Dianne Pajo
Running a restaurant is a difficult endeavor. There are many hurdles in establishing your brand, having delicious food, balancing a budget, and maintaining a happy customer base. Another common challenge is standing out from the competition. Why should people eat your burgers instead of the ones at the local chain or from your other local competitors? Here are just a few tips on how to give your restaurant a competitive advantage that may help you stand out from the rest.
Examine Market Gaps
If you feel like your restaurant may seem too similar to other nearby eateries, try looking for something that people may want but no one offers. If your restaurant offers vegetarian options when other places don’t, you can use that to attract a market that feels otherwise neglected.
Offer Inclusivity
One way to give your restaurant a competitive advantage over other nearby places is to create an environment that welcomes people more authentically. Restaurants may use multi-lingual menus for locals who speak English as a second language or offer braille menus. You want to create an experience where everybody feels welcome.
Adjust Prices
Your menu is your most powerful tool when running a restaurant. Do you have certain dishes that are incredibly popular? Slightly raising the price may offer your business a lot of additional profit. On the opposite side, if you have something that’s typically well-received but not ordered often, you can try lowering the price to generate more interest.
If you want to experiment with different menu prices, consider having new prices as part of a weekly special and train your staff to recommend these specials to customers. If a menu item starts generating more positive buzz through specials, you may be able to incorporate it as a permanent change and keep your customers happy.
