Okay we love lists, so here is another one, ten simple things that you can do today to increase your sales.
- Only hire people who are friendly. Friendly people make the guest happy and a happier guest buys more – simple. But don't just assume your servers are friendly. Use our mystery shopper checklist to evaluate your restaurant’s dining experience from your guests’ point of view. You might be surprised.
- Market repeat visits to every customer through every transaction. The goal is not merely to “sell more†this visit, but to get the customer to come back more often. Getting a guest to return one more time in a month increases your sales 100% with that person. What about giving every customer a “10% off your next visit†voucher when presenting every bill?
- Make sure there are no internal obstacles to selling more. Is a slow kitchen hurting your sales are there bottlenecks during peak periods? We all too often spend money advertising to bring new customers to our restaurants while ignoring the lost sales right in front of our noses.
- Schedule smartly so that servers have time to sell and time to connect with their customers. Giving servers a 10-table section to save money may be “penny-wise†but it's certainly “pound-foolish.â€
- Don’t overlook slow day parts. Are there promotions that can draw customers in during these times? A cafe we often visit bake off a batch of fresh muffins every day at 10am and 3pm to draw in a crowd after breakfast and again after lunch, they even have a clock on the wall counting down to when the fresh muffins will be coming out of the oven.
- Make sure you train your hosts better. They are the first sales people that guests meet when they enter your restaurant. Don't overlook the importance of teaching them how to recommend drinks, desserts and specials while they are seating your guests.
- Set sales targets for every shift. Run shift sales contests for servers and don't forget to include the kitchen team too. What about a competition for the server who sells the most side salads, with every main course.
- Make every customer feel important, remember they are your guest. One of my favourite restaurants goes one further by asking customers to consultant on potential changes to the menu. Every time the chef is trying a new dish, sample plates are prepared for the customers, not only do you get great feedback, customers are very likely to recommend your restaurant as they feel they had a part in designing the menu.
- Be better at local marketing than the competition. Visit every business or organization within a 5 mile radius of your restaurant at least once a month and find ways to either bring them in or cater to them. Send out emails. Advertise on staff notice boards at local businesses.
- Finally as an owner be hands on, visit every table at least once during service.
