Take advantage of your restaurant location and start building your community – with nearby businesses. In every business located near yours, you have an opportunity to do two things – make connections and gain customers through these businesses. It’s these businesses that are most likely to recommend you to their customers and to eat in your establishment.
Here are three ways to start building a community with the businesses located nearby:
- Invite the owners and leadership teams to dinner – on you, in your restaurant or establishment. This gives you the opportunity to meet your nearby business peers and talk about how you can benefit each other’s businesses. Gather business cards and make notes for follow-ups on promising discussions.
- Always create flyers and distribute to neighboring businesses for special events. If you cater, offer dine-in specials or have live music or fundraisers for the local schools – whatever – have someone from your staff hand-deliver flyers for your promotion to your neighbors. It’s all about the word of mouth.
- Offer employees of your neighbors discounted beverages or a discount on food. Several businesses in my local area do this, and the employees love that they can get a cold drink or reduced cost meal. It may mean the difference in lunch sales or even recommendations for eating at your establishment.
