Total Touch Restaurant Growth Blog

How to Recommend the Ideal Restaurant POS System

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 19:35:13 GMT

A Comprehensive Guide for Value Added Resellers and POS Dealers

Within the restaurant industry, the Point-of-Sale (POS) system functions as the nerve center of the entire business on a daily basis. It integrates essential aspects of restaurant management, from transactions and inventory tracking to coordinating kitchen operations and customer loyalty programs.

As a Value-Added Reseller (VAR) or POS Dealer , you play a pivotal role in helping restaurateurs find the POS system that best fits their specific needs. This task quickly becomes complex and challenging due to the sheer variety of options available. However, when you thoroughly understand the key features and aspects to consider when recommending a restaurant POS system, you can build your business on the loyalty and trust of your customers.

Whether you are a VAR new to the industry or a seasoned professional aiming to update your knowledge, this guide for recommending the ideal restaurant POS system will serve as a valuable resource to support your mission. You will be well-equipped to provide your clients with a POS system that contributes significantly to their success in a fiercely competitive market.

Understanding the Unique Needs of Each Restaurant

Size & Type of Restaurant

The first step is to thoroughly understand the unique requirements of the restaurant based on its size and type. A cozy neighborhood café will require a vastly different system than a high-volume fine-dining restaurant or a quick-service chain. The scale of operations and the style of service they offer will inform the complexity and functionality needed in a POS system.

Number of Employees

The number of staff members can also influence the kind of POS system required. Larger teams may need a system with more advanced features such as shift scheduling, employee performance metrics, payroll integration, and task assignment. For smaller teams, a more straightforward system might suffice.

Desired Features

It’s crucial to ascertain what features are most desired by your client. Key functionalities include menu and inventory management, table tracking, online ordering, and delivery integration. Furthermore, features like customer loyalty programs, customizable reports, and advanced analytics offer valuable insights for strategic decision-making.

Evaluating POS Systems Based on Key Parameters

With a clear understanding of the restaurant’s needs, it’s time to turn your attention to evaluating the available POS systems in the market. Here are a few factors to consider:

Ease of Use

A POS system should be user-friendly and intuitive irrespective of its advanced features. A system that’s easy to use can improve staff efficiency and productivity, reduce training time, and minimize errors during service. Look for one with clear, easy-to-navigate interfaces and simplified processes.

Reliability

A reliable POS system with a track record of minimal downtime can save restaurants from lost sales and customer dissatisfaction. Consider those offering offline capabilities to ensure the restaurant can still operate even if the internet connection fails.

Scalability

The chosen POS system should be able to grow and adapt to the changing needs of the restaurant. Adding new features or scaling up should be seamless as the establishment expands or diversifies.

Customer Support

Evaluate the level of customer support provided by the POS vendor. Comprehensive training, round-the-clock support, online resources, and a responsive team are vital to ensuring smooth operations and swift resolution of any issues that might arise.

Cost

While it may be tempting to recommend a cheaper or cloud-based system, weighing the cost against the value is essential.

A low-cost or cloud-based system may become more expensive in the long run if it lacks necessary features, requires frequent upkeep, or fails to offer reliable support. Consider both the upfront price for hardware and software , as well as the ongoing expenses for updates, maintenance, and assistance.

Total Touch is Your Ideal Restaurant POS

Guiding your clients toward the right restaurant POS system is a multi-faceted process, requiring a deep understanding of their unique needs and careful evaluation of various options. As a VAR, you’re not just selling a product but providing a restaurant management solution that could significantly influence your client’s business success.

At Total Touch, we understand the position of VARs and aim to make the process as easy as possible for you to grow your business.

Y ou deserve to keep more of what you earn, not have the merchant service provider or POS system provider reduce your profit with hidden fees. Become an authorized Total Touch dealer today!

Maximize Your Restaurant Team Leadership Potential

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 13:30:00 GMT

Strategy and Tactics to Develop a Leadership Pipeline to Maximize Your Restaurant’s Potential

Successful and enduring restaurants build their foundations on solid company cultures. Environments like this generate greater loyalty in employees and customers alike. But as a restaurant owner, you can’t produce that kind of culture alone, especially if you have more than one establishment.

You need managers and future leaders to help continue this work and be a “duplicate” of you and your philosophy when you’re not around. But identifying that talent and creating a strong leadership pipeline in your business is easier said than done.

This pipeline is something you know requires an investment, but it can feel daunting to get started. However, with a clear plan of attack, you can construct a talent pipeline to maximize your restaurant’s potential. You simply need the tactics to get there.

The Pain Points of Identifying Leadership in a Restaurant

There are typically three main pain points that owners and/or managers have when it comes to building out their leadership pipelines.

Limited Visibility: With many employees working in different roles and shifts, it can be challenging to form a complete picture of everyone’s performance.

Limited Time: You already have a lot on your plate, and finding the time to observe and assess every employee over a significant period can be difficult.

Limited Resources: Investing in leadership training can be expensive, and it can be challenging to identify the employees who will benefit the most from it.

Six Tips and Tactics to Grow Your Restaurant’s Leadership Pipeline

Did you say “amen” after reading those pain points? We hear you. It’s tough enough to manage the day-to-day operations of your restaurant, and it feels even more challenging to invest far into the future – which is what a leadership pipeline is all about. However, consider where you want your restaurant – and yourself personally – to be in 10 years.

Would you like to have a thriving restaurant without being involved in the day-to-day? Would you like a trusted team of multiple leaders to run things without much oversight from you?

If that sounds amazing and exactly like what you’re shooting for, you must take the time now, not later, to invest in those people. These six tips and tactics are an excellent way to achieve your personal and professional goals.

1. Start With Performance Metrics

Determine the metrics that matter most to your restaurant, such as customer satisfaction and sales. Use these metrics to identify current team members who consistently exceed expectations.

2. Look For Initiative and Responsibility

Employees who take initiative and responsibility for their work are the ones you should consider for leadership opportunities. These traits seem simple, but they are essential for leadership, and only some possess them. Take note of team members who suggest improvements and go above and beyond their duties, as this indicates that it isn’t just a job to them – it matters.

3. Observe Communication Skills

Communication is the crux of leadership, and observing how well your employees communicate will help you identify those with leadership potential. In addition, are they teachable enough to improve even further? You’re seeking excellent listeners who give and receive constructive feedback and provide clear instructions when called upon.

4. Conduct One-On-One Meetings

One-on-one meetings with employees can provide valuable insights into their aspirations and goals for career advancement within your business.

5. Offer Training and Mentorship

Offering leadership training and mentorship will help you spot which employees are willing to learn and want to grow. It also ensures they get to where they need to be and enables you to develop the leadership pipeline you need for the long-term success of your restaurant.

6. Encourage Feedback

Motivate your employees to give feedback about how you can improve your leadership style and provide valuable insights into the needs and aspirations of your team.

A Strong Leadership Pipeline = a Strong Restaurant

Whether your goal is to expand to multiple locations or create a national franchise, a strong leadership pipeline is essential for the growth and success of your restaurant. It can take years to build out this resource, so don’t wait! Begin investing in the team members you’re identifying now to become the leaders you will need in the future.

How to Solve the 3 Most Common Restaurant Leadership Challenges

Mon, 22 May 2023 16:25:57 GMT

As a restaurant owner, your responsibilities run a mile long. You have a lot on your plate, from managing daily operations to planning ways to expand and create new growth. One of the most taxing parts of your job also includes managing your employees. Leadership in the restaurant industry is challenging, with the environment being fast-paced, at times high-stress, and with a high turnover rate.

While this is a pain point you likely feel, there is a solution – an investment in yourself and your leadership skills. By prioritizing your own development, you can overcome these hurdles to run a smoother, more successful business.

Leadership Challenges in the Restaurant Industry

Challenge #1: High Turnover Rates

The restaurant industry has one of the highest turnover rates of any industry, reaching nearly 75% . There are many causes, but much of it stems from the poor culture in many restaurants. With the constant turnover, it makes regular hiring necessary, which has challenges in itself. Once you do hire new employees then you have to train them as well. This turnover and hiring cycle is costly and time-consuming for you and any managers on your team.

Solution: Develop a Strong Company Culture

When people love where they work, they stick around. By becoming the kind of leader employees want to follow, your turnover rate will decrease while their loyalty increases. Some simple ways to get started include:

Create a positive and welcoming environment
Show that you value teamwork and employee input by rewarding it
Encourage employee engagement by involving them in decision-making processes where appropriate
Provide opportunities for growth and advancement

Another way to continue building that strong culture that will set you apart is to help employees take ownership of their own careers, even within your establishment by doing great work and moving up the ladder. Show them what that takes. Train them on what they need to do to make that happen.

Consistent training and education are a massive part of creating a strong culture. If your team only receives training at the beginning of their employment and never again, they will not feel invested in and they will not stick around – adding to your turnover challenge.

Challenge #2: Managing Multiple Personalities

Your team is likely a diverse group of employees with varying personalities, backgrounds, and work styles. Managing all of these aspects can be challenging, especially while attempting to maintain a positive and productive work environment.

Solution: Take the Time to Understand Your Employees

One of the hallmarks of great leadership is the deep understanding that a leader has of their followers. If you want to be able to manage people that come from all walks of life, you have to take the time to understand them – their individual strengths, weaknesses, and specific abilities. Use this deep dive on your team to create a work environment that:

Puts the right people in the right positions based on their strengths.
Motivates them to work towards both shared and personal goals.
Provides precise feedback along the way to help them grow.

Challenge #3: Meeting High Customer Expectations

Your customers have high expectations when it comes to food quality, service, and ambiance. As a restaurant owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that all of these expectations are met or exceeded. This is nearly impossible to achieve when your staff isn’t prepared to deliver on those expectations.

Solution: Train and Empower Your Staff

The proper training of your staff extends beyond the obvious elements – such as how to handle general operations daily, manage payments after a meal, understand and talk about the menu, etc.

This training improves your team’s people skills and customer service, empowers them to take great care of your guests, and connects those soft skills to their tips and job performance.

Invest in Your Leadership Skills to Invest in Your Restaurant

While these are just a few leadership challenges you likely face as a restaurant owner, they are excellent starting points to determine changes you can make to get the maximum value from your team and lead your restaurant into a successful future.

Total Touch POS is an easy-to-use restaurant management system designed by restaurant owners to meet bar and restaurant owners' distinct management and operational needs. Total Touch is the only hybrid POS that can help bar and restaurant owners and managers reduce costs and increase profitability when staff shortages and rising prices make hospitality operations challenging.

Future Proof Your Reseller Business When POS Providers Go to the Cloud

Thu, 04 May 2023 12:46:28 GMT

Q&A with Matthew Dye, CPP , Director of Sales for Total Touch POS

A value-added reseller's (VAR) job isn't easy. Their biggest fear is when solutions providers sunset products and force VARs to offer cloud solutions.

That leaves resellers in the dark because the POS provider controls future service and support opportunities with remote support, not the local expert who is there for the merchant when they need them.

Matthew Dye, Director of Sales for Total Touch Point of Sale at Electronic Merchant Systems , took some time to answer questions about how a VAR can fill the void left by disappearing products and profit opportunities and keep their hard-earned reputations intact.

Q: What should a VAR look for to replace a solutions provider who has sunset their go-to product?

Dye: Start by looking for a similar product that would be popular with your existing target market (such as bars, restaurants, and nightclubs). If the company has a parent company that is a processing platform, confirm that the solutions provider has retained the original coding experts that created that POS system. Be certain the POS software allows for payment processor neutrality and only incentivizes resellers to consider processing with the parent company via the value and competitive pricing/profitability they bring their resellers.

Q: VARs are being forced to use cloud-only-based solutions. Is cloud necessary? What alternative solutions can a VAR consider?

Dye: Cloud-based POS systems are not necessary but can be an asset. However, server-based systems are much more secure.

If it's a hybrid restaurant management system like Total Touch POS utilizing the cloud for certain functions, they usually outperform its cloud-based competition. Another feature that should be considered is processor and/or internet service provider failure. Redundant ISP or hot spot backups are expensive but can’t provide backup when the processor goes down. With server-based store and forward capabilities, your merchant will never go down.

How much consideration should a VAR place on customer support when choosing a new solution?

Dye: This is one of the most crucial issues. I highly recommend that you call their support to see if it’s U.S. based support , and have the expertise to solve your problems.

Q: Regardless of the solution, security is paramount. Are the alternative solutions you've mentioned secure?

Dye: We’re all aware of all the internet breaches and backdoors and that the hackers and crackers keep getting more and more talented. At the same time, server-based systems require those same hackers to have admin access to that specific back-office server to perform any breach. Server-based platforms are much more secure.

Read the full interview with Matthew Dye, CPP , Filling The Void Left By Disappearing Products And Profit Opportunities , on VAR Insights .

5 Big Ideas to Grow Your POS Reseller Business

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 17:00:04 GMT

Being a VAR can be a meaningful and rewarding profession.

As a successful value-added reseller, you work hard to gain the expertise, knowledge, and experience to overcome business, personnel, and economic challenges.

Difficulties present opportunities for growth and learning; where there is an opportunity, there is potential for success. Here’s a roundup of the top five articles we recommend to help you thrive, serve your clients, and experience success in the ever-evolving POS technology and merchant processing industry.

1. Fill The Void Left By Disappearing Products And Profit Opportunities

Matthew Dye , Director of Sales for Total Touch Point of Sale at Electronic Merchant Systems , took some time to answer questions about how a VAR can fill the void left by these disappearing products and profit opportunities to keep their hard-earned reputations intact. Read it on VAR Insights »

2. Don't Let Your POS Provider Lock You Into A One-Sided Processor Relationship

How does it make you feel when systems that refuse to be processor-neutral keep raising your pricing to feed their stock prices? Does it make you frustrated when you can’t move your processing without being penalized to the extreme? If it does, you’re not alone. Find out how to get into a win/win relationship »

Tired of the revenue squeeze? Total Touch understands the sales, training, and support needs you have every day.

3. Enhance Your Business Reputation

Building a successful business takes a lot of hard work and dedication. But once you've achieved a certain level of success, protecting your reputation is vital. Discover five ways to enhance your business reputation »

4. Reduce the Big Squeeze on Your Bottom Line

If you’re a POS reseller or VAR experiencing residual compression , learn how to reduce residual revenue compression, improve your earnings, and grow your POS Reseller business .

5. Market Yourself as a Point of Sale Dealer

Effective marketing is truly about building a brand and reputation that your customers believe in and want to share with other people. Enhance your reputation »

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Total Touch® is the only hybrid POS and payment restaurant management solution to help VARs grow your business and supports you in equipping restaurant owners and managers to manage staff, reduce costs, and increase profitability when staff shortages and rising prices make hospitality operations challenging.

Tips for a Successful New Restaurant Launch

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 18:26:13 GMT

Opening a new restaurant can be a risky business endeavor. Here are seven tips for a successful launch.

Congratulations to the entrepreneurs and chefs who take that risk daily!

About 60% of new restaurants fail within their first year, and 80% fail within their first five years.

Those numbers are frightening, but let’s not forget about the remaining 20%. This represents the restaurant businesses that go on to find long-term success.

We analyzed what makes restaurants successful for the long term and discovered seven tips that are common.

1. Define a strong concept and hire a great chef

Decide what your restaurant will serve and who your target customers are. Whether it’s pizza, tacos, or Asian fusion , choose a concept and stick to it. This could very well be what your restaurant is known for, so choose wisely!

Then, make sure you hire a rock star chef with many years of experience. Customers will often flock to a restaurant because they hear of a chef with a reputation for preparing unique and tasty creations.

2. Save money for the off-season slump

It is important to save enough funds to keep your restaurant in business during a lull in traffic. Generally, new restaurant owners take eight to nine months before they break even. Make sure you save enough money until that period is over. Once you have broken even, it’s still a good idea to have reserves stored up in case of an unexpected crisis.

3. Create an eye-catching, memorable logo

Your logo represents your business. Make sure it is unique and dynamic enough to be used on street signs, ads, billboards, newspapers, business cards, websites, menus, and anywhere else you will market your restaurant. Try to avoid cliché images such as a chef’s hat, dishes, and silverware.

4. Design an appealing menu

Just like your logo, this is a tool for drawing customers in and can say a lot about your business. Sit at your table with a menu and make it comfortable to hold and read. It shouldn’t be too big or too small.

Pro Tip: Nobody likes a sticky menu! Make sure your menu is attractive , easy to read, and free of crumbs or stickiness for guests when they arrive.

5. Develop a user-friendly website for your restaurant

Your customers will go to your website to book a table and review menus, so make sure it is simple, clean, and easy to navigate. Don’t forget to include important information like your contact phone and email, operating hours, reservation details, menus, and more.

Build a website yourself with a DIY website builder , or setup an online food ordering system with Total Touch Web Ordering to make it easy for customers to order and enjoy your food! An online ordering system serves multiple functions:

Gives your restaurant an all-in-one website presence.
Makes it easy for your customers to order in-house and online.
Accepts orders from customers from their desktop computer, tablet, or mobile device.
Reduces order entry errors and eliminates uncomfortable language barriers.

6. Choose the Restaurant POS and Management Solution that’s right for you

At Total Touch, we believe the best restaurant POS software is the one you actually use.

Our team has used server-based and cloud-based POS solutions and understand the risks, rewards, and potential issues. Ask yourself:

What if the internet goes down during a busy service?
How will you cash out customers?
Is the equipment that comes with the POS system robust and reliable?

Our recommendation is a hybrid restaurant management solution that will process customer payments, print receipts, track sales transactions, and manage your entire bar and restaurant business when the internet is up or down.

A comprehensive POS solution should include everything you need to improve efficiency and profitability in your bar, restaurant, or nightclub. Even better, it should work with your current merchant services provider or help you save money when you switch to an integrated credit card processing provider .

7. Know Your Customers

For many future customers, life is completely different now. Many families and diners made big changes in how they work, dine out, and what they do with their spare time.

Take the time to deeply understand your local market and customers’ needs and wants. This will help you plan your marketing efforts and make helpful, informed changes to your restaurant throughout the year.

You can do this. Total Touch POS has your back.

O pening a new restaurant is a big undertaking. B y following these seven tips, you can ensure that your restaurant launch is successful. Research your local market, create a unique concept, focus on customer service and satisfaction, develop an effective marketing strategy, set achievable goals, stay organized and motivated, and seek out expert advice.

With the right approach and dedication to a n exceptional dining e xpereince , you can make sure your restaurant launch is a success!

How to Manage Credit Card Reward Programs for Your Restaurant

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 18:55:03 GMT

Understanding how to manage rewards programs is one of the best ways to reduce costs and increase profits for the cash-strapped restaurant.

Learn the value of cash payments and credit card convenience fee dual pricing options.

Your restaurant and income depend on customer retention. Finding a way to retain your customers and increase your revenue can make a measurable difference.

You should increase your income and reduce your card processing fees to improve profits. Doing so creates a ripple effect, benefiting you and your customers.

Understanding how to manage rewards programs is one of the best ways to achieve these results. When considering your options, you may have difficulty figuring out whether to offer cash-only or a credit card convenience program — or both — a program we’ll refer to as dual pricing.

Like many restaurant owners, you might prefer to offer something other than dual pricing , a program that provides customers with a cash payment option and a slightly higher price that covers the convenience of credit card processing fees. Providing these options may feel like you’re offering your customers a discount; if you don’t understand it, it feels like you’re simply giving money away. You’re subsidizing the credit card company when you pay for credit card reward programs from your profits!

Where’s Your Reward for Offering Credit Card Convenience?

The cost of goods (COG), credit card processing, and reward fees equal your total cost of goods or services (TCOG). When your customers purchase a product with a credit card, you’re the one that ends up paying for their convenience and the rewards.

However, since dual pricing is one of the best options for increasing your revenue and profit, it is essential to understand and stick with it. By understanding cash payment and convenience options, dual pricing can reduce your processing costs while best serving your customers.

How to Think About a Dual Pricing Program

Option 1: Cash Price

A restaurant dual pricing program typically offers customers a 3%-4% discount for using cash instead of a card. At least that’s how it appears — but the credit card percentage is added to the cost of goods, not subtracted from it. The cash price should be the price you want to charge without discounts.

Owners often tell their restaurant customers about the benefits of cash payments with special promotions. For example, “Use cash at [your restaurant name] and save 3% off your meal!”

Everyone loves to see that there’s a simple way to pay less for their food, so by promoting your participation in a payment rewards and dual pricing program, you can increase revenue and profit over time.

Customers prefer to pay with credit cards for convenience, perks, and protection. When the cash payment and convenience fee options are in place, you shouldn’t experience a decrease in profit. Over time, you’ll see your profit increase. Plus, you’ll experience reduced processing fees as fewer customers use credit cards.

Payment rewards coupled with dual pricing mutually benefit you and your customers, as they receive a perceived discount when they pay with cash, and you gain more revenue while paying less for card charges.

Option 2: Who Pays the Credit Card Convenience Fee?

In a dual pricing program, the credit card surcharge you pay gets added to credit card transactions as a convenience fee instead of the cash price. By including this fee as an option for the convenience of using a credit card, your customers offset the charges included when you process a credit card payment.

At first glance, many restaurant owners and managers may balk at the idea of a credit card convenience program. They imagine their customers will question the convenience fee and feel they could lose business instead of retaining customers.

However, restaurants that use the convenience fee option overwhelmingly boast positive results. The program dramatically reduces processing fees and makes payment convenient for customers.

Dual Pricing functions the same as Cash Discount. The difference is that in Dual Pricing, the customer sees both the credit and cash price on the payment device and choose their preferred payment option.

Are Credit Card Convenience Fees Right for Your Restaurant?

There are benefits and drawbacks to dual pricing cash payment and convenience fee programs. The best choice for your business depends on your target market, ordering process, and many other factors.

Groups welcome the invitation to split checks and individual items on their order, as Total Touch POS can do. For example, dual pricing is appealing for a quick-service restaurant where patrons are eager to grab their food and go. However, if you run a gastropub or another place where patrons tend to eat and drink for hours, incentivizing cash could prevent customers from ordering another round.

Similarly, credit card processing convenience fees may be less noticeable for sit-down restaurants where patrons pay the bill at the end of the meal. But if you run a café or deli where people order upfront, an extra fee could be a deterrent.

People who feel they’re getting value for their money don’t mind convenience fees. Dual pricing options may be just the incentive they need to splurge on a dessert or extra appetizer! It ultimately depends on how well you integrate your cash payment and convenience fee options with the overall customer experience.

Many restaurant owners choose both. Indeed, businesses that use both cash pricing and credit card convenience fee programs may reach their goals for reduced processing fees and higher income.

Cash or Credit: It’s All About Customer Convenience

Finding the right way to serve your customers , ensure their satisfaction, and grow your income without the burden of steep processing fees is essential. Many options are available thanks to reward programs; you may feel uneasy about offering them. You imagine they will backfire, fearing that dual pricing will make your bottom line suffer and surcharge programs will cause you to lose customers.

