Archive for December 2011
10 Ways To Increase Customers In Your Restaurant
Being a restaurateur in the current economic climate isn’t easy. There remains a dearth of disposable income for many people, meaning eating out is not an option they can turn to very often. With a smaller pool of dining customers, restaurants need to be at the top of their game to attract them. Here are 10 ways you can attract more customers to your establishment.
1. Incentives are a great way of attracting customers, especially during these difficult financial times. People don’t necessarily want to stop dining out, they simply can’t afford it. By providing discounts and special offers, you may be able to entice them to visit. However, be wary of discounting too frequently or by too big an amount as this could devalue your brand.
2. Advertising is another useful option, especially if awareness is a problem or you wish to promote the aforementioned discounts. Think about where your prospective customers are and what media they consume in order to identify where your advertising budget can be best spent.
3. Many restaurants are making excellent use of social media, with networks such as Facebook and Twitter providing a platform to engage with customers in a new way. It’s biggest advantage is being able to learn what customers want, rather than broadcasting reasons why the restaurant is so great. Ultimately, the main aim of social media is not to communicate a better company, it’s to help you become a better company.
4. With that mind, looking at how you can improve the restaurant will be of considerable benefit. Better service levels could be the first step in achieving this. Review the procedures regarding how customers are serviced throughout the entire dining experience.
5. You may also need to consider the people you employ to provide that service. If they’re not grasping the concept of quality customer service and impact it has on the restaurant’s reputation, it could be time to rehire.
6. Many restaurants get the service levels right, but then fall down when it comes to the menu. Customers want choice, but depending on the type of restaurant you are, they also like the idea that you have certain areas of expertise in the form of signature dishes. No matter what type of establishment you run, it’s a good idea to regularly review the menu and make necessary changes.
7. Part of that review may lead you to the conclusion that you need a change at head chef level. If your restaurant is really struggling and customer feedback on the food is negative, you may need someone new leading the kitchen.
8. Alternatively, you may want to find ways to help the chef you have. Using better quality ingredients could have a massive impact on the standard of what is produced.
9. Likewise, your head chef may be crying out for a better cookware set. Older equipment could be leading to inaccurate cooking times and hindering the kitchen from operating smoothly. An investment in new stainless steel cookware, for instance, could result in greater productivity levels, allowing you to improve the menu and pass savings onto the customer.
10. One final, seemingly minor, change that could result in an increase in customers is to introduce a wider range of drinks. New wines, beers and spirits could help improve the dining experience for many customers, so should not be ignored.
Are you keen to reap the rewards of a new cookware set? A stainless steel cookware set can lead to better cooking, greater efficiency and greater morale.
Job Vacancies for College Students
The demand for job vacancies from college students has significantly risen in the recent past. This is attributed to the fact that the current college programs enable students to work and study at the same time. It gives them an opportunity to have different types of jobs to choose from. In this article we will be looking at some of the vacancies these students can consider.
Working as a customer representative
This forms a good working place for college students. So long as they have the patience to not only tolerate, but attempt to rectify the complaints of very demanding customers, are well informed about the products and services offered by the firm they are working for, and have a good voice and are articulate in the company’s preferred language. The good thing is that there are so many firms in need of such representatives, and the hours are usually flexible to work around your study. So, search out these firms and send in your CV. It is a way of making extra cash at the end of the day.
Working in the hospitality industry
There are different restaurants and hotels in need of waiters and waitresses. Most of these hotels and restaurants present their employees with flexible working periods. The hospitality industry therefore, can be one of the best places a student in need of some extra money should search for any job vacancies. Remember that we have all had experience of being a customer in such places, and there are no professional skills required apart form communication skills and an ability to serve customers efficiently, as per their needs.
Working for any online firm
Online firms do not expect their employees to be present physically. They can work from the comfort of their own homes. It is another workplace that is ideal for college students. Where students can work around their education schedules to find time to produce the work for the firm. A number of college students have applied for online jobs, and are very satisfied with the income they are receiving. They don’t have to depend on their parents for all their college needs. That is why it would be wise to apply for any vacancies available.
Perhaps one of the most important elements in getting a job is how you conduct yourself in the job interview. As always, first impressions matter a lot, so consider carefully when thinking about your appearance and your conduct during the interview. Your dress code should be professional, how you carry yourself in front of the panel, and how you provide the answers to questioned asked, matters a lot. Remember that you may have all the qualifications needed for a job, but a single mistake during an interview could ruin your chances of getting the position.
Royal Mail Christmas jobs 2011, Xmas job openings and other Christmas job vacancies are available on our job forum.