Restaurant Marketing Blog

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

There are similar restaurants in similar locations, selling similar food, at similar prices, from similar servers using similar menus. The hostess’ greetings are similar; the thank you’s are similar and the manager who bunny-hops from table to table asking the obligatory question, “Is everything okay?” is also much too similar.

The web sites are similar, the email messages are similar with similar offers all being sent out at similar times to similar people training them to accept your similar discounts, desperately luring them into your similar restaurant.

The direct mail pieces are similar; the newspaper ads are similar, the birthday clubs are similar.

Do your guests enjoy similarity? Enjoy isn’t quite the word. Ignorance may be bliss, but with the exception of fine dining, they don’t know of anything else—until they experience something better than similar, and then it’s good-bye to you.

Is your restaurant an average, mediocre restaurant that people visit because of convenience or a coupon? Is anyone talking about you in a positive fashion? Do you have raving fans?

Posted by jcohen in • Restaurant Marketing
(0) Trackbacks • Permalink

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

How will you handle the “Perfect Storm?” It’s headed your way. Immigration policies, rising food costs, limited supplies of rice, wheat, flour, unemployment, rising gas prices, and of course guests that are cutting back on their restaurant visits. Where will restaurants be 5 years from now? How many will survive? A lot of the chains won’t make it. They’ll end up closing non-profitable units. The indy’s have the greatest chance of making it through the storm if they implement “community marketing”—making an impact on their community in every way possible and converting their email list into communities of like-minded guests.

Posted by jcohen in • Restaurant Marketing
(0) Trackbacks • Permalink

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Pizza Fusion serves up organic pizza—gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan toppings and extending to the stores’ recycled blue jeans insulation, potato starch utensils and countertops made out of recycled glass soda bottles from other Pizza Fusion stores. For the complete story, click on: Organic Pizza.

Posted by jcohen in • Restaurant Marketing
(0) Trackbacks • Permalink

Friday, April 25, 2008

People are looking for that charbroil taste in their burgers, especially in the summertime. With too many restaurants serving greasy patties, serving flame cooked burgers inside can deliver that outdoor flavor. In fact, burgers look better when they’re charbroiled ... they’ve got those grill marks that only come from a steel cooking surface over an open flame.

Increase your burger and even chicken sales by offering charbroiled products ... and charge a premium for them. For more on how to do this and the equipment you’ll need, check out this great restaurant equipment web site.

Posted by jcohen in • Restaurant Marketing
Permalink

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Just got back from a strategy session that turned into a vendor presentation for a hotel in Chicago. Why is it so difficult to understand that:
1. You don’t market hotel roooms the same way you market a chain of restaurants
2. You must start off with a goal then develop the goal into a plan

Nevertheless, for a great family experience, visit Key Lime Cove Hotel in the northern suburbs of Chicago. It’s a true blast. It’s like going to a tropical island without having to fly there. A great 48 hour escape.

Posted by jcohen in • Restaurant Marketing
(0) Trackbacks • Permalink