However, cash payments and convenience fee options are a great way to achieve your revenue goals. Dual pricing programs can increase business and customer loyalty, while convenience fee programs eliminate your processing fees. In sum, these programs are a win-win for your restaurant and customers.

When you’re ready to learn more about reward programs for your restaurant , call the restaurant POS experts at Total Touch . With the reliable and robust Total Touch hybrid point-of-sale system for restaurants , you can offer rewards programs to your customers that lower your POS costs. The Total Touch team will walk you through your rewards options to help you create the most effective program for your restaurant.

Three Affordable Alternatives for POS Financing

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 16:19:12 GMT

What alternatives do you have if you don’t want to purchase a POS system for your restaurant?

Bar and restaurant owners and managers need all the help they can get to run their restaurants. If you ask, they’ll let you know that time and money are always in short supply as they navigate the various tasks and essentials. They’re constantly looking for ways to reduce fees while increasing their productivity.

That's why VARs (value-added POS resellers) are so helpful. VARs have the knowledge and experience to direct clients to find the most cost-effective and efficient tools for payment processing . Restaurant owners may not know all their options and feel their only choice is to commit and purchase a POS system.

Many restaurants find that investing in a POS system is the best idea for their business, as it provides their establishment with the system they’ll use for years. Others simply don’t want to invest in one because they don’t have the cash to buy it outright.

Fortunately, you can use other effective options in the marketplace for obtaining a POS system. Discover three alternatives to the traditional POS system purchase that help you discover and use financial resources in the best way for your bar or restaurant.

POS System Purchase Alternatives

POS systems are commonly used for ordering, inventory control, payment processing, and data storage for bars and restaurants ; however, buying a POS is not for everyone . A POS system is useful because it allows restaurants to accept payments and keep track of sales and other data.

As you search for the best resources for accepting and managing payments and running their restaurants, it’s important to understand the benefits of POS purchase alternatives. POS systems are an investment — and as with any investment — you deserve a return. These alternatives can help you jumpstart your restaurant, regardless of whether you can invest in a POS system upfront.

Cash Advance

If restaurants don’t have the funds to purchase a POS system, a cash advance alternative might be a great option. Obtaining a business cash advance can free up the money you need to buy and maintain your system without having the capital upfront .

With a cash advance, bars and restaurant owners can get the funding they need to obtain their POS system. Their system should then provide them with enough Return on Investment (ROI) to steadily pay their cash advance and make a profit.

A cash advance is a great option for new restaurants without the money to outright buy their POS systems but who see the value in ownership.

POS Solution Leasing

There are plenty of restaurants out there that aren’t interested in buying a POS system. You may not be ready to take the plunge as to get your restaurant off the ground, or perhaps owning a POS system doesn’t mesh well with your business.

If you don’t want to buy a POS system, leasing is a viable alternative (like the $0 cost lease from Total Touch POS ). This option enables you to utilize all the benefits of a great POS system without the large upfront costs. Leasing a POS system will give you a powerful restaurant management solution with monthly payments for the duration of the lease until it is renewed or you opt for purchase.

While this option may cost more over time than simply buying a POS system, it could be helpful when you are start a restaurants or looking to make your restaurant more profitable, don’t have the money to invest out of pocket, or simply don’t see the value of investing yet.

An example would be the Total Touch Bundle and PayBack Program . This bundle includes everything a restaurant needs to improve efficiency and profitability.

POS Subscription Models

Another option for bars, nightclubs, and restaurants is the POS SaaS (software as a service) model. This subscription-based hardware and software for point-of-sale service help restaurants reduce upfront costs and gives you all the support and service you need for an affordable monthly fee.

With SaaS model POS, restaurants don’t have to purchase software, hardware, and other components of POS systems. Instead, you can access everything they need through a monthly subscription, especially with the benefit of a hybrid POS solution .

This is a great way for new restaurants to get started without the additional expense of buying a POS system. It’s also a useful option for those not ready to invest in a POS system .

Why buy when you can get a POS starter bundle with a $0 Cost Lease from Total Touch POS?

Choose the POS Model that’s Right for Your Restaurant

Restaurant owners need an effective way to manage their business, process payments and sales, and store customer information. However, they may not want or be able to invest in a POS system upfront. They can find the best option for getting their POS system without upfront funds through a cash advance, leasing option, or subscription model.

Restaurants can use these alternative options to get a POS like Total Touch Point-of-Sale , the most effective system to process payments, increase sales, and manage data.

How to Sustain Your Restaurant for the Winter

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 20:32:08 GMT

The winter and lean months often have devastating potential for restaurants.

That’s a harsh first sentence of this narrative, but now’s not the time to dance around the point. According to the National Restaurant Association, “nearly 1 in 6 restaurants (representing nearly 100,000 restaurants) either closed permanently or long-term” due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

So, the big question for restaurant owners like you is: How can I sustain my restaurant during the winter?

The seasonal measures you take will of course depend on the location of your restaurant. Restaurants in warmer states like Arizona, Florida, and Georgia may be able to offer outdoor dining through the winter months. However, Midwest states like North Dakota, Iowa, and Ohio typically experience very cold temperatures and snow in the winter, limiting outdoor options.

Let’s explore tips and ideas to help you safely prepare for the months ahead.

Ten Restaurant Ideas to Help You Get Ready for Winter

Even during a typical winter, many people choose cooking at home over dining out. Why is that? Here are five possible reasons:

It’s cold outside!
It gets too dark too early.
Multiple layers of clothing are required, just to leave the house.
Slippery ice makes walking treacherous and driving more dangerous.
January resolutions mean more dieting and saving money.

And, of course, there’s just something extra special about homemade soup in front of the fire when snow is swirling outside.

Typically, transitioning to winter might not be too much of a hassle for your restaurant. Maybe all you have to do is change up the menu a bit, invest in some ice-melt for the sidewalks, and hire a regular plow service for your parking lot.

This year, you’ll need more than a winter season plan. You’ll need a true winter season strategy. Here are ten ideas and tips you might want to consider for your strategy.

1. Create a menu that celebrates the cold.

Get diners excited about visiting your restaurant this season with a new menu that celebrates colder temperatures. Think about what drinks and dishes you can offer that stay warm longer. You may also want to consider the bowl or glass you serve them in, as some retain heat longer than others. Here are a few warm and cozy ideas you could serve up:

Warm cocktails like a hot toddy, mulled wine, Irish coffee, and peppermint schnapps hot cocoa
Sizzling fajita platters
Cheese or dessert fondues
Homemade pot pies
Soups and stews

2. Grow your own produce.

One of the reasons your customers may choose to cook at home is because of a lack of fresh fruits and veggies in the colder months. You can encourage them to stop in or place an order by growing your own produce in a heated greenhouse. A small greenhouse can help you grow fresh spices and ingredients for your most popular dishes. Plus, it will make a big difference for those customers who are craving freshness. In the summer, consider expanding your garden to the outdoors and provide hand-picked produce all year long!

3. Offer a “winter cold” takeout special.

There’s nothing better than a bowl of chicken noodle soup when you’re stuck at home with a cold. Consider adding your own version of a “medicine soup” during cold and flu season to show customers you care. You can even turn that simple bowl of soup into a cold remedy bundle by adding some tea bags and a small pack of tissues.

4. Make winter fun!

Entice your customers to leave the comfort of their homes by hosting regular, socially distant events. Weekly live entertainment and trivia nights are great ways to do this! If you’re able to build a full calendar of weekly events for multiple months, consider adding a loyalty element. For example, you could offer each guest a card to be hole punched each time they attend an event. Once they’ve attended a certain number of events, reward them with a discount on their meal, a free dessert, or other perk.

5. Enhance your takeout menu.

Maybe you have some customers who prefer to eat at home, but they aren’t exactly excited to do the cooking. You can solve their problems by creating “take and bake” options. These are meals that you can prepare for your guests to take home and bake in their own oven. Pizzas, pot pies, and one-sheet meals are great, no-hassle options for your customers. You can also enhance the experience by including special instructions for re-heating the leftovers or other baking tips.

6. Extend the outdoor dining season.

According to research from the National Restaurant Association, “49% of full-service and 25% of limited-service operators say they are taking actions to extend the outdoor dining season for their restaurants, including installing tents or patio heaters.” Depending on your location, this may be an option for you as well. The next three ideas may help you creatively extend the outdoor dining season for your restaurant. Please note that any outdoor option involving tents, external heat sources such as space heaters and/or heat lamps, or outdoor lighting will need to be approved by your local jurisdiction.

7. Invest in igloos.

A Detroit restaurateur increased his winter sales last year by investing in several patio igloos. According to the National Restaurant Association, “Now, he believes they will help his business weather the COVID-19 storm by allowing parties of up to six people to dine in the igloo, which is outfitted with space heaters, an electric fireplace, and fresh air circulating through two open flaps in the back of the structure. Parties enter through a zippered door. Guests can relax for up to two hours inside the globes.” Each of these igloos is made of fiberglass rods and clear tent material and costs about $1,200.

If the igloo experience is something you might be interested in offering, please note that each structure must be easy to exit, have fire extinguishers on-site, and your staff needs to deploy proper safety protocols in their service and between parties. You will also need to have the structures cleared and inspected by your local jurisdiction.

8. Install patio heating.

Heating your current patio is another way to help your diners look forward to eating outside longer. Some outdoor heating options include:

Fire pits
Space heaters
Overhead heat lamps
Standing heat lamps

If you choose to install patio heating, please remember to get your plan approved by local jurisdiction and always have proper fire extinguishing equipment nearby.

9. Offer warm blankets to diners.

Take the cozy factor to the next level by offering warm blankets to your diners! There are a few different ways you can do this:

Include them as a menu option, asking your guests to purchase them for $5 or $10.
Offer them for free during dining service at each table. After each use, be sure to wash and dry the blankets thoroughly.
Invite guests to bring their own blankets by sending them an email or posting on your website and social media channels.

10. Reevaluate indoor social distancing.

Many of your loyal customers may still dine in your restaurant during the colder months. Show them how much you appreciate their trust and support by reevaluating your indoor seating practices. It's always wise to offer hand sanitizer and encourage healthy habits from customers and employees.

We wish you and your restaurant the very best this season. Visit our blog again soon for additional tips and resources to help you through the winter months and beyond.

Sources: National Restaurant Association , News Channel 9 , UpServe

Don’t Get Locked into a One-Sided Processor Relationship

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 18:27:46 GMT

Are you locked in a one-sided relationship with your POS provider?

How does it make you feel when POS systems that refuse to be processor-neutral keep raising your pricing just to feed their stock prices?

Does it make you frustrated when you can’t move your processing without being penalized to the extreme?

If it does, you’re not alone. The truth is: Most POS systems lock merchants into one merchant services processor.

It’s like being held hostage! Why do they do this? Unfortunately, it’s just because they can.

But it doesn’t have to be this way .

Committing to a POS you love should never mean committing to a payment processor you don’t. You can find POS providers, such as Total Touch, that aren’t looking to take advantage of you. There are POS providers that will be on your side and are committed to your success.

There are many reasons why you want to have full autonomy over your choice of merchant services processor. These include competitive processing fees, the level of integration offered, security features, and even the expertise of each processing company's vendors. Don’t let yourself be tied down to partners who don’t have your best interests at heart.

What a Quality POS Provider Relationship Looks Like

No merchant should be forced to get rid of a processor they’re happy with just to implement a new POS system. Additionally, they should remain free to adjust their processors down the road as they choose without worrying about POS compatibility. Stick with processors you love or enjoy the freedom to try new ones by partnering with a flexible POS Provider.

Committing to a POS system you love should never mean committing to a payment processor you don’t.

Neutrality is king. Not all payment processors are created equal, and the one you use can greatly impact your ability to make a profit. For instance, although every option will take a small fee every time you take a customer payment, some have more insidious hidden fees than others.

A quality POS provider will allow you to enjoy a system that works seamlessly in tandem with the merchant services processor of your choice. A provider that isn't committed to transparency and your interests will hold their power over your head and force you to make inefficient choices that ultimately drag your business down. Remain in control by choosing a provider who cares about your success.

Ask your Authorized Dealer how Total Touch integrates with gift card, loyalty programs, and merchant services that help you increase profit and grow your business.

Get a free credit card processing rate analysis today!

Get Total Choice With Total Touch

Schedule a personal product tour to experience the benefits of a fully neutral POS system like Total Touch. During our demonstration, we will check if your current merchant services processor is compatible to integrate with Total Touch software.

If it’s a match, you can upgrade your POS system to our PC-based solution or our Point of Sale Platform.

The Most Compatible Restaurant POS in the Market

Is your existing POS compatible with payment providers like

Electronic Merchant Systems
Elavon
Chase
First Data
Global Payments, & more.

Total Touch is compatible with multiple merchant service providers . Plus, if you’re thinking about making a switch, you can always ask your dealer or us how to save money and reduce risk with a free rate quote on preferred payment processing, loyalty, and gift card integration options.

The result? You gain the power to grow your restaurant business and profit like never before.

The Big Squeeze on Your Bottom Line

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 21:32:36 GMT

A POS reseller or dealer is always going to be dealing with middleman fees. The dealer knows it. Vendors know it.

It is the nature of the game. But it can be a good game that can serve multiple purposes.

You get to offer your clients state-of-the-art equipment that meets the needs of their businesses and their clientele, you get to create packages that save clients money, and you get to make a nice profit for your services.

Unfortunately, that profit has been dwindling over the last several years for resellers of POS products especially since your clients are owners and managers of restaurants, where profit margins are already slim.

In all likelihood, those profits could be larger, for both you and the clients you serve. Your bottom line should not be shrinking. But, what can you do about it?

It may simply be a matter of working with a partner who offers total transparency.

And the best part? You don’t even have to change anything you are doing now regarding your labor output on a daily, weekly, monthly, or annual basis.

Residual Revenue Compression

While residual revenue is the money that flows to you after your initial expenditure or investment, residual revenue compression is the slowdown of that flow of money.

In an ideal dealer or reseller scenario, you invest in equipment that will meet your clients' needs, and then you sell it a la carte or as part of a larger package stuffed with benefits and guarantees.

Then, as you sell the equipment or those packages, your revenue begins flowing in.

With residual revenue compression, the original manufacturer that sold you their products for resale hits you with multiple fees, many of them hidden, so you don’t even realize you are losing money unnecessarily.

Normal fees might include dues, assessments, and interchange fees, but even those fees can be manipulated.

Add to that the fact that you are then also charged things like risk transaction fees, processing transaction risk fees, and PCI compliance fees.

Some of these costs are legitimate and must be passed on to the dealer and reseller, but some are not. Many of the even legitimate fees are inflated to increase manufacturer revenue.

Why?

Most manufacturers are publicly traded companies with shareholders demanding more revenue.

The primary goal of a publicly traded company is to make more money for its shareholders, and often they will do that any way they can. This often means inflating the costs and fees you pay, which cuts into your bottom line.

Check Your Reseller or Processing Agreement and Your Statement

How do you think you could fix this situation?

If you have been feeling the belt's tightening and think it might be due to processor cost manipulation , take a look at your agreement or your statement of fees and costs.

Do the prices seem overinflated?
Are their hidden fees that make no sense?
Does your contract or agreement seem transparent or opaque?

These are all factors to begin taking into consideration.

Work with a POS Partner You Trust

When you are ready, you can contact a partner you trust to compare costs and fees .

It would be beneficial to get another eye on your figures, someone who can tell you what is hidden, and where you could be saving.

The first thing to look for in a new partner is whether they are a privately owned company, accountable to clients, not just shareholders. There is a major difference between the way these two different companies operate.

Then look for transparency. Is everything clear and easy to explain up front?

Contact Total Touch to Reduce Residual Compression

If you’re a POS reseller or VAR experiencing residual compression , contact our team at Total Touch today if you’re ready to discuss how to reduce residual revenue compression and improve your earnings .

Total Touch POS and Electronic Merchant Systems can show you how to earn more money and grow your POS Reseller business.

Total Touch works closely with dealers and resellers, restaurant managers, and owners, to show you line by line where you are losing money and how to increase earnings by dealing directly with a partner dedicated specifically to serving you. Get a free, confidential credit card rate quote for your clients from Total Touch.

We believe you deserve transparency and are committed to your success!

###

About Total Touch POS®

Total Touch POS is the complete restaurant management solution designed by restaurant owners for bar and restaurant owners' distinct management and operational needs. Total Touch is the only modern hybrid POS that can help VARs grow your business while equipping owners and managers to manage staff, reduce costs, and increase profitability when staff shortages and rising prices make hospitality operations challenging.

POS And Payment Processing Made Simple

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 12:20:31 GMT

The payment processing industry is highly competitive—and confusing—for merchants who try to make sense of the process that makes it possible to accept payments with their POS.

With so many alternatives available, making a smart choice for your POS, payment processing partner, and authorized dealer can make a difference for the future of your business.

The Impact of Rising Costs on Processing Fees

Rising costs present a difficult challenge for restaurant owners and managers to control. According to the National Restaurant Association, post-pandemic restaurant recovery has grown significantly since 2021. Much of the increase is due to inflation, which means higher costs are here to stay .

The National Restaurant Association’s research on the restaurant recovery showed menu prices at restaurants and bars went up by well over 7% in 2021 alone. Higher prices on food and beverages mean higher credit card processing costs.

“When adjusted for surging menu price inflation, restaurant sales are, in fact down from where they were before the pandemic, for the first time in several months.”

When small business owners understand payment processing and how it impacts their profitability, authorized dealers can confidently recommend the integrated processing partner and POS combination that sustains their business.

Many restaurant owners try to figure out the maze we call payment processing instead of turning to a trusted and authorized dealer to guide them. Let’s review the four essential questions to which every merchant should know the answer.

1. How does payment processing work with a POS?

Are you still relying on paper and pen to take and total orders?

When staffing is a critical issue, a reliable point-of-sale system is essential for any restaurant's profitability and overall success. In addition to taking food and beverage orders, payment processing is one of the primary functions of a bar and restaurant POS system.

Every time a server takes an order, the POS system sends that order to the kitchen and stores that order for processing as a transaction at checkout.

2. What if Customers Prefer to Pay with cash?

Cash is king, but credit cards are convenient! There are several different payment types a POS system might accept:

Cash
Online credit card payments through an online food ordering system
Credit cards (magstripe)
Chip cards (credit cards with an embedded chip)
Debit cards
Contactless payments, such as tap or a mobile wallet (e.g., Google Pay or Apple Pay)

Now that people are more accustomed to contactless payment , it makes sense to streamline your operations with a point-of-sale system.

3. What if a merchant prefers their current merchant service provider?

What if you prefer your current payment processor? An adaptable POS (like Total Touch POS ) allows merchants to maintain their existing payment processor and merchant services agreements.

This might make sense in the short-term, but have you taken a look at the fees you get charged every time a customer uses a credit card to place an order?

Compare processing fees with a free rate quote to learn how a POS system like Total Touch integrates natively with Electronic Merchant Systems through Total Touch Payments . The benefit of a restaurant management system like Total Touch that integrates natively with EMS for payment processing is that you’ll spend less time communicating back and forth between different providers if any issues arise.

With 24/7/365 US-based technical support , restaurant managers can have peace of mind that you’ll always have access to support if you need it.

Ask your Authorized Dealer how Total Touch integrates with gift card, loyalty programs, and merchant services that help you increase profit and grow your business.

Get a free credit card processing rate analysis today!

4. How does payment processing work?

How payment processing works is the $10,000 question! Here’s the simple answer:

There are three elements to processing payments: the customer, the merchant, and the technology

1. The Customer:

The customer pays for their meal using a credit or debit card. Their bank has to approve the payment and give them the money to pay your restaurant. In the customer’s case, the bank is the issuing bank.

2. The Merchant:

A merchant account is a bank account that allows you to accept payments via credit or debit card. The merchant is the business accepting credit or debit cards. The merchant agreement is between a company, the bank, and a payment processor. Before funds get deposited in the merchant’s account, they must go through the payment processor.

3. The Technologies

Two technologies between a merchant and the customer facilitate payment processing.

Payment Gateway

The first technology is the payment gateway, a platform that connects the merchant’s received payment to the network that processes the payment. The payment gateway allows online communication between the two banks that handle the transaction.

The Merchant Service or Payment Processor

The second technology is the merchant service or payment processor. The payment processing is where the majority of the work happens. A merchant’s payment processor manages the transaction by transmitting information from the customer’s credit card and bank to the merchant’s bank via the processing network.

The payment processor is a mediator between the customer’s bank, the merchant's bank, credit card networks, and any other parties needed to complete successful credit card payments. An example of a merchant service provider is Electronic Merchant Systems , with mobile payments, ecommerce payments, and text/QR code payment options.

As you can see, understanding how the process works make choosing the best payment processing and POS integration for your restaurant or bar easier.

Remember, you don’t have to make this important decision on your own. There are dozens of highly-qualified dealers who will guide you through the uncertainty of choosing a POS to being confident you made the right choice for your long-term success.

Choosing the right on-site, cloud hybrid restaurant management system and POS , processing partner, and support partner can make managing your business easier and allow you to provide customers memorable dining experiences. There is no better time than now to take the next step in growing your business.

Seven Essential Skills for Restaurant Operations and Management

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 18:38:11 GMT

If you’re a restaurant owner or manager, strong leadership skills are fundamental to the success of your business.

From balancing the books to hiring the right staff and keeping customers happy, there is a lot of room for things to go wrong, which can lead to stress, frustration, high staff turnover, and a loss of profit.

Operating and managing a restaurant is a labor of love and many responsibilities. However, no matter where your restaurant currently stands, you and your team can thrive and overcome day-to-day challenges more quickly and confidently by strengthening core leadership skills.

To become a successful restaurant owner or manager, you should know these seven essential restaurant operations and management rules.

Set realistic goals for your restaurant

The restaurant industry is constantly evolving, adapting, and either growing or shrinking. If you are not setting or measuring goals effectively, you could face more uncertainty and risk. There are four critical areas of the restaurant business:

1. Food Selection and Quality

It turns customers into regulars and helps attract new guests. You can set goals to enhance food quality and presentation by analyzing your menu, food preparation procedures, and how the kitchen staff plates the dishes. You can set goals for your team to improve the quality based on what you see.

2. Restaurant Staff

The service industry is all about people, and no restaurant or bar is complete without a solid team. Therefore, creating goals to retain and manage your current team is crucial in developing consistent and high-quality customer service and operations.

It's no secret that restaurants and bars have a high turnover rate, so when setting goals for your staff, focus on creating a healthy and supportive working environment that will keep them loyal, long-term employees. Plans could include updating training methods, clearly communicating expectations and standards, showing appreciation for your staff, updating your restaurant’s management technology, and more. We’ll go deeper on these subjects a little later.

Setting goals that prioritize your employees’ well-being and foster a stable working environment creates a foundation for your restaurant or bar to achieve long-term success with a solid and dependable team.

