Since the New Year is just around the corner, companies can start thinking of new methods to bring in more sales, generate greater revenues and increase the bottom lines.
Restaurants, which vie for business every single day in this highly competitive industry, always have to keep up with their competitors, stay on top of the latest industry trends and move forward with new updates.
From trendy interior décor to a menu overhaul, restaurants regularly update their establishment to make the current clientele happy and to attract new customers. This does require initial business funding, particularly for those that do not have enough reserves or can't take out another loan from the bank. This is why every restaurant, diner or café should consider a restaurant cash advance to cover these upgrades to the business.
Here are seven restaurant updates that can put your business on the fast track in 2015.
Smaller Menus
According to Entrepreneur magazine, one of the biggest trends taking place in the New Year is smaller menus. There are a variety of reasons why restaurants are shrinking their menus - price inflation, higher operating costs or less customers - but your restaurant should be no different. Try not to overwhelm or underwhelm your customers by finding the golden mean. Moderation is key, but a menu redesign can help give your business a boost in 2015.
Healthier Alternatives
It's true: consumers, especially the millennial generation, are abandoning McDonald's and other fast-food chainsin favor of healthier food alternatives, even if they're more expensive. What does this mean for your restaurant? Start incorporating healthy meals into your menu, and try to cater to the vegetarian market - studies have shown the number of vegetarians in the United States is gradually increasingevery year.
Organic & Local
The mind of the consumer is changing, as they aren't just cost-conscious anymore. Instead of worrying about the sticker price, customers want to know where the food comes from, whether or not it's organic and if it's environmentally friendly. When updating your menu, tap into this segment of the market and apply the organic trends into the foods you prepare.
Going Tech
Touch-screen menus, tablets instead of notepads, and paying with smartphones are all the rage for the food service industry. There's no reason why your restaurant shouldn't adopt these tech trends in the New Year. Remember, it isn't all about social media, but being just as tech-savvy as millennials and Generation Zers. The restaurant industry is evolving so don't get left behind.
Ambiance
We've all seen the deplorable restaurants on Gordon Ramsay's "Kitchen Nightmares." In today's market, the ambiance is just as important as the food served: from candlelight to a lovely exterior, décor is one of the most imperative investments a restaurant can make, whether they're established or new to the neighborhood.
A Superb Team
The minimum wage is going up so your restaurant might as well hire the best of the best. Not only are superb waiters great at serving customers, but they also know how to upsell, cater to the customers' needs and encourage them to come back again and again. Every waiter must remember the key point: they're not just serving food, they're selling as well. Investing in training for your management staff can go a long way to developing a outstanding wait staff.
Sanitary and Energy Efficient
If the chandeliers haven't been dusted since the Bush administration or a new set of dishes haven't been purchased since the restaurant first opened then it's time to perform an audit of the restaurant's condition. Customers want a clean establishment to frequent, and this means sanitary tables, floors, cutlery, plates and building.
Also, making the restaurant energy efficient can prove to customers that you're here to stay and you're conscious of your business operations.
In the end, these updates can garner more visits from current customers, bring in new patrons, improve the table turnover flow rate and increase spending by customers. All it takes is a little initiative.
Restaurant upgrades require an investment, but they are crucial if you want to grow your business. Updating décor, staff, equipment and surroundings helps keep the enterprise profitable.
