Having managed multiple restaurant chains in Abu Dhabi, we know how notoriously difficult it is to get your restaurant business to grow, especially in this economy. However, with a bit of strategic planning and effort, it’s not impossible.
Here are 6 strategies you can use to help your restaurant business thrive in 2022:
1) Pay Close Attention to Customer Feedback
Like many other businesses, restaurants play a vital role in our economy, especially in Abu Dhabi. Yet, we see many restaurant business owners are left clueless about why their sales have gone down over the past few months. While some may consider the pandemic as a reason why, if you dig deep into the business operations, you will find that it’s very rarely the case.
Customers pay close attention to the taste & quality of the food, the price, and the quality of service that they receive when they interact with your business. Any compromises in this regard can drastically change how customers engage with you.
The chef who used to work at your restaurant may no longer work there, your portion sizes are smaller now, the ingredients might’ve gone through some readjustments, or maybe you removed a menu item that customers used to love, and that. There could be many reasons why. However, if you’re not paying close attention to what your customers have to say about these changes, you may never really find out.
Not all customers will openly walk up to you & tell you what they thought about the food straight away. This is even more prevalent considering how more & more people are using apps like Talabat, Zomato & Deliveroo to order their food in. That said, customers are in fact more than likely to leave reviews about their experience on sites like Google, Tripadvisor, Talabat, etc.
Reviews play a key role in influencing a potential customer to buy from you. A good reputation is hard to earn but very easy to lose. This is why it’s important to pay close attention to what customers are saying about your business and respond appropriately.
2) Reward Your Loyal Customers
Rewards like offering discounts, free gifts, complimentary meals, etc can help your business attract and keep these customers happy.
Loyal customers are a valuable asset for any business. They are more likely to keep coming back time & again, recommend your business to others, and be more loyal in the future. When you make your customers happy, they tend to leave positive reviews and return for future visits.
A simple gesture like offering something as small or simple as a dessert or an appetizer on the house will surprise and delight customers, making them happy and likely to return in the future. Plus, it can lead to more sales because happy customers are more likely to spend money than those who are not. Just make sure that your rewards program is affordable for your business to maintain.
3) Optimize Your Menu
One of the most important aspects of any restaurant is its menu. A well-designed menu can help to increase sales and profitability, while a poorly designed menu can lead to decreased sales. When designing your menu, you need to consider 2 things based on the community in which you are located.
Firstly, consider the spending habits of your customers, and how much they are likely to spend on average for a typical meal. Secondly, consider the kind of cuisine they are accustomed to. While there is no harm in trying to innovate & provide a unique dining experience for the community, it’s not worth taking a risk, especially if your whole business is based on an entirely new concept.
If the majority of customers cannot afford to buy from your menu, sales are going to be done. The same scenario applies if your customers aren’t interested in the dishes you offer.
Look at your sales reports and analyze what kinds of dishes sell poorly, and try to optimize your menu. At the same time, do a market survey and look at what kinds of dishes your competitors are offering, and at what prices. While it may be difficult to compete on price directly, you can at least try to compete on the value & service that you provide.
4) Offer a Remarkable Dine-in Experience
When we talk about customer experience, most may assume it begins when a customer’s order is taken, or when food is served to them. However, this is not actually true. From a customer’s perspective, it starts from the moment they walk into the restaurant.
The atmosphere, friendly staff, and level of service, all play a key role in delivering a great dine-in experience. Customers who enjoyed their time at your restaurant will go on to rave about your business to their family, friends, and coworker. Similarly, if they had a less-than-ideal time at your restaurant, chances are, they’ll make sure to let everyone they know avoid going to your restaurant.
This just goes to show how important it is to ensure each and every customer has a great experience when they interact with you, regardless of whether they are dining in, having a takeaway, or placing an order online.
5) Staying Engaged With Your Local Community
Local businesses like restaurants play an important role in the local economy, and the community around it, becoming deeply integrated and gaining a unique identity as a result. As a local restaurant business, it is important to stay engaged with the local community.
This means being involved in local events & getting your name out there through activities like volunteering, sponsorships, donating to local charities, etc.
This will not only help you build a positive reputation but also help you grow your business.
6) Diversify Your Business
In this digital age, it pays to have a strong digital presence. Building on & improving your digital presence is a fantastic way to tap into a wider audience, thanks to the increased visibility that you gain through these digital platforms.
Social Media Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok, are used by millions of users in the UAE.
Leveraging Food Delivery platforms like Talabat, Deliveroo, and Zomato, is a fantastic way to gain new customers. They are very popular & widely used by many customers to order food online, straight to their homes.
We hope these 6 tips will help you grow your restaurant business in 2022. Remember to focus on quality food, customer service, and marketing to keep your business thriving.
Where we can help:
With over 17 years in the industry, we understand how it might be difficult to identify what areas of your business need attention and make the right decisions to drive your business forward. Having owned multiple restaurants and other food companies, we have a lot of experience in helping businesses just like yours get back on track and lead to continued growth.
If you believe your restaurant business has the potential to make a difference and would appreciate guidance in realizing your goals, then feel free to reach out to us and let us know how we, at Al Nomani Holding Group can help you & your business grow.