The summer season has finally arrived, bringing with it long, sunny days, warmth, and of course, the desire to cool off on a terrace or indoors after long days at work or a great day of vacation! As a restaurant owner, now is the time to maximize your income by attracting additional customers on vacation. But how do you make sure your establishment is the trendy place where everyone wants to be this summer?
Here are some tips to transform your bar or restaurant into a true urban oasis!
1. Offer a unique experience: your terrace – the unmissable summer spot
Your terrace shouldn't just be a place to sit and eat/drink; it should be an extension of the experience you offer inside your establishment. So, focus on comfortable furnishings, neat decoration, and a warm atmosphere. Use lights to create a soft ambiance in the evening, offer a special menu for the terrace with refreshing cocktails and light dishes for the summer.
Read also: 6 tips for a busy terrace this summer
2. Maximize your online visibility
Maintaining a strong online presence is crucial to attract and retain your customers. It's no longer just passers-by who discover your establishment, but also Internet users browsing the web in search of their next culinary experience.
Use our online booking tool to make reservations easier for your customers and give them a sneak peek of what it's like to visit your place by showing off your menu. Potential customers can browse, see what you've got, and book a table in just a few clicks, all without leaving home. And don't forget to respond to customer reviews, whether they're good or bad.
With social media being so popular, your communication strategy needs to include Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. They're perfect for sharing tempting photos of your restaurant/bar, dishes, drinks, and the good times people have at your place. You want your customers to be excited about spending their next summer evening with you.
And let's not forget your website, your storefront. It's often the first thing potential customers see. Make sure it's up-to-date, easy to use, fast, and has great photos of your building and menu.
3. Offer fast and efficient service
One of the keys to having a busy restaurant/bar is offering fast and efficient service.
- Equip your servers with mobile POS systems: they can take orders anywhere, inside or outside, and the orders go straight to the kitchen, which speeds things up.
- Get the most out of your digital cash register software: everything's connected, so you can manage your inventory in real-time and avoid disappointing customers!
- Digitize your menu: this makes it easy to update your offers instantly, gives your customers a better view, reduces paper use, and improves service efficiency.
- Offer pay-at-the-table: your customers can pay right at their table without waiting for a server. They just scan a QR code with their smartphone at the end of their meal. It's convenient and super flexible: they can pay with their card, split the bill, and even leave a tip if they're happy with the service.
4. Offer special deals
Another way to attract customers is to offer special deals. This could be a happy hour early in the evening, discounts on certain drinks or dishes, kids' menus, or themed nights. With Popina, you can schedule everything in advance on your cash register software and focus on keeping your customers happy.
With our loyalty program, you can reward your regular customers and encourage them to keep coming back. From your dashboard, you can pick the loyalty system that works best for you: points for each visit or amount spent, a cashback system, using a points balance, a set discount rate, or even free products or special offers. You can customize your offers to fit your specific needs.
5. Make sure you have enough staff to handle the summer rush.
Organizing your team's work and schedule has never been easier. With our digital tool, you can create your staff's schedule without any hassle. Making changes is simple, and duplicating a schedule is a breeze. Your dashboard gives you an overview of your employees' punctuality (real-time tardiness or absences), wage costs, individual performance, and more. And if you manage multiple locations, you have a comparison feature. During the busy summer season, manage your human resources and react quickly to handle peak times by hiring temporary staff if needed.
