The other day we had a long standing customer in the office and took her to lunch at a restaurant just across the road from our offices as a small thank you for her business over the years.
While we were having lunch the table next to us were ordering theirs and were not sure what wine to have. The waiter was more than helpful and gave them some ideas to compliment their food. It transpired that the couple were celebrating the birth of their first grandchild and the waiter when he learned this also suggested to them to try an Italian Prosecco rather than Champagne and offered them a wide selection of both. The waiter could not have been more helpful and at the same time seemed to enjoy showing the wide range of drink choices available.
I know the restaurant manager and complimented him on the waiter’s customer focus, he then explained to us that the wine discussion with customers and the wide range of drink options makes people spend more. The conversation went on but in essence providing great customer service and wider customer choice is the foundation of his restaurant business. He loves food and is passionate about it but said that his customers expect great food, going beyond that ‘basic’ service is where he feels he makes a difference.
He also stressed that expanding his menu choice or implementing menu change is much more difficult than expanding his drinks range, so every month he tries at least four new wines and one new spirit or soft drink. If customers like them they stay and if not they don’t.
An interesting approach and one that seems to make good business sense as getting a table is not always easy.
Thinking about the discussion in the car yesterday on my way back from seeing a customer in Somerset it made me think of the drinks exhibition Imbibe Live. If you think all trade shows are the same get along to this one, vibrant, dynamic and full of great products.
The video below gives a taste of what the show is all about, take a look everyone is really getting involved and enjoying it. Not taking place again until next July but if you are interested in expanding your drinks range it could be a date for your 2013 diary.
The Imbibe Live 2013 website has full details of this year’s event here
Registration for Imbibe Live 2013 is here, see you there…H&C News
Please Note: If you are a restaurateur and have business tactics that have worked for you and are happy to share please get in touch, we would love to share them.