Ghost kitchens are evolving as restaurant challenges continue
November 17, 2022
Ghost kitchens popped up during the pandemic as a creative way to keep kitchens open when dining areas were closed. But as the demand for off-premise dining continues to hit record highs, the ghost kitchen concept is evolving. They began as a kind of a mystery, with many ghost kitchens opening in secret locations, allowing customer ...Read more about this postWhat is your restaurant missing?
November 8, 2022
By Megan Prevost Success in the restaurant industry often comes from a passionate pursuit to make things better, but what is your restaurant missing? In an industry as volatile and unpredictable as this one, it’s important to stay on your toes, and pay attention to customer retention trends, customer satisfaction levels, and your competitors. No matter ...Read more about this postBoost your restaurant business with the after-work crowd
November 1, 2022
Restaurants need to constantly be on the lookout for creative ways to increase their guest counts and attract new clientele. With consumers craving social experiences and more employees heading back into the office, restaurants may be able to appeal to an after-work crowd to get more people through the doors. A recent survey found that diners ...Read more about this postSustainability matters to today’s Canadian consumers
October 18, 2022
Sustainability is a hot topic for Canadians and it is becoming increasingly important to consumers, with 45 per cent looking to increase their sustainable behaviour. Recently, consumers were asked to rate the importance of restaurants making sustainable choices. Results were steady across the board, with QSRs (at 57 per cent), fast casuals (at 56 per cent), ...Read more about this postMerchandising could help boost your restaurant’s brand
October 11, 2022
Are you looking for a new way to boost your restaurant’s brand and spread the word about your business? If you’ve already sent out flyers, partnered with other businesses, and marketed promos, maybe it’s time to try something new. Many restaurant chains are creating merchandise as a marketing tool. Tim Hortons partnered with Justin Bieber to ...Read more about this postWhat are customer profiles — and why should you build them?
September 29, 2022
By Mark Plumlee Knowing your customers is perhaps the most important part of running a successful small business. Knowing your target audience should inform every decision you make – your overall atmosphere, your menu, your marketing strategies, and beyond. Familiarity with your diners allows your business to provide them with the exact drinking or dining experience they ...Read more about this postYour menu pricing strategy can help your restaurant get ahead
September 22, 2022
As inflation continues to rise and labour shortages persist, it may be time to look at your menu pricing strategy as a way to cut costs and raise profits. As a restaurateur, you know it’s a balancing act to keep customers happy and stay in the green. Understanding how to create a menu pricing strategy can ...Read more about this postHow to use design to make your restaurant stand out – part 3: marketing materials
September 22, 2022
By Megan Prevost Designing your restaurant to promote your unique, identifiable brand means looking at more than just artwork and lighting to make your restaurant stand out. You’ll want to ensure that anything that mentions or promotes your restaurant also portrays that stand-out branding. This means everything from the design of your business cards to your ...Read more about this postModern food delivery requires modern food packaging
September 21, 2022
With takeout and delivery so popular and so many restaurants competing for attention, food packaging counts. Studies show that 72 per cent of consumers are influenced by a product’s packaging when deciding whether to buy, so your takeout and delivery packaging could be an important sales tool for your restaurant. Here’s a look at some of ...Read more about this postHow to use design to make your restaurant stand out — part 2: restaurant atmosphere
September 7, 2022
By Megan Prevost While the design and content of your menu can certainly help your restaurant stand out, customers think about more than just food when they’re choosing a restaurant to dine at. Restaurant marketing professionals know that restaurants provide customers with an experience, not just dinner. Whether subconsciously or explicitly, diners select restaurants based on ...Read more about this postWhy custom uniforms can be effective tools in the hospitality industry
August 30, 2022
By Nick Warrick Staff members in the hospitality industry have a critical role in providing a positive customer experience. These employees represent your brand, whether they work in the background or have face-to-face customer interactions. The clothing your staff wears creates a lasting first impression for your guests. Choosing custom uniforms at your location makes a ...Read more about this postHow to use design to make your restaurant stand out — part 1: food & menus
August 22, 2022
By Megan Prevost Even if your restaurant makes the world’s best food, it won’t survive without a solid marketing strategy in place. Most restaurant marketing experts know that customers aren’t simply seeking something to eat; they’re seeking an experience. If you want to create an experience at your restaurant, you’ll want to design and establish your ...Read more about this postWhy you should solicit more online reviews (and how to do it)
August 12, 2022
By Mark Plumlee If you want to capture the attention of would-be guests on the internet, online reviews are of the utmost importance. According to a study by TripAdvisor, 94 per cent of respondents in the U.S. admitted that online reviews influence their dining decisions. Another study by two economists at the University of California, Berkeley, ...Read more about this postHow restaurants can create community by partnering with nonprofits
August 11, 2022
By Adrian Johansen It’s not uncommon for restaurants and nonprofits to work together, mostly to raise money for that particular organization or because the restaurant supports it and wants to find a way to give back. One of the most common practices is for a patron to mention an organization by name at the restaurant and ...Read more about this postRestaurant design trends for the post-pandemic consumer
July 29, 2022
Perfecting your restaurant design can be tricky but it is a vital step for attracting and retaining customers. How can restaurateurs ensure they are appealing to the contemporary consumer? The latest edition of Datassential’s Trendspotting report notes that as restaurants continue to struggle to stay afloat in the post-pandemic, inflation-infused climate, more than one in five ...Read more about this post