Spruce Things Up with Economical Decorating Ideas

An Insta-worthy space will get a restaurant more visibility and encourage others to visit the establishment. There are many low-cost ways to set the perfect mood for a restaurant photo. Fake plants and wall decals are economical and can help create a warm atmosphere. Art can also be a factor when a customer is deciding where to dine. A study out of RIT Croatia found that customer satisfaction increased when the art in the space seemed to match the dinging experience’s quality. The highest percentage of those surveyed preferred paintings, followed closely by photographs. A low-cost way to incorporate art into your restaurant’s decor could be to partner with a local art league or art school and feature paintings and photographs from the students.

 

The same study also found the lighting of an establishment to be a one-way driving factor in customer influence, meaning that customers did not often cite good lighting as a reason they wanted to go to an establishment. However, they did cite harsh lighting as a reason not to want to go to an establishment. Simply swapping out harsh fluorescent light bulbs for ones that emit a softer, warmer glow could give a restaurant an instant refresh.

 

 

Extend Your Space into Social Media

Businessman and founder of Intuit Scott Cook once said, “A brand is no longer what we tell the consumer it is – it is what consumers tell each other it is.” Even a minimal presence on Instagram and Facebook can remind a customer of all the positive associations they have with your space, or create an impression of a restaurant they haven’t tried yet. Create a hashtag for your restaurant, and periodically repost your customer’s posts about having a good time at your establishment. This can help turn your client base into more of a community. Drive engagement with small contests and giveaways.

 

Update the Menu

Consider your menu a selection of “greatest hits.” Are there a few menu items that no one seems to order? Consider a menu audit to tighten up your menu to cut out the deadwood. This adjustment can save your establishment money on supplies while continuing to offer only the favorites. Furthermore, space on your menu is like real estate. Since customers only spend a few minutes glancing at the menu, it’s best to offer a smaller selection of popular, appealing items.

In addition to cutting things from your menu, restaurant psychology expert Aaron Allen suggests that simply reengineering a menu can increase sales. Suppose a restaurant puts the most expensive dishes at the top of the menu. In that case, customers feel like they are getting a “deal” by choosing the more reasonably priced items below, driving up their satisfaction with the experience. Rewording a menu can also be powerful. A study out of The Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly found that when used sparingly, vivid descriptions with positive connotations (for example, “scrumptious cookies like grandma used to bake”) could drive up sales and customer attitudes toward a business.

 

Let Them Eat Cake

Customers want to feel appreciated. Studies suggest that loyalty programs, when executed properly, have been shown to make guests feel special and also increase sales. Customers want to feel a return on the investment of visiting your establishment. Programs that give customers a free item or discount after a certain number of visits can incentivize visiting more frequently. Additionally, implementing a birthday program that offers customers a discount or freebie during their birth month could be an excellent way to establish your restaurant as a positive presence during someone’s celebratory plans.

 

Keep a Happy, Well-Trained Staff

A large part of the guest experience comes from their interactions with staff. Furthermore, happier, better-engaged staff often equals a more satisfied clientele. Boost morale among staff with bonding experiences and menu tastings to get them to know the restaurant better. Keep your team up-to-date on best practices with a restaurant training system that can help promote positive interactions between servers, managers, and guests. Synergy Sync is a web-based restaurant training program that is your one-stop learning management, checklist accountability, and process management system built by restaurant leaders for restaurant leaders.

Over the last few years, the restaurant industry has experienced a broad range of significant changes that have made it very difficult for so many mature brands to achieve a level of meaningful profitability.

• The restaurant landscape has become very competitive and over-saturated.
• Many mature brands fail to innovate and have become fatigued.
• Once-loyal guests have gravitated to more innovative brands that meet their dining needs and fit their lifestyle.

In addition, rents continue to soar, staffing continues to be a real challenge, and continued pressure from minimum wage increases and numerous delivery options have made it extremely difficult to achieve a reasonable ROI or operating profit. Finally, many mature brands have lost or watered down their company culture, which is impacting their morale and the ability to attract best-in-class talent.

Many of the guests that frequented your restaurant 10 to 20 years ago have new dining needs, and their food and beverage expectations have evolved to demand a more contemporary experience. If your restaurant décor hasn’t been refreshed in over ten years, there is a good possibility the restaurant is looking a bit outdated. This could be having an impact on your guest frequency and top-line revenue.

While updating your décor is important, the bigger issue is your menu and your innovation engine. Are your food and beverage creativity and plate presentations keeping up with the changing dining trends? The reality is if your guests are not taking pictures of your food for their Instagram feeds or talking about your food and beverage on social media, that’s a problem.

If you agree with my basic assumptions, then you need an innovation strategy to pivot so you can refresh your food and beverage while updating some of your key décor needs. When it comes to menu innovation, the Synergy Team can truly help your drive frequency and top line sales with practical solutions that deliver results based on your budget. Give us a call; it will be one of the best decisions you make for the sustainability of your restaurant brand.