3. Restaurant Marketing

Digital and word-of-mouth marketing are two of the best ways to build and nurture your customer base and increase profits for your restaurant. Consider your current marketing and promotions strategy if you haven’t already started creating digital marketing goals and strategies to grow your business. For example, do you use email newsletters or social media to spread the word about your restaurant or bar?

Because it’s relatively easy to do, many businesses often use social media for marketing their business. The problem is that measuring and monitoring how and when people interact or view your content is complex.

For example, the holidays are an excellent time to use social media to announce seasonal specials and discounts to attract new customers.

You can easily give audiences a glimpse of your restaurant or bar's theme, showcase an immersive experience , and give them a taste of your seasonal offerings. Still, the content quickly disappears or gets overlooked if a potential customer doesn’t see your posts on time.

The best restaurant marketing practices require focused effort and are more customer-focused than social media. Every bar and restaurant should forego a social media presence until they have a robust and well-maintained local business presence.

Permission-based text marketing is in the moment, and you’re more likely to fill empty tables with this technique. We recommend the Small Business Big Marketing Podcast episode for fantastic tips and methods to incentivize customers and fill tables! Collect guests’ mobile phone numbers and get permission to share specials and events with them by text.
Claim and set up your Google Business Profile . Ask visitors to share a review after their visit.
Visit and claim your Yelp profile . When people travel or want to find a new local restaurant, Yelp is often a go-to because they can explore your menu, hours, location — and most importantly — read what other diners say about their experience.
Claim and set up your Bing Places for Business profile . Ask visitors to share a review after their visit.

While social media is a great way to connect with new customers, it's also essential to nurture relationships with loyal customers. A point-of-sale (POS) system serves as the perfect connection to your regular diners because it gives you the option to provide a gift and loyalty card program. You can also take advantage of marketing directly to your loyal customers through email with the help of some POS systems.

4. Restaurant Finances

Gaining a solid understanding of your business's profit margins will help your restaurant flourish. Defining financial goals may seem daunting, but you can start pinpointing areas that need improvement and establish S-M-A-R-T goals to improve your revenue. An example of this could be adjusting happy hour offers to attract customers during slower hours of the day.

Implementing cost-effective food options is another crucial element in improving profit margins. Start by assessing your current inventory costs and set goals to reduce them. You could include finding local sources, negotiating with your food suppliers, or developing new recipes with any surplus ingredients you have.

Ultimately, setting goals in the critical areas of food, staff, marketing, and finances is crucial to the success of your business because each plays a foundational role in a restaurant. As you establish and implement goals for your business, use these categories to drive your action plans.

Define your restaurant’s work culture

Just like you decide what your restaurant will serve and who your target customers are when managing your staff, you should outline the work culture for your team upon orientation. Outlining unacceptable behavior from the outset will set the expectations immediately, so there is no ambiguity about how your staff behaves while on shift.

Defining rules or codes of conduct should include guidelines for:

Using inappropriate language
Gossiping or teasing amongst staff
Using cell phones while on-shift
Customer interaction and treatment
Internal staff communication and treatment

You can also motivate and inspire your team by defining and implementing your restaurant’s mission, values, and goals. These can include protocols on how to ask for help, sharing positive feedback and staff wins, going the extra mile for customers, creating celebratory rituals when the team hits sales, and other forms of positive reinforcement. However, these rules shouldn’t all be about how not to behave in the workplace.

When your staff feels respected, heard, and valued, they feel more confident and will ultimately become more productive employees.

Know who you are hiring

Understanding each team member’s strengths and weaknesses is crucial to managing them effectively. There are many ways to get to know your staff, including:

1. Team building exercises

There are many fun ways to strengthen the bond between your staff members, and you can get to know them on a more relaxed and casual level, which helps let them be more themselves. Some examples of team-building exercises include:

Outdoor team sports
Best cocktail contests
Scavenger hunts
Team cook-offs
Team yoga sessions
Trivia nights

2. Personality tests

If you want to invest in your employees long-term, it may be helpful to use personality tests to determine their strengths, weaknesses, communication style, and goals. 80% of Fortune 500 companies use personality tests. When you fit the right personality type with the proper role, the employee will enjoy their work more and contribute their skills where they are best suited. Some examples of personality tests include:

The MBTI Test
DiSC tests
Clifton StrengthsFinder
The Big Five Personality Test

3. Standing one-on-one meetings

Brief check-ins with each staff member one-on-one can do wonders for building and maintaining rapport with your team members. Connecting with the team allows space for regular communication to voice any issues they may face, give feedback, and set goals. Remember, as a restaurant owner or manager.

You are a mentor and a teacher for them and their boss. If they see you are interested in helping them grow their professional skills, they will feel valued and happier at work.

Prepare your staff for unpredictable circumstances

Restaurants and bars can be hectic work environments, mainly when unpredictable situations occur. For example, staff members can call in sick on a busy Friday, causing the kitchen or service to slow down when your restaurant is full of hungry customers, or you could run out of a critical ingredient in the daily special halfway through dinner service.

Many things can go awry throughout the day and cause your staff to feel stressed or overwhelmed. As a manager, you can improve your team's success by preparing them to handle demanding customers, menu changes or alternatives, dietary restrictions, and training them to work in a fast-paced environment.

Some examples of training your staff could include:

Daily team meetings to discuss the menu, inventory, staff shortages, or anything else that should be top of mind before their shift begins
A printable list of protocols for handling unpredictable situations as part of new staff orientation
Verbal role-play with your team to practice handling unsatisfied customers or complaints
Checking on inventory with the kitchen during peak times of service

While you can’t control everything, you can prepare your team with protocols and procedures to help them handle any unpredictable situation that comes their way. As a result, you will prevent your staff from quitting due to stress and help build a stronger, more experienced team over time.

Implement a reliable restaurant management solution

From planning the menu to balancing the books and managing staff, restaurant owners have a lot of responsibilities that demand time and attention. It can be overwhelming to constantly multitask and put out fires, which is why successful restaurant owners must have systems to keep day-to-day operations running smoothly and efficiently.

As a restaurant manager or owner, the last thing you want to do at the end of your day is to manage your records manually in a spreadsheet and nightly receipts. Don’t take up the well-deserved time off you could spend relaxing with your friends and family.

A point of sale (POS) system provides a way to take orders and multiple forms of payment from customers and used to be considered a cash register. However, point-of-sale systems can do far more when taking payments and can be as small as a mobile phone.

A POS system will instantly collect data from receipts after customers complete payments, which allows restaurant managers and owners to monitor their business performance against revenue goals daily. In addition, it keeps you informed on how the restaurant is performing in real-time throughout the year (even when you’re on vacation!).

When you help your employees do their jobs and serve customers with a POS system like Total Touch POS , it keeps you organized and helps plan and make strategic decisions based on the data it provides.

Total Touch POS is the preferred solution for leading restaurant concepts, from quick-service to fine dining. It is a comprehensive restaurant management solution that helps owners get the information they need to run a profitable and successful business.

Let’s dive deeper into how Total Touch POS can make restaurant management more effortless.

Monitor Restaurant Inventory

A good restaurant is all about seasonal ingredients, fresh menu items, food quality, and consistency. Restaurants have a diverse inventory than most other retail businesses because of the varied ingredients needed at any given time. You don’t want to run out of a critical element in the middle of a busy day. With a robust POS system, you can track your inventory at the ingredient level and order supplies in advance. You can also compare prices to get the best quote for your stock.

Reduce Food Waste

Total Touch POS version 2.4 and above come with integrated scale support that allows you to size your portions accurately to reduce food waste and over-spending on too much of any one item. Total Touch also offers ‘pour control’ features for bars and restaurants so that they can easily dispense precise amounts of alcohol every time.

Retain Customers with Built-in Loyalty Programs

You can use this data to create personalized loyalty programs for your regular customers. Automation can save your marketing team an enormous amount of time trying to make special offers that won’t appeal to every individual customer.

Improve Staff Management (and Morale)

Running short on staff is a nightmare. It can lead to slower service, poor-quality food, and payment and order tracking mismanagement. With an advanced POS system like Total Touch, you can automate staff scheduling, payroll hour calculation, and track time to manage employees efficiently.

Save your team’s time and stress trying to resolve scheduling issues so you can all work together smoothly and happily!

Identify Sales Trends

A modern POS software has a record for every dish ordered at your restaurant, which goes into a cloud-based business report database . For example, Total Touch generates real-time reports to give valuable insights on which menu items are popular, rarely requested, or need replacement. You can also gauge the seasonal preferences of your customers and make changes to the menu accordingly. This strategy is fool-proof and takes the guesswork out of trying out new menu items by giving the customers what they want based on the data.

Make Informed Decisions

Total Touch is an advanced POS solution that experts designed with the restaurant industry’s needs in mind. It can help you with every aspect of your restaurant business, including sales, inventory management, communication with the kitchen and waiting staff, and employee management. With its robust reporting system, you can identify patterns and trends in your business to make more informed decisions and improve your restaurant’s service quality, productivity, and revenues from cloud-based business analytics.

Set clear expectations and provide constructive feedback

Building a solid and productive team starts by setting clear goals and expectations for your employees. When you share your expectations with your staff, you are helping them see the bigger picture and how their roles contribute to your restaurant business thriving.

Set clear expectations

Municipalities regulate restaurants for many reasons—one of the biggest is food safety. Communicating specific expectations without context may reduce your ability to meet regulatory standards. For example, someone may not know why you asked them to set the refrigerator to a specific temperature or restock the shelves at the end of the shift.

When they set the refrigerator at the mandatory temperature, you can tell them how important it is that they helped to adhere to health codes and ultimately help the restaurant to stay open. Restocking shelves helps the next shift prepare for customers and reduces their workload. Setting clear goals for each team member keeps your team productive and on track.

Provide constructive feedback

The pressure of managing restaurant staff can be frustrating. While reviewing mistakes and planning solutions to work through the confusion is productive, constant negativity can discourage staff. You don’t want to call out your staff's mistakes at the moment, as this can lead to a toxic work environment.

Managing your employees well to create a balanced and healthy work environment starts with recognizing what they are doing right. When you acknowledge your staff’s strengths, you'll encourage high-performing behavior, and your team will thrive.

Effective communication starts with empathy, so keep this in mind when you want to give constructive feedback.

Here are four ways to provide feedback that will ultimately empower your employees.

Use the compliment sandwich method

Start with stating a compliment
Share your constructive feedback
Provide another friendly acknowledgment

Example: “The customers love how you interact with them! You’ve got a great attitude, and I appreciate that. Keep it up! Quick note: If you're confused about how to cash out before going on break, ask me so that we can avoid mistakes. But all in all, you are doing a great job!”

Give praise in public, critique in private

Set up a private meeting with your staff member to review mistakes so you avoid embarrassing them in front of the whole team. When you have time before the meeting, this will also allow you to cool down from the incident and help you give the correct feedback rather than react at the moment.

Provide solutions

If your staff member makes the same mistake repeatedly, you can help them by working together to come up with a solution when you provide them constructive feedback. Then, once they decide to take action, you can keep them accountable and help them become better employees.

Focus on the behavior

There’s a difference between criticism and critique. We tend to view “constructive criticism” as unfavorable, yet you can frame a critique as an opportunity to learn and grow based on your review and feedback.

You may not address the mistake's root cause when you critique specific actions. Framing feedback to focus on behavior and how to change it addresses the constructive feedback in a way that will help them feel empowered to grow.

“Don’t point out faults, but growth opportunities. Start with your intention, why you are the person to share this feedback and how you are willing to help the person learn from it.” —Forbes.

Gain respect from your community

We all do business with people we like, first and foremost. As a restaurant owner or manager, you must inspire your employees and the customers you serve daily. Serving food is a labor of love, and when you show up with a warm and friendly attitude, your community will look at you as someone who cares about them.

Your employees should be treated and fairly compensated with the respect that will show your customers they enjoy working for you. By providing top-notch customer service and delicious, high-quality food, your restaurant can continue to grab attention, leading to hundreds or even thousands of five-star reviews that will help you gain more customers.

Successful restaurant owners know everything about the ins and outs of their business. Being a confident leader can look like asking for feedback from your customers and employees, keeping up to date with what your competitors are doing, and most importantly, being willing to learn and make changes to continually improve the service, quality, and revenue.

Beyond the POS: What To Look for in a Restaurant Management System

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 15:16:50 GMT

Several factors affect your success in the restaurant industry: high-quality customer service, an attractive atmosphere, tasty food, and more. Many restaurants try to deliver a memorable experience without a restaurant point-of-sale or restaurant management system.

Conduct research to make an informed decision so you can rest assured that your new POS system will improve your operations and bottom line. When searching for an ideal POS partner, look for the following characteristics and qualities in the company and the solution they can provide:

History of growth
Industry-related experience
Reputable profit margin
Trustworthy partner
Tech support solutions
Security features
Order and pay-at-table options

Do you want to find a way to simplify operations for your staff and improve reporting for yourself? To create customer loyalty and a steady flow of repeat diners who remain loyal to your bar or restaurant, you should pay close attention to the inner workings of your business and how they influence the guest experience and, ultimately, your profitability.

Before we begin, here are some questions to ask yourself:

Am I ensuring our internal processes and workflows are efficient from the front of the house to the kitchen to the back office?
Are my workers overextended with tasks and struggling with their workload?
Does my restaurant have a history of wait times and customer complaints?
Are my employees or customers experiencing frequent inconveniences? If so, what are the contributing factors?
Can I access my reports outside my restaurant, from home, or while traveling?
What happens if our internet connection goes down during a busy service?

If you're noticing a trend in workflow inefficiency, it's time to implement new systems that will allow your business to boost productivity and keep customers happy.

To address this inefficiency, focus on convenience. You want to provide an easy and seamless experience for your staff and customers. Guests are more likely to visit your restaurant or bar if you can deliver a hassle-free experience. You can reduce employee turnover rates by implementing systems that support your staff and cut their workload in half!

If your servers are still working with a traditional cash register or scribbling orders on a notepad, your systems are outdated, which leads to errors and inefficiency. The good news? You can take your business to the next level and improve profitability and efficiency with the right restaurant management system.

What Is a Point of Sale System?

A point-of-sale (POS) system is typically a software and hardware solution restaurants use to take orders. A Restaurant Management System includes a POS but offers more:

an efficient management solution, merging pay and order options,
inventory tracking,
timesheet management,
and more to streamline processes for your team.

With features to support your staff and connect with your loyal customers, you can confidently step into your role as a leader and ensure you're providing a functional and healthy working environment.

Before diving into what to look for in a restaurant management system, let's review how a POS system can transform your business from outdated and inefficient to profitable and efficient.

A POS Saves Your Restaurant Time and Money

You need to be smart with your time and resources when running a business. That's where a POS system saves time and maximizes resources. This software tracks detailed sales analytics , giving you insight into your most and least popular menu items. With this information, you can develop new strategies to highlight less popular dishes or swap them out for another option. In addition, changing or reducing your menu can lower inventory costs, ensuring you don't overbuy items when you don't need to!

A POS system also saves employees' and customers' time by automating the ordering and paying process, making it a stress-free experience for everyone involved, which is what you need to maximize profits and performance.

You Can Check in Any Time, Anywhere

A cloud-based reporting system is an effortless way for you to gain peace of mind. A cloud-based POS reporting software gives you access to reports and data from any device and helps you stay on top of your business. For example, if you're traveling and need to check in on today’s sales report, you can pull out your phone and take a look at your latest analytics.

Total Touch POS is a hybrid POS system that offers onsite data entry at your restaurant or bar and a cloud reporting platform.

Reduces Staff Error

As with all restaurants, mistakes will happen from time to time. Unfortunately, these mistakes can increase, lowering your restaurant's profits when left unaddressed and dissatisfied customers.

That’s where a POS system comes in. With the help of this system, you can minimize unnecessary errors. Most POS platforms calculate sales activity, making it easy for you to hold team members accountable for their work. Allow your system to automate costs and manage inventory, so your staff can focus on what matters most — providing a personable experience for your guests!

Receive Accurate Business Reports

A POS system provides valuable analytics , such as low stock count, top-selling items, and peak hours, allowing you to make well-informed decisions that will help grow your restaurant or bar. You can use the data to update your menu, adjust happy hours, and guide your inventory records. It's an efficient option for keeping you on track with your business goals – without additional effort!

A POS System Enhances Customer Experience

Customers appreciate a smooth experience (and a POS system can give them just that!). Simplifying the ordering and payment process is one way you can make the experience easier for those hoping to order from your restaurant. Look for POS and restaurant management software that offers mobile, contactless, and web ordering capabilities.

The ideal systems also have options for purchasing gift cards and implementing a loyalty program, so you can encourage your guests to come back for a visit.

A POS system improves guests' in-person and online experiences and simplifies restaurant management. A win-win!

As the boss, you have a full plate, from hiring staff to managing inventory to keeping an eye on sales. But what if you had an automated system to complete these tasks? You could focus on your priorities without dealing with non-essential tasks while providing more decisive leadership for your team . A POS system can transform your operations, take the pressure off your shoulders, and simplify workflows for you and your staff!

11 Ways Restaurant Management Software Benefits Your Business

There are many reasons why top-performing establishments use a restaurant management system. Even bars and restaurants with a small staff will benefit from a restaurant management system! POS software provides tools that streamline business processes. Discover how a restaurant management system can improve your business and boost efficiency.

1. Manages Your Inventory and Reduces Food Waste

Manually tracking ingredients and inventory is inefficient and leads to errors. Instead of managing your stock and ordering supplies, you can rely on a robust POS system to maintain your inventory and predict how long your supply will last based on your restaurant or bar’s past data.

Automated tracking software also reduces food waste by monitoring inventory and letting you know what you need versus blindly overbuying stock in bulk. The USDA Food Waste FAQs estimates the restaurant industry loses $162 billion annually due to wasted food – a POS system will ensure you aren’t losing profits from waste-related factors.

2. Assists With Portion Sizes and Overpouring

During peak hours, it's easy to slip up and accidentally provide a larger portion size than permitted. With a built-in integrated scale, POS software can guide your kitchen staff to serve appropriate portion sizes to your diners, regardless of how busy things get.

Some POS systems offer pour-control features for bars, so your staff can dispense the correct amount of alcohol every single time. This key feature is a favorite among bar owners because it helps manage inventory and reduce theft!

According to Glimpse Corp , overpouring and spilling are the main contributors to alcohol waste in bars, leading to an average loss of six ounces per liter. You may not be able to avoid spilling, but you can prevent overpouring!

Total Touch POS version 2.5.2 and above reduces errors for overpouring, ensuring your beverages get made correctly, so you can rest easy knowing your profit isn’t at risk.

3. Keep Customers Happy With Loyalty Programs

Many POS systems include a loyalty program, which allows you to connect with guests, boost customer engagement, and promote top-selling dishes. Loyalty programs may consist of the following:

Mobile loyalty programs improve online ordering and can advertise your latest specials.
Gift cards act as a pre-paid treat and encourage guests to return to your restaurant or bar.
Loyalty point rewards systems allow customers to earn rewards through previous purchases, such as an appetizer half off or a free dessert.

The right system will integrate a loyalty program and offer rewards for frequent purchases. You can encourage customers to order house favorites and thank them for their loyalty with a specific dollar amount or percentage off. Utilizing programs like this make guests feel valued and more inclined to return.

4. Effectively Manages Your Team

Managing a staff is no easy feat, especially when you're short on workers or have employees let you know they can’t come in at the last minute. Scheduling issues can lead to a domino effect of service delays, poor-quality service and food, and unimpressed guests. These are all things you need to avoid to build customer loyalty! Luckily, a POS system can accommodate scheduling, which makes the process of scheduling less challenging.

Your business can depend on a POS system to manage staff scheduling, track employee time, and calculate payroll hours. This system will provide a stress-free experience for your customers (and you)!

5. Keeps Track of Sales Trends

As a busy restaurant owner, you don't have time to track every sales performance manually, but what if you didn't have to?

Instead of profits suffering due to guesswork, you can use this data from a POS system to take action and adjust your menu with profit in mind. For example, suppose customers aren't ordering spaghetti and meatballs. In that case, you may consider promoting the dish more as a daily special or replacing it entirely with a new special created by your chef.

A POS system also gives you historical data on what’s popular on holidays and during different seasons , so you can better cater to customers.

Total Touch generates real-time reports and provides insight into customer-favorite menu items, unpopular dishes, and ingredients requiring replacements.

6. Helps You Make Informed Decisions

Aay goodbye to blind business decisions. A POS solution caters to the restaurant manager’s needs, showcasing patterns in your restaurant or bar. These patterns help you make effective decisions to improve your restaurant's service, productivity, and revenue. No more wondering if what you’re doing is the most brilliant move for your business!

For example, a POS system records peak performance hours, which can help determine if you need to reduce staff or promote happy hours to encourage more customers to dine during less busy hours.

7. Establishes an Efficient Invoice and Payment Process

A POS system is your right-hand man, managing business details like purchases and accounting operations. It also creates a seamless paying process, offering customers the choice to receive their receipts in person or through email – an update many of your patrons will appreciate! If your guests request the email option, your software can save their contact information, so you can send follow-up emails and encourage them to return.

8. Secures Customer Data

With a robust security feature, a POS system protects your patrons' information from outside intruders. It’s important to note that with the popularity of POS systems, there’s been an increase in cyber-attacks and data thefts. As a result, many companies are implementing fraud detection technology to reduce risks with POS gateways.

Customers visit restaurants and bars they trust – not ones that bombard their phone and email or share their information online. You can create a better relationship with your guests by ensuring their data is safe. For instance, many management systems provide double-user authentication, reducing security breach risks. Keeping your patrons and their information safe should be a priority, and your POS system can help you do so!

9. Keeps Your Business Organized

Being organized is the best way to optimize your restaurant's operations and keep guests satisfied. Unfortunately, many restaurant and bar owners manually track their records, which can be time-consuming and exhausting. Instead of recording everything on your own and double-checking your data, a POS system automatically tracks your inventory, sales, and customer preferences, saving you from long hours spent pouring over your notepad.

10. Boosts Business Reputation

A positive reputation entices those throughout your community to visit your restaurant. You can give customers a positive first impression by reducing wait times and creating a seamless Checkout process with a POS system. A hassle-free and enjoyable experience will impress your guests, making them want to return for more.

11. Regular Software Updates

In the same way, your care requires maintenance, and regular system updates are necessary to keep your POS operating at peak performance. These updates enhance restaurant software by fixing bugs and adding new features to improve your bottom line. With the right POS system, you’ll gain access to tech support should you ever encounter any issues.

How to Choose the Right POS Partner for Your Restaurant

A POS system can benefit your restaurant or bar's workflows, operations, and customer experiences. But now comes the tricky part — choosing the best POS software for your business. There are many options out there, so take time to research and select a POS system that can fulfill your business needs! Here’s what you should look for:

Merchant Processing with low fees (discover how much money you can save through a free credit card rate review )
Easy-to-use and set-up POS software
Reliable hardware
Manageable monthly costs
Dual Pricing program

Ready to Grow With Your Business

Look for a POS system with a history of improvements and updated offerings. These are signs the partner is constantly growing and finding new ways to elevate their services. The last thing you want is to remain stagnant!

