EPOS Direct What obstacles will your restaurant face?

Do you face challenges? As a restaurant, you will face challenges on a regular basis. When your restaurant is starting up, you will face a substantial number of obstacles as you will not have the resources that your established competitors will have access to. Here are a few of the challenges that you must prepare for in order for you to succeed.

Keeping up to date with the market
As a restaurateur, it is important to identify that the market will constantly change. This means that you will have to look at the market on a regular basis so that you are aware of any developments in the market. If you were not aware of a change in the market, you may struggle to satisfy your customer’s needs. It is highly recommended for you to research projected future trends as this will enable you to predict trends in the future. This will allow you to prepare for any changes which are going to occur in the near future. You will be able to increase the competitiveness of your restaurant as you will be able to cater for your customer’s changing needs before your competitors can. However, as a small restaurant, you will struggle to generate the funds needed to carry out the appropriate research.

Sufficient Funds
Do you have sufficient funds? As a restaurateur, it is crucial that you realise that running a restaurant will incur a substantial number of costs. This shows that as the owner of the restaurant, you will need a significant budget in order to cover all of the costs. Before opening your restaurant, it is recommended to ensure that you have enough money to cover the costs of your restaurant for the first year. This is because you will not be able to rely on the sales of your restaurant to cover the costs of your restaurant during the first year. It is vital for you to have emergency funds as this will allow you to cover any unexpected costs.

Stock Control
Do you manage your stock? As a restaurateur, one of the biggest challenges you will face is ensuring your restaurant is sufficiently stocked at all times. If you didn’t have stock, you would be unable to satisfy your customer’s needs which would severely limit the number of customers that you receive. It is crucial that you schedule your orders so that your supplies arrive before you run out of stock. It will be crucial for you to count your stock everyday so you are aware of how much stock you have left. This will be very time consuming as you will have to count your stock manually. However, an EPOS system will be able to help you with this by providing you with an automated stock control feature. When a product is sold, it will automatically be taken off of your stock. This gives you the ability to check your stock at any time. As a restaurateur, you should always have back up supplies of your products just in case your supplies are damaged or your supplies arrive late. Remember, the demand for your products will not always be the same. It is important for you to predict the increases in demand for your products because otherwise, you will not be able to supply your customers with the products they want.....Read More

EPOS Direct Would your restaurant pass an inspection?

Has your restaurant been inspected? As a restaurateur, the thought of a health inspection will send shivers down your spine. Health inspectors will not announce when they arriving at your restaurant as they will want to catch you out. You will not be able to hide anything from the health inspector as they will inspect every inch of your restaurant. If you fail your health inspection, you will be faced with a substantial fine or even worse, you may lose your restaurant license. Here are a few tips which will ensure that you pass your health inspection.

Meeting with staff
Are your staff prepared? Once you are expecting a visit from the health inspector, you should host an official meeting with all of your employees. This will give you the opportunity to discuss the upcoming inspection with your staff and will allow you to brief them on the tasks that need to be done. This will ensure that your staff are prepared and will lead to them completing the tasks that you assigned to them. This will ensure that all aspects of your restaurant are clean which will increase the likeliness of your restaurant passing the inspection.  
Don’t make the same mistake twice
What was the result of your last inspection? As a restaurateur, you should review the reports from your last inspection as this will allow you to identify which aspects of your restaurant need improving. If an aspect of your restaurant failed the last inspection, it is recommended that you focus on the aspects of your restaurant which are unsatisfactory. This will ensure that your restaurant matches the criteria of the inspection which will allow you to pass the inspection. However, it is crucial that you do not focus solely on one aspect as it could cause another aspect of your restaurant to fail.
Prepare your staff
Do your staff know how to correctly store food? As a restaurateur, it is important to realise that there is a wide range of food preparation methods which your employees must be knowledgeable about. It is essential that you provide your staff with sufficient training regarding the storage and preparation of food. Many health inspectors will decide to ask your staff questions about the preparation and storage of your food. If the inspector decides that your employees cannot provide them with sufficient answers, you will fail the inspection as it will display to the inspector that you are incorrectly storing your food. When a health inspector visits your restaurant, one of the main aspects they will be judging is the health and safety procedures of your restaurant. It is recommended that you ensure your employees understand the health and safety procedures of your restaurant as the inspector may interview your staff regarding the health and safety procedures of your establishment. You should have posters in your establishment which notify the staff of your health and safety procedures.........Read More

EPOS Direct Do you upsell your meals?

