Let’s face it, as a restaurant owner, you’re not just serving delicious food; you’re running a business.
And like any business, revenue is important. Increasing the average amount that average customers spend at your restaurant is one way to make sure it succeeds. If you’ve found yourself on this quest, you’re not alone—many restaurant owners are working for the same goal considering how important it is in sustaining and growing their businesses.
We get it. Gaining customers is only half the battle in this competitive market with tight margins.
This blog is specifically designed for you. It is designed to give you the power to make strategic decisions that will appeal to your customers and increase sales.
11 Ways to Increase Customer Average Spend
1. Upsell and Cross-sell
Use well-thought-out menu modifications to improve the dining experience. Encourage your staff to skillfully propose upsells, such as transforming a starter-sized salad into a shareable platter or suggesting the best wine pairings for main courses. Acknowledge that information is a powerful tool, and provide your staff with thorough product matches and suggestions.
2. Bundle Up the Joy
By combining popular appetisers, main courses, and desserts into thoughtfully planned combo meals, you can boost customer choice. When compared to ordering individually, these carefully chosen combos guarantee greater spending by giving the unsure and hungry customer a choose-your-own-adventure experience.
Elevate the dining experience further by offering “prix fixe” menus—fixed-price menus featuring multiple courses. Special occasions like celebratory parties or romantic nights are catered for with these carefully chosen menus that also offer a feeling of occasion and value.
3. Happy Hour, But Make it Fancy
Put quality over quantity to transform your happy hour into a fancy occasion. Go beyond the traditional budget beer and greasy wings and lure them in with special offers on premium appetisers and expertly mixed beverages. This upgraded experience appeals to customers’ willingness to spend more on a high-quality menu, even during the traditionally affordable happy hour.
Every day of the week can be given a different theme to add excitement to your weekly routine. Add a special twist to every day, such as Taco Tuesdays, Wine Wednesdays, or Martini Mondays, to attract a consistent clientele. Aside from building a loyal customer base, themed happy hours encourage customers to try new things from the menu, which increases their average spend.
4. Price Psychology
Learn the art of price psychology to gently sway customers to buy. Strategically establish your menu by placing premium-priced items effectively, as customers tend to compare prices subconsciously. A more expensive dish can be purposefully highlighted to create a setting in which other menu items seem more affordable, encourage customers to look through more selections, and possibly spend a bit more.
Eliminate dollar signs from your menu to improve the display. Research indicates that removing currency symbols can make customers feel less price-sensitive. This small change acts as a psychological test, creating a setting where customers are more likely to concentrate on the whole dining experience rather than obsessing over specific pricing, which frequently leads to higher overall spending.
5. Sweeten the Deal with Desserts
Upgrade your dessert selections to improve the dining experience. Invest in creating a signature dessert that is prepared in-house and expertly served rather than settling for frozen factory culinary delights. Making sure that customers have a delightful and lasting sweet ending to their meal enhances their experience and boosts revenue.
Giving customers a taste of a trio of your best sweets makes for an enjoyable and shared experience. This enhances the dining experience by promoting indulgence and encouraging customers to spend a little extra as they explore a range of dessert options.
6. Instagram-worthy Dining Experience
Invest in beautiful serving platters and garnishes to plate like an expert. Customers will reach for their phones to capture and share the aesthetic appeal of your cuisine when it is visually appealing in addition to being excellent, which will increase your social media presence and draw customers.
Take it a step further with “Instagrammable” specials—craft limited-edition dishes that are equally attractive and delectable. Open your imagination and see how much more people order and love your visually appealing food creations as they share their eye-catching dining experiences.
7. From Waitstaff to Sales Champions
Equip your employees to be storytellers about the menu rather than just servers. Provide training that goes beyond reciting ingredients and empowers them to compose stories around local ingredients, family recipes, and the passion behind each dish. This method of storytelling not only helps customers feel more connected to the business but also persuades them to treat themselves a little more, which increases sales.
Go the extra mile by incentivising upselling and cross-selling. Encourage healthy competition among your employees and give them credit when they go beyond their typical spending goals. This easy-to-implement method not only inspires your employees but also makes a big difference in raising those crucial sales figures.
8. Loyalty Pays
Implementing a loyalty programme that goes beyond simple transactions is a great way to express your gratitude to loyal customers. Provide recurring customers with points, coupons, or other benefits that encourage them to come back often. Through cultivating a feeling of admiration and uniqueness, these efforts not only enhance customer retention but also stimulate more spending on each visit.
9. Size Matters (Sometimes)
Cater to diverse appetites and budgets by recognising that size sometimes matters. To satisfy a range of tastes, offer varying portion amounts. While a “sharing platter” may tempt larger groups to overindulge and possibly spend more money, a small plate alternative may draw in cost-conscious diners seeking a lighter dinner. Providing this flexibility concerning serving sizes improves customer satisfaction and has the potential to attract a broader range of diners.
10. Don't Forget the Drinks
Pay more attention to drinks to increase your revenue! Create signature cocktails, highlight premium wines by the glass, and offer appealing non-alcoholic choices. Train your employees to keep glasses filled and to recommend drink combos. From crafted cocktails to quality wines and refreshing non-alcoholic options, a thoughtful drinks menu, paired with attentive service, adds up to higher profits for your restaurant.
11. The Art of Ambience
Increase your restaurant’s attraction with the art of ambience. Create a setting that encourages customers to unwind and enjoy the entire dining experience, complete with vibrant music, cosy lighting, and attentive service. By setting the stage for comfort and employment, you encourage customers to stay longer, fostering an environment where happy customers are naturally inclined to spend more.
Incorporate these strategies into your restaurant marketing, and watch your average customer spend soar! You’ll not only achieve your goal but also create an experience that leaves your customers feeling valued, satisfied and eager to return for more.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Let's go over some frequently requested questions from restaurant owners about how to increase average customer spending at your restaurant.
Conclusion
We hope that this blog has given you useful information to change the financial standing of your restaurant.
Put these strategies into practice, modify them to fit your own business, and see how your customers’ average spending improves.
Remember, your restaurant’s success is in your hands. Reflect on the standing of your establishment and ask yourself: What’s your average customer spend? Where are the potential sweet spots for increased spending? What unique offerings can you create to entice your guests?
Unlock your potential today with expert support and insights.
You’ll get the same guidance and support that we give to our clients.
Charo Mel Peters is a content specialist who specialises in creating thought-provoking blogs about restaurant marketing. Her main objective is to provide thorough answers and strategic insights to the pressing problems that restaurant owners frequently face.
Contact
- charo(at)restaurantsmarketing(dot)com(dot)au