There are advantages to being a chain restaurant versus an independent establishment: chains can offer customers lower prices, utilize established brand recognition & equity and activate larger resources through the parent company. However, customers have started to care less and less about these advantages and tend to pick smaller, independent restaurants. Be aware that price is NOT the main criteria when it comes to picking a restaurant. Customers search for a menu that is more unique and service that is more personal and friendly. According to Technomic’s study in 2016, all consumers groups, except Gen X, are choosing independent restaurants at least 10% more frequently. And that trend is not stopping, especially now in 2018. For that reason, chain restaurants are havingContinue Reading …
Sure, we all know that days like Valentine’s Day are great days for restaurants to make money, but can they also spell disaster? Join Jeremy and Ryan as they chat about the hidden benefits and pitfalls of these special event days!
Any restaurant owner knows how frustrating it is when they take the reservation and the customer doesn’t show up. It means revenue loss and an empty seat. Especially, when that seat could have been occupied by paying customer. To combat this problem, some restaurant owners have decided to say do away with taking reservations. Starting in New York somewhere between 2009 and 2010, this trend has gained a steady following. So, how risky is it to adopt a “no reservation” policy? To put it bluntly, you must be prepared that some customers will absolutely hate this policy. Since this is a relatively ‘new’ trend, the customers that you will likely alienate are Baby Boomers. But, you have to know that losing aContinue Reading …
Owning a restaurant is a tough business. You all know that. The market is ruthless. Just the slightest mistake can lead to losing customers and shutting down. So, owners and operators must think through long and hard before they make major decisions. They are in a constant struggle between making profit and making their customers happy. Sometimes these two things exclude each other. The rule “The customer is always right” is, let’s be honest, questionable and not always right. Restaurant owners often ask themselves if it is acceptable to sometimes say “No” to your customers. According to some, it is. Let’s talk reservations. Restaurants have always included the traditional reservation system for their customers. You call or email, the host/hostess or managerContinue Reading …
Hold up… What? Stop taking cash?? That’s right. Restaurants and retailers are now starting to accept only credit cards and alternative forms of payments! Crazy, right? Maybe not so much… Join Jeremy and Ryan as they discuss everything that is “cashless”: What it means for your restaurant, what are the benefits, and what are the risks? This is a big one!
In today’s world, mobility is extremely important. Traveling by plane is the fastest way to move from one place to another, so it is not a surprise that there are more and more people that use this mean of transportation. If you travel a lot, you are familiar with the problems that come with it. And one of those problems is food. There are tons of people at the airport, they all want to eat and there are limited options. Waiting for food or a drink is inevitable. Flights are often canceled or postponed and travelers often have to wait for hours, which is already stressful. If you have to wait in long lines to eat, you can imagine how nerve-racking thatContinue Reading …