Struggling to sell your meals? As a restaurateur, your main focus will be to sell as many meals as possible. Upselling will help you achieve this objective as it will encourage customers to purchase a higher number of meals in your restaurant and will encourage them to spend more money in your restaurant. It is important for your staff to know how to effectively upsell your products as getting customers to part with their money is not as easy as it sounds. Here are a few tips which help your staff upsell your meals successfully.

Offer Expensive Items
In order to encourage your customers to spend more money in your restaurant, you should provide them with a choice of expensive products. One technique which is commonly used in the restaurant industry is offering customers a choice of two products without letting them know which product is more expensive. This will encourage the customer to purchase the more expensive product as they will see that it is of a higher quality without knowing the price. This will increase the cost of the customer’s bill which will increase the overall revenue of your restaurant. As a restaurateur, it is crucial to avoid mentioning the price of a product as this will lead to the customer choosing the cheaper option. Once your customer associates money with a meal, they will be less likely to purchase the product.
Offer Extras
One of the most common ways which restaurants use to upsell is by offering extras. As a restaurateur, it is vital for you to ensure that all of your staff are offering extras to your customers. Once an employee has taken a customer’s order, they should offer them a range of products to accompany their meal. If you offer products to the customer while they are ordering, they will be more likely to order the extra products. This is because it will be convenient for the customer to order the items. If your customers had to wait to order extra items, you will limit the number of products that your customers purchase. Offering extras will not add a substantial amount to your customer’s bill which will encourage them to purchase the extra items.  
Offer suggestions
An effective way of upselling your meals is by deciding which meals your customer is going to order for them. Do your customers have trouble choosing which meal to order? Indecisive customers can help you boost your sales. When a customer is unsure of what to order, your waiters should suggest the more expensive and profitable items on your menu. This will encourage the customers to purchase the more expensive products as they will feel like you are taking care of them and will trust your opinion. It is vital that your waiters do not appear pushy to the customer as this will make them feel like a sales target. This could lead to the customer avoiding your restaurant.
Enthusiasm is key
Do your employees speak to customers in a monotone manner? If your staff are not enthusiastic when serving customers, they will struggle to convince the customer to purchase the meal which will limit the number of products that your customer purchases. This shows that it is crucial for your staff to be enthusiastic when serving your customers as it will lead to the customers listening to your staff. This will increase the likeliness of your customers ordering the products that your staff has mentioned to them. When describing a meal to your customers, it is recommended for your staff to tell the customers about a previous experience when they tried the meal. This will allow the customers to trust your staff and will lead to the customer wanting to try the meal themselves. Being enthusiastic will allow your staff to create a relationship with the customer which will encourage the customer to spend more money in your restaurant. Do your staff have what it takes to upsell?

Source :
http://www.eposdirect.co.uk/uk_en/blog/epos-direct-do-you-upsell-your-meals.html

EPOS Direct Does your restaurant need an app?

Due to the increased popularity of mobile phones, customers use their mobiles for a wide range of activities on a regular basis. The introduction of mobile apps has had a substantial impact on the restaurant industry with a larger percentage of customers choosing a restaurant depending on the availability of an app. This has led to there being an increased pressure on restaurants to provide their customers with an app. Here are a few of the reasons why your restaurant needs to introduce a mobile app.

Loyalty Program
Do you have a customer loyalty scheme? If you introduce an app, you will be able to remove loyalty cards from your restaurant as customers will be able to record their purchases using their mobile phone. You will be able to manage your loyalty scheme effectively and conveniently as you will not have to keep track of your customer’s purchases manually. When your customers have reached the specified number of purchases, your customers will be notified that they are eligible for a reward. If you introduce a mobile app, you will receive an increased number of participants in your loyalty scheme. This is because it will be more convenient for customers as they will not need to carry a loyalty card. A mobile app will encourage your customers to become loyal and regularly visit your restaurant. Notifications
Do you keep your customers updated? The introduction of a mobile app will allow you to update your customers with news and offers by sending them notifications. This is an effective way to promote your offers as it will pop up on your customer’s phones. This will allow you to receive a higher traffic of customers as they will not want to miss out on the deals available. Push notifications are an effective way to communicate and gain the customer’s attention. Push notifications should be short as this will increase the likeliness of the customers reading them. GPS Coupons
Are your customers local? A mobile app will encourage customers to visit your restaurant when they are passing your restaurant. GPS coupons will enable you to prompt customers to visit your restaurant when customers are within a certain radius of your restaurant. A mobile app will significantly increase your sales as local customers will be lured into your restaurant. The use of GPS coupons will allow you to reward customers for visiting your restaurant by rewar.............Read More

EPOS Direct Do you have difficult customers?

