Restaurant mascots are more relevant than ever
February 5, 2015
By Jasmine Kafka
Today, restaurant marketing strategies often include exploring the latest and greatest trends such as mobile payments, micro-restaurants (think food trucks) or the happy hour phenomenon. Despite the abundance of new marketing trends at a restaurant’s disposal, there’s always room for a staple 20th century branding tool, the mascot. If used successfully, restaurant mascots ...Read more about this postHow to become – and remain – your guest’s favourite restaurant
December 9, 2014
Creating brand love: How to become – and remain – your guest’s favourite restaurantBy Denis HancockDecember 9, 2014 Loyal guests not only come to your restaurant more often than others; they are the top source of “word-of-mouth” recommendations that are consistently the most effective and affordable way to attract new guests to your restaurant. When it ...Read more about this postTop six reasons why digital gaming matters to your restaurant
September 18, 2014
By Danielle Klammer
Digital gaming for restaurants is a new and integral way to offer your customers the opportunity to interact with your brand, even when they’re not in your restaurant. By offering a kid-friendly branded gaming app, you create an opportunity for your brand to live on smartphones or tablets. This keeps your brand top ...Read more about this postCanada’s new trade-mark laws, and what it means for your restaurant
August 26, 2014
By Chad Finkelstein Brand owners out there – get ready, big changes may be coming to Canada’s trade-marks laws, and some of them aren’t pretty. Some of them are really good developments, as well, that will put us in step with international intellectual property law norms, but all of them are going to dramatically alter the ...Read more about this postHow to choose an approach to healthy eating that suits your restaurant’s overall brand strengths
May 22, 2013
By Emma Hyatt Fitting into healthy menus
Canadians want to see healthy menu options at restaurants. They’ve been telling The NPD Group and other industry professionals this for years. Their intentions to eat healthier may not always turn into actions, but they still want those options available to them. However, like the decision to join any trend, ...Read more about this postTwo ways to stay relevant while connecting with customers
May 2, 2013
By Mark Baltazar and Denis Hancock Restaurant marketers are in a never-ending battle to differentiate their brand in consumers’ minds. But sometimes focusing too much on differentiation can lead a brand to miss opportunities available to them. Two of the ways to avoid doing this are:
Differentiating around mega-trends
Ensuring advertising is distinctly relevant
Differentiating around mega-trends
Once something becomes ...Read more about this postFive ways to use your restaurant’s digital signage effectively
February 20, 2013
By Diane Chiasson
Digital signage is slowly taking over the restaurant and foodservice industry. Most operators have already made the switch over to digital menu boards, or have plans to in the near future. And it makes sense. Digital boards are a cost-effective way for restaurant owners and operators to instantaneously communicate any message they want ...Read more about this postSeven ideas for naming your restaurant
September 18, 2012
By Diane Chiasson
When it comes to naming a restaurant, one needs to give as much thought to it as one would in naming their child. It’s a name that you will use for the lifetime of the business. What you name your restaurant can contribute to the success of your restaurant. That single name will ...Read more about this postHow to choose the right restaurant uniforms
August 31, 2012
By Sean Moon
If we can believe Mark Twain, clothes not only “make the man” (or woman), they can also make – or break – your restaurant business.
The type of uniform a person wears is a key factor in building credibility, trust and identification in industries ranging from hospitals to hospitality. In the foodservice business, the ...Read more about this postFood trucks are driving profit for Canadian restaurateurs
August 2, 2012
A small group of Canadian restaurateurs is taking their unique twist on food service literally to the streets.
From designer tacos and high-end burgers to gourmet cupcakes and deli sandwiches, a number of chefs are counting on the power of social media and the eclectic tastes of a restless generation to turn the Canadian foodservice industry ...Read more about this postThree tips for redesigning your restaurant’s website
May 16, 2012
By Patti Hone Every now and then your website needs a refresh. There are a number of good reasons for redesigning your site: part of a rebrand, adding new functions such as a content management system, or perhaps it is just outdated.
A redesign can make a big difference that’s either positive or negative if not done ...Read more about this postSix tips for improving your brand recognition at summer food festivals
May 12, 2012
By Diane Chiasson
The summer season is a great time for restaurants to bring in extra business by attracting tourists, opening your patio, reinvigorating your menu with fresh, local produce, and promoting ice-cold, thirst-quenching cocktails. But have you considered participating in a summer food festival?
Each year, there seems to be an increase in the number of ...Read more about this postSeven tips for moving up in search rankings by improving your web presence
April 16, 2012
By Diane Chiasson
Creating an online presence with useful content is one of the major keys to be successful on the Internet today. Today, a website has to offer much more than just basic information about your restaurant or foodservice operation. It has to engage your visitors and encourage repeat visits.
Diane Chiasson, FCSI, President of Chiasson ...Read more about this postHow to earn extra profits and free advertising with retail merchandise
March 14, 2012
By Diane Chiasson
Selling retail and promotional items can help your company in many ways. It can help you enhance and strengthen your brand image, as well as bring in more revenue. It’s not just for big chain and theme restaurants anymore.
Any restaurant or foodservice owner or operator could benefit from it. If the merchandise is ...Read more about this postToday’s Tip: Customers are sweet on thank-you mints
October 17, 2011
October 17, 2011 Private label “thank-you mints” are a great way of branding. Customers take the mints with them in their pocket and will later be reminded of their restaurant experience – potentially returning for another meal. Customers like to be surprised, and when they receive a quality candy or mint at the end of their ...Read more about this post