Plus, if they reinvest in their product, it shows they truly believe in the system they created. You want to work with a partner that can grow as your business grows. The POS partners who change their products are the same ones leading the industry into the future. Plus, if they reinvest in their development, it shows they truly believe in the system they created.

Partner With Industry Experts

When it comes to payment processing partners, there's a multitude of options available. But that doesn't mean they're all equal in quality and expertise. You can cut down your list by searching for partners with related-industry experience. You want to make sure you can depend on them to streamline your restaurant's workflows and operations. Treat it as if you're hiring a new team member. Ask the following questions to see what value they can bring to your business:

Do you have experience in the restaurant and bar industry?
How long have you been in business?
In what ways are your solutions superior to the other systems on the market?
What can you do to improve or solve business issues?

A Reasonable Profit Margin

Upserve states the average restaurant profit margin ranges from 3-5%. With this in mind, choose a partner with a healthy and consistent profit margin. You deserve fair compensation for your hard work, so opt for a company with a commission structure that aligns with your business. (Reference relevant article from reforming-retail.com)

A Partner Versus Competitor

When you invest in a POS system, you invest in a partnership. You want a collaborator you can trust — not someone who sees you as a dollar sign and doesn’t recognize your unique goals. Search for a POS solution that can fulfill your business’ needs and boost efficiency and profitability.

Provides Tech Support

Explore potential POS partners who offer quick and efficient solutions. When technical problems arise, you don't want to be left scouring the internet for help, wasting your precious time and negatively impacting sales. You also don't want to become the point of contact for customers, especially since POS solutions are not your specialty! Choose a provider who can adequately assist you and your customers when required.

For the personal service you deserve, find a POS dealer in your area who will help you configure and implement a POS system like Total Touch POS.

Visit the Total Touch Dealer Directory »

Offers Security Features

A security breach is a recipe for disaster for customers and can damage your reputation. So, when comparing processing partners and their POS hardware solutions , we recommend looking for the following features:

EMV-Chip Readers : This feature utilizes technology to reduce fraud and protect customers and merchants (like you!) against any security breaches.
PCI: This is a standard security feature, providing a secure environment for restaurants and bars to process, save, or transmit credit card information.

Marketing Through Loyalty Programs

As a busy restaurant owner, you don't always have time to market your business adequately. After all, marketing is already a full-time gig on its own! The good news is many POS partners provide loyalty programs, which market house favorites through gift cards, point rewards systems, and mobile loyalty programs. A restaurant loyalty program is a great way to nurture relationships with customers and reward them for returning to your business!

Payment Processing Options

Look for a POS partner who provides alternative payment processing options, like contactless pay, access to multiple credit cards, and cash. For example, Total Touch POS is powered by Electronic Merchant Services (EMS) , an industry leader that optimizes the paying process, ensuring your customers have a stellar checkout experience.

One of our favorite EMS features is mobile processing , which allows your business to service guest payments without using traditional credit or debit cards. Total Touch is compatible with most restaurant merchant services providers and offers competitive credit card processing rates through Total Touch Payments .

Tips for Choosing a Merchant Service Provider

A smooth dining experience hinges on an efficient and flexible payment processor, so before selecting a POS partner, here are three things to focus on before choosing your payment processor.

1. Payment Processing Fees

Many business owners switch to a new payment processor after experiencing an increase in processing costs, a common practice in the credit card industry. Providers typically entice businesses with low fees initially but raise them over time. Some payment gateways charge monthly or annually, while others charge small fees for each transaction. For example, some credit card processors charge 1.5-3.5% per credit card transaction. The processing fee (on top of taxes) may be enough to dissuade customers from revisiting your restaurant. We recommend comparing each merchant service provider’s processing fees and determining the best match for your business.

It’s worth noting that many POS systems are owned by a parent company that offers merchant processing. When you add up all the fees, you’ll get charged over a one- or three-year contract, and the sweet deal on a legacy or cloud POS system might not be so attractive.

Pro Tip: If you find your current rates are competitive, look for a POS system that lets you keep your merchant processing relationship .

2. Receive Customer Input about their Payment Preferences

You can research potential merchant service providers and their credit card processing services by asking for customer feedback.

Ask your customers:

What credit card type do they prefer to use?
How can you make the payment process experience more pleasant and convenient?
Do customers use alternative payment options like Apple Pay?

The answers to these questions can guide you in selecting a provider that improves your checkout experience. To collect feedback, hand out questionnaires or send a short survey through email or text.

Integrated and Functional Systems

Consider a payment processor compatible with your software. For instance, payment gateways that offer an integrated system with a customer relationship management (CRM) tool are an excellent way to improve functions and gather essential data about your customers.

A functional payment system also allows your employees to process credit cards without the hassle of leaving the CRM system, allowing customers to receive the high-quality checkout experience they deserve.

Expand Payment Options With the Help of Your POS System

Imagine your guests having a wonderful dining experience with high-quality dishes, unforgettable drinks, and incredible conversion. But then, it's time for them to pay, and they're left waiting for the bill. With a busy staff, they could end up staying a while, and you don't want them to leave your restaurant unhappy.

Fortunately, you can transform your paying and ordering services to improve the dining experience and give customers another reason to return.

Five Ways order and pay-at-table options benefit your staff and patrons.

1. Minimize Order Errors

Nothing stresses workers out more than knowing those at their table are unhappy. The slightest inconsistency can cause havoc and leave customers unsatisfied. Providing an order-at-table option gives customers control of their preferences and decreases the risk of miscommunication due to substitutions and dietary needs.

2. Turn More Tables

Turning tables gives your business the profit boost it needs. The more tables you turn, the more revenue you receive. By adding a pay-at-table option, your customers don't have to wait for busy servers to deliver their checks. Then, all your staff has to do is clean the table off for the next patron! Instead, guests can pay at their earliest convenience, simplifying the hand-off process and significantly cutting down wait times.

3. Boost Tips and Revenue

A server doesn't need to take orders or deliver checks to receive the tips they deserve. Optimizing the ordering and paying process allows staff members to focus more on providing personable service. As long as you provide a satisfying dining experience, customers are more likely to tip their servers generously. That's a recipe for success!

4. Expand Payment Options

According to a study by MasterCard , 79% of global customers are using contactless payments, and 82% prefer contactless paying for transactions. You can further accommodate guests by giving them more payment options. Whether they want to use a credit card, contactless option, or cash, you can make it easy for them to pay.

A POS system allows large tables to easily split checks, reducing headaches for your servers and customers.

5. Provide Customer Security

Many customers prefer to pay for their meals rather than hand their credit cards off to a staff member. They receive a sense of comfort and security by paying at the table. Plus, it reduces problems like applying their card to another guest's meal. Ultimately, you want patrons to feel comfortable and leave as happy customers.

Take Your Restaurant to the Next Level

The restaurant and bar industry is constantly evolving, and if you want to win over new customers and maintain loyal diners, it's time to update your restaurant management software. A restaurant POS system can make or break your business regarding customer service, reputation, and efficiency. However, you don't want to partner with just any POS company — you want to find the right match for your restaurant's needs.

Loyalty Marketing Basics for Busy Restaurant Managers

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 18:38:40 GMT

One essential element to connecting with new customers and building long-lasting relationships is loyalty marketing.

Think of marketing as your formal introduction to the community. You want to get your name out there and showcase your services, but if marketing isn’t your specialty, you may have some reservations.

What do you think of when you hear the word marketing ?

“I’m too busy and don’t have time.”
“Marketing is a waste of money.”
“I don’t know where to begin or why I need to market my business.”

There’s no right or wrong answer.

Marketing allows you to reach new audiences, bring in additional customers, and retain the customers you’ve won. Think of your marketing as a first impression – if you want to make a great impression, you must put in consistent and sustained effort every time people hear from you. If you're doing marketing well, you have to think of every interaction as the opportunity to make a great first impression.

Effective marketing attracts ideal customers and retains loyal patrons. The ultimate goal of marketing is to build familiarity and trust that attracts people to your restaurant and maintains a long-lasting relationship with them. Your branding should represent your values, beliefs, and unique identity. Your marketing invites people to find comfort, joy, and delight in your restaurant (and, of course, delicious food!)

Diving Deeper Into Restaurant Marketing

Using marketing to share who you are authentically is a powerful and successful way to grow your business. Marketing communicates your offerings to valued customers. Marketing goes beyond hanging a sign in your front window or promoting your business with a billboard. Effective marketing invites people into a meaningful story and highlights the unique experience you provide for all who walk through your doors. You're telling the world that this is who you are and that you are ready to deliver a stellar experience.

Promoting characteristics that align your business with the right customers will nurture a genuine relationship and keep them coming back for more when you deliver on your promise. For instance, if you own a family-owned pizzeria, share what people will experience when they dine in or take out with your community. Let them know your restaurant is a cozy place for families to enjoy a meal together. When people hear “family restaurant,” they think of belonging, community, and comfort.

Why Marketing Is Essential for Your Business

There are several reasons why marketing is essential to growing a successful restaurant business:

Engages customers
Connects your business with the right people (paying customers!)
Focuses on your consumers' overall wants and needs
Builds your restaurant or bar's reputation
Creates and nurtures a relationship between you and your patrons
Shares your menu, special offers, and events with customers
It makes people aware that your restaurant is ready for their business .

How do you stand out and attract the right consumers?

People are bombarded with advertisements daily on social media, streaming platforms, and websites. The overabundance of new products and services reduces consumer interest. Create a plan to set yourself apart from the competition by understanding your target demographic and curating content that appeals to them.

Analyze your frequent customers to understand who's attracted to your business. Once you know your audience, you can ensure your marketing efforts encourage them to visit more often and give insight into who might be attracted to your location, menu offerings, or ambiance. For example, Wine Down & Sweets Café , a Cleveland-Ohio café and a wine bar, emphasizes its ambiance. It’s a place where “good friends go to share food, wine, and desserts.”

The purpose of marketing is to build trust. You can measure the level of confidence by the loyalty of returning customers. To keep your tables full and servers busy, devote some marketing to bringing in new customers (but be warned: this can be costly and time-consuming!). After you’ve won over a customer, keep them coming back by nurturing the relationship and their loyalty.

Building Restaurant Loyalty Through Marketing

In “ Are You Speaking the Wrong Loyalty Language ,” brand expert Denise Yohn highlights

“Over a third of customers say they would not be loyal to a brand if it weren’t for the brand’s loyalty program, according to Bond Brand Loyalty . Bond also reports 68% of Millennials wouldn’t be loyal to a brand without a strong loyalty program. Research by talech shows 87% of consumers want a customer loyalty program. So it’s no wonder 91% of companies have some sort of customer engagement or loyalty program ( Experian ).“

You can tap into brand loyalty as a restaurateur by nurturing your guests through a loyalty program. Loyalty programs offer prizes, or rewards, for frequent purchases. Think of it as a customer retention plan with the potential to boost sales and make your restaurant a staple in the neighborhood. In addition, loyalty programs are an excellent way to reward people for choosing your business through exclusive deals. There are three benefits of establishing a loyalty program.

1. Loyalty Marketing Sets Yourself Apart From the Competition

A loyalty program offers discounts and specials to patrons. But the key is that it's exclusive to your bar or restaurant!. Many customers decide where they will dine based on how good the loyalty program's deals are. They may think about how the program can help them earn a reward. For example, if there are two frozen yogurt shops on the same street, customers are more likely to choose the shop where they have rewards, as they may receive a freebie after ordering a certain amount of times.

Pay close attention to your competition and look for gaps in their services. For instance, if they're not offering a loyalty program, you can establish one to create demand, leading to a consistent stream of customers. Whatever you do, try to may it uncopyable.

2. Loyalty Marketing Shows Patrons Trust and Gratitude

Loyalty programs show guests you care about them and appreciate their repeat business. Loyalty programs help you develop a long-lasting relationship through trust and gratitude by offering exclusive perks and incentives to reward customer loyalty. Customers see loyalty programs as a win for them. For value-driven or cost-conscious diners, getting a menu item for half off or free can make their day! Implement a loyalty program and show your customers you want them to stick around.

3. Loyalty Marketing Keeps Guests Coming Back

Do you ever wonder how successful restaurants maintain a steady flow of business? Many restaurants use marketing to acquire new guests; these efforts don’t often come with a reliable retention rate. A loyalty program incentivizes customers to return frequently.

With so many dining choices and the cost of dining out, there’s never been more competition for your customer’s attention and loyalty . Loyalty programs take many shapes and forms, so it may be challenging to determine the right one for your restaurant or bar.

Look at the following options to see if they're right for you.

Four Loyalty Program Ideas to Increase Sales

1. Mobile Loyalty Program

Establish a mobile-based loyalty program to boost your online ordering presence and customer engagement. An app is convenient and allows customers to order from your business efficiently. It's also an excellent way to communicate your latest specials, encouraging users to stop by.

2. Gift Cards

There's nothing like a gift card to draw diners to your restaurant or bar. Instead of viewing the dining experience as an extra expense, customers may view it as a pre-paid treat. Gift cards are popular throughout the holiday season, so advertise them on social media and by email. Offer them the gift of enjoying your restaurant or sharing it with friends.

3. Loyalty Point Rewards System

A point rewards system is a fun way to interact with your customers while having them earn a reward, such as a free dessert or a beverage on the house. A point rewards system is both engaging and low-risk. Typically, once a diner signs up, there's an “if-then” condition presented to them: If you order a certain number of times, you will receive a reward.

4. Referral Programs

Start a referral program with discounts and rewards for diners who refer new guests. Customer referral programs incentivize guests to return and open the door for new people. Social media is an effective tool for marketing, but nothing beats word of mouth. When someone receives a recommendation from a trusted friend, they’re more likely to follow through. Take advantage of your email marketing for this option, and be prepared to see some new faces.

Loyalty programs are popular among companies for capturing audiences and maintaining a solid following. For instance, Starbucks Rewards is a prominent app that offers loyalty points through stars, customer lifetime value, and seasonal favorites.

For example, fast-service restaurants like Chipotle offer a successful loyalty program called Chipotle Rewards, allowing customers to earn points to get a free entree. In addition, they provide challenges, new menu items, and rewards for purchasing dishes on particular dates.

Promising results from these loyalty programs show that any restaurant can adopt a loyalty program and grow its customer base.

Start testing different programs to see what works best for your customers (or ask your local POS dealer which programs are successful for their customers). Then, once you select and establish the best loyalty strategy for your restaurant, it's time to spread the word. That's where marketing comes in. Take this opportunity to tell others about the program and get customers excited to sign up for it. Create and implement a simple marketing plan with these steps:

Announce your loyalty program on your website
Promote your loyalty program on social media and inside your emails
Post signs on tables, menus, and front windows
Design menu inserts or business cards for your waiting area
Include the offer at the bottom of your receipts

Once you’ve announced the loyalty program and begin seeing success, keep it relevant for customers by implementing tactics that will encourage them to return. The idea is to provide an overall positive experience from the loyalty program to the in-person and online experience. Here are six ways to boost retention rates in your restaurant.

How to Improve Customer Loyalty

1. Extend Quality Throughout Your Business

To boost loyalty, you must first ensure quality in your business, from food to service to ambiance. If you want customers to return, it's about drawing them in and making them feel welcome. For example, you can transform your dining atmosphere by adding warm lighting, spicing up the decor, and maintaining a clean dining room. A tidy restaurant makes guests feel safe and comfortable.

2. Prioritize Socializing in the Dining Experience

Socialization creates a more personable experience. Have servers go above and beyond by encouraging them to have light-hearted conversations with customers. Incorporating more discussions is an excellent way for patrons to get familiar with servers and build a lasting relationship with your restaurant.

You can also engage with customers online through social media and emails. When you provide a well-rounded experience for your guests, you can boost your customer retention rate.

3. Determine What Sells and What Doesn’t

While you may rely on guest check averages, this paints a small picture of your sales. So go ahead and ask questions, even if you receive disappointing responses.

For example, consider how many of these dishes were sold during peak hours if you're curious about an appetizer or entree performance. If you see low numbers, ask yourself why this is the case.

Asking essential questions allows you to find new ways to improve your operations and boost profits. For instance, you may try to promote your appetizers more by word of mouth, social media, or a loyalty program.

4. Make Sure Every Moment Counts

A dining experience is like a movie – it has a beginning, middle, and end. Although your staff may provide a memorable experience while guests are dining, the beginning and end of their in-person stay are just as important.

Think of your restaurant as a theater where people come to have an experience to remember and leave with a story to tell.

For instance, it’s easy to overlook a customer's experience when checking them out because you want to flip those tables. Keep in mind that their perception of your business can change in an instant.

Avoid disappointing diners by creating a seamless process. For example, you can implement a pay-at-table option to prevent long wait times and allow customers to settle their bills at their convenience. You can also make the paying process easier by enabling guests to split checks , putting less pressure on staff members, and giving diners the option to pay their way. It’s all about finding ways to provide guests with a hassle-free experience, so they'll be more inclined to return.

5. Provide a Customer-friendly Online Experience

Have you noticed that your experience with a restaurant’s website or web ordering solution affects your perception of the restaurant? A negative online experience can damage your customer relationship and make them less likely to do business with you. So while focusing on in-person dining is vital, remember your online patrons. With online ordering on the rise, now is the time to ensure your web systems are easy to navigate and glitch-free.

Make the ordering process straightforward with web ordering , user-friendly software that integrates with your POS system and website while reducing call wait times. Web ordering simplifies the ordering process, reducing errors and allowing customers to place orders without receiving busy signals. As a result, you’ll improve your customer experience, ensuring each patron continues to order from you.

6. Gain Feedback From Customers

Customer surveys give you insight into what's working and what isn't. The feedback helps you improve operations for your staff, elevating your dining and online experience. Patrons always appreciate being heard, so show them you care by listening to their reviews and taking action.

You can create a customer satisfaction survey with multiple-choice questions and open-ended answers. However, if you feel providing a survey after a dining experience is too invasive, know that you can also send it in a later email.

Who doesn’t love insider access and information? A survey is a great way to collect customers’ mobile phone numbers and get their permission to share special offers and incentives.

Marketing Tips for Bars and Restaurants

Many business owners see marketing as an additional expense instead of an essential component of business operations. Of course, advertising can be costly, but there are effective methods for marketing on a budget. For example, you don't necessarily have to pay for a billboard showcasing your offerings. Instead, try implementing the following strategies to connect with your customers without breaking your budget.

Use Social Media Platforms Effectively

Promote your restaurant with high-quality pictures, reels, and captions. Online audiences love getting a glimpse into your restaurant’s ambiance and food, so get creative with sharing your restaurant or bar’s menu and atmosphere. Make it simple and easy for followers to have access to essential information like:

Your phone number
Your address
Your business hours
Your website link
A brief description of your restaurant or bar
Your business logo (so it’s easy to recognize your establishment when they arrive)
Your entire menu

Always cross-check the basics: Who, what, when, where, and why. You can also connect with your online community by posting about team members, giving your audience an inside look into your business, and making them feel like an extended family.

Utilize Email Marketing the Right Way

Emails are effective for connecting with your loyal customers. As you start email marketin g , the right way, remember to be consistent and tell an intriguing story. When it comes to emails, you want to ensure your audience is engaged. These days, people want more than a sales pitch — people love to buy — but they hate being sold to. Instead, people want relatable content. To deliver valuable emails that resonate with diners, share messages that align with your restaurant and their interests.

If you're not sure about email topics, here are a few ideas:

Promote specials and new menu items
Invite subscribers to an exclusive party
Introduce staff members
Share your restaurant's story and how you got started
Send out DIY recipes of house favorites

Emails entice subscribers to visit your restaurant or bar. But, even if they don't interact with your emails, a little reminder is powerful enough to direct them your way.

You can also use text-based marketing to build your team, gain customer information, and keep tables filled. Here’s how some restaurant owners experience success with this practice:

Let your servers know you’ll reward whoever collects the most mobile numbers weekly. Encourage servers to be creative with how they collect phone numbers: Place a jar on the table, ask for it on the receipt
Get permission from customers to text them with special offers
Use a mass-texting system to connect directly with customers when you need to fill tables!

Keep Your Branding Consistent Online

Accurate information makes for the best first impression. With most customers consuming information online, ensure your business details are up-to-date on third-party sites such as Yelp, TripAdvisor, and your website. Revise your operational hours, menu items, prices, and health and safety guidelines whenever you make any changes.

Create Content on a Blog

Consider marketing your restaurant through blog posts. Blogs are an excellent way to give the online community an inside look into your business. Rather than simply introducing a special, get creative and craft a post to get readers interested in checking out your business. For example, you can write an article on the best margaritas to try at your restaurant, along with dishes to pair them with.

Use blog posts for diving deeper into your menu and getting diners excited to try house favorites. If you already have a blog, consider repurposing old content and updating them with the latest images. Your blog will also give you additional content to share on social media and throughout your emails.

Don't forget to share the articles you publish frequently after you publish on your Facebook, Instagram, and Google Business Profile.

Become a Pillar in the Community

To become familiar with the community, you have to get involved in your community. Participate in farmer's markets, local concerts, and fundraisers. These are great opportunities to be seen by locals and capture their interest.

You can also source produce from local farmers, donate ingredients to the food bank, and volunteer at community events. For instance, if there's a marathon that’s near your restaurant (or even if it’s not), you can leave a lasting impression by setting up a relief station along the course with Gatorade, water, and energy gels — with a sign to let them know which restaurant or bar is giving out the refreshments.

Finally, interact with residents through social media so you can be at the forefront of their minds. Whether your post pops up on their feed or you respond to a follower, they will remember your business when they get hungry.

Tag customers after you take their photo at the restaurant (with their permission, of course)
Personalities drive followers more effectively than businesses.
Interactions have to be about the “locals,” not the restaurant.

Winning the Social Media Game for Restaurants

You can never go wrong with using social media as a marketing tool. It is a budget-friendly way to connect with your online community and grow your business. Although many business owners believe social media is a game of posting pictures and receiving likes, it goes far beyond that. Likes on your social media posts don’t necessarily convert to sales, but quality content can entice people to check out your restaurant or bar. Actual content creation requires time, effort, and energy. So if you're curious about using social media for marketing, here are seven simple ways to make your restaurant more appealing and discoverable.

1. Post High-Quality Pictures

Instagram is a picture and video-based platform that focuses on aesthetics and captures the artistic eye. The key to Instagram is posting high-resolution images that attract new followers. For instance, if you're publishing a food picture, make sure it looks appetizing by adjusting the lighting and providing a clean backdrop. The same rules go for images of your restaurant. You want the photos to look professional and clean.

2. Engage With Followers

One way to attract followers is by interacting with them and posting things that interest them. You can capture their interest by replying to comments, answering questions, and responding to online reviews. Even if you're acknowledging a negative critique, you may positively impact other followers because you take accountability for a situation.

