After the hustle and bustle of the holidays comes a relative calmness in the restaurant industry in January and February. But not all is lost. Several sporting events lead customers out of the comfort of their homes. Do you have everything you need to take full advantage of this prosperous period? Here are our best suggestions to ensure your establishment can make the most of winter sporting season.
On February 11, the Super Bowl finals will crown the new champions at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, Arizona and Usher will be stealing the show at halftime! Then you have the Bahrain F1 Grand Prix on Saturday, March 2—popular among car-racing fans.
Basketball lovers, for their part, will no doubt look forward to March Madness starting March 17; the tournament involves 68 NCAA teams. Plus, there’s the regular NHL season until April 18, with 30 teams in action, setting the stage for the playoffs. And we can all agree that restaurants and bars are ideal for gathering and having a good time with friends.
Entertaining: a business concept
Sports fans are not necessarily subscribed to all the channels needed to watch their favourite teams. Your restaurant could become a popular destination if customers can watch one of these channels or à-la-carte major sporting events.
The goal is to get sports fans to converge at your establishment rather than cheering on their team at home.
It’s hardly a secret that they’ll have much more fun cheering on their favorite players at your restaurant or bar!
Not only will you welcome more customers, but you’ll even see them stay longer, increasing the average cost of their bill. Such an investment is sure to be profitable. A packed house and a cheerful crowd: ingredients to get the party going. Here are a few tips to ensure the success of these evenings.
1- Set the mood
An establishment’s vibe is directly related to its popularity. Do whatever it takes to attract a large crowd. The restaurateur needs to think like a businessperson: small actions can help sell your concept.
Leading up to each event, post the details of said event on your window display. Have flyers printed out and distribute them in neighbouring fitness centres and post them on grocery store and drug store bulletin boards. And let word-of-mouth work its magic! Throughout the night in question, be active on social media, enticing nearby residents to change their plans and make their way to your establishment.
Gather your team and get them pumped for the event. Everyone should be motivated to ensure the best possible customer experience. Your employees are probably sports fans as well. Give each of them a shirt of their favourite team to wear during their shift. This small mark of recognition can go a long way!
Customer feedback is an important part of ongoing improvement. As the evening comes to a close, or at the time of bringing the bill, ask your servers to gauge the customers’ satisfaction, simply asking: “Did you have as much fun as we did?” This small attention allows you to get constructive feedback and fine tune your next game plan.
You can also get feedback via a QR code on your business card. The code leads to an online survey, and you can encourage customers to respond with a promotion. Think six free chicken wings at a future visit as a thanks for completing the survey.
2- Adapt the menu to the event
Get creative when preparing for the broadcast of sporting events. Establish new promotions to increase sales. Thinking of a contest or of launching a loyalty program? Go right ahead! Such initiatives typically generate excitement and interest in your establishment.
Revamp your food and drink options as needed. It is recommended to limit your menu to facilitate work in the kitchen. You could also consider offering new combos. Still, make sure to keep your customers’ favourite dishes on the menu. Inexpensive nachos and chicken wings are always popular among sports fans.
Want to do more to stand out? Impress your customers with cocktails inspired by their favourite Canadian NHL teams. Canadiens’ fans could raise their glass of Habitant cocktail. For more ideas, click here.
During the off-season, you can add less expensive channels to your programming for your customers to enjoy. The ability to watch fights, a golf tournament, or electronic sports (as offered by French channel MGGTV) can give you a competitive edge . . . and you can get it now!
The menu could also be written on a blackboard, whiteboard, or even a window! Fancy and practical. With a digital signage board, you can display your menu and modify it in real time. Plus, you can advertise upcoming events. This technology allows you to create, manage, and broadcast information from a single webpage.
3- Up your Internet access
Technology plays a part in ensuring these special evenings are successful. Image quality, for instance, has an impact on the customer experience. A high-definition TV, if not ultra-HD with 4K terminal, is sure to please. But you’ll need to boost your Internet connection. Your Wi-Fi network needs to support use by dozens, if not hundreds of smart devices simultaneously. It’s also key for your point-of-sale terminals to work properly.
There are many benefits to a robust Wi-Fi connection. Invite your customers to log on to an exclusive wireless network using a customized connection page that’s in line with your brand image. You can also make it easy to log on to the Wi-Fi network by authenticating their accounts on social media. Now there’s a nice way to enhance your customer experience!
Your Wi-Fi network
On your end, the Wi-Fi Pro solution allows you to get information on traffic, number of visitors, and average visit duration and frequency for your establishment. This business tool facilitates decision-making and is conducive to your operations’ success.
Finally, do not underestimate the importance of . . . redundancy. When there’s an Internet outage, the mobile network can take over to ensure service continuity. Thanks to the Guaranteed Internet access offered by Videotron Business, your Internet connection is continually monitored to ensure incidents are detected as soon as they occur. Your connection then automatically switches to the LTE wireless network.
4- Have a flexible game plan
Each bar and restaurant has its own recipe for success. Entertainment—the individual or ongoing broadcast of sporting events—can spice up the vibe of your establishment. Such an investment can have a positive impact on your bottom line and the longevity of your establishment.
Obviously, there are ways to manage costs and reduce your expenses once winter sporting season is over. Our Business TV offer starts with a Basic plan, to which you can add up to 15 sports channels to complete your Sports plan. Plus, the amount and selection of channels can be modified every 30 days to stay on budget. Simply call ahead of time (1-877-512-8590) to plan your changes!
Good to know
As you can see, several technologies contribute to restaurants’ success and the industry’s financial stability. If all the possibilities listed here are enticing to you, remember that implementing a large-scale technological project always starts with a trusted partner. Contact us now to make your bar or restaurant one of the coolest establishments out there!
Save the dates!
- Feb.11: Super Bowl (football)
- From March 17 to April 6: March Madness (basketball)
- From April 18: NHL Series (hockey)
Updated January 2024, By Videotron Business
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