Great customer service and good food are key components of running a successful cafe. However, it is also important to place emphasis on cafe design. It provides a practical way to improve ambiance and promote customer loyalty, A good design encourages patrons to return by making them appreciate the aesthetic appeal of the environment and feel comfortable.
A good cafe design, awesome music, great service and good food provide a winning combination that enhances customers’ dining experience. To achieve the objective, outlets need to balance the seating capacity and arrangement. The outlet’s seating capacity should not compromise comfort. Overly focusing on interior design while neglecting seating capacity undermines the customer’s dining experience.
The ideal interior design reduces or eliminates the possibility of a bad table. The majority of customers are not keen to sit close to the kitchen entrance and the restrooms. For this reason, restaurant owners should make an effort to design the outlet in a way that arranges tables optimally. The use dividers is one way to disguise problem areas like entrances and even the middle of the dining room.
Designers can place screens between tables, tall plants and wooden partitions. Some of the problem areas give patrons direct view to the bus or wait stations while others may be too close to entrances, which subjects customers to draft from the door. Sitting in chair in these areas prior to opening day gives designers and cafe owners a feel of the customer’s view.
Additional considerations
Every restaurant experiences slow business during off-peak hours. This presents a formidable challenge for managers or owners. Typically, business is slow on weekdays after lunch hour and before dinner. The majority of customers frequent restaurants at traditional times for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Filling seats outside of these hours requires innovative strategies.
To achieve this objective, you need to approach off-peak hours differently than standard times. Make an effort to gain insights from your current and target customer base. This allows you to identify creative ways to pull the crowds.
Working with specific customer personas is a sure-fire way to offer suitable incentives. For instance, mother and toddler groups. You could offer them coffee and cake deals or kids eat free. Some of the innovative ways to attract customers include free Wi-Fi — attracts different types of clientele, including students and field-based workers. Happy hour — provides customers an opportunity to eat out without worrying about the budget.
Get creative with your menu — try interesting appetizers, gluten-free alternatives, new gourmet sandwich fillings or raw salad bar. Leverage social media — engaging customers on social media allows you to keep them well-informed about irresistible off-peak deals.