3. Entice Followers by Offering Contests and Rewards

You can incentivize people to follow your social media accounts by hosting contests where users like, share, and follow your account for a chance to win a meal or discount. You can also create a competition to interact with your audience and entice new customers to stop by. It's a creative way to highlight your offerings and boost your online presence.

4. Add Hashtags to Your Post

Hashtags optimize your social media presence and connect your restaurant or bar with related categories. Hashtags are trendy on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, so don't shy away from them. For instance, if you're promoting a new beverage at your bar, use hashtags like “#newdrink,” “#drinkspecial,” and “#happyhour.” These hashtags will recommend your business to users interested in these topics.

5. Use Customers for Inspirational Content

If you don't know what to post, showcase customer favorites and popular dishes for your online audience. For example, if someone says your Margherita pizza is the best in town, quote them. A simple review is enough to pique newcomers' interest in visiting your business.

6. Give People a Glimpse Behind the Curtain

Show your restaurant's true colors by giving your audience a sneak peek behind the scenes. As much as people love the result, they also enjoy seeing what goes into the places where they spend money.

Introduce your team, tour your restaurant, or show off new decorations. Giving people a virtual invitation into your restaurant may excite your online community and encourage them to visit.

7. Create or Update Your Google Business Profile

Often overlooked but potentially the most important way for diners to find your restaurant, set up and maintain a free Google Business Profile . When people are searching for a spot to eat, many diners depend on Google to search for the best options near them. With a Google Business Profile, you can control where your restaurant or bar appears in Google searches and on Google maps.

Make it easy for new customers to find your business and enjoy what you offer!

Make Time to Market Your Bar or Restaurant

You might be thinking, “How do I make time for all this?”

Marketing doesn't have to be a one-person show, but you must make marketing a long-term part of your day-to-day operations to keep people engaged and your business growing! If you don't have time, take advantage of the resources at your disposal to streamline the process or hire a marketing specialist, intern, or marketing agency.

Loyalty marketing allows you to establish a long-term relationship with your patrons. While attracting new customers is essential, remember not to neglect your current diners. Their support helps your business thrive, so retention strategies are integral to maintaining a consistent revenue flow.

Without customers, your restaurant will not thrive. Think of marketing as the essential way to create customers, retain loyal customers, and ensure your brand stands out from the crowd.

How Top Restaurant Owners Hire the Best

Tue, 31 May 2022 14:48:40 GMT

Restaurant owners have been maneuvering worker shortages and opting for online and mobile ordering since early 2020.

The transformation of the restaurant industry is creating opportunities for owners and managers to reevaluate their hiring process, ensuring they attract a strong team that delivers quality service.

Valuable employees are essential, as they’re on the front lines, overseeing food quality and customer experience. Think of your staff as your engine, propelling your restaurant into motion and moving you closer to your goals. Bars and restaurants will struggle to keep up in a competitive market without a strong team. Your staff is the heart of the business, so hiring high-quality workers is a top priority.

However, thanks to labor shortages, many managers are desperate to hire anyone they can find. Recruiting the wrong people can affect your restaurant so you experience:

High turnover rates
Low performance
Poor customer service
An unstable team

The cost of hiring, training, and managing under-skilled employees damages your restaurant's reputation and the relationships you’re building with patrons. Hiring candidates blindly is like driving in the fog – you have no direction. But when you take time to clarify what you’re looking for in your team members, the fog clears and you’re able to build a team that works like a well-oiled machine.

As an owner, investing your time and energy into hiring strong staff members (especially during workforce shortages) is vital to your success, longevity, and customer loyalty. Beyond looking for qualities of a good team player, you need to search for characteristics that align with your business's values.

How to Hire the Best Restaurant Employees

Start by creating a list of qualities that you’d like others to use when describing your restaurant. For example, you may consider honesty, authenticity, and communication key pillars to success. Write these features down and refer to them throughout the hiring process.

When you’re intentional about your search, you can attract hard-working employees who contribute to your restaurant's success. Here's what to expect when you hire the right staff:

Excellent communication
Integrity
Streamlined work
Responsibility
High productivity
Hitting business milestones

Hiring the best candidates can transform the trajectory of your business, allowing you to stand out in the community. Before handing out any promotions, be sure to consider the areas in which you need support.

This may be in the front or back of the house, or inside your support staff. To determine where you need additional help, observe your team during operational hours or host a staff meeting to gain feedback from current employees.

Three Categories of a Restaurant Team

Front-of-House

Your front-of-house staff includes servers, hosts, and bussers. The servers and hosts are the faces of your business, as they interact the most with your customers. For these roles, explore applicants that share the following characteristics:

Friendly
Outgoing
Engaging
Communicative

The last thing you want these employees to contribute to are long wait times and overwhelmed team members. Ask your workers how they feel about managing crowds during operational hours, as their opinions will clarify if you need to hire in this area.

Back-of-House

Your back-of-house team includes your kitchen staff, or those responsible for food preparation, quality control, and kitchen management. For this team, look for candidates who have a passion for food coupled with experience working in a fast-paced environment. Creative cooks are also ideal for contributing to specials and seasonal dishes. In addition, search for candidates with strong multitasking skills.

If your current team struggles to maintain the speed of orders, this is a sign they need additional help. For example, adding a sous-chef to prepare ingredients ahead of time can reduce everyone’s workload.

Support Staff

Managers make up the bulk of your support staff, effectively overseeing the restaurant's operations – especially when you're not around. You're looking for a go-getter who isn't afraid to get their hands dirty here. In addition, you want someone you can depend on to step confidently into their leadership role and direct your team.

Avoid candidates who prefer a hands-off approach. Your workers need guidance, so look for a manager who can handle high-stress situations and effectively support each employee.

Ultimately, when it comes to finding people to join your team, you must focus on individuals who align with your values. You also want to attract candidates you believe will cultivate healthy relationships in the workplace and contribute to a thriving restaurant.

Six Standout Qualities of Valuable Restaurant Employees

1. Great Team Player

An individual with interpersonal skills is an ideal addition to every team. Strong team players can handle conflicts, communicate with others, and understand the importance of working together. During interviews, ask potential employees how they would resolve a dispute with a fellow staff member. Their answers will provide insight into their team playing skills.

2. Honesty and Integrity

Honest employees can bring awareness to existing problems that may be impacting the success of your business. These workers are communicative and productive in urgent situations. Avoid problematic employees who sweep issues under the rug, negatively affecting workflows and operations. Those with integrity can help you find efficient solutions and prevent problems from reoccurring.

3. Strong Communication Skills

Communication is an essential skill in the restaurant and bar industry. Whether workers are in the front of the house or back, you want someone capable of conveying messages and prioritizing customer orders. Search for people with excellent listening skills, who will put your customers’ needs first. When it comes to conversations with patrons and staff members, people with strong communication skills will be proactive and get the job done.

4. Positive Attitude

Boost your business and create lasting relationships with customers by employing team members with positive attitudes. Your employees' attitudes affect the overall reputation of your restaurant. The last thing you want is for someone to drive away business because of their negativity.

To understand an applicant’s demeanor, observe how they carry themselves and the energy they bring to their interview. You can also ask them how they handle conflict, giving you a glimpse of how they may engage with demanding customers.

5. Authenticity and Personality

Go beyond job expectations and search for candidates who showcase their personalities. Authenticity plays a significant role in attracting the right customers to your restaurant. During the hiring process, look for team members who are comfortable with themselves. Hiring personable workers can create an immersive dining experience for your customers, making them more likely to return to your restaurant.

6. Caring and Considerate

Meeting restaurant milestones means finding workers who care about your business and its goals. You're looking for someone who wants to make a difference and is mindful of their role in your restaurant's success. Even if the candidate doesn't see themselves evolving in the restaurant or bar industry, they must consider their responsibilities and fulfill them.

You can determine if an applicant is considerate by asking them what they would do if they saw a staff member in need. Their answers will clarify if they're empathetic enough for the role.

In addition to these six standout qualities, here are three important characteristics to look for as you hire new employees.

Punctuality

A worker who keeps track of time and is mindful of their schedule would be an excellent addition to your staff. Restaurants thrive on punctuality, so avoid glossing over this trait. For instance, late coworkers will cause congestion with orders and make it challenging to transition into the next shift.

Instead, avoid the headaches and messy workflows by looking for people who prefer arriving a few minutes early. Based on candidates' arrival times for interviews, you will know who values punctuality.

Multitasking

Restaurants require workers who can juggle various tasks. For instance, a candidate handling phone calls while bagging to-go orders. Or, an employee who can input orders while still managing the front of the house. A multitasker can work under pressure in fast-paced environments.

Although it may be challenging to assess an applicant's multitasking skills, ask them about past experiences and how they work to manage different tasks when deciding if they're the right fit.

Goes Above and Beyond

Employees who recognize when tasks are incomplete and jump into action make excellent team members. They're less concerned about adding to their responsibilities and more attentive about finishing restaurant duties. These employees are proactive and instrumental in meeting your business goals.

While it's helpful to have go-getters take on additional work, it's also vital they communicate when other staff members aren't fulfilling their roles. The goal is to have a well-rounded team that doesn't depend on a small group of staff members to get everything done.

Now that you know what constitutes a strong team player, let's dive into navigating the hiring process.

The Future of Restaurant Hiring

The uncertainty of job security inside the restaurant industry continues to worry restaurant owners and workers. With restaurants and bars closing (temporarily or permanently) and redirecting their focus to online and mobile ordering, the demand for front-of-house staff like servers, hosts, and bussers significantly decreased, leaving many workers unemployed and considering other industries for their careers.

In addition, wage considerations reintroduced conversations about fair compensation, with demanding customers leading to frontline workers joining “The Great Resignation.” All restaurant owners should recognize this shift in working attitudes and adjust accordingly before growing their team.

Here are five reasons why employees are not returning to restaurants:

1. Parents juggling childcare: Transitioning from in-person to virtual schooling required many parents to readjust their schedules to oversee their children at home. Without additional support, parents and caregivers cannot balance the demands of working in a restaurant and supervising their children.
2. Concerns about COVID-19: The pandemic has made people hypervigilant about their health. These days, workers don't want to risk exposure to COVID-19 or any other illnesses, especially after the rise of new variants. Fear of health risks has left employees uncomfortable working in the hospitality field.
3. Worries about fair compensation: Staff members are concerned about working for minimum wage with no benefits. According to Divy , minimum wage only covers 54% of living costs for a family of four with two working adults. With the national average minimum wage of $9.08/hr, the pay covers 74% of the living wage of a single adult. Recognizing that full-time doesn't cover necessities makes people less inclined to pursue a position in a restaurant or bar.
4. A desire for flexibility: Many workers want a healthy work/life balance, which includes reducing long hours and the possibility of working remotely.
5. Need for better working conditions: Food safety and health concerns shed light on the importance of a healthy working environment, with leaders who cater to physical and mental health. Many ex-workers shared experiences of poor conditions, making restaurants and bars less desirable in the job market.

It's no question that owners need to approach hiring with a new mindset. As a leader, you must make necessary adjustments to appeal to ideal candidates.

How Restaurants Can Attract Strong Team Members

Offer Competitive Wages

With recent reports proving minimum wage can’t cover basic living expenses, it's more important than ever to offer competitive wages. You can do this by establishing a cost of living raise, which improves employees' performance while helping secure their finances. It also reduces turnover, so you can maintain consistency in your customer service and increase the overall stability of your business.

When the cost of living increases by a certain percentage, you can increase employee wages by the same rate. For example, if the cost of living increases by 1.5%, start matching that in the wages you offer. Adjusting your compensation can reduce workers' external stress and motivate them to stay.

Provide a Safe Working Environment

Safety is a top priority for all restaurants, so it's crucial to consider the well-being of your team. For example, maintaining health codes and regulations that keep employees and customers safe is key.

Creating healthy working conditions promotes inclusion, communication, and respect — all positive attributes that make up a strong team.

Although it may seem like common sense to provide a healthy working environment, toxic habits can develop unintentionally over time. Signs of toxicity in the workplace include:

High turnover rates
Favoritism among candidates and team members
Business rhetoric based on fear that can manifest itself in disengaged employees
Gossip that strains relationships and reduces trust
Concerning behaviors including negative attitudes, low engagement, difficulty making decisions, and lack of concentration
Poor communication between team members and with customers
Lack of boundaries between home and work

A toxic environment weakens your team, reducing the quality of service you provide. If you see any indications of toxic behavior, take action immediately. Start by actively engaging with your employees and listening to them. Also, maintain your restaurant's attitudes and be an example for your team.

You can also showcase your positive working environment on social media by posting reels of your employees having a good time, introducing new team members, and shining a spotlight on their hard work.

The more authentic you are, the more you'll attract workers you want to be the face of your restaurant. You can also showcase your employees throughout your emails. Email marketing is an effective way to connect with customers and potential new hires.

Offer an Incentive for Signing Up

Incentivize candidates to apply by offering a signing bonus. A signing bonus is an excellent incentive for spreading the word about your current openings.

Consider rewarding staff members if they send you referrals as well. However, before offering a signup reward, consider your budget and discuss the idea with a financial advisor.

Establish a Thorough Training Process

Approach each training session with compassion and guidance. It will take time for new workers to get familiar with your POS system . Maintain a supportive stance and provide gentle feedback to build their confidence.

Here are a few ideas for in-depth training:

Reenact high-volume scenarios
Practice inputting long orders into the POS system
Rehearse calls & to-go orders
Practice scenarios with demanding customers
Test their knowledge of food substitutions
Review their daily tasks and goals

Now that you have a clear understanding of how to attract candidates to your team, here are some ways to hire additional staff during a workforce shortage:

Maximize Referrals

Referrals are a reliable way to onboard new employees. As the engine of your business, your workers understand the ins and outs of the restaurant industry. When referrals come from a team you trust, you can rest assured they’re recommending the right people. Share this possibility with your staff and see what applications come your way.

Promote on Social Media

These days, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok are popular platforms to engage with audiences and promote job openings. Take advantage of your social media presence by posting positions and inviting new team members to join your crew.

Post on Job Sites

Job sites like Indeed, LinkedIn, or Ziprecruiter are great for connecting with applicants eager to work. Users are constantly scrolling through job postings to find the right fit. Start by listing the qualities you're looking for and making sure your restaurant's values are clear.

While finding suitable candidates for your team post-pandemic is critical, that's only half the battle. Your staff requires you to be a leader and provide direction, especially during uncertain times. When you step into your role as their guide, you can empower them to grow both personally and professionally.

Follow Through as a Leader

The success of your restaurant depends on hiring a solid team and showing up to train and manage them. The responsibility of creating an environment for your team to flourish rests on your shoulders.

Here are seven ways you can show up as a leader:

1. Create Realistic Goals

If you want your business to hit its milestones, your goals must be realistic and attainable. Use S.M.A.R.T. goals to establish objectives that align with your restaurant and keep your team on track. Once you set objectives, arrange a staff meeting and share your plans with your workers.

2. Build Employee Confidence

Set your staff up for success by providing intensive training. When you're proactive in the training process, you can prevent stressful situations. As a result, your team will be confident dealing with any scenario, from demanding customers and dietary restrictions to working in a fast-paced environment.

3. Communicate Expectations

Eliminate confusion by being clear about everyone's roles and responsibilities. Beyond sharing goals with your team, you must also explain the consequences of not fulfilling tasks. Remind your employees that this is a team effort, requiring everyone to pull their weight.

You can communicate expectations by

Creating a to-do checklist for each member
Hosting regular staff meetings
Observing performances daily
Providing honest, helpful feedback

Communicate with respect and kindness while maintaining your authority as a leader.

4. Show Empathy

Communication is a two-way street that requires you to share your thoughts while actively listening to your workers. Show empathy and support by hearing what your staff has to say.

When you take time to listen to them, you can determine better ways to support them, allowing your restaurant to thrive.

5. Value Your Staff

Encourage your team and show them you believe in their efforts. You can value your staff by sharing words of affirmation. While it's your job to review mistakes and help them improve, it's important to appreciate them too.

Acknowledge what your workers are doing well. For instance, if a server builds great rapport with customers, let them know they're doing an excellent job. Your team will flourish when you encourage a supportive environment.

6. Find Ways to Improve

Establish a healthy working culture by accepting any feedback you receive. Listening to constructive criticism will create a space for honesty, making your workers more inclined to share what's working and what isn't. Feedback also allows you to improve operations and update workflows.

Being receptive to feedback sets an example for what you expect in return from your staff. Your team can learn to be receptive like you and transform criticisms into learning opportunities.

7. Use Restaurant Management Technology

Want to make your team’s jobs easier, reduce errors, and increase profits? You can optimize restaurant or bar operations by upgrading to reliable management software, such as a restaurant POS system . Restaurant technology effectively supports you and your team.

Here are some Total Touch POS features and system highlights:

Web Ordering: Increase sales, reduce phone wait times, and simplify the process with Total Touch web ordering system . Web ordering creates the ultimate convenience for customers, while your staff can accept orders online even when busy.
Employee management: High-quality POS systems specialize in work schedules, monitoring employee in/out timings, and payroll hours. These capabilities allow you to focus on your priorities while the software organizes the details.
Inventory management tracking: Avoid a time-consuming manual approach by utilizing the Total Touch POS software to keep track of available ingredients and menu items running low. Inventory tracking is an effective way to combat food waste and over-budgeting your kitchen.

Hiring the Right People Means Adapting to Change

Hiring strong workers to propel your restaurant to success is essential for all restaurant and bar owners. However, you must acknowledge that the hiring process isn't as simple as it used to be. The best leaders are ready to adapt to changes in the market and workplace culture.

With the economy and workforce expectations transforming attitudes and values, this is your opportunity to adjust to the new wave and scope out the best people for your team. Before beginning the hiring process, consider your values and keep them in mind as you conduct interviews.

In addition, think about the areas of your business that require support. For example, you may be looking for an extra server or host, a back-of-house helper such as a sous chef, or a manager to oversee operations.

As you begin the hiring process, highlight the following standout qualities:

Team player
Integrity
Good communication
Positive attitude
Authenticity and personality
Caring and considerate

Bonus traits to look for include:

Punctuality
Multitasker
Going the extra mile

Ultimately, the success of your business depends on you providing your team with direction, support, and feedback that will allow them to grow. You can step into your leadership role by:

Administering thorough training
Cultivating a healthy working environment
Promoting clear communications
Showing empathy and kindness
Valuing your staff
Improving as a leader
Using a POS system to streamline work

With these tips, you’re one step closer to adding ideal candidates to your team.

When you combine these factors with a powerful and easy-to-use POS and restaurant management system, you can streamline your workflow and provide the best environment for your staff and customers!

Vital Leadership Skills for Successful Restaurant Owners and Managers

Mon, 02 May 2022 18:55:59 GMT

One of the essential ingredients to running a restaurant or bar is strong leadership. The best leaders help their team members work together to meet common goals.

Four Qualities Great Leaders Should Possess

Prepare Your Restaurant Team to Lead

Utilize the Best Restaurant Tools Available

Provide Leadership During Uncertainty

Leadership Is a Necessity

These leaders have extensive business insight and a plan for their restaurant's success.

Think of a leader as the captain of a ship. Without a captain, a crew has no direction. Without a reliable leader to guide employees, the team is lost. Strong leadership can impact every aspect of the restaurant, from service to staff communication.

Every business requires owners or managers to oversee its operations. But beyond that, a restaurant needs a leader to provide a stable foundation for their employees. This means ensuring everyone has a firm understanding of their responsibilities and how to fulfill them.

Many restaurant owners depend on their employees to keep the ship running but neglect to fulfill their role in establishing smooth operations behind the scenes and in-house. Ultimately, customer experience and quality of service depend on the staff and the owner working together. It's highly beneficial for all leaders to provide an efficient system for their employees and customers.

Three Characteristics of Poor Leadership

Leadership in a restaurant or bar doesn't necessarily equate to success. Poor leadership can be worse than not having any guidance in the first place. So before we dive into the qualities of a great leader, let's review three standouts of inadequate leadership:

Poor communication: Communication is fundamental in the restaurant business because conveying messages is central to the work. Poor communication creates misunderstandings with responsibilities, confusion in managing customer-sensitive issues, and little progress toward the business's goals.
Inability to accept failures: Issues are common in restaurants and bars. However, not taking responsibility for failures can cause a domino effect in service and workflow, contributing to additional problems in the future.
Avoiding worker concerns: The staff lays the groundwork for the restaurant. Not attending to employee concerns may make the team feel unsupported and unmotivated to provide high-quality service.

The worker shortage has exemplified how poor leadership and planning can result in an unsustainable environment for employees. To establish and maintain a strong team that will lead your business to success, restaurant owners must buckle down and provide exemplary leadership in the workplace. Here are eight qualities that every great leader should have.

Four Qualities Great Leaders Should Possess

If you're a restaurant manager or owner, you know that may mean early mornings and late nights to ensure you succeed. Inspire your team with these four qualities of leadership:

1. Honesty

All good leaders understand the importance of honesty. You can't run a successful restaurant or bar without being transparent with your staff. That's where honesty comes in. It empowers you to be realistic and look at things from a business perspective. What's working and what's not? Use honesty as a tool for improvement, and remember to communicate your thoughts clearly to your team.

2. Delegation

As a leader, delegating tasks to your employees is crucial for streamlining each workflow. A great leader can delegate responsibilities evenly across their staff to ensure minimal burnout and exhaustion. Try establishing practical systems like checklists and staff meetings to ensure everyone can fulfill their obligations adequately.

3. Empathy

Empathy is a leadership skill that often gets overlooked but is significant to connecting with your workers. If you want a strong team, you have to take time to understand their needs and how you can best support them so they can provide high-quality service to your customers.

This means listening to them and communicating your goals with them. Empathy allows you to create better solutions for managing high-stress situations in the restaurant.

When issues occur, you want to remain calm and ready to handle the situation graciously without blaming your employees.

4. Respect and Kindness

These days, employees are searching for a healthy working environment. Every leader should possess respect and kindness. As their employer, it's up to you to provide a space where your staff feels seen and appreciated.

You can show respect to your team by:

Recognizing their work ethic
Vocalizing your appreciation for them
Addressing staff mistakes in a kind manner

Being compassionate allows you to build a strong relationship with your workers and helps avoid high turnover rates, negatively affecting your customers.

Prepare Your Restaurant Team to Lead

Restaurants and bars utilize various strategies to attract customers. Factors such as high-quality food and services, authentic branding, an immersive dining experience, seasonal specials, and a restaurant management system contribute to success in the restaurant industry.

Successful restaurants also have to use strategy to attract the best workforce.

Efficient Preparation and Training

Customer service is at the core of the restaurant and bar industry. New employees may be unfamiliar with everything from menu items to the POS system , so it's essential to be patient with them and allow them time to grow. A good leader recognizes common restaurant challenges and keeps them in mind while training new staff members.

