Enticing Couples To Return To Your Restaurant After Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day was this past Tuesday. As a restaurant owner, you likely enjoyed one of your busiest days of the year. You were given a chance to show off your romantic atmosphere, delicious food and excellent service to couples who were looking for special nights out. However, a new challenge has arisen. How do you retain those customers now that Valentine’s Day has passed?
Offer personalized experiences.
It can go a long way in making customers feel valued and appreciated. This can be as simple as remembering their names, favourite dishes and even preferred seating arrangements. You can also take it a step further and offer customized menus or wine pairings.
“Personalization is crucial in the restaurant industry as it allows restaurants to create a unique and memorable experience for each customer,” writes Sona Khachatryan on Orders.co, “Customer personalization helps to ensure that customers receive a dining experience that is tailored to their specific preferences and needs. This can result in increased customer satisfaction and positive word-of-mouth recommendations.”
Revamp your menu.
While it’s important to have a menu that appeals to a wide range of customers, it’s also important to keep things fresh and exciting. Regularly rotating dishes and introducing new items can keep couples coming back to see what’s new. This can also be a great opportunity to showcase seasonal ingredients or special recipes.
Provide an inviting ambiance.
The atmosphere of your restaurant is a big part of the dining experience. Make sure to keep your space comfortable, well-lit and visually appealing. You can also create different areas within your restaurant that cater to different moods and preferences. For example, a cozy bar area for a casual drink or a quiet dining room for a romantic dinner.
Host special events.
We’re talking about wine tastings, cooking classes or live music nights. They can provide couples with unique experiences they won’t soon forget. Make sure to promote these events on social media and in-store to reach as many potential customers as possible.
“A successful couple’s event could even become a regular event,” suggests Matt Roberts of Restaurant Ninjas, “There are a lot of exciting things that you can do to attract couples, specifically. This can include things like candle-lit dinners, special deals on romantic-themed cocktails, a love-themed menu – the possibilities are endless. You can even offer discounts specifically for couples to encourage them to join in on your couples’ night.”
Launch a loyalty program.
Implementing a loyalty program is a great way to reward couples who frequently dine at your restaurant. Offer discounts, free meals or exclusive access to the aforementioned special events for frequent customers. This can be a great way to show your appreciation and encourage repeat business.
Focus on excellent service.
Providing excellent service is key to keeping customers coming back. Train your staff to be friendly, attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. Make sure they understand the importance of making customers feel welcome and valued.
Allow your customers to order online.
Unity Payments’ online ordering platform allows restaurant owners to take orders directly from their own website, reducing the restaurant’s dependency on commission-based third-party apps, and increasing revenue through their own brand. Please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-661-3761 or email us at [email protected] to learn more.