The economic impacts of COVID-19 continue to ravage all sectors of the economy. Sadly, the pandemic has affected the sectors of the economy which thrive with numbers the most. The social distancing measures, the curfew, and the banning of social gatherings have caused the hotel industry lots of money. While countries are slowly allowing restaurant owners to get back to work, the process is quite costly.
Some restaurant owners are therefore opting for indoor and patio dining accordingly. Similarly, some restaurant managers prefer the takeaway and delivery strategies. You, too, can choose any method that’s most appropriate for you. Getting back to restaurants after the coronavirus: 4 steps to follow:
1. Optimize Delivery and Takeaways
You must be wondering how you’re going to reopen your restaurant after COVD-19. While it might not be easy, you can still be tactful enough and make the most out of deliveries and takeaways. Luckily, you can minimize or avoid contact with deliveries and takeout food services.
Satisfy your customers! For instance, if your clients like burns, serve them nothing less. Prepare them all options of burns so that they have a variety to choose from. When your clients are satisfied, you can be sure to make some good money too. By offering types, you’ll also win the customers’ loyalty. They will always come for what they want at your restaurant.
Likewise, provide your clients a single meal with several options based on their individual preferences. For instance, for a whole pan of lasagna, you can add lots of salads. This way you can save on the packaging cost.
Furthermore, when your food is of high quality, you can adjust your prices accordingly. Based on the professional advice at PriceListo.com, you can compare the prices of different restaurants all over the world and choose a fair price for your meals. From the information, you will gather, set a suitable price for different foods provided it’s not too low and not exaggerated either.
You must also avoid delivery for third parties. Instead, generate more income by serving your client’s multiple foods instead of two or one. When you have a variety, you can attract more clients with different tastes. More clients can translate to more income. Prepare family and couple-suited meals and help such clients enjoy food with limited external contact. People are already getting used to takeaways and deliveries, so you can be sure the habit will survive post-COVID-19.
2. Communicate Communicate Communicate
One can never emphasize this important factor enough. With the right communication strategies, you can keep your restaurant in the minds of your customers. while some may not have come to your restaurant during the pandemic, a simple welcome message can attract them to your restaurant.
Remember that should you fail to communicate with your guests and remind them that you’re still in business, they can think you shut down your restaurant.
Ensure you keep the content exciting and relevant. Design some inviting content and share it with your email subscribers and on your social media platforms.
Furthermore, you can use social media to update your clients daily. Update your ordering procedures. Update your daily menus and remind them of your customized social distancing measures. Make them confident enough to come for takeaways at your restaurant.
Alternatively, you can create some gift cards to help your business stay afloat with money. You can design promos you’ve run before. For example, if you ever made good money on black Friday, go for it. Offer your guests the same offer and share the deal via your social media pages or email. Gift cards always have at least 80 percent uptake. They can drive your sales and help you make huge money in a very short time.
3. Reopen Your Restaurant Gradually
When your state declares that restaurants can go back to business, don’t pack all your things and recall back all your employees just yet. Be mindful of the food health and safety measures needed during these times and consider investing in your employees by offering online food handler’s certification training with providers like 360 Training. It’s not yet time to let the number of people that would dine at your restaurant pre-COVID gather. Look at your client base and see whether you can use the state’s recommended schedule.
Observe the uptake of your clients and seek their input on how you can better serve them. You can prepare some questionnaires to find out whether your clients want to sit in and dine or they prefer takeouts and deliveries. Based on your observation and client feedback adjust accordingly. Satisfy your clients provided you are abiding by the laws that your state recommends.
All the same, you must invest in order ahead strategies and mobile order services. This way you can limit contact between you and your clients. You can also limit contact among your guests especially those that mind close external contact. This strategy can be excellent for your quick-service and fast-food restaurant.
4. Hunt for Opportunities
COVID-19 has perhaps caused you immense losses. You must therefore be very vibrant as soon as you reopen your restaurant. Explore every avenue that you think will yield a good opportunity. You can use the situation at that time to your advantage regardless of whether it shall be pleasant or unsuitable. Control your costs by all means possible. Update your menus. Assess your profit and loss statements to ensure you balance the two.
Strive to manage the costs of your foods so that you can extend your profit margins accordingly. Research the best-selling food menus and prepare them. Opt for healthy foods as people will most likely be more careful about what they consume post-COVID. Prepare dishes which you can prepare with the least amount but make the most out of their sale. Avoid preparing dishes that are not selling.
You can perform better with your restaurant business post-COVID than you did before the pandemic. Every situation presents an opportunity so, identify the opportunities that the pandemic provides you. Keep in mind the desired prices for different menus. After all, your restaurant exists to make money.
Do not rush to allow gatherings and big sit-ins as soon as your state allows you to resume business. Take your time to study the changes in the hotel industry and adjust accordingly. Remember to constantly communicate with your clients. Remind them that you’ll still serve them their favorite dishes after COVID. with these simple steps, you can cut down on unnecessary spending and before you realize it, your business shall be booming again.