New Restaurant, Local Town covers 36. How do I get people through the door?

Question

Just opened a great steak house. Food is fantastic. How do i get people through the door what is the best way to get busy? I was thinking of getting small businesses in for christmas to. ideas please.... please be sensible and realistic!!!

Answer 1

It may cost you a bit but you have to spend some$$$ to make some $$$. Try offering a grand opening special for the month like:
Buy 1 dinner get 1 free
Dinner is free for your birthday with proof of photo ID
Dessert free with the meal..."Merry Christmas"

just a few incentives.
or
Call the local paper invite them in and ask them to print reviews...what could that hurt?
Best of luck with your restaurant!!!

Answer 2

as someone who once ran a restuarant, dont go for the freebies unless you're sure you can afford it, new business are always cash strapped in the first 6 months until they get a regular client base. I would say ensure that everyone who walks through your door is treated like they had just walked into your house, give them an evening theyll never forget. word of mouth is the most productive way of getting people through the door, so ensure no one has reason to complain.

If you have somewhere like a hospital or a building that has many employees, try posting an advert in their building where many people pass by, obviously if you feel you can offer a freebie, say a bottle of wine, then offer it when you when the customers buy something that covers the cost of that wine. sneaky i know but thats how business works! what about offering a night of free live music? nothing too tacky, if you know people you could ask as a favour, great!

basically, try to cut spending when you first open as much as possible, at least that way you can help to ensure you stay open!! hope this helps

Answer 3

New restaurants in our area usually will have their hotter waitresses bring samples in to businesses around lunch time. Try offering some specials on Friday and Saturday nights. Do you serve booze? If not, you should. Then, Happy Hour with drink and food specials. Try to get some of those small businesses to have their holiday parties there and give them a great deal. And DON'T SCREW ANYTHING UP! Give some people some free food in exchange for positive word-of-mouth, the best advertising for service businesses.

Most restaurants without name recognition have to come to market using penetration pricing. Margins will be lower at first but this will attract patrons.

Answer 4

Hold a couple of open house/mixers. Invite all of the businesses that are really close to you, and offer hors d'oeuvres of whatever is on your menu, bite size type pieces/servings. Give out drink tickets at the door, so everyone gets a free drink. Music playing in the background, the owner out socializing- NOT cooking. Schmooze the businesses in your area. Those are the people who will get the word out. If you need help with menus, look at my web site http://www.designrestaurantmenus.com (still under construction) What "The Wise One" says is true! Business-to-Business is where to concentrate your energies.

Answer 5

1/ Open evening free buffet for one evening only, it will be expensive but you have to make the occasion memorable, positive advertising for the business and this establishes a rapport with the local consumer that your competitors cannot attain on the same level
2/special prices for students and or families all day weekends, public hols, and from 5-7pm weekdays for example this will capture the evening meal/dinner market
3/other ways to get above the competition, lunch time convenient steak sandwiches or whatever is more viable, try to exploit the trade that is prevalent between 12-2pm, again marketing with banners/flyers/poster outside on shop window
4/feed the local offices, special deals for bulk orders ie above 5 persons free delivery for lunch or even breakfast if you can organise the menu to accomodate steak in this way
5/a steak house doesn't have to be just evening or lunch time trade, you can rent out rooms or sections of the restaurant area for small gatherings or lunch meetings, if its a small local town you should exploit the types of businesses/big spenders like the local council etc and the types of activities that they hold, you can try providing catering (free or discounted pricing at first) for local events or town gatherings that are sure to attract a significant number of spectators. Whatever action is taken back it up with solid marketing. Local social groups may be willing to carry your advertisement in their local publications, once you know whom is the most likely to eat out then target their segment.

Answer 6

You just got to get the word out. Advertise. Also where I live, the establishments that seem to do the best are the ones that offer some outside sitting (like on the sidewalk). I know smokers love it, but most people don't want to sit out there - however it is always packed inside. Maybe see about a permit for that. I don't know why it makes a restaurant more appealing. Good luck!

Answer 7

Have a theme - a speciality dish perhaps... if you're in Lancashire try Hotpot or whatever the local delicacy is and vamp it up by serving it in various ways. Advertise by taking your restaurant to the street of the nearest shopping centre with tasters and billboards. How about dressing staff up as a cow and walking through the street? Advertise your website on your fachia and then use a printable voucher for free bottle of champagne etc.

Answer 8

If it is a new place make sure you advertise in proper places, I think it is a good idea to try to get groups in for the holidays, that is good advertising, and word of mouth is probably one of the best forms of advertising, and you can bet people communicate where they have eaten.
I know you said it is a steak house, but is there something on the menu for vegetarians.
Also their are mailers that come to the house with a packet of ads, that is a good way, you might have something printed up and offer free dessert for the first couple of months, people are always looking for coupons with something free on them.
Good Luck to you!

Answer 9

start by offering your business for office christmas parties as a way to get random people in the door. then for newyears have a big party envite all your friends and family all your employees friends and family and envite a radio personality to broad cast live from your place. Place a full page add in you newspaper about your big newsyears eve bash.
You could also advertise gift certificate give aways for the office and/or new years party. that way you get people coming back.
You could also have at the office and/ or the newyears party a set fee to come in the door and have a buffet with samples of everything on your menu.

Answer 10

Alot of people will tell you to waste your time trying to network with ordinary people ordinary customers. But every business succeeds or fails based on the relationships you have with other business owners.

Business owners have the biggest mouth when it comes to whether youre doing buisness or not. Get other businees owners on your side first and do deals for business owners and youll see lots of money in your pocket.

You want every business owner eating at yoru fine establishment soon youll get elected officials. Dont worry about impressing bob down the street or bugging your neighbour tom. To have real power impress other business owners and professionals and they will tell all the little people to go to you.

Don't do any freebies for ordinary people just important people. Ordinary people's word of mouth is not as important as word of mouth by a doctor or lawyer.

And hire the hottest girls you can find.

My consulting fees are $1000 please!!!!!!!!!lol lol lol