December is upon us, and with it the holiday rush that you either love or dread. Between the influx of customers, special menus, group bookings and staff management, everything needs to be perfectly oiled so that this period rhymes with profitability and a successful customer experience.
Here are a few keys to anticipating and making the most of the holiday season.
Before we talk numbers and organization, it's important to understand why the holiday season is such a pivotal time for your business.
November, December and January are often the busiest months for a restaurant. Company dinners, family meals, New Year's Eve parties - there's no shortage of opportunities to gather around a good table. For you, these are opportunities to significantly increase your sales.
High footfall is great news, but it can quickly become a headache if not anticipated. Stock-outs, long waiting times, unavailable dishes - these situations frustrate your customers and put pressure on your teams. What was supposed to be a profitable and festive period turns into stress and financial losses.
The holiday season is a golden opportunity to build customer loyalty and attract new visitors. Meticulous service, an original festive experience or an eye-catching themed menu can turn one-time guests into regulars, and get your establishment talked about on social networks or by word-of-mouth.
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Staffing, supplies and flow in the dining room need to be thought through in advance of the festive season, even before the first order arrives.
Drawing up a suitable staff schedule is undoubtedly the first step. Your teams will have to absorb peaks in activity that are more intense than the rest of the year.
To deal with them, think about :
Plan a meeting with your team as early as November to share your forecasts and allocate tasks. This allows everyone to prepare and avoids unpleasant surprises on the big day.
Special menus, festive products - this season often calls for more expensive ingredients. To avoid food and financial losses:
This will enable you to keep control of your margins and reduce surpluses.
During the holiday season, chances are you'll be swamped with group requests. If you don't have an online reservation system, now's the time to install one. It will help you avoid "no shows" and make it easier to schedule services.
This will enable you to adjust your staffing levels, prepare your stocks and organize the dining room so that every customer enjoys a smooth, pleasant experience. To take things a step further, consider offering pre-established group menus: this simplifies kitchen work while reassuring your customers about the availability of their dishes.
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During the festive season, every second is precious and every mistake can be costly, hence the importance of adopting the right digital tools.
A good management tool can make the difference between smooth service and a chaotic evening when customers leave your restaurant with mixed feelings. To avoid this, rely on digital solutions that enable you to :
A connected cash register gives you an overview that facilitates decision-making and limits unforeseen events.
The holiday season is also an opportunity to strengthen your bond with your customers. How can you do this? Here are a few simple ideas:
Also consider establishing a marketing calendar: for example, a "Christmas menu" focus in early December, followed by a "New Year's Eve" focus in mid-December.
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The festive season is often a busy time of year, and a time of spending. But it's important to seize the right opportunities: upsells, special menus and premium customer experiences can boost your profitability.
The festive season is the perfect time to boost your sales with attractive offers: festive menus, wine and food pairings, sharing boards, but don't forget additional sales, which can considerably boost your sales.
This is where upselling and cross-selling come in:
If you have a kiosk, take the opportunity to highlight these options at the very moment of ordering, in a subtle but attractive way.
During the festive season, customers are above all looking for a convivial experience. Decoration, music and welcome are just as important as what's on their plates. A few small touches can make all the difference: a hot chocolate for the kids, a homemade digestif for groups or a personalized note on the table. They transform a simple meal into a unique experience, and make customers really want to come back and tell others about your restaurant.
Finally, don't forget to take a step back once the season is over. Analyze your figures:
This data will help you adjust your strategies for the following year. And why not prolong the festive momentum with a special "galette des Rois" or "January menu" offer? This will smooth out the post-holiday slump.
If there's only one thing you need to remember from this article, it's that anticipation is the key to a successful holiday season. With solid upstream organization, the right digital tools and a focus on the customer experience, you'll be able to make the most of this special time of year.
Ready to make this your most profitable time of year? With Innovorder, develop your additional sales this holiday season.
