Tag: startup restaurant

4 Tips to set your restaurant up for success

Whether you’re about to start a new business or are already in the early days of restaurant ownership, a startup restaurant can be hard to get off the ground. Here are four of the top pieces of advice for any aspiring restauranteur.

Whether you’re about to start a new business or are already in the early days of restaurant ownership, a startup restaurant can be hard to get off the ground. All fledgeling restaurant owners share the same dream of having a popular restaurant, but that dream can only become a reality if you keep a few key things in mind. Here are four of the top pieces of advice for any aspiring restauranteur.

Get the best equipment

A restaurant is only as good as its kitchen, so make sure you outfit your kitchen with the best possible equipment. Choose the right suppliers—a company with years of experience providing startups with commercial refrigeration products, freezers and other kitchen necessities – and then do your research so you know which refrigeration equipment and other accessories are the right ones for your business. True MFG, as an industry leader among manufacturers of commercial refrigerators and refrigeration equipment, have all the details of what you need in the United States to keep your food well-refrigerated. This is crucial for any restaurant, but especially now, during the COVID-19 pandemic. With fluctuating rates of customers, you’ll be sure that your food isn’t going bad before you have a chance to use it with the right refrigeration equipment.

Not only is it a must for keeping everything before its expiration date cool, having the right fridge and freezer are also the necessary tools to pass health and safety guidelines. Make sure you are not on the wrong side of a public health emergency and don’t skimp on your kitchen equipment. Even if you’re a startup and a bit strapped for cash, you can find affordable options from plenty of suppliers.

The appearance of your restaurant is also vital as first impressions matter. Commercial restaurant furniture is available from websites such as https://plymold.com/restaurant/ in a range of styles and finishes to match your branding. You should ensure consistency throughout your restaurant to create a memorable experience for your customers.

Run it like the business it is

Starting a restaurant needs to come from passion, but you also need to take it seriously as a business. Using tools like Work Board can help you track key results and strategic priorities easily, and share the progress with relevant employees. You can only make sure that you have achievable goals and see where progress is and is not being made when you have a clearly defined plan that is communicated to all team members. For example, if you wanted to work on customer service and meeting a customer’s expectations, setting yourself some specific OKR goals for the quarter, such as filling a quota of customer surveys, is key to be able to see if your decisions are resulting in actual progress for your restaurant. It’s hard enough keeping track of all the details when you’re launching a startup – take advantage of excellent tools like those offered by Work Board to keep your key results clear to all your employees and meet your OKR goals more readily.

Take a 50:50 approach to marketing

These days, you need a 50:50 approach to restaurant marketing. Restaurants rely on both foot traffic and an online presence at the same time, so don’t ignore either of them. If you have access to outdoor space or a patio, put branded signage up with information about your menu or any special offers. Share photos of your busy restaurant on social media and interact with other local businesses, from supermarkets and retailers to smaller convenience stores. The more you engage with those around you, especially those from the industry, the more engagement you can expect in return. Having a dynamic and interesting social media presence is definitely the fastest way to get people talking about the hottest new restaurant in town. Try online ordering and delivery, like Adam Harry Guild.

Find a strong concept

Another way to make sure your restaurant is at the front of everyone’s minds is to think of a unique concept for your restaurant. That doesn’t mean a cheesy theme, it means thinking of a way to make sure people remember your restaurant even after they’ve left. Even better, find a concept that gets people talking about your restaurant with their friends. It should encompass everything, from the menu to the interior design. Head to Pinterest or make a physical mood board of what you would like your restaurant to represent. Ask friends and family for their input too. Remember that it’s not just you that has to like the restaurant, it needs to appeal to a general market as well.

With these tips in mind, your restaurant has the best possible chance of flying to success. Although it’s a competitive industry, consumers are moving more and more towards supporting independent restaurants, so there is every chance for you to create the dream restaurant you’re imagining.

How to encourage walk-in customers as a startup restaurant

If you are a new restaurant owner, then you need a solid customer base to help you create a thriving business.

If you are a new restaurant owner, then you need a solid customer base to help you create a thriving business. Getting more people to stop in and check out the venue is critical to your success. We have four sure-fire ways to get more walk-ins and promote word-of-mouth advertising that will grow your brand below.

Air conditioning

No one wants to sit in a stuffy restaurant waiting for food. This is the ideal scenario for creating a room full of hangry people. Instead, hire a reputable HVAC company to install and service your air conditioning unit. You will be glad you did when the kitchen is comfortable instead of sweltering through the hot summer months.

Digital menu boards

People want to visit restaurants with new things. They like digital menus because they are easy to read. Having the prices organized in a coherent theme makes it quick for people to find what they want. You will speed up ordering times with this technology as well. Using mobile apps is also a good idea. Small Business Chronicle says mobile marketing helps people find your business when they are out in the neighborhood looking for a place to eat or drink.

Online ordering

People like the convenience of ordering in and eating at home. Forbes says this industry will grow to a 200 billion dollar field before it peaks. Every business wants to be a part of this emerging trend, so getting in on it now is the best course of action. You can have the option of simply placing orders online or even pair up with local delivery companies to give home delivery options. This will help you reach a much broader customer base than you could by physical location alone.

Plenty of open seating

For people to come inside, they want to see a place to sit. The restaurant should offer inviting seating, but also remain busy to entice people to come sit down. Using a beautiful table setting as part of the window display is an excellent way to grab the attention of people passing by the restaurant. Enticing them to come in might be as easy as putting a dessert menu on the table or a display close to the window.

When you need more people to visit your restaurant, then a few key tips can improve walk-in traffic. A bright sign with your specials and prices is another good idea. People like knowing what they want when they walk into some place new. It gives them a familiar feeling and helps them connect to your brand. Offering free items or promotions is another way to lure customers in the door.