As a restaurateur, you will serve a substantial number of difficult customers on a regular basis. When you receive a difficult customer, they will criticise all aspects of your restaurant even if they are at a high standard. In order to run a successful restaurant, it is important to remember that the customer is always right and to treat your difficult customers with the same care and respect you treat your other customers with. Difficult customers will be more likely to post negative reviews which will damage your reputation.
How will I identify a difficult customer?
Do you know what a difficult customer looks like? Here are a few characteristics to look out for.

They will criticise all aspects of your restaurant, including your food, service, staff and appearance of the restaurant.

They will seek for a significant amount of attention.

They will constantly complain about your prices even if they are low.

They will claim your restaurant is poor and will compare you to local restaurants.

They will ask for the same modification to their meal regularly and will remind you of mistakes that you previously made.

Show Sympathy
When the customer makes a complaint, it is important to ensure that you apologise for the inconvenience and acknowledge their opinion even if you do not agree with it. This will show the customer that you care about the problem which will display that you are working hard to find a solution to the issue. This will calm the customer down and will prevent them from making a scene as they know that you are fixing the problem. It is vital to listen to the customer when they are complaining, this will allow them to get their anger out which will lead to them being calm when you are explaining the cause of the issue. Once your customer is calm, it will give you the time to find a solution to the problem. Being sympathetic will ensure that the customers do not make a scene which will allow your customers to relax and eat their meal peacefully. If there are regular disruptions in your restaurant, you may lose loyal customers as they will avoid your restaurant. Make their issue a priority
Once a customer makes a complaint, the last thing they will want to do is be kept waiting. If you keep your difficult customers waiting, they will become very angry and may cause disruption in your restaurant. Once a customer has complained, you should focus on solving their problem as quick as possible. This will show them that you are trying to fix the problem quickly, which will calm your customer down. Remember, the customer will seek to be in control. As a restaurateur, you must ensure that you are in your restaurant to deal with difficult customers. This is because not all problems can be solved quickly so it is important that you are there to defuse the situation. If the problem cannot be solved quickly, you should offer the customer a complimentary item or discounted price for when they next visit your restaurant. This will show the customer that you are apologetic and will lead to the customer leaving your restaurant with a smile on their face. Offering discounts to the customer will encourage them to repeat purchase as they will want to redeem their discount..............Read More

EPOSDirect How to Expand Your Restaurant

Do you dream of owning an established and successful restaurant? Not everyone has what it takes to run an established restaurant as it will not always be easy. This is because there are a wide range of challenges and obstacles that you may experience. Do you think you have what it takes? Here are a few tips to help you achieve your dream.
Don’t stay in one location
Do you have more than one location? As a restaurateur, it is important to understand that you will struggle to expand your restaurant if you are stuck in one location. This is because you will limit the number of customers that are able to visit your restaurant. Remember, customers will not want to travel far to eat at your restaurant so it is important you provide your customers with a range of locations. The more restaurants you have, the larger the audience that you are able to target. It is recommended that you open restaurants in locations which customers can easily access. If your customers can conveniently travel to your location, they will be more likely to visit your restaurant. Have you got a limited budget? If you cannot afford to invest into another physical location, it is recommended for you to purchase an E-commerce website. This will allow you to reach a wider audience as you will not be limited by your geographical location. An online website will be much cheaper than a physical location and can attract more customers than a physical location. This is because it will be more convenient for customers to order food as they will not have to travel to your restaurant. Promote your Brand
Do you have a brand? In order to expand your restaurant, it is important for your customers to be able to recognise material and products from your restaurant. It is recommended that you ensure that all of the menus, packaging and other materials from your restaurant have the same logo, colours and style. This will allow your customers to identify products from your restaurant as they will recognise the brand or packaging of the products. This will allow your brand awareness to increase which will encourage customers to purchase meals from your restaurant. This shows that a strong brand will be crucial in order to improve the sales of your restaurant. Developing a strong brand will enable you to become a bigger authority in the market will increase your restaurant’s share in the market. This will ensure that you can compete against established restaurants. Consistency is key in the branding of your restaurant as if you constantly changed the logo, colours or packaging of your restaurant, your customers will not be able to identify which products are from your restaurant. This will significantly damage the number of customers you receive. Skilled Staff
Without an effective team of employees, you will be unable to satisfy the needs of your customers which will lead to customers avoiding your restaurant. This shows that without skilled staff, you will struggle to expand your restaurant. When you expand your restaurant, you will constantly need to hire more staff. When you are hiring staff, it is recommended that you look for applicants who have experience in the restaurant industry and have good teamwork skills. This will ensure that your employees will be able to communicate well with their colleagues and will be able to satisfy your customer’s needs. This will allow you to provide your customers with a better experience which will encourage them to become loyal and regularly visit your restaurant. In order to expand your restaurant, you will require a loyal customer base as this will ensure that you consistently receive a substantial number of sales. Are your staff trained? It is important to remember that your staff will have a big impact on the customer’s experience in your restaurant. It is recommended that you provide all of your staff with training so that they can develop the skills needed to serve their customers. This will allow your staff to provide your customers with a higher level of customer service. If your customers have a good experience in your restaurant, they will tell their friends and family. This will lead to more customers wanting to eat at your restaurant which will lead to your sales significantly increasing. Reliable Suppliers
Can you trust your suppliers? In order to expand your restaurant, it is crucial for you to have a reliable supplier. This is because if your supplier was not reliable, your stock will not turn up on time or the order may be wrong. This will severely damage the success of your restaurant as you will not be able to provide your customers with meals. This will prevent you from being able to satisfy the needs of your customer. If you do not satisfy your customer’s needs, they will avoid your restaurant. This shows that without a reliable supplier, you will struggle to expand your restaurant as you will limit the number of customers that you receive. As a restaurateur, it is recommended that you enter a contract with the supplier and state all of your requirements. This is because once the supplier signs the contract, they will be legally obliged to fulfil their promises. This will guarantee that your deliveries are always on time and correct. Social Media
During the recent years, social media is becoming increasingly popular with a substantial number of people creating social media accounts every day. This shows that creating a social media account for your restaurant will be an effective tool to increase to expand your restaurant and raise your brand awareness. Due to the millions of users on Facebook and Twitter, you will be able to connect with a wider audience by posting regular content on your social media accounts. This will allow a larger population to find about your restaurant which will encourage more customers to visit your restaurant. This will lead to your restaurant becoming busier and your sales will significantly increase. Social media has the power to expand your restaurant. Can you achieve your dream?
Source:
http://www.eposdirect.co.uk/uk_en/blog/eposdirect-how-to-expand-your-restaurant.html

