Category Archives: Restaurant

Restaurant

Three Sales Lessons From Restaurant Menu Design – Boost Sales, Increase Margins

Every time we sit down at a restaurant we are unconsciously playing the biggest sales game in the business. The best thing for the restaurant owner is this type of marketing and selling does not even have to involve a person. It’s just between you and the menu, and the menu wins most of the time.

“Hold on a moment!”, I hear you say, “I decide what I want to eat, and it’s according to my tastes at the time.” Hmmmm, OK if that’s what you want to believe, but I have news for you. We are constantly manipulated into making choices that we don’t necessarily want or even like, and this is how it’s done.

Most restaurateurs give careful consideration to what goes onto a menu and the pricing around items. These techniques are tried and tested. So much so, that there are people who make a living around menu engineering. Gregg Rapp in New York is one such person and he has even been able to commoditize this science into a software product that maximizes profit for your menu

I will examine three techniques that restaurateurs use and then provide some tips as to how you can use this in your business.

Position, Position, Position.

Yes, it’s not only the real-estate business where this factor is important, but menu real estate is as important. Where is this expensive neighborhood? Top right hand corner of the menu. It’s the spot where our eyes go first and this is typically where the most expensive items are placed, and where the big sales come from.

Watch for the Price Anchor

When making a choice and judging if an item is good value for money, we often look for items on the menu that we can compare it to. This is the reason that restaurants create a price anchor. Normally, an expensive seafood dish teaming with lobster and prawns. The most distinguishable characteristic is that it’s hardly ever ordered. It’s there for you to compare it to the second most expensive dish, and for you to come to the wisest conclusion that the $70 Admirals Platter is fantastic value compared to the $120 Seafood Supreme. The top selling dish? The Admirals Platter of course.

Delectable Descriptions

Would you like the “Cheese Burger and Chips” $20 or may we interest you in a “Delicious Lamb Burger, topped with crispy crumbed French onions, and a chili creme Fraiche dressing topped with rocket and sun ripened tomatoes, shoestring pomfrites on the side” for $30. Reality check, it’s the same thing but we would happily pay the extra $10 for the deliciously described meal and our taste buds will expect a different experience altogether.

Well this might be great for restaurants but do these techniques apply for the world of traditional sales e.g. furniture, computers, houses etc.? The short answer is yes. The next time you create a proposal, think about your layout. Perhaps do the design differently, frame an item or two in a box in the top right hand side of your proposal. Create a price anchor, so your customers can appreciate the value they are getting in the item that they want. And last but not least use descriptions in your product definition. Even if you are selling a service, describe the service. Tell us about how much fun your team has in working with customers. Use descriptive words to explain about the experience that we will go through when we do business with you and watch the sales climb.

If you want to learn more about how to use these and other sales techniques that you can incorporate into your business, why not book Kevin for his talk on “Priced to Sell – The Psychology of Buying”.

Restaurant

Is It A Smart Move To Open A Restaurant Franchise?

If you are planning to open a restaurant, you have to choose between buying a franchise and starting a restaurant from scratch. If you are confused which one is better for you, look at the pros and cons and then weigh your options. Sometimes the right choice depends on your personality, experience and financial capacity.

Opening a restaurant on your own will involve a lot of hard work, research and learning how to run a restaurant efficiently. You will have to do a lot of work on your own and do your own marketing, training, and searching for affordable equipment and supplies. Starting from scratch can be tedious, but you will open a restaurant that is truly your own.

Franchises are expensive but anyone with just a little knowledge can start it because the franchise company provides training and support. The reason why you have to pay so much for a franchise is because of the benefits that come with being a franchisee. You won’t have to work too hard because you are practically buying a ready-made restaurant.

When you open a restaurant franchise you are supposed to get support from the main company, the main company. They should provide a system or management guidelines for you to follow. So, even if you do not have much experience in running a restaurant, you will be give instructions and training on how to do it. Usually their system is tried and tested and known to make the restaurant profitable.

You are buying into a renown brand when you open a restaurant franchise. People will just be waiting for your restaurant to open. You don’t have to figure out how to get customers because they are already familiar with your restaurant brand name. They know what type of food you offer and what kind of service they will receive because franchises have the same standard in all branches.

There are also disadvantages if you buy a franchise. One is the lack of freedom to run the restaurant the way you want to. Some franchise owners think they paid a large amount of money to open a restaurant but don’t have the freedom to buy cheaper supplies or to add and remove dishes on the menu. If you don’t buy your supplies from the franchisor, they may revoke your franchise and you would end up losing all the money you put in it.

Another drawback is the expense of getting a franchise chain. The franchise fees are usually horrendous that often times only wealthy businessmen can afford to buy a franchise. Franchises are expensive because you are buying convenience and a ready-made business. You are buying a well-known brand that you won’t have to market and promote.

Everything is ready to go when you purchase a restaurant franchise. Some people are fine with this type of arrangement while others feel trapped and restricted by rules. If you want to use your own ideas in your restaurant, then you may be better off starting a restaurant from scratch. Weigh your options carefully before you open a restaurant or buy a franchise because either way, you will be putting a lot of money into it.