Ever since I can remember, I have wanted to be a waitress in a restaurant. Two years ago, that finally happened, and I have loved working in restaurants ever since. I developed a passion serving people and working in restaurants, which led me to pursue a degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management. Our class was given a paper to write, and we had to come up with a topic to write about. I, of course, chose a topic revolving around restaurants. Customers are what make a restaurant run. A big question that could be asked is what are strategies for attracting customers in restaurants? A few strategies to attract customers are networking, offering discounted deals, special events and happy hour, and target marketing.
One strategy that a restaurant should use to attract customers would be to network. One of the ways to do this would be to go out looking for new customers to get to come to your restaurant, rather than waiting for customers to come to you. Dropping off menus to local businesses and giving out some coupons while passing out menus may entice people to dine at your restaurant. Another idea may be to advertise your establishment through local periodicals such as newspapers and magazines to offer special events and banquets for local businesses, wedding rehearsal dinners, or family get-togethers. Visiting local hotels that do not have a restaurant attached to the hotel and offering discounts to their guests if they come dine in at your restaurant would also be a great networking tool.(Root, ”Strategies for Attracting Customers in Restaurants”)
Another way to attract customers would be to offer special discounts. This could be done with e-gift coupons. You can utilize an entirely new market with e-gifts. E-gifts wo...
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... establishment. Networking can really help your business through e-gifts, check-in apps, and birthday emails, to name a few. Offering special events and happy hour at your business can greatly improve sales through wine tasting events, banquets, and sports season. Target marketing is important when starting your business by creating a name and atmosphere that will attract whatever market segment you are trying to reach. For example, the 21-30 age group, women, tourists, gay community, etc. Whatever it may be, target marketing is very essential in attracting customers to your restaurant. I have worked in the restaurant business since I was 16 so I have caught on to many different techniques that certain businesses use to attract customers to their restaurant. By using these important strategies, you will be sure to improve the traffic of customers in your business.
They have promotional activities to increase how many people come to the restaurant and how many people will come again
The last recommendation I have for Applebee’s is to add some sort of interactive entertainment. Such entertainment could be bowling, table tennis, or even open mic’s. This will give customers a reason to either come or stay longer than they should which would increase the average amount spent by each patron. Hosting open mic’s (events where amateur poets,singers,comedians) will allow Applebee’s to become more involved with the community and help establish a relationship. Also, if a person is performing they are likely to invite friends and family which would result in increased sales. Providing alternative entertainment is something most local restaurants do, this would serve as a person to person promotional campaign.
Dave Thomas an American restaurateur and a philanthropist once said, “It all comes back to the basic. Serve customers the best-tasting food at a good value in a clean, comfortable restaurant, and they'll keep coming back.” (thomas). Everyone can agree on Dave Thomas, but I have a couple more criteria to add to his idea of a great successful restaurant. If I go out to eat I might as well pick a place that, though may be expensive, has scrumptious food because why bother going to spend money on food you can make yourself? A great restaurant has to meet three of my criteria’s: the Décor and atmosphere, impeccable service and cleanliness, and most importantly the food.
The restaurant business is a challenging industry and if a company has a strategy that works for them as well as their employees, it should stay the course and tweak as needed.
From a study completed by Chicago-based Research International USA completed a study called “Fast Food Nation 2008. The panel consisted of 1,000 respondents of ages 16-65 who provided their inputs with an online survey which was conducted between March 13 through 2008. Which was based on results on fast food restaurants like McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s are gaining popularity even through the economic hardship and recession. Marketing strategy has become more of influence on kids and young American’s. As population grows and the demand increases of fast food restaurants are expanding their stores to capturing more consumers. Fast food chains are also willing to change their menus to continue to gain and retain repeating customers. With each generation that passes, brings fast food chains into more homes and continues impacting lives.
Relying on our strong company legacy that is been in place since 1968, I believe that we can use that strategically to improve our overall marketing strategy and help achieve our overall goal of continued franchise expansion throughout the country. One of the most effective ways to capitalize on our company legacy and reputation is through product placement and advertising. I predict that our overall marketing strategy for developing products will be small at first. Any initial product placement will be on things like napkins, aprons and other apparel. You also investigate creating our own unique company logo. This will help to increase our brand recognition. Also, we can create our own website and have an interactive menu that allows our customers to order our products online and have them be ready for pickup at the restaurant location. After some initial trial and error, we can consider expanding our product line of items that have more prosper
Customers buy when they feel it is necessary giving them the upper hand on the industry. Bargaining power of suppliers: In the quick- service restaurant, the suppliers vary. They really do not rely distributors as large restaurants do. Threat of new substitutes: The restaurant industry is segmented into many parts: full service restaurants ($120 billion); quick- service restaurants ($110 billion); away-from-home managed institutions, examples: food services for schools and hospitals ($21 billion); and other food industries ($106 billion). (Marshall Jones, 1999). Rivalry among competi...
Cook Out is a restaurant that has been recently opened in the Hampton Roads area. This new business venture has embraced the approach of southern cooking in carrying out their operations. The approach has enabled the restaurant prevail in the restaurant industry in Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. Even though the restaurant has the potential to deliver better services, there have been little efforts to train the employees to realize their full potential. These employees are vital to the success of Cook Out restaurant as they are in constant contact with new customers.
Overall, these are all marketing strategies that can be utilized both locally, and on a larger scale. Two additional factors must also be considered when using effective marketing strategies. Determining areas where marketing will be most effective, as well as methods to organize and keep track of existing, and new clientele are imperative to successful
In the food and Hospitality industry, Working with Colleagues and Customers is an important part of the job. Customer relations and interpersonal skills are the two most important skills that a person working in that industry will need to know about.
... It really all depends on your target market. Marketing is always geared towards the customer. Without the customer, your business will not be successful.
...g possibilities is the aspect of the business called the "demanding public"? The guests that come through the lobby of any restaurant demand a highly trained staff and a superior product no matter what extenuating circumstances exist "back in the kitchen". Orchestrating each and every element of the restaurant management so that it appears as if it is an effortless, smooth operation is a commanding, daily challenge.
Marketing is a vital component in the success of businesses. Smaller businesses rely on business advertising, expenses, knowing if the business is networking with the right people, or joining the best organisations that lead to success (EStartup business blog, 2010). Marketing concentrates on customers and what the customers want. Customers are the source of sales and profits. Many small businesses are faced with remarkable hardships due to not developing the right marketing plan (EStartup business blog, 2010).
It has been proven to be one of the most effective management initiatives because it can combine the knowledge, ideas, feelings, feedback from many parties together, especially between an organization and its customers. If this strategy is utilized successfully, it can bring many benefits to businesses. One of the benefits is the development of innovative products. For hospitality industry, two of the main ways to use this strategy is by customer surveying and talking with related parties such as customers, suppliers, business
...ded once they see that the sales will be increasing and tips will be larger. Good staff will increase good public relations which will result in better business. Marketing a restaurant is the most important part in running a restaurant. If a restaurant is not marketed, no one will know about the restaurant causing it to lose money to operate forcing it to close down. Prices on the menu should always be appealing to the restaurant target market and set towards the products on the menu. It is essential that a restaurant develops its staff to the fullest, for a strong staff creates better sales and the public is pleased .