In addition, you can train new employees to better manage unpredictable situations, like serving a high volume of customers or inputting long, meticulous orders. The better you prepare your staff, the more confident they will be when uncertain circumstances arise.

Communicate Management Expectations

Communication allows you to achieve your restaurant or bar's goals. Share your objectives with your staff and clarify what you expect from them.

Go beyond training employees on general operations and etiquette. Make sure they know they play a substantial role in the success of your business. Always share what they need to do to contribute to these goals.

A direct approach is ideal. Arrange a staff meeting and discuss your vision with them. When you are direct and clear, you will set each team member up for success.

Accept Feedback and Apply It to Solutions

Sharp leaders know that feedback is key to improving their operations. So listen to your team, customers, and online reviewers. Then use their criticisms to find solutions that will generate additional business.

For example, if your staff is overwhelmed by the volume of customers, listen to what they say and determine what you can do to lessen their burden. In this case, you may need to hire more employees, update your restaurant's technology , or shorten your menu. Again, use constructive feedback as a learning opportunity to improve

Utilize the Best Restaurant Tools Available

Using updated resources and technology is ideal for supporting staff members and workflows. For example, modern restaurant technology like a POS system can help your business with inventory management, employee timesheets, and pay-at-table options for customers.

Take time to review your business' technology and determine if you’re ready for an upgrade.

Technology is becoming a standard tool for all restaurants and bars. It supports staff and provides a seamless experience for customers while allowing owners to step into their leadership roles. Here are some POS system benefits and how you can use this tool to grow your restaurant:

Automation Creates Convenience

When it comes to dining out, customers are looking for a hassle-free and convenient experience. With an updated system, you can improve the overall experience for customers and employees.

For instance, a POS system provides order and pay-at-table options. This can be helpful during high-volume hours when employees are multi-tasking. Serving too many tables can cause confusion, stress, and long wait times. Over-extending your staff negatively affects employees’ performance and makes customers less inclined to revisit your restaurant.

Instead, you can have order and pay-at-table options available to lift the weight off your staff and create a more convenient experience for your diners.

Streamline Workflow with To-Go Orders

A POS system boosts efficiency with ordering kiosks. Like the order and pay-at-table options, this improves the workflow for staff and creates a convenient environment for customers to order when they’re ready.

Ordering kiosks are ideal for restaurants and shops catering to a crowd who prefer to order on the go—for example, boba shops and pizzerias. A kiosk allows customers to order at the window while employees focus their attention on food quality.

Online and Mobile Ordering

After the pandemic, online ordering became more prominent among diners and is more popular and convenient than ever. Blue Book Services predicts that 60% of diners will order online, and one in four customers plan on ordering more delivery and takeout in 2022. You’re missing out on sales and profits if you're not offering online ordering!

Updating your technology to include mobile ordering can increase profits as you’re appealing to a more extensive customer base. For example, you can use a POS system or a third-party delivery app like DoorDash and UberEats .

Remember that third-party apps take a percentage of each order, so it may be ideal to have your own online ordering option instead.

Inventory Tracking System

Say goodbye to manual tracking and overspending on ingredients. Instead, your POS system will automatically track supplies, so you don't have to worry about overordering or food waste .

This system provides sales analytics to tell you which supplies you should purchase. It also reports best-selling items, so you can adjust your menu accordingly to save money and increase profits.

Manage Staff and Timesheets

A POS system accurately measures your worker's timesheets. This simplifies the administration process and allows you to focus on more pressing priorities. In addition, you can also utilize quick wage and tax deduction calculations. No more manually calculating everyone's hours or running the risk of errors inside your taxes.

Personalized Customer Experience

Restaurant technology manages customer records and information, allowing your business to better cater to customers through email marketing . For example, if a customer orders weekly specials, the system will let you know. You can then send out newsletters that inspire them to revisit, reminding them of each special you offer.

Providing Leadership During Uncertain Times

When the pandemic hit the restaurant industry, many owners wondered what to do next. The pandemic exemplified how resilience and consistency are vital during uncertain times. It also demonstrated how powerful adaptability is in business. As instability is a naturally unpredictable occurrence, owners should be ready for more changes in the market and economic crises.

Leadership creates a stable environment for your workers and establishment. But being a leader, especially during hardships, isn't easy. It requires commitment and acceptance that change is inevitable. The best way to keep your business strong is by being prepared for the unknown.

How Restaurant Owners Provide Leadership During Uncertainty

Stay Consistent with Your Messaging

During uncertain times, people are searching for stability. You can provide this by consistently communicating your message to customers. You want to make sure your brand is familiar and recognizable. Consistency attracts new patrons and familiarity reflects comfort and safety.

You can become an integral part of your community by continuing to advertise specials and customer favorites. Let your neighborhood know you're here and ready to become their favorite local spot.

You can also give back to your community by hosting a food drive, donating to a local food bank, and arranging fundraisers for charity. Doing good for your community sets you apart from the competition.

Stay in Touch with Your Audience

Email marketing is a great way to remind patrons of when you're open and provide a personable experience for them. Build an email list to send out newsletters, holiday highlights, specials, and employee shoutouts. Maintaining constant communication keeps you relevant with your audience as you build a lasting and trusting relationship with them.

As a leader, it's up to you to cultivate relationships with those supporting your business. Find new ways to share your restaurant or bar's values with them. You can also use social media to connect with a broader audience and showcase what your business is all about.

Know Your Target Customers

During a crisis, it's more important than ever to understand your target demographic. By knowing who your customers are, you can implement strategies that will help capture their attention. When you know their preferences and favorite menu items, it may mean changing the menu, sharing online offerings, or updating your dining environment to craft an experience that keeps them coming back.

If you don't know your target customers , try studying your competition. You may find out why some diners choose their restaurant instead of yours.

Study the reports from your restaurant management system. Review zip codes to know where your customers are from. Make certain your top-selling offerings are always available.

Here are a few reasons why your competition may attract more customers:

Excellent reputation: Customers are more likely to visit a restaurant with good reviews. They like to know that the experience and food are high-quality. To determine where you stand, read over some of your restaurant's online reviews and see which aspects of your business need improvement.
Convenient options: Customers are looking for a seamless experience. See if your competition is providing convenient options for their patrons. Is there something you can add to your business to enhance each experience?
Trustworthy establishment: No one wants to eat at a questionable restaurant. So think about authenticity here. Does your restaurant have a clear place in the community? It's all about building trust. Can your customers depend on your restaurant to provide an immersive dining experience and excellent service?
Consistent quality: While food is a high priority, you want to ensure that quality extends to other areas of your restaurant, like the environment and service. Is your restaurant consistent across the board? Take this opportunity to check online reviews and ask patrons what they think. You may find valuable insight here that can contribute to a handful of necessary changes.
Reasonable prices: Price is one of the first things customers notice about a restaurant. Ask yourself if the costs of your menu items are fair. It's all about comparing prices and adapting accordingly.

Gain Respect from Workers and Your Community

During difficult times, your community needs strong leaders to guide it through. You can demonstrate this by supporting and inspiring your employees and customers.

Encourage staff by working alongside them and letting them know you're not only a boss but a friend. Communicate your goals with them and listen to their ideas.

To maintain high performance, motivate employees by acknowledging their efforts, offering higher wages, and providing overtime benefits. Your staff is the engine of your restaurant. Supply each team member with the tools and resources to fulfill the restaurant's goals.

For your customers, be a familiar face in the community. You can do this by sourcing foods from local vendors and farmers, visiting farmer’s markets, and connecting with local businesses.

Get connected with your community to make your restaurant a staple in the neighborhood.

Preparing for Unavoidable Circumstances

Business Insider states that the restaurant industry will continue having a worker shortage in 2022, with seven in ten restaurant owners reporting they don't have enough employees to support customer demands. With this expectation, restaurant and bar owners must adapt and establish practical approaches to better provide for their customers and staff.

If you're noticing a higher demand in your business, here are some strategies to implement:

Set new operating hours: Avoid overextending staff by reducing your working hours. This will allow you to optimize workers' performance and provide better customer service.
Utilize third-party delivery services: Uncertain times mean making necessary adjustments – jumping on the delivery trend being one of them. Ensure your restaurant has accessible services for customers who prefer online ordering. Start using third-party apps or offering your own mobile ordering option through a POS system .
Reduce menu items: Are you offering too many options on your menu? A smaller menu highlights popular dishes and lowers food waste. It also reduces food costs, improves workers' efficiency, and simplifies the training process.

Strong Leadership Is a Necessity

For restaurants and bars to succeed, they need a strong team, high-quality food and service, and efficient technology. While these characteristics are vital for a thriving business, it all comes down to a stable leader who can guide the restaurant to its goals.

The best leaders offer motivation and support to their team. They provide direction, so their crew can keep the ship afloat. Every leader should possess qualities that empower their team, like:

Honesty
Ability to delegate
Empathy
Respect and kindness
Communication
Acceptance of feedback and application for solutions
Use of the best technology and tools

In addition, managers and owners should be able to adapt to change, whether it's a change in the season or readjustments during uncertain times.

This is especially true during economic crises and hardships, where standard practices may no longer be beneficial to your business. When unforeseeable times occur, you can prepare by creating a backup plan, observing your competition, and applying new strategies to support your team. It may be challenging to stay consistent with messaging, but ultimately it will help you better connect with patrons.

Customers and staff rely on leaders to maintain stability. By being an active communicator, a familiar face, and providing consistent service, you can symbolize hope for your community. Participating in outreach programs and building relationships with local farmers is a great start. Instead of waiting for the next crisis, begin making a name for your restaurant or bar with locals at every opportunity.

Stepping into your role as an owner can come with additional stressors. For example, you’re now the main person everyone looks to for direction. To prevent extra pressure, remind yourself that you're on a team. Your staff is an extension of your business, so it's okay to ask for help when you need it. Like delegating tasks to employees, you may also consider hiring a manager to balance your responsibilities.

Success is harder to achieve when you're spread too thin, so allow yourself to depend on others to accomplish your overarching goals. In addition to hiring more help, you can use updated technology to minimize the work on your plate.

Technology has evolved significantly, helping leaders develop and businesses operate efficiently. With the support of automated tools, timesheet management, and more, a POS system can assist you with paving the way for your employees.

There are two key ways to scale your business and be the leader your team needs: Multiply yourself or use technology. When you lead your team and develop their skills, you multiply yourself. When it comes to restaurant management, the technology is widely and readily available. Imagine the success you’ll experience when you combine effective leadership with a restaurant management solution that makes their job — and yours — easier.

Learn more about how a point of sale system can help you achieve success for your restaurant and emerge as a better leader.

How to Build a Loyal Following with Email Marketing

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 01:45:03 GMT

Email marketing is essential for establishing a loyal following and building a successful restaurant business.

While social media platforms welcome and attract new audiences, an email list gives you full ownership of subscribers' information and the opportunity to provide consistent, personalized content to your customers.

By taking advantage of email as a direct channel to your audience, you can connect with loyal patrons, highlight your latest deals, and share your brand's message easily.

Email marketing for restaurants is best used in conjunction with social media to promote your restaurant or bar, keep up with the latest trends, and—most importantly—build a lasting relationship with your customers.

Here are three tips for building a loyal restaurant following through email marketing:

1. Develop Your Email List

The first step in developing your email list is to ensure it's convenient for your customers to join. You can showcase an email subscription option on your restaurant's website with a contact form or tasteful pop-ups, as well as in-person on menus or receipts.

Convenience is key to connection, so balancing online and in-person options are vital. For example, your restaurant's website acts as your business's home base in the digital world. Creating a contact form that is easy to find, straightforward, and details the importance of signing up is a fantastic way to grow a loyal following.

After creating different ways for people to sign up, give your customers a reason to subscribe! You can entice customers to sign up to your email list by:

Sharing exclusive restaurant deals
Inviting subscribers to private events hosted by your business
Creating meaningful news and content

Think of email marketing as an additional service to enrich your customers' experience.

2. Determine Your Ideal Customer

Email marketing efforts are most successful when you have a firm understanding of your target audience , allowing you to tailor a stronger message for them. If you're having trouble identifying your target customer, begin by studying your brand identity and your restaurant or bar's central themes.

Your brand identity consists of a few factors, such as your menu, your atmosphere and ambiance, your central colors, and your personality. As you reflect on your restaurant's identity, think about the type of customer that would thrive in your establishment. For instance, if you own an Italian restaurant with warm colors, large tables and booths, and menus catered to both mature and young taste buds, your ideal customers may be families with children.

Once you've identified your ideal customers, it’s time to curate email sequences that resonate with them. For example, if targeting families with children, your emails may include group discounts, stories about your restaurant's staff, and invites to become part of your extended family by dining at your restaurant. Start the email marketing process by learning whom you are targeting.

3. Create Engaging Emails

People protect their inboxes carefully and are quick to unsubscribe, so the only way to remain connected to your audience is by crafting emails they will love. Rather than simply sharing seasonal menus and discounts, fill your emails with value to increase engagement while including deals that encourage diners to change their dinner plans.

Here are some key features of a great email:

Use a compelling subject line. Think about titles and subjects that naturally catch your eye and pique your interest. It may be a set of limited-time specials, a seasonal menu, or a weekly event with live music. Make it intriguing enough to inspire people to open up and discover what’s inside!
Add a personal touch. Customers want to feel unique and recognized by the brands they patronize. So, instead of sending email blasts written to a mass audience, begin your emails by greeting each subscriber by name. By doing so, the message will have a more intimate feel right off the bat.
Tell a story. Start your email with a bang to grab the reader’s attention. You can do this by telling compelling stories that relate to the email's primary purpose. For instance, add the customer's name for a personal touch and share a story to create a deeper relationship with your subscribers. Don’t be afraid to get personal and invite your subscribers to get to know your business on a deeper level.

End with a call-to-action (CTA). Always conclude your emails with a call-to-action to direct readers towards your business. Whether you're inviting them to use a special deal or visit your restaurant, a CTA is a perfect way to end an email.

Crafting great emails is only the beginning of growing your following.

From there, consistency and quality are key. What you'll need next is a strategic plan for your email marketing and compelling topics to keep your subscribers interested. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Offer promotions. Promotions are one of the main selling points to gain subscribers, so implement them throughout the year. You can share your latest deals, happy hour specials, and holiday discounts .
Share exclusive recipes. If your customers subscribe to your email list, there's a good chance they love your menu. So keep readers enthusiastic by sharing recipes produced by your chefs and tips for making it their own (without the secret sauce, of course!).
Get personal with introductions. If you have new staff joining your team, you can introduce them to your subscribers. This will make them feel like they're in the loop and a part of your restaurant's extended family.
Tell your restaurant's story — but make the customer the hero! There's nothing like a story to pull at the heartstrings. Connect with your audience by sharing the story of how your restaurant or bar came to be. Doing so will make your business stand out and feel more authentic to your customers.

Email marketing helps you cultivate relationships, promote your latest deals, and communicate your restaurant or bar's values. It's time to move past the idea that emails aren’t effective. Email marketing is exactly what you need to grow your business. Get creative, have fun, and craft email newsletters your customers are sure to love!

4 Tips to Prepare Your Restaurant for Valentine's Day

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 17:32:19 GMT

Soon the sidewalks will be flooded with couples on their way to a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner.

As a restaurant industry professional, does this day always have you seeing red? Change things up this year with our tips for a successful Valentine’s Day service. We’ll help you see green instead!

Valentine’s Day is the second busiest holiday of the year for restaurants, second only to Mother's Day. Therefore, it's important to prepare your team for a rush of reservations and spontaneous guests. Here are some tips to help you accomplish this and make the most of the busy weekend!

Craft a "Lovable" Menu

Sit down with your chef to discuss special Valentine’s Day dishes. You don’t have to craft a completely new menu but try brainstorming ways you can rearrange current dishes to be more “lovable”.

For example, if one of the items on your menu is a hand-tossed pizza, try tossing that pizza into a heart shape. You can also temporarily re-name some of your popular dishes to go along with the Valentine’s Day theme. Some examples could be:

“You’ve Caught Me” Fish & Chips
Chocolate “I Lava You” Cake
“On Fire for You” Roast Chicken

If you’ve got a way with words, now is the time to let your creativity shine!

Adjust Your Floor Plan

It’s safe to say that most guests will arrive at your restaurant in pairs on Valentine’s Day. To prepare for this and maximize table space, take some time to adjust your floor plan.

By condensing larger tables into tables for two or four, you’ll be ready to accommodate as many happy couples as possible on the big day. Want to take your table optimization one step further? Try offering a small box of chocolates or a complimentary glass of champagne to reserved tables.

Request Deposits for Reservations

Speaking of reservations, they are very important for both you and your guests on Valentine’s Day. In fact, a Valentine’s Day reservation is so important to some guests, that they make multiple with different restaurants.

While a convenient fail-safe for the customer, this is less than ideal for you. If you’re left waiting on a party who is already seated at another restaurant, you’re losing more than just their business. You’re losing time and tables you could have offered to other people waiting to enjoy a meal.

To prevent this frustrating situation from happening on one of your busiest days of the year, request a deposit to hold reservations. The deposit can go toward the guest's meal and will help protect your business from no-shows.

Lean On Your Most Experienced Staff

When setting the schedule for Valentine’s Day, we recommend choosing your most experienced staff. On such a busy and important day, you don’t want to be training new wait staff or hosts.

Take extra time to prepare the staff who will be working the big day. Brief them on any specials, how many reservations you are expecting, if any special requests have been made, and any VIP guests who may be in attendance. Everyone’s ultimate goal should be to offer the perfect guest experience.

We hope these tips will help you minimize headaches and improve profits this Valentine’s Day. Remember, this is a day to celebrate love and happiness. Do your best to show compassion and appreciation to each guest, so that everyone may have a lovely evening.

Sources: Modern Restaurant Management , SevenRooms

Should You Change Your Menu Each Season?

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 12:00:07 GMT

Seasonal menu changes have become a common trend in the restaurant and bar industry. However, seasonal eating was a historically natural occurrence long before restaurants, vendors, and year-round menus were established. Empty heading

Humans have eaten seasonally for centuries. Why? Because they gathered the natural ingredients that were accessible to them. Although methods for gathering, obtaining, and storing foods have advanced, seasonal foods are deeply woven into our DNA. That's why we crave light fruits and salads in the summer and heartier root vegetables in the winter.

For restaurant and bar owners, seasonal menus are a fantastic way to connect with our roots, keep up with the trends, and draw new customers.

Here are four reasons to consider switching up your menu every season:

1. Save Money & Boost Profits

If you're searching for a cost-effective strategy, aligning your menu with the seasons is a practical way to save money. Since you can source ingredients locally, you’ll minimize the expenses you typically spend on transportation and storage for out-of-season foods.

Sourcing meals from within your community also helps control food costs. Compared to year-round ingredients, you may find seasonal foods are more affordable because they’re readily available. Connect with local suppliers at farmer's markets or farms to find the best fit for your business.

In addition to reducing food costs, seasonal menus have the potential to boost profit margins. It's no secret that customers get seasonal cravings, so why not cater to them while saving money and delivering quality flavors? For instance, winter is the perfect time to greet your guests with delicious aromas and ingredients like leeks, winter squash, and parsnips, to satisfy those hearty cold-weather appetites.

2. Use Fresh, High-Quality Ingredients

When it comes to satisfying your customers, high-quality food is a must — and seasonal menus are an excellent way to offer quality. Sourcing locally ensures your restaurant's produce and ingredients are fresh and full of nutrients.

According to US Foods , the farm-to-table trend has gained significant popularity over the past few years. They state that, "seasons started to drive menu trends and chefs began sourcing locally, which gave rise to the farm-to-table movement." They also note how seasonal and locally-grown produce allows restaurants to deliver healthier meals to their customers.

Seasonal menus are not only good for your diners. They’re also beneficial for the environment. Since you're going local, you get your ingredients quickly without leaving a large carbon footprint from out-of-season food transportation. You also gain the opportunity to build strong relationships in the community and connect with other small businesses on your quest to provide innovative flavors to your patrons.

3. Intrigue & Attract Customers

Opening the door to seasonal menus gives your restaurant a chance to attract new customers. So, get creative and offer a variety of flavors throughout the year to keep guests on their toes and excited to see what you have to offer.

For example, summertime is an excellent opportunity to expand your drink menu with the taste of the season. Add delicious beverages infused with honeydew melons, peaches, strawberries, and raspberries to give your customers the ultimate seasonal experience.

While expanding your menu to include seasonal dishes, don't forget to keep your restaurant or bar's signature meals for loyal diners. With detailed reports of meal rates and transactions from a POS system , you will know which signature dishes to keep available throughout the year.

If you're looking to draw in new guests, take advantage of restaurant social media marketing where seasonal themes are trendy. You may boost your marketing strategy by promoting specials and discounts on Instagram or Facebook, as well as through email marketing. So whether you're switching up your menu for the holidays or featuring some pumpkin spice dishes for the fall, you can bet customers will be eager to sample your limited menu.

4. Allow Your Restaurant Staff to Get Creative

While your staff may master your restaurant's staple dishes, cooking the same meals can leave them feeling unmotivated, bored, and burned out. Unfortunately, these negative emotions can cause your food quality to suffer!

Avoid low morale by challenging your workers to have fun with seasonal menus and allowing their cooking skills to shine. Take this opportunity to refresh your staff's energy and build excitement within your kitchen.

If you're unsure how to create a seasonal menu, conduct a brainstorming session with your staff and give them the floor to express their ideas. Being open to their feedback and menu concepts provides a healthy working environment and shows that you respect your workers. Set up meetings, share your ideas, and have fun!

Seasonal menus have made a splash in the restaurant and bar industry, with customers anticipating flavors that highlight the time of year. As you prepare your expanded menu, consider the following:

The overall cost of your dishes
The quality of in-season and out-of-season ingredients
How well your added specials are received

Keep in mind that your business caters to a specific demographic, so you want to make sure you hit the mark. One way to produce successful results with your seasonal menu is by taking advantage of your POS system . This automated system provides you with the restaurant business analytics and reporting needed to determine the ideal ingredients to add to your limited menu.

It's time to change up the pace and surprise your customers and staff with a seasonal menu. When you do, you’ll boost profits, save money, and reinvent your restaurant's flavors. Join the latest industry trend by brainstorming a seasonal menu with your staff, connecting with local suppliers, and providing the best produce that the season has to offer!

Looking for a POS system to discover which meals are seasonal winners? That’s what we’re here for. Learn more about our system and how we can help.

How Automation Improves Restaurant Efficiency and Capacity

duda@aespire.com (Brian Sooy) — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 13:00:03 GMT

Your Guide to Implementing Automated Tools in Your Restaurant

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The restaurant and bar industry is known for its hospitality, from friendly and efficient staff to immersive environments and quality food and beverages. But, like every industry, restaurants and bars are making innovative changes to attract and retain customers while establishing a better and smoother workflow for staff.

When you’re searching for new ways to upgrade your restaurant or bar and accommodate customer and employee needs, consider implementing automated tools!

