Get your restaurant busy on quiet days
Every outlet, be it retail or hospitality, has quiet days. It’s how you tackle these periods that can make the difference. Consider these 10 tips:
#1 Set menus if you know when you’re quiet then advertise a special offer around these times. Offer a set lunch menu, say two courses for £9.95 - there’s always an opportunity to up-sell by offering drinks and desserts.
#2 Early bird menus between 5-7pm can be popular with families and it also helps your restaurant look busy for those looking for a meal later on.
#3 Theme It if you want to increase mid-week business, try out theme nights. Curry night, Italian night or steak night will always appeal – especially if you set the price right.
#4 Attracting community groups if there are charities, business meeting, networking or book groups, suggest they hold their next gathering at your place on quiet days and offer them a set menu or a discount. These groups may not be a big money earner but it’s a great way of raising your profile and securing repeat visits.
#5 Mums & babies if you have room for prams, then organise morning coffee and cake for a set price every morning. Why not offer bottle-warming and high chairs? If you’re near a school, make sure you advertise in the window as they walk past.
#6 Make it eventful hosting regular comedy or live music nights will bring in a new audience and they’ll return plus tell their friends!
#7 Reward loyalty thank regular customers with a freebie of some sort during your off-peak times.
#8 Exclusive offers why not offer special deals for your Facebook & Twitter followers on quiet nights. This can be a great viral marketing method if people share your offer with their friends.
#9 Take it away could you offer a take-out service where your food can be served in containers? Even offering coffee and a mobile breakfast for morning commuters - it can open your restaurant up to a whole new market of people.
#10 Tell people! Whatever you do, don’t forget to advertise it to your existing clientele via internal posters, newsletters and social media.
