How to bring in more business for the restaurant?

Question

This Japanese restaurant has been here for more than 10 years and it still has it's regular clientel. Business is starting to go down because of many competitions. I've been to our competitors and disliked the food and service at many places. I feel like my servers are more knowledgable about the menu than most places. The food here sells itself, but how I do bring in more customers that don't know we exist?

Answer 1

Are you using the Internet to develop loyalty and encourage word-of-mouth dissemination by your existing customers?

There's a restaurant in Chicago called Paprikash Restaurant that does a really good job with this:
http://www.paprikashrestaurant.com

They have a detailed Web site, and more importantly, a weekly email newsletter to people who sign up. People sign up, because you get entered into a weekly drawing for a free meal. The emails are actually informative.

And as others noted, you may want to check your prices. Can you offer lunch specials to draw in people who may then become dinner clients as well?

Answer 2

Location, location, location. People have to SEE that you exist. If your street visibility is low to 0 you'll have to spend a lot more in media advertising to get your name out there. Since you didn't say which restaurant you run or where it's located I can't tell you if you have a good or bad location.

However, restaurants with good visibility from a high traffic thoroughfare, in a good demographic area (people have to have more discretionary income for Japanese food prices), with an inviting concept (exterior storefront and interior) will always do better, even if the food is just good, but not the best.

Restaurants can have excellent food and have a weak customer base if they are in a poor location. I've seen some of the best restaurants go out of business because people just didn't know they were there. Prices have to be competitive but not the cheapest to succeed. When you see people pay $8 for a cheeseburger you know anything is possible.

If you are not in the most desirable location you may want to think about looking at a different site in a different area. Talk to your banker or seek investors if you don't have the capital. It might be the best investment of your time and money.

Answer 3

Do you do regular promotions? Have you advertised recently? Look to see where your compitition advertises at, and then advertise there. See what promotions that they are offering, along with specials, ect. If all alse fails, you could do something crazy, like invent some insanely high priced extravagent dish and promote that. Sometimes, people like that. I have heard of people shelling out $1,000 bucks for a sundae, for pete's sakes. Just do some research about marketing on the internet, and try to find some new customers by maybe reaching out to any students, or elderly with maybe 15% off lunch with a student ID or proof that you are over 55. See what your competition is doing for the customers, then beat that.

Answer 4

Implementation of the modern Digital Restaurant Menu will definitely bring more profits to the business. The advanced food ordering and billing systems will increase business s revenue.

Answer 5

You will need something to attract customers that has nothing to do with the food.
Do you have a teppan yaki with really good cook/jugglers?
What about some kind of show? Maybe a kabuki show.
Would it go against your principles as a Japanese restaurant to serve some interesting (spicy) Korean dishes?
Use your imagination. If your food is good and appealing, then find something to make the atmosphere of the restaurant more attractive.

Answer 6

i'm in yet another organization and the question receives requested on forums. My artwork is in a good gallery or right here or there and it purely would not promote. what's incorrect with human beings? some persons purely imagine that although they do ought to be the very proper ingredient there is, besides the undeniable fact that it is purely no longer genuine. you've a cafe, probable you're seen, probable you promote a minimum of particularly. So, what ought to or not it is? human beings don't like the foodstuff, as others have reported, and it is purely no longer complicated. probable you're also sparkling and function solid stafff. purely because you prepare dinner it does no longer mean human beings like it sufficient to pay for it and that ought to correctly be hard to study for some human beings. you would possibly want to make what human beings favor to purchase, it is truly purely that straight forward. i replaced into at a clean Mexican position some weeks in the past. no longer purely replaced into the employees better than raw, the foodstuff wasn't very solid in any respect. they're doomed.

Answer 7

Not knowing much about your restaurant, here is what works for ME at Japanese restaurants:

-Offer big screen TV's. Americans LOVE to know what's going on in sports, etc. Advertise - "come watch Monday Night Football, etc..." If you're closed on Mondays, OPEN!!!

-Offer incentives. "Bring/Refer a friend, and get discount off your next meal."

-Frequent Diner program. Where your loyal customers are rewarded and encouraged to come back.

-Specials. Change part of your menu a bit. Offer Japanese cooking courses, or fact courses. This would be great for young couples looking to entertain.

More ideas? Best of luck. And where are you located? I'm in Los Angeles. I'd come visit!!!

Answer 8

Lower the price. Japanese food is so expensive everywhere I go. I use to go to Cafe Japon every Sunday because they had all day happy hour. We would spend $50 each but would get so $100 worth of food at other resturants.

Answer 9

Advertise in a val-pack with coupons! Bring in a band! Get involved in your local community by giving back, at trade shows etc. Become a member of the chamber of commerce, Better Business Bureau and invite the local news media to a special anniversary celebration. Good luck, we are in a recession!

Answer 10

well you know that Houston Texas is a very Diverse City and beautiful..because of it...well, i think you shhould follow the radio stations and their live broadcasts ..because there is a great very popular radio station there that can help you..because people really listen to them even though some dont like them because of their antics and straight forward talk...but they are very popular and have alot of followers..throughout the world. This would be MEGA 101.1 Latino and Proud ....they have on wednesdays where they give away free lunches by you sending in your businesscard so that would be a way to advertise and invite the morning cast over..for lunch..hope this helps..