Automated tools—such as a Point Of Sale (POS) system —provide the customer with a convenient and customizable experience, free of human error. While a dedicated staff is the key to a restaurant's success, automation not only optimizes your team’s performance and workflow but can also increase profits and improve business efficiency.

Here are five key benefits of using automation in your restaurant and how you can implement new technologies to upgrade your business:

Efficiency for customers and staff

Automated features, such as order and pay-at-table options , are excellent for streamlining processes for customers and front-of-house staff. For instance, during your restaurant’s peak hours, order-at-table technology allows your customers to order when they're ready, rather than wait for an available employee.

In addition to guest convenience, it reduces pressure for staff to take orders in a fast-paced environment. An order-at-table option also provides accuracy with each order since they’re directly added to the system by the customer.

When customers have finished their meals, a pay-at-table option offers the freedom and ease to pay when they're ready to leave. These automated tools provide fast and seamless experiences, leading to more customers and increased revenue.

Ordering On-the-go

For restaurants specializing in to-go orders , it’s vital to adopt technology that supports a streamlined workflow and serves a fast-paced crowd. Ordering kiosks are a prime example, as they have recently gained traction for on-the-go food and beverage orders.

Like order-at-table technology, an ordering kiosk or mobile ordering app offers customers the convenience of promptly ordering and paying for their food, reducing the pressure workers face with multi-tasking.

Smoother reservation process

Say goodbye to writing down names and diner counts on a clipboard!

Thanks to automation and restaurant reservation systems, restaurant teams no longer have to stress over organizing reservations manually.

These online booking systems are perfect for streamlining your busiest hours, allowing guests to see real-time table availability through your website or app. Instead of spreading your staff thin by tracking reservation times and tables, an online reservation service does the heavy lifting by automatically showing table availability and confirming reservations. This system also helps avoid customer frustration with traditional wait times.

Automatic capacity management

A restaurant management system is an efficient tool for controlling restaurant or bar capacity.

By tracking table availability and preventing overbooking (or underbooking), this automated system creates a smoother workflow that allows your team to focus their efforts on other areas.

Tools like capacity management are a great way to support your staff and provide a healthier working environment that mitigates burnout potential. Smart systems also provide a seamless dining experience for your customers, giving you the best of both worlds.

Save money with an inventory tracking system

Imagine having a reliable inventory tracking system that does all the counting and reporting for you. Not only do automated tools like a POS system manage your inventory, but they can also predict how long your supply will last. With accurate analytics and reports, you don't have to worry about overspending on inventory, wasting food and resources , or spending hours entering your supply needs manually!

Integrating automated tools in your restaurant or bar has the potential to connect your business with a more extensive customer base and bring a new level of convenience and comfort to your guests and staff.

Here are five ways to start implementing restaurant automation systems:

1. Automated scheduling system

If you're searching for a solution to help you streamline employee schedules and support communication, a POS system is the answer.. Manually organizing employee hours is time-consuming and exhausting. Still, you can finally focus on more pressing responsibilities with a scheduling system that features backfill shifts, communication forums, and automatic schedule changes.

2. Convenient software experiences

Provide your customers with a seamless and convenient dining experience by adding self-ordering kiosks, order-at-table options, and self-checkout systems. Customers will appreciate the freedom to order and pay when they're ready. These automated tools also allow your employees to work at a healthier pace and focus on providing high-quality food and friendly service to your customers.

3. Online ordering drives crowds

Mobile orderin g and online ordering continues to gain popularity, so it’s time to upgrade your restaurant to offer this feature if you haven’t already. Online ordering is not only convenient but a safe way for patrons to order and enjoy their meals. While restaurants can use third-party delivery apps for online orders, a POS system provides complete control of the ordering process, from communicating with customers to increasing profits without delivery fees.

4. Accurate account reports and analytics

Analytics reveal valuable insights into profits, sales, transactions, and customer data. This information is essential for managing a restaurant, as it highlights what your target demographic finds attractive based on their ordering habits. Update your restaurant software to ensure all your information and data are streamlined and easy to review.

5. Track your inventory without hassle

Manual inventory management can be extremely costly, especially when your team makes a mistake. Avoid headaches and errors by incorporating inventory management software that automatically tracks the kitchen’s materials, ingredients, and stock. Based on your restaurant’s historical data, most inventory systems also include a prediction feature to determine how long your supply will last. If detailed reports of inventory, cost savings, and food waste help you sleep better at night, it's time to implement this automated tool.

How to Integrate Total Touch POS with Your Restaurant

The idea of implementing multiple smart systems may seem intimidating. Fortunately, you can use an all-in-one software that features all the supportive automated tools listed in this post.

Here's a glimpse of how Total Touch POS can support your restaurant or bar:

Works with your payment processor
Online and mobile ordering system
Business analytics, anywhere
Gift cards and loyalty programs
Pre-authorize bar tabs
Payment options including split check and split tab
Kitchen display system
Inventory management
Employee management
Employee scheduling and timekeeping

Automated tools are the perfect way to support your staff, provide excellent service, and keep your business organized and well-managed. And the good news is that getting started with automated tools doesn't have to be challenging.

Start upgrading your restaurant's system by scheduling a product demo , setting up training, and growing your business today!

How to Set Realistic Goals for Your Restaurant

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 20:02:27 GMT

For restaurant or bar owners, goals are your stepping stones towards success and profitability.

Finding clarity provides direction and supports growth, but before you hit the ground running with new plans, you must clearly understand your main objectives and how your team can achieve them.

Every restaurant or bar should set goals in four foundational categories

Food Selection and Quality – Consistent, top-notch quality keeps customers coming back for more while attracting new guests.
Restaurant Staff – In developing consistent and high-quality customer service plans, you should also establish methods to retain and manage your current team.
Restaurant Marketing – Digital and word-of-mouth marketing are two of the best ways to gain a more extensive customer base and increase profits for your restaurant business.
Restaurant Finances – G aining a solid understanding of your business's profit margins will help your restaurant flourish.

Use these four categories as anchors for your brainstorming sessions as you reflect on ways your restaurant or bar can grow. Do you feel that your team is efficient, friendly, and dedicated to providing excellent customer service? Is food quality consistent? How are you marketing your brand, and are you seeing increased profits with your current strategy? Asking these core questions opens the door to the SMART restaurant goal-setting process .

Let’s explore the four goal-setting strategies that will help grow your bar, restaurant, or night club

Set goals to enhance food quality and presentation

Showcasing quality foods and beverages is essential in the bar and restaurant industry. Consistent, top-notch quality keeps customers coming back for more while attracting new guests.

However, your success can derail if your restaurant has a track record of hit-or-miss quality. If you’ve noticed inconsistencies, take this time to examine your menu, food preparation procedures, and staff training. Based on your observations, set specific goals for kitchen staff and front-of-house employees.

For instance, if quality suffers during peak hours due to short-staffing, it may be an indicator that you need to hire additional support . You might set a goal to hire chefs experienced in a fast-paced environment and provide extensive food preparation training. As for the rest of your team, communicate expectations clearly regarding consistency in food quality and presentation.

If you're thinking of switching up food options for the holidays or showcasing new specials for happy hour, consider updating your menu as a whole. However, be mindful that all changes to your menu must maintain customer satisfaction.

You can cater to your target demographic with the help of a Point Of Sale (POS) system , which tracks best-selling menu items. A POS system also provides a glimpse of menu items that aren't as popular. Take advantage of profit reports when setting menu and food goals. You may be able to swap out an old dish with a new and creative winner!

Align goals with your staff

No restaurant or bar is complete without a team to keep it running, which is why it's essential to align goals with your staff. In developing consistent and high-quality customer service plans, you should also establish methods to retain and manage your current team.

It's no secret that restaurants and bars have a high turnover rate; however, the turnover rate has almost doubled in recent years, making it challenging for restaurants to maintain consistent quality services.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , the restaurant industry suffered from a 130% turnover rate in 2020. Business Insider states that there's been a 144% turnover rate in fast-food restaurants in 2021.

When setting goals for your staff, focus on strategies that support your employees and create a healthy working environment for them.

Here are five team management goals to maintain a healthy workflow:

Update training methods to ensure staff confidence
Communicate and manage your expectations and standards
Show appreciation for your staff
Listen to your team's feedback
Update your restaurant management technology

When you set goals that prioritize your employees’ well-being and foster a stable working environment, you create a foundation for your restaurant or bar to achieve long-term success with a solid and dependable team.

Optimizing goals for marketing results

Digital and word-of-mouth marketing are two of the best ways to gain a more extensive customer base and increase profits for your restaurant business. As you set goals, consider your current marketing strategy and how you promote your business. For instance, do you use email newsletters or social media to spread the word about your restaurant or bar?

Social media platforms are the ideal place to promote your business. By using Instagram or Facebook, you can easily give audiences a glimpse of your restaurant or bar's theme, showcase an immersive experience , and give them a taste of what you offer. Especially during the holidays , you can use social media to announce your seasonal specials and discounts.

While social media is a great way to connect with new customers, it's essential to show attention to your loyal customers, too. A POS system serves as the perfect connection to your devoted diners because it gives you the option to provide a gift and loyalty card program! You can also take advantage of marketing directly to your loyal customers through email with the help of your POS system.

If you're searching for ways to expand your business, start creating digital marketing goals and strategies that will help you get there!

Defining financial goals

While tracking your restaurant or bar's finances may seem daunting, gaining a solid understanding of your business's profit margins will help your restaurant flourish. Start by pinpointing areas in your business that need improvement, and establish specific, realistic financial goals from this research to facilitate growth.

For instance, if you notice slower business during certain hours, you might adjust happy hour offers, specials, or discounts to attract more customers during less popular times of the day.

Another critical focus is that of cost-effective food options . There are many ways to maintain quality while reducing food costs, from sourcing locally to negotiating with food suppliers. Although you may have endless goals for earning and managing money, the best place to begin is with an analysis of where your business currently stands financially.

Food, staff, marketing, and finances each play a foundational role in the success of your restaurant. As you establish and implement goals for your business, use these categories to drive your action plans. Right now is the perfect opportunity to evaluate your restaurant's current standing and brainstorm ways to help your business scale.

S-M-A-R-T Goal Setting For Restaurants

Do you have big-picture goals to increase profits, reduce food waste, or earn better reviews? Turning ideas into action requires intention, and the SMART goal framework effectively sets the stage for progress and goal achievement.

SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Each aspect of the SMART goal-setting approach provides deeper insight into your goals and how you can accomplish them.

Specific: Specify your goals' outcomes.

If you want to reach a goal, the outcome must be clear-cut and easy to understand. Avoid broad objectives like improving food quality or fostering better customer service. While these are both excellent intentions, they lack a defined structure and leave you wondering “how” and “when.”

Specificity is vital for goals, as you must visualize how you will reach the finish line. For example, you might define a goal to set additional standards for runners to double-check food presentation and create a quality checklist for chefs to follow. The more specific and clear your goals are, the easier it will be to implement them.

Measurable: Define criteria for measurable success.

A vague goal is as good as no goal at all. To make sure your goals are measurable, ask yourself: “What needs to happen to consider this a success?” For example, perhaps you aim to increase online ordering profits from 40% to 50% next month. With a clear benchmark, you can see how you’re pacing at any moment and know when you’ve hit your goal.

Plus, measurable and short-term goals allow you to celebrate each milestone and focus on what you need to achieve next. Motivation is vital for progress, and a series of little wins can keep you and your team on track toward the overarching goal.

Attainable: Confirm goals are realistic and achievable.

When it comes to setting goals, the sky's the limit! However, it's essential to take a step back and consider what is realistic and achievable for your restaurant. Goals that are too far out of reach may provide motivation, but they can also set you up for failure and disappointment.

Your staff knows your restaurant from the inside out. It’s wise to consult with them to discuss what is attainable in the business. Sit down with your employees and have an honest conversation about ways to grow and crush goals together. Then, regularly meet with the team to track progress and adjust milestones as needed.

Relevant: Create goals that are relevant to your restaurant.

Some goals sound great on paper, but if they don’t help your business grow, they’ll ultimately be a waste of time and resources. Goals should contribute to your current working climate and align with your business’s future direction.

If your goals are not driving growth, profit, or efficiency, it may be time to pause and reflect on your restaurant's current situation. Take a moment to think about the following factors as you recenter your goals:

How can we boost services for our customers?
What are our competitors' strengths, and how can we improve our weaknesses?
Do these goals align with our business and our team?

Time-bound: Set a timeline for accomplishing each goal.

While deadlines aren’t fun, they are vital for keeping you and your team on track toward your goals. While broad goals can set the groundwork for more detailed plans, creating a time frame supports progress by outlining each milestone along the way. It also makes it easy to see if you or your team are behind on a goal so that you can adjust accordingly.

Whether you aim to accomplish your restaurant's goals within a week, a month, or a year, a POS system will provide you with the analytics you need to track your achievements in real-time.

When it comes to setting goals for your restaurant, the key to success is viewing the foundational aspects of your restaurant or bar—food, staff, marketing, and finances—through the SMART goal-setting framework and following through on the action plan.

5 Reasons Customers Choose Your Competitor

duda@aespire.com (Brian Sooy) — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 12:30:03 GMT

There is no shortage of competition in the bar and restaurant industry. From pizzerias and Irish pubs to sushi restaurants and fusion cuisines, there are endless options for customers to choose from when picking where to dine.

That’s why a successful restaurant needs more than just a great menu. A value-driven marketing strategy will help you differentiate your business from others and build loyalty with your customers.

Even if your establishment has a strong standing in the community, you may wonder why some customers remain loyal to your competition. Learning and implementing new strategies to entice guests to your business is an excellent way to make a fresh and lasting impression in an overly-saturated restaurant market.

But first, you must know the factors that drive a consumer’s decision.

Here are five reasons customers choose your competitors, even if you know you’re better than the rest:

1. Customers Choose a Restaurant Based on Good Reputation

When searching for dining options, customers usually research restaurants in the area to see what appeals most. During that process, reviews from Yelp and Google can be enough to make a lasting impression with first-time guests and keep them returning for more.

Take a look at your competitors’ reviews and see how they stack up against yours. Go beyond the stars and dig into the feedback. Reviews will help you grasp what makes others in the industry so appealing to customers while also pointing you to the areas in which you can excel where nobody else does.

You can also utilize your own reviews to improve your service. For example, have you noticed a common criticism about the quality of your food, your restaurant's environment, or your menu? Are there complaints about the wait time or a parking lot headache? Take advantage of this feedback and implement necessary changes to elevate your business.

2. Customers Choose a Restaurant Because of Convenience

Dining in a restaurant is an opportunity for a guest to escape the stresses of their life. Because of this, a customer may choose your competition based on convenience. Take a look at other restaurants in the area and where they’re located. Consider the following:

Is their bar or restaurant easy to access?
Is there enough parking in the area?
Do they provide online ordering options?

Simply put, customers are more inclined to return when doing business is easy. Of course, that goes for you and your competitors, so consider what you can do to streamline the experience. Although you may not be able to change locations, there are plenty of ways to accommodate new guests and make it easy for them to become loyal customers.

Consult with your staff to gather suggestions for enhancing convenience. A good brainstorming session will help generate ideas and, since your team has their hands in the mix, they’ll bring fresh perspectives to the table.

3. Customers Choose Trustworthy Restaurant Brands

Think about your loyal customers. What makes them visit your restaurant again and again? Maybe it's because the food is delicious, the customer service is personable, or your restaurant provides a welcoming environment. Whatever the purpose may be, the underlying feeling is trust. The customer trusts your restaurant to provide a reliably enjoyable experience.

Trust is an essential aspect of building relationships with customers; a lack of trust could be why customers are attracted to other bars and restaurants instead of yours. Of course, you may serve similar cuisines as other businesses — but if a guest trusts your competition, the next step is to determine how to build trust with those same diners.

4. Customers Look for Multi-Faceted Bar and Restaurant Quality

Quality runs through all facets of a restaurant, from food and service to dining ambiance and environment. These days, customers are not only seeking quality food but an immersive dining experience . With these factors in mind, take a look at your competition and compare the similarities and differences. This is the time to let go of biases and study other establishments.

Is your competition providing quality at every turn? In which areas are they the most successful? In which areas are they lacking?

Now, take a look at your restaurant and think about how you would grade yourself on quality. How can you improve here? For example, if your food is excellent, but you’re seeing discrepancies with customer service or convenience, create and implement a plan that will solve those variations.

5. Customers Choose Restaurants Based on Pricing

When it comes to restaurants that fall in the same market, customers will always compare prices. That’s just the name of the game, so it’s best to accept it and adapt accordingly.

Review your competition's menu and compare your prices with theirs. While prices may remain consistent on a year-round menu, consider researching their holiday specials or daily specialty menu. This could be the price hook that's encouraging guests to return regularly.

With the holiday season just around the corner, curating a specialized menu with reasonable prices is the perfect way to entice new guests to dine in and maintain a strong relationship with your loyal customers.

Now that you have an understanding of what draws customers to your competition, here are a few ways to take back control and build a base of wildly loyal customers:

5 ways for your bar or restaurant to stand out in a crowded marketplace of competitors

1. Understand Your Target Demographic

The success of a bar or restaurant is based on several factors; however, a restaurant's success all comes down to customers. If you want consistent sales and thriving crowds, identifying your target customer is vital.

There are two key questions you should always be asking yourself and your team:

Who are our customers?
What do they want?

For example, suppose you run an upscale cocktail bar in the heart of downtown. In that case, your ideal demographic might be someone between the ages of 25 and 60 who has a steady career and enjoys pairing light appetizers and cocktails crafted with intention. In essence, you must cater to the crowd that aligns with your bar or restaurant’s ambiance, curated menu, and cuisine.

If you don't know who your ideal customer is, start by discussing this with your staff. Your employees are the best source of information when it comes to narrowing down your target demographic. Then, use their knowledge to propel your restaurant’s growth and stand out to your customers.

2. Research Your Competition & Make Changes

If you want to differentiate your brand from competitors, you first need to know what you’re up against! Research restaurants or bars that share similar themes and cuisines to your business. By surveying the market, you will find innovative ways to differentiate yourself from your competitors. Whether you need to switch up your slogan, marketing method, or menu, you can gain a wealth of knowledge by studying others in the industry. Then, it’s a matter of implementing changes to optimize your restaurant’s market presence, and you’ll soon see the crowds rolling in.

3. Determine Your Unique Selling Point

Your Unique Selling Point (USP) is the one key element that sets you apart from your rivals. Your USP can be a particular dish, fantastic customer service, incredible accommodation, or the ambiance of your bar or restaurant. In essence, it’s what keeps people coming back for more.

Although your competition may cater to a similar market, determining and establishing a USP is one of the best ways for your establishment to distinguish itself and attract attention. Once you've determined your bar or restaurant's USP, market it! Use social media and email newsletters to highlight your USP and attract new diners.

4. View Your Restaurant From A Customer's Perspective

Instead of tackling your bar or restaurant’s image from an owner’s top-level perspective, try looking at your brand experience from a customer's perspective. Consider the key aspects that make a bar or restaurant worth visiting:

Immersive dining experience
Ambiance and theme
Variety of food and drinks
Prices
Convenience
Overall quality

Once you've determined what makes you want to visit a restaurant, take a look at your own business and see how it compares. This checklist is a helpful guide for improving and inspiring new restaurant-goers to try out your bar or restaurant.

5. Make Necessary Accommodations

Convenience plays a huge role in a customer’s dining choice, and it could be the area your competition excels the most. If you're unsure of how you can improve when it comes to customer convenience, start here:

Update your technology to a point of sale (POS) system .
Provide online ordering options.
Add a pay-at-table choice for guests.
Ensure your property is easily accessible for people with disabilities.

Your Restaurant Marketing Takeaway:

The restaurant industry will always have plenty of competition, but fortunately, your business does not have to drown in all the noise. By researching and understanding your competition, gaining a better grasp of your demographic, and making your bar or restaurant more accessible to the masses with a POS system , you will be on your way to standing out and gaining new customers!

Prepare Your Restaurant for the Holiday Season

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 11:00:02 GMT

With holiday cheer in the air, people are ready to celebrate and go out with their colleagues, families, and friends — particularly as their favorite restaurants reopen!

The holidays offer a perfect opportunity to attract new customers and boost profits for your business. Although decorations play a significant role in promoting holiday spirit, preparing for this busy season goes beyond adding tinsel to your host stand or frosting your front window!

If you want your restaurant or bar to thrive during the holidays, you must have a solid and realistic plan in place to see it through.

Here are seven ways you can prepare your restaurant or bar for the holiday season:

Hire Additional Workers for Your Team

Get ahead of the curve and plan for the holidays by hiring and training new staff members. Because the holidays bring in bigger crowds, you’ll want to ensure you have adequate staffing to handle large order volumes. This means adding runners, hosts, servers, and kitchen staff to your team.

You can attract workers by having applications readily available at the host stand, reaching out to seasonal workers and college students, and promoting job opportunities on social media. As you hire new staff, consider your schedule and the busiest hours of operation. This will allow you to schedule accordingly and have a solid team to hold down the fort.

Also, you can keep your staff efficient and healthy by preventing burnout. When your restaurant is adequately staffed, you can schedule longer breaks to allow your workers to recuperate and re-energize for the next surge of orders.

Prepare Your Inventory in Advance

There’s nothing worse than running out of essential ingredients or materials during the height of your operating hours. Avoid headaches and stress by ensuring that your inventory has extra materials in stock. When you order additional food supplies, glasses, trays, silverware, dishes, and restroom supplies, you will set your restaurant and bar up for success during the holiday rush.

If planning your inventory ahead or keeping track of restaurant materials leaves you feeling overwhelmed, consider installing a point of sale (POS) syste m specializing in restaurant inventory management, tracking, and quantity checking .

Develop a Holiday Menu

Nothing entices customers more than fresh menu options. Offering holiday bar and restaurant specials is a great way to celebrate seasonal flavors. Whether you’re adding cranberry and turkey for Thanksgiving or including figgy pudding and gingerbread on your dessert menu, guests love the opportunity to try something new, exclusive, and delicious.

Start building your holiday menu now and make sure that your staff knows about upcoming specials. This will provide a smooth transition for your workers and customers.

Seasonal drinks are also a crowd favorite. Take advantage of this holiday trend by adding seasonal beverages to your holiday specials, like a peppermint mocha martini or an apple spice cocktail.

Deck the Halls

As restaurants and bars transition into the holiday season, decorations are the perfect way to welcome customers. Allow your staff to decorate your restaurant or bar on off-hours and let their creativity shine.

Decorations like lights, seasonal posters, and holly bring the magic of the holidays and instantly promote a cheerful ambiance for your customers to enjoy. Just be mindful to keep up with the decor and switch up the aesthetic throughout the season (i.e. transitioning from harvest colors to wintry details).

Cater for the Holidays

Most businesses find a way to celebrate the holidays with their teams and, in many cases, they’ll need food and beverages to keep the party going! Consider branching out by offering catering services for holiday events.

