, veggies, fruits, and natural fats are sought out in this diet regime.

Will Your Restaurant Menu Adapt To Keto, Paleo, and Whole30 lifestyles?

Even with the endless food options available from a variety of restaurants ranging anywhere from traditional American to fusion, people are restricting themselves in accordance with their specific dietary needs.

Like no other time in history, there is an increased awareness of the foods we are consuming and how it affects our individual bodies. Through an increase in awareness, people have become empowered over specific health limitations in their lives by choosing what to restrict and what to consume more of.

Will we see more restaurants adapt their menus to these trends to accommodate more guests? The people who follow these lifestyle diets constantly face limited options when eating out with friends. By modifying your menu to be Keto, Paleo, or Whole30 friendly, you can help others reach their health goals while increasing your business.

Tags healthy menu, healthy restaurants, Keto, keto menu, keto restaurant, lifestyle diet trends, lifestyle diets, Paleo, paleo menu, paleo restaurant, Restaurant trends, whole30, whole30 menu, whole30 restaurant

Restaurants Technology

The Real Truth About Food Delivery Business

Post author By Bhrigu Wadhwa
Post date February 10, 2020
No Comments on The Real Truth About Food Delivery Business

For most of 90’s, Food Delivery was limited to Pizza and the local Chinese restaurants delivering their own food in small areas. Delivery was never looked at as a profit center but just another way to boost sales for individual locations.

From Mid 2000’s onwards, we started to see new businesses such as Grubhub, Doordash and Uber Eats (Specialty Delivery Companies or Apps) that were focused on delivering food prepared by others. Their general Business model was based on: a) getting discounts (which the delivery companies keep) from Restaurants whose food was being delivered and b) charging the end customer a delivery fees for the ease and convenience of getting food delivered from multiple restaurants using one simple mobile app. Restaurants did not have to hire drivers or keep a delivery fleet as these delivery companies pick up the food and deliver to customers.

There is a third segment of software companies which essentially provide software and technology to enable restaurants to accept online orders and manage delivery directly or thru one or more Delivery apps.

Thanks to all the ad spend, technology advancements and changing habits of the younger customers, Food delivery business is definitely growing in $ volume. Are restaurants getting more business on a net basis? or are they getting more delivery business at the expense of their dine-in customers? Who is making money in the delivery business? Is it a passing fad or is it here to stay? I probably can’t answer all of these questions accurately as each restaurant’s and segments situation is different but this post is an attempt to sort thru different pieces written by industry experts and summarizing the most compelling points in front of our readers.

Let’s start by looking at what the recent media posts have been saying…

If you look thru last ~ 15 years of developments in Food Delivery Industry including the recent buzz here are the key findings:

To start off, specialty Food delivery companies piloted in one large urban market – refined their technology and processes and then expanded to other urban markets.
More delivery companies came into existence and built their sweet spots either in certain metro areas or breadth and number of restaurants they signed up.
Most of these companies raised enough money to build their brand names and hire large marketing teams which were aggressively signing-up restaurants.
Demographic developments including increase in the number of tech-savvy younger customers as well as economic growth contributed to growth of food delivery segment at a faster rate than overall restaurant industry.
Uber Eats entered Food Delivery space with a significant advantage i.e. an existing network of drivers, end consumers as well as solid brand recognition.
Increased competition has contributed to aggressive tactics to sign up new restaurants including adding restaurant’s to delivery apps without contract or permission. On Diner side – free delivery, variety of coupons are very popular.
Delivery companies are using their brand and clout to negotiate fees as high as 30% from partner restaurants.
Tight Labor Market and Strength of economy along with multiple ‘gig’ options generally available to delivery crew is also making it hard and expensive for food delivery companies to hire and retain reliable people.

So, who is making money in the food delivery industry?

What is the bottom line for Restaurants?

Restaurants are seeing some volume growth due to these new delivery options but have to pay significant fees to delivery companies.
Some Delivery customers are trying new restaurants, they would not have visited otherwise but, Delivery segment is limiting the growth of Dine-In and Direct Pick Up segments.
End Customers have many delivery options these days, specially, in Urban areas and can also benefit from several promotions which delivery companies frequently offer.
Delivery companies offer technology features which are very expensive to be offered by individual restaurants directly. Examples include: Real Time Tracking, Collaborative Ordering, Ability to order from thousands of partner restaurants using the same delivery app.
Despite the volume growth, high commissions – delivery companies are struggling to make money.

What is the long-term suggestion for Restaurants?

Based on everything we have seen, read and heard – Food delivery is likely to grow but will continue to evolve as large delivery companies try harder to make profits. Reduction in promotions offered to end customers, minimum order $ values, consolidation among major delivery companies etc. is likely to happen. Restaurants should continue to offer delivery option thru these specialty delivery apps but should closely monitor their business, trends, patterns etc. and plan their operations accordingly.

Restaurants should identify the top 1 or 2 delivery apps which have the best service and processes in the respective market and stick with them Versus offering delivery through all of the Delivery companies / apps. Restaurants can and should negotiate fees and other terms with delivery companies.

We would love to hear your experiences and thoughts in the comments below!

Tags benefits food delivery, food delivery, growing restaurant sales, restaurant marketing, restaurant promotions