As a restaurant owner in Little Rock, Arkansas, increasing profits and sales is always top of mind. With rising costs and competition, it can be challenging to grow your customer base and improve revenue. As a FocalPoint business coach, I often work with local restaurant owners to develop customized sales strategies to help their business thrive. Here are some of my top tips to boost restaurant sales in Little Rock.
Train Your Staff to Upsell
One of the easiest ways to increase the average guest check is to motivate your staff to upsell items on the menu. Provide upselling training and teach employees how to make recommendations, suggest add-ons, and bundle menu items. Empower them to go above and beyond to enhance the customer’s experience. Roleplay potential scenarios to get them comfortable promoting higher-priced dishes, appetizers, desserts, and beverages. A well-trained staff can make a big difference in check totals and overall restaurant sales.
Optimize Your Menu Offerings
Conduct thorough menu analysis to determine which items contribute the most to your bottom line and which are less profitable. Consider eliminating underperforming dishes and replacing them with more popular or higher-margin options. Make sure your menu has appetizing descriptions, refresh offerings seasonally, and add daily specials to generate excitement. Strategic menu optimization provides tremendous opportunity to improve restaurant sales.
Focus on Top Customers
Identify your very best customers and make efforts to connect with them personally. Send occasional thank you cards or discounts to show your appreciation for their business. Make note of their favorite orders so you can provide personalized service on future visits. Your top 20% of customers likely contribute over 50% of sales, so prioritizing relationships with frequent guests and VIPs can significantly impact your revenue.
Incentivize Referrals & Reviews
Encourage your happiest customers to refer friends and family by offering a discount or promotion if their referral mentions them. This word-of-mouth marketing not only brings in new business but also makes the experience more memorable. Similarly, setting up a review card program with a follow-up email request can help generate more online reviews. Positive reviews boost credibility and help drive sales from prospective diners.
Streamline Takeout & Delivery
Delivery apps and on-demand culture have transformed takeout. What was once an occasional extra is now a primary revenue stream we simply can’t ignore. But with hefty fees and lost control, turning takeout over to third parties can seriously cut into our profits. My advice? Take charge of the takeout experience yourself. Put in the work to make ordering directly from your restaurant irresistibly convenient. Offer web ordering with saved customer profiles and effortless reorder features. Incentivize phone pick-up with discounts versus delivery. You may even want to hire an in-house driver if the numbers make sense. Claim that takeout revenue back by making your takeout experience as seamless and appealing as possible. Don’t cede sales to middlemen if you don’t have to. You’ll be amazed what a few optimizations could add to your bottom line.
Growth Requires a Proactive Approach
At the end of the day, building sales takes work. You have to roll up your sleeves and make improvements across the board. From your menu options to your staff’s upselling skills – it all matters. Little tweaks can lead to big revenue gains if done right and consistently over time.
Change is hard. You already have a full plate running daily operations. That’s why I’m here! As your FocalPoint business coach, I can provide an objective expert eye and help implement incremental changes tailored to your business needs. My goal is your long-term success. If you feel stuck or just need a fresh perspective, let’s chat. I’d love to brainstorm ways to boost your sales and get that momentum going strong. The first step is being open to positive change.