EPOS Direct How to keep your Employees smiling?

As a restaurateur, it will be crucial for you to have a team of employees who are motivated and happy. This is because if your employees are happy, they will work harder which will enable you to provide your customers with a high level of customer service. Without happy employees, you will struggle to run a successful restaurant. As a restaurateur, it will be your responsibility to ensure that your employees are treated fairly and well when at work. Happy employees will ensure that your work place is a pleasant and productive environment. Here are a few tips to keep a smile on your employee’s faces.

Reward them
Do you have hard working employees? If you have employees who work very hard and go outside of their job role to cater for your customers, you should ensure that you reward them. This will show your employee that you appreciate their hard work which will encourage them to continue to work hard. It is recommended that you introduce an employee of the month award, this will enable you to acknowledge the employee who has worked the hardest during the month. This will enable your employee’s morale and productivity to significantly increase as they will want to win the award. This shows that an employee of the month award will give you the opportunity to provide your customers with a higher level of customer service. Are you struggling to sell a certain product? You should offer incentives for the employee who sells the most of a certain product. This will lead to your employees competing against each other which will lead to them working harder to sell the product. This will lead to the sales of that product significantly rising which will lead to your overall sales increasing. Give your employees the opportunity to develop
Do you give your employees the opportunity to develop their skills? Employees will want to develop their professional and personal skills when working for your restaurant. They will want to acquire the skills and experience needed so that they can be promoted to a specialist job role. It is recommended that you invest into your staff by paying for your employees to undertake courses. This will enable your employees to acquire and develop the skills needed so that they can further their career. If you give your employees the opportunity to learn, you will increase the happiness of your employees as they will know that they are valued by your restaurant. Offering training opportunities will encourage employee retention as employees will realise that their job will help them in developing their career. Remember, if you train your employees, they will have the skills needed to provide your customers with a higher level of customer service. Reward your loyal employees
As a restaurateur, it is important to understand that a high employee turnover can significantly damage the operations of your restaurant. This is because you will constantly have to hire new employees which will disrupt the working environment which will affect the happiness of your employees. When you hire new employees, they will not have the same skills and experience that your previous employees have. This means that you will struggle to satisfy your customer needs as the level of customer service will be restricted. One way to encourage employee retention is by offering rewards to your employees who have worked for your restaurant for a long time. For example, you should increase the pay of your employees every six months. This will encourage employees to stay at your restaurant as they will feel valued and will receive a higher wage which will prevent them from looking for another job. Rewarding your loyal employees will keep your employees happy and motivated which will reduce the chance of them leaving your restaurant....Read More