Casual dining mom-and-pops haven’t been hurt as much by the recession, mainly because people feel a strong connection to the businesses. Becoming a local leader and integral part of the community, versus a faceless chain, can go a long way to developing customer loyalty.
In a restaurant market full of competition, what separates you from your neighbor? Service, ambiance, price, parking and décor can all be strong factors in swaying a potential customer’s decision. However one fact always seems to get lost somewhere and that is the ability for your customers to get in contact with you either to make a reservation, discuss special needs or even book their company holiday party. As restaurant consultants, we know that restaurant customer service is the critical and often overlooked as an area than can directly drive improved business when given appropriate attention.
This market is providing restaurant operators with an opportunity to revisit their business and conduct an audit from the ground up, identifying wasteful cost centers and untapped revenue opportunities. A good restaurant consultant is someone who walks in the door with information, teaches it to the client and leaves that wisdom behind. An experienced consultant can also save money, find money and create money and it is these benefits that OnSite’s clients capture by bringing us on site.
OnSite Consulting references those restaurants offering ‘unbeatable offers’, we have for some time been expressing concerns that dropping prices or offering ‘unbeatable deals’ is not the quick fix that venues need. These offers rarely bring in the level of new business expected, the restaurant often carries the loss associated with such loss leading discounts for a long period of time and returning to a price point which does make sense for the business can be deeply unpopular.
In an attempt to boost local business during the economic downturn, the City of West Hollywood has partnered with the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to offer a special economic hardship package to local retailers, restaurants, hotels and other businesses.
James Sinclair, President of OnSite Consulting, operators of O-Bar in West Hollywood, said the economic hardship package is not only a financial measure, but one that will raise morale amongst business owners.
