You probably have a general idea of what your future restaurant in Mornington Peninsula will be like, but stop just for a moment. Your restaurant will operate in a modern market that’s very competitive. If you don’t have distinguishing features, patrons will simply walk by and visit your competition down the road.
To have a few USPs to talk about on social media and prove you’re worth a sit down, use our handy checklist below. We’ve covered everything from why you need to visit Mornington Peninsula breweries to how your dishes should be cleaned.
Here’s how you give your restaurant the X-factor.
A Marketing Team
Especially in the early days of any business you may not have the capital to employ a marketing team. But make it a priority as soon as you can. You need to get the word out if you don’t want to be one of the many restaurants closing down within their first few years of operation.
Marketers understand how to get your information in front of the audience you want to attract. And it may be more difficult than you imagine because how can you guarantee your Instagram post will get any traction?
You need to focus on optimising your establishment with the tips below, so leave it to experts to tell the world all about it.
Ingredients for All Types of Diets
One of the best ways these days to impress your local community is catering for those that often can’t find anything on a restaurant menu that fits their dietary needs. Vegan. Keto. Paleo. Gluten free. Atkins. If you can’t cater for them all, at least focus on one or two, giving that section of your community a safe haven to grab a beer or cup of coffee with their friends.
This becomes a great USP that your marketing team can use in their campaigns. You can be featured on relevant social media groups and forums where people go to find eateries where they’ll find scrumptious but healthy alternatives. They’re bound to come, eat and share a selfie on Instagram if their stomachs are well looked after.
A Dishwasher
When planning your restaurant, you may consider doing many tasks manually at first, but certain appliances are worth investing in from the start. A dishwasher is one of them.
Having ultra clean cutlery and crockery is a must. And having this part automated will definitely speed up the kitchen’s workflow. This way you’re helping your restaurant get noted for swift service, which is another characteristic you want your patrons to talk about on social media!
Storage
When looking for a premises, make sure you can create a neat, efficient restaurant. Having clutter such as boxes or equipment standing around will hamper workflows and can even make clients doubt you when they catch a glimpse of a cluttered work area at the back.
Firstly, invest in proper storage racks for all your equipment. Also find out about storage options in the area. Having storage is a great option when you buy bulk, but you don’t want to waste time travelling far to fetch something when you need it. Perhaps there’s a local renting out a garage or another business with excess space in their storage area.
Clothing
Your team’s look will affect how your customers view your brand, so make sure your waiters and everyone on team look neat. For this you may need to find a good tailor or clothing outlet that will sell the necessary items in all the sizes you need for the team.
Don’t simply buy from any clothing store—even if you settle on simple outfits for waiters. When new team members come you need to be able to dress them in the same outfits. This makes it valuable to find an affordable vendor that supplies to various businesses and stock the same range of items for a length of time.
POS and KDS
Another task you may consider doing manually or with second-hand but outdated machines is POS (Point of Sale). Or even your order tickets. Prevent unnecessary mistakes by investing in automated, state of the art kitchen display systems that are even synced to your POS.
These days these systems can help with a range of tasks, such as inventory and staff scheduling. By streamlining various processes you’ll quickly see why it’s a wise investment, worth every cent.
Final Thoughts
The restaurant business is risky, so rather take your time and get it right from day one. Impress your clientele from the first time they taste your food, experience your service or even view your add on Facebook. By using the right vendors you’re increasing your chances of becoming the new favourite meeting place in town.
