Spigola Offers Tips To Help Restaurants Thrive In A Down Economy

While some restaurants may be seeing sagging sales, others are holding strong. Many establishments are unsure what to do in order to get new customers through the door and keep repeat ones coming back. So just what are thriving restaurants doing to keeps people dining regularly that other restaurants may not be doing? A lot!

"The worst thing you can do right now is throw your hands in the air and declare that you are doomed because of the poor economy," says Nat Casano, co-owner of Spigola Ristorante, based in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. "People are still eating out. You need to be proactive in your approach to reach the public, to get and keep them coming through the door."

Many restaurants have their inside tricks of the trade that aim to capture the attention of their customer base. Others may want to consider these tips, to help them thrive rather than just survive during the current economic recession:
� Be personable. Good customer service is a must. But you can also go a step farther by getting better acquainted with your repeat customers. They appreciate it when you remember them and little things about their preferences.
� Give discounts. Whether on your Web site, by sending out coupons, or through printing them in a local paper, offering a discount coupon is a good way to get folks thinking about dining at your restaurant. Now more than ever, people are looking for ways to save.
� Provide savings. To take coupons a step farther, think about offering such discounts as daily specials, early bird prices, or half-price appetizers or drinks during specific hours.
� Include kids. Offering cost-effective and healthy kids meals is a good way to bring families through the door. The National Restaurant Association (NRA) reports that healthy kids meals are among the hottest trends of 2009.
� Follow trends. Other hot trends reported by the NRA include using locally grown produce and offering mini-desserts. If you decide to take part in such trends, be sure to include them in your promotional materials, to let the public know about it.
� Create experience. Remind people why dining out is nice. Giving them a good experience and a nice meal outside of the home kitchen should work. Also, offering reasons to dine out, such as holidays and birthdays, can give them some reminders.
� Be flexible. Accommodating your customers and what they desire will help keep them happy and coming back. Let them know you are flexible about how things are prepared, or what ingredients can be added or omitted.
� Get sales. As the NRA reports, an effective server is much more than just an order taker. They have the ability to increase the restaurant's profits if they have good selling skills. Make sure they have all been properly trained on how to offer more to diners.
� Show desserts. Rather than merely offering a dessert menu, why not show people a tray of what is available? Having a sample on display can go a long way toward appealing more strongly to the diner.
� Offer incentives. Having some healthy team competition among servers can increase the bottom line. Each week, offer an incentive to the server who sells the most appetizers or desserts.
� Get attention. The restaurants that get their name out there are more likely to stay in the minds of hungry diners. Work with a public relations professional to make sure your restaurant is putting out press releases, getting media attention, and maintaining an informative Web site.

"There are many ways to get people to choose your restaurant," adds Casano. "If you are doing nothing, expect nothing. But if you are actively doing things to be creative and reach your customer base, then you will. And your restaurant will thrive."

About Spigola Ristorante
Spigola is a modern Italian restaur