Over recent years, the restaurant market has been struggling, with many eateries finding it difficult to entice diners and make ends meet.
These challenges have been exacerbated by the Coronavirus outbreak, which has led to many dining establishments closing to prevent the spread of the virus.
Those that remain open have had to switch to delivery only, which has significantly reduced their revenue streams.
As the lockdown looks set to be eased in the coming weeks, we’ve put together some practical tips for Essex eateries looking to prepare for a successful reopening.
Support Your Staff
Your employees will be struggling during this challenging time, particularly if your restaurant doesn’t need as many team members to offer a delivery service, or has had to abandon the idea altogether. When you eventually reopen, you’re going to need your staff to support you, so it’s crucial that you assist them during the lockdown. Take advantage of the government’s furlough scheme to keep them in employment, and communicate with them throughout the lockdown. This approach will not only help you to get back up and running efficiently but also show that your business is committed to supporting its team.
Communicate With Customers
These are strange times, so many consumers will be unsure of what their favourite businesses are doing. Keep your customers informed throughout the lockdown by sharing updates on your eatery’s social media pages, website and through your email newsletter. If you’re offering delivery food, then you can share information on how customers can order. If you’re unable to provide a delivery service, then keep sharing information on the plans you have for the future and messages of support for your customers, which will make them feel valued as well as keeping your brand relevant.
Create Exciting New Menu Items
Use the lockdown as an opportunity to expand your menu and create delicious new treats for your customers to enjoy. Once the lockdown is over and you’re able to reopen, you can promote your new dishes using professional food photography. Work with a professional product photography studio in london to create images can be shared on your website and social media pages. These pictures will help you to entice customers to visit your restaurant and sample these new delicacies. Offering new menu items will help you to offer returning customers something new to try and draw first-time diners to visit your establishment after the lockdown is over.
Don’t Overlook Marketing
In such challenging times, it’s easy to think that marketing and advertising are a waste of precious resources. However, even though your eatery isn’t open, you still need to focus on promoting it; you just need to change the way you do so. As mentioned above, you should still be using your online presence to communicate with customers, but you should also remain committed to your marketing and advertising strategy. You might have to change the design of any promotions, but you should keep providing them to keep your brand relevant. For example, instead of promoting your menu, you could use your advertising space to share how your eatery is helping the local community, and how you will bounce back after the crisis. Marketing is an ongoing process, so make sure that you continue to focus on it, even during the lockdown.
Keep Your Property Secure
While many individuals throughout the UK are working tirelessly to reduce the spread of Coronavirus and support those in need, there are some who are less supportive. Many eateries and shops across the country have been vandalised or broken into, so make sure that you protect your restaurant by working with a security company. You should install CCTV to deter criminals and provide you with the chance to catch them if they do attack your business. Put up signs that state that there is no stock or cash left on the premises so that opportunistic thieves are put off.
Use Your Inventory To Help Others
When your eatery closed because of the lockdown, you probably had a lot of food that hadn’t been used yet. If you’re not doing home delivery, then consider providing this food to a local charity or food bank. If you are still open for delivery, then you should consider providing free food to less fortunate, and those on the front line such as NHS workers and supermarket workers. Throughout the food community, companies are coming together to help feed the nation, so consider joining this effort. This approach will not only reduce waste at your establishment, but also help you to show diners that you appreciate your local community and are committed to helping in any way you can.
Offer Promotions
Once the lockdown is over, you’ll need to draw customers to your eatery. A great way to do this is to offer a promotion, which looks like a good deal. Many diners will have suffered financially during the crisis, but they will also be eager to celebrate, so offer them a chance to do so at your restaurant with a promotion that benefits you and your diners.