Not only does this promote your restaurant and open doors for new connections, but it also drives new customers your way! Create a seasonal restaurant marketing plan and send out flyers to neighboring businesses to let them know about your catering services.

If catering is out of the question, you can always invite companies to host their holiday parties at your restaurant or bar. Providing party accommodations is another wonderful way to market your restaurant.

Provide Gift Cards and Promotions

Nothing screams holiday cheer more than restaurant gift cards . Gift cards are a popular choice for regular diners during the busy holiday season. Make sure your gift cards are readily available and easy to use so you can attract the masses and boost profits.

If you’re curious to see the impact gift cards have on your restaurant or bar’s overall profits, take advantage of a POS system, which can manage and track gift card transactions.

Offering discounts and promotions are also fantastic methods for marketing during the holidays. Celebrate your loyal customers by sending them discounts and rewards through email, social media, or direct mail. This will encourage your guests to enjoy everything your restaurant or bar has to offer.

Update Your Restaurant’s Technology

There’s nothing worse than having outdated technology that slows your restaurant’s workflow down. You can avoid frustrated customers and staff by installing a point of sale (POS) system. A POS system provides many benefits for your restaurant or bar, from mobile and online ordering to staff timesheets and comprehensive sales and costs reports.

Especially with the holiday rush, you’ll want to ensure that your restaurant or bar provides a personalized and hassle-free customer experience. With the right POS system, you can easily send holiday promotions and discounts to your loyal customers and make paying for meals a walk in the park with contactless payments .

Although the holiday season is known as the busiest time of the year for restaurants and bars, your business will run much more smoothly and efficiently when you have a plan in place. Instead of waiting for the holidays to roll around, start your arrangements now by hiring additional staff, preparing your inventory, curating your holiday menu, and updating your restaurant’s technology to a POS system .

9 Tips to Give Your Restaurant Guests a Great Dining Experience

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 12:00:15 GMT

Memorable dining experiences begin with creating immersive experiences for your guests

As restaurant or bar owners, you want to invite your customers to enjoy your menu and experience an oasis and escape away from the busyness of their lives. However, your restaurant is much more than a place to dine. It's an experience that allows customers to relax and enjoy the little things.

There are several ways that you can establish an immersive and enjoyable environment. For instance, focus on engaging your customers' senses like rich smells, fitting music, stylized decorations, and warmer lighting. Especially as restaurants open up to fuller capacity, customers are eager to go out and make new memories.

Offer your customers an immersive dining experience by trying out the following tips:

1. Create a Captivating Atmosphere

When it comes to establishing a restaurant or bar, having a central theme is vital to connecting with your customers. Whether you're going for a tropical-chic vibe or a modern upscale style, make sure you are consistent with your design.

Cohesiveness in your decorations will immerse your guests and allow them to appreciate their overall restaurant experience. Your restaurant or bar's furniture, paint, wall decoration, and even dishes can assist in aligning your central theme.

2. Move Towards Warmer Lighting

Lighting can make all the difference in how your guests perceive your restaurant's atmosphere. For instance, fluorescent lighting can be too harsh on the eyes and create a cold environment. Unless you’re going for a laboratory or hospital theme, we recommend that you aim for warmer lighting.

Achieve warmer lighting by:

Dimming the lights
Using light bulbs with a warm yellow hue
Placing candles on customers' tables

The key is to soften your lighting and create a cozy and comfortable environment that allows your guests to relax.

3. Manage Music and Volume

Restaurants are the perfect venues for socializing, but it's difficult for customers to chat when the music is too loud. Yes, it's essential to have music playing in the background to set the ambiance, but when the volume is too high, it forces your guests to speak louder and fills your restaurant with unnecessary noise.

Instead, lower your playlist's volume and allow your customers to fill the air with low conversational buzz. This will promote a better experience for both your customers and your staff.

4. Maintain Food Quality

Food is the foundation of your business and one of the main reasons why customers are coming to your restaurant. If you want to create an immersive dining experience for your customer, serving quality food is a must. Pay special attention to quality control.

Miscommunications among guests, servers, and cooks are common, but there are ways to minimize these issues and develop an efficient method to serve your menu. One way you can maintain excellent food quality is by having your chefs regularly evaluate the food they're preparing and making sure it's up to par with their standards.

Another vital aspect is presentation. Your guests do not want to eat a meal that looks unappetizing. Not only does this damage the customer's immersive dining experience, but it makes them less likely to return to your restaurant. Take action and train your cooks and runners to focus on presentation.

It's not all about getting the food to the destination. It's also about serving a meal that looks as delicious as it tastes! And, for what it’s worth, great quality doesn’t have to cost a fortune. You can increase profit margins while maintaining the five-star experience your customers expect.

5. Provide a Personalized Experience

Customers come to restaurants and bars to connect with others. You can elevate their dining experience by providing friendly, personalized service.

While taking and delivering orders efficiently is essential to customer service, creating a friendly space where hosts and servers can get to know your guests will make the dining experience even more exceptional.

Consider hiring outgoing hosts and servers that are customer-centric. You can also train and praise your staff for maintaining customer conversations and adding a personalized touch to each visit.

6. Establish Outdoor Dining

Since the pandemic began, restaurants and bars have had to adjust their dining environment and expand to outdoor dining. With the change in the restaurant and bar culture, many customers have become accustomed to this dining style.

You can provide an immersive dining experience for your guests by adopting outdoor dining and aligning your restaurant or bar's theme to the outdoor atmosphere.

Here are some ways you can create the ideal outdoor dining ambiance:

Hang a string of lights above the tables.
Add heating lamps or fans to maintain a comfortable temperature for your guests.
Install speakers for your music, but remember to keep the volume low.
Provide a space for live music and bands.

For more ideas on how to create the perfect outdoor dining space , click here .

7. Take Advantage of Instagram

Instagram is the perfect platform for showcasing your restaurant, menu, and ambiance. You can attract online engagement and gain new customers by ensuring that your restaurant is Insta-worthy.

Since Instagram is a platform that focuses on aesthetics and design, you can find inspiration in your restaurant or bar's central theme. Keep your posts consistent, detailed-oriented, and concentrate on highlighting your restaurant's immersive environment.

Think of Instagram as a marketing tool that allows you to invite users to come and experience everything your restaurant offers!

8. Stay True To Your Restaurant’s Identity

Customers appreciate a restaurant or bar that knows what they have to offer. In simple terms, stay authentic to your restaurant or bar's identity and you can’t go wrong.

You can do this by maintaining and consistently adding to your central theme. Whether you're establishing your restaurant's identity through music, food, or decoration, customers crave a restaurant that is self-aware and knows exactly what it presents.

9. Create a Seamless Customer Experience

Atmosphere and food are the main contributors to the customer's dining experience, but at the end of the day, guests want a seamless customer experience. They don't want to deal with issues that will leave them frustrated after a satisfying meal.

You can enhance the immersive dining experience by adopting a POS system that supports efficiency and customer service, so guests always finish up on the right note.

A POS system makes ordering and payment options easily accessible right at the customer's table, reduces errors on orders, and allows your staff to concentrate more on your guests. A POS system also allows your customers to split their checks with ease!

When it comes to providing an immersive dining experience for your customers, the best rule of thumb is to create a relaxing and inviting environment that'll make your customers feel welcomed and inclined to return!

How to Market Yourself as a Point of Sale Dealer | 5 Marketing Tips

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 12:44:58 GMT

Marketing is about making connections and building relationships with people who are excited about your brand or product.

It goes beyond what we think of when we hear the word “marketing”. It’s more than commercials, brochures, radio spots, videos, professionally photographed ads, and things of that nature.

Effective marketing is truly about building a brand and reputation that your customers believe in and want to share with other people.

As a Point of Sale Dealer, you should absolutely seek connection with your customers. This will be the most effective way to market your business. But of course, you can’t just go around knocking on doors and asking to connect. Well, you could, but that probably won’t be as fruitful as the modern tips we have for you in this post.

The following insight is designed to help you start effectively marketing yourself as a Point of Sale Dealer. We hope these tips will help you reach more potential customers and continue to serve your current customer base.

5 Tips for Marketing Your Brand as a Point of Sale Dealer

Get Active on Social Media

Social media is an outstanding marketing tool you can leverage for your business at little to no cost.

If you haven’t already, take the time to create profiles for your business on platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and YouTube . If you don’t have time to get to them all at once, that’s okay.

Pick the one social marketing platform where your clients spend time, and focus your attention there.

A good rule of thumb is to start by focusing on the platforms your customers are most likely to use. This gives you the best chance of engaging with them right away. Be sure to include key information about your business in your profile, including:

Your business hours
Address and phone number
Some brief info about your business and the products/services you offer
Photos of your logo, products, services, building, etc.
A link to your website

Speaking of your website, let’s talk about how you can make the most of this important investment.

Launch or Optimize Your Website

In today’s digital age, your website is your most important marketing tool. There are many factors that will contribute to the success of your website, and it is important to consider all of them to make the most of your efforts. Click here to review Aespire’s Ultimate Website Launch Checklist and learn more about launching or optimizing your website.

Following best SEO practices will help you continuously optimize your website. Next, we’ll explore some tips to help you develop an effective SEO strategy.

Build Your Business and Help Restaurants Thrive!

At Total Touch, we know what it’s like to be a point of sale reseller. In fact, we’ve been there. Our solution was designed by resellers, for resellers. We know how important it is for dealers and resellers to have the support of a partner who understands their needs and the needs of their customers.

Click here to invest in your success!

Develop an SEO Strategy

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, which is “the process of improving your site to increase its visibility when people search for products or services related to your business in Google, Bing, and other search engines.” ( searchengineland.com )

This process is fundamental to effective digital marketing because search is often the primary source of digital traffic for brands. The higher you can rank in search results, the more likely you are to gain new business.

Although search algorithms and best practices are constantly evolving, the basics never change. These are:

Create content that answers your potential customer’s questions.
Include the phrase they might search for in your page title, headline (H1 tag on the page), and page text as it makes sense within your content.
Include the phrase and variations in your meta description, which is the page summary that will appear on the search engine results page.

Breaking it down like this makes SEO seem way less intimidating, right? Here are four tips to help you start developing your brand’s unique SEO strategy.

Think like a human. How do you search?
It’s important to remember that there is a human being on the other end of your SEO strategy. Take a moment to think about how that person might search for what they need.

For example, let’s say Chris needs to put some new tires on his car before the winter. Would he type “new tires” into the search bar? Likely not, because he wants to make sure he finds a good deal in his area and doesn’t have time to scroll through tire shop listings all day. Chris would most likely type “new tires for affordable price near me” or “where to find new tires for a good price near me”.

Write like a searcher to have the best chance at being seen!
Optimize for local searchers.
Like we mentioned before, most searchers will be looking for brands and products that are geographically convenient. Keep this in mind when developing your website content and use your location as a key phrase. If you work with clients outside your area, you can also create specific pages for those locations to help local searchers find you.

And don’t forget to set up your Google My Business profile. This is a crucial step for location-based searches. When your free profile is updated and optimized with your business information, you’ll have the chance to appear on the right side of the Google results page.
Go for the featured snippet!
On Google, a featured snippet is a short snippet of text that appears at the top of the search results page. The goal of a featured snippet is to make it easier for searchers to find the information they need. If you can get your website or blog listed in this featured snippet section for a specific topic, you’ll gain precious brand exposure.

The best way to get a featured snippet is by writing helpful, relevant content that supports a specific phrase or idea. Creating numbered lists within that content can also help you win the snippet.
Create a strategy and start writing.
A great SEO strategy starts with a strong content strategy. Here are a few tips from Aespire for developing your content strategy:

Content that you own helps position your company as an expert or can provide helpful info to people searching for solutions. Find a perspective and own it. Write as only you can write.
Create a content strategy (i.e., blog content and a publishing schedule) based on keyphrase research (the phrases, or combinations of words people use to search for products and services in your location and for your expertise).
Write a minimum of 3000 words per month and publish on your blog. This is the best strategy you can deploy.
Cross link within the site to build content relationships: blog to blog, content to blog, blog to content.

Once you’ve got these SEO basics down, it’s time to start reaching out to new and existing customers.

Build Your Business and Help Restaurants Thrive!

Click here to invest in your success!

Take Advantage of Email Tools

Email marketing certainly isn't a new concept, but it is one of the most effective ways to reach your audience. To achieve the highest return on your investment when it comes to email, you'll need to sit down with your team or a dry erase board to brainstorm some creative email ideas. Here are some tips from WordStream to help you get started:

Put thought and creativity into your subject lines.
Make sure every email has an offer that encourages your readers to take the next step.
Track your performance and run A/B tests to see what copy and offers resonate with your list.
Get new website visitors to sign up for your newsletter by offering a bonus content piece or coupon/discount for subscribing.
Slowly nurture your subscribers via email until they are ready to become paying customers.

If you’re on a budget, don’t worry! There are free email marketing services you can use. Try starting out with a platform like MailChimp and see how you like it.

Leverage Video Resources

Today’s customers want to support businesses that provide an excellent experience, not just a great product.

One of the ways you can provide a great experience for your customers is by offering video content related to your product. With today's high-quality smartphone cameras, anyone can be a video creator. Here are some examples (from WordStream ) of videos you can create that tend to resonate with audiences:

Instructional videos and how-tos
Product demos
Behind-the-scenes coverage of what it's like to work at your business
Interviews with your staff or industry experts
Slideshows with images and captions

Keep in mind: your videos don't have to be lengthy; they just have to provide helpful, human information. Once you have your videos created, don't forget to post them on your website and social media pages. You can also include them in your email marketing!

As a Total Touch Authorized Dealer, you can use video content we’ve already created to build awareness for the Total Touch Point of Sale product. You can find all these videos on our YouTube channel here .

Marketing is About Reaching People

We know that developing a full marketing strategy takes time and plenty of hard work. But if you only take away one thing from this post, we hope it’s this: be human.

Avoid complicated language and robotic tonality. Use your website, social media pages, and emails to make connections with your customers and you’ll be on your way to building relationships that last.

Finding Balance Between In-Person and Online Food Service

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 12:02:04 GMT

Many restaurant owners have adapted to the demands of skyrocketing online orders. Have you?

While many restaurants have adopted online ordering solutions and mobile ordering systems , jumped on third-party delivery apps, those that have not adjusted for their customers have struggled to stay afloat.

Yet, with the industry reviving, many bars and restaurants are dealing with the challenge of balancing their still-booming online food service with the return of in-person business.

This post explores the pros and cons of online food service and demonstrates how to find stability in the demands your restaurant faces.

Pros to Online Ordering

Online ordering is appealing to customers, as it provides a safe and convenient way to get food. While third-party delivery apps were initially created to target the millennial demographic, COVID has shifted the landscape. Now, the user base goes beyond millennials to include elderly people, large families, and anyone else who appreciates more efficiency in their lives.

Of course, pandemic restrictions also played a significant role in the popularity of delivery apps. Online ordering has helped customers preserve their health and safety, as it greatly limits the need for person-to-person contact.

In addition to safety and convenience, online ordering allows customers to discover new restaurants they may not have found otherwise. Instead of sticking to the same few choices in their neighborhoods, delivery apps provide customers with a broader and more diverse selection to choose from.

In this way, a third-party app may serve as a promotional platform, attracting more business and ensuring a restaurant stays relevant to the community. As a result, new customers (and their referrals) help to increase profit margins with minimal overhead.

If giving away part of your profits to a third-party delivery app isn't appealing to you, consider your options for online ordering solutions and web ordering systems .

Cons to Online Ordering

While online ordering certainly has its place in the market, it does not replace the experience of dining at a restaurant. Some customers prefer dining in, as there is no concern about longer wait times due to weather, traffic, and other external factors.

Many customers also miss the atmosphere of eating out at a restaurant. In fact, there has been an increase in customers dining out since 2020, with 60 percent of respondents stating that they're comfortable eating at a restaurant ( Restaurant Dive , 2021).

For bars and restaurants , using third-party delivery apps can increase reach and attract more customers. However, covering the fees and surcharges associated with platforms like DoorDash, Grubhub, or Uber Eats can cut into a business’s bottom line. While these apps have helped restaurants stay open throughout the pandemic, many are beginning to seek affordable online ordering solutions and mobile ordering systems as the industry begins to reopen.

Handling In-Person and Online Services

With changing demands in the restaurant industry, it's evident that online ordering will remain a popular choice for customers. In fact, statistics show that ( Upserve , 2021):

60% of U.S. customers order delivery once a week.
63% of consumers find ordering online to be more convenient than dining out.
87% of Americans feel that delivery apps make their lives easier.

Therefore, for a restaurant to thrive, it's essential to cater to the customer's needs.

However, for some restaurants, third-party delivery apps may not be the ideal choice. Approximately 43 percent of restaurant owners believe that third-party apps interfere with the restaurant's relationship with the customer, while 70 percent of consumers prefer to order directly from a restaurant instead of ordering through a delivery app ( Upserve , 2021).

It’s clear that delivery apps are missing the mark by eliminating the familiar and personal interactions between a restaurant and its customers.

Fortunately, a Point-of-Sale (POS) system provides bars and restaurants with an alternative solution to third-party delivery apps. A POS system allows dining establishments the freedom to establish a direct online ordering system with their customers and deliver a personalized experience with discounts and reward programs sent straight to your visitor's inboxes. Any restaurant looking to enhance in-house online ordering will benefit from a robust POS system.

What’s Your Recipe for Success?

Still, running your business as an online-only establishment may not be the answer to your restaurant's success — particularly as more consumers want to dine out. Instead, offering both in-person and online services will allow you to expand your revenue streams and target two sides of the market.

If restaurant health and safety are a concern, you can create an environment that makes your customers and workers feel comfortable. For instance, your business can provide QR codes for menus, outdoor dining, spacious dining options, and complimentary hand sanitizer.

If you want to cater to customer convenience, consider offering pay-at-table options to reduce order errors, give staff more time to attend to customers, and simplify the paying process when you're short-staffed. You can also establish a safe environment by requiring your workers to wear masks and ensuring that your kitchen staff is adhering to the sanitary requirements.

Managing a restaurant or bar during a pandemic is no simple task, especially with all of the adjustments that restaurant owners have adopted. However, by providing in-person and online ordering options, you allow your restaurant to be seen by new customers and extend your revenue options.

Whether you decide to utilize a delivery app or a POS system , choosing to provide online ordering services may be in your restaurant's best interest.

Smart Team Management Techniques for Restaurant Owners

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 14:04:45 GMT

As restaurant and bar owners continue to open their doors to full capacity, having a reliable and adequate staff to run the workplace smoothly is at the top of their priorities.

There are five ways you can practice smart team management:

Prepare your staff for the unpredictable
Communicate and manage to expectations
Show your staff that you value them
Accept feedback
Make the best use of restaurant management technology and solutions

However, due to the worker shortage , business owners are learning how to be flexible while establishing and growing their teams.

This is the perfect opportunity for restaurant and bar managers to learn new strategies to improve their staff's performance and create a healthy working environment. However, before discussing tips to manage your staff successfully, it's crucial to understand the signs of a toxic work environment and make necessary changes to benefit you, your team, and your customers.

A s you manage your restaurant, be aware of the following behaviors:

Any forms of gossip or joking on behalf of teammates. While you and your staff may want to create a light-hearted working environment, it's essential to set clear boundaries and be mindful of what you and your team members say.
Recurring absences. As frustrating as it may be to have workers call out frequently, there may be a reason. Instead of scolding your employees, take time to look into their circumstances and empathize with them. The issue could be easily fixed with open communication and changes to the working environment.
Discussing your staff's mistakes. Be mindful of the fact that your team will make mistakes occasionally. One productive way to manage your team when there is a blunder is to openly discuss the mistakes and share methods to help your staff learn and grow. Be respectful and position it as a learning opportunity for all.

Being receptive to your restaurant or bar's environment is one of the first steps to successfully managing your team. Fortunately, there are plenty of other methods you can apply to ensure that your staff is successful. Here are five innovative and practical tips you can establish in your restaurant to manage and support your team.

Prepare your staff for unpredictable situations

Restaurants and bars can be hectic, especially when unpredictable situations occur — like a global pandemic. Business Insider states that, in addition to low wages, workers are quitting because of the poor treatment received from customers.

One way you can manage your team's success is by preparing them for every situation they may encounter, including handling demanding customers, navigating menu changes and dietary restrictions, and training them to work in a fast-paced environment.

Don't wait for workers to quit from unprecedented stress. Be proactive versus reactive! Instead, train your team to be ready for anything. Not only will you be equipping your staff to be efficient, but you're setting your staff and restaurant up for success.

Clearly communicate expectations and goals

One way to build an effective team is by setting clear goals and expectations for your workers. When you share your expectations with your staff, you are helping them see the bigger picture and how their roles contribute to your business thriving.

On their own, your staff may not know why you assigned them to do certain tasks like setting the refrigerator to a specific temperature or restocking the shelves at the end of the shift.

When they set the refrigerator at the mandatory temperature, you can let them know that they help to adhere with health codes and ultimately allow the restaurant to remain open. Restocking shelves helps the next shift prepare for customers and reduces their workload. Having clear goals for each team member also keeps your staff productive and on track.

Show that you value your staff

One behavior that creates a toxic work environment is outwardly discussing your staff's mistakes. While it's okay (and even productive) to go over mistakes and plan new strategies to work through confusion, consistent negativity can lead to a low-performing and discouraged staff.

Fortunately, you can create a balanced environment while still managing mistakes that come up. Start by recognizing and acknowledging what your team is doing right! When you highlight their work ethic, you'll be encouraging high-performing behavior, and your staff will thrive.

Some concrete ways you can value your staff is by providing verbal praise, allotting time for breaks, and giving them time off and sick leave. The key to your restaurant or bar's success is maintaining a positive and happy staff.

Still, constructive feedback is valuable to improving your staff's work performance. One method you can use to give feedback without offending your team is the compliment sandwich .

Start with the bread: State a compliment .
Add some condiments: Share your constructive feedback .
Finish making the sandwich: Provide another friendly acknowledgment .

For example: “You're providing exceptional service, and our customers are super happy. Quick note: If you're confused about how to place an order, ask me so that we can avoid mistakes. But all in all, you are doing a fantastic job. Keep it up!”

Get feedback from your team

As a restaurant owner, you are familiar with the systems and protocols that help keep your business running. Sometimes methods work — other times — a plan isn't as sufficient as you'd like it to be.

If you can't figure out the weak link, look to your team. They have hands-on experience and know exactly what works and what doesn't. Get feedback from your staff so that your restaurant or bar can run more efficiently and smoothly.

If feedback meetings make your team uncomfortable, you can have an anonymous box for suggestions, experiences, and thoughts about your restaurant's strategies. When you include your staff in brainstorming sessions and distribute responsibilities equally, you establish a positive and effective work environment.

Adopt reliable and updated restaurant management solutions

Are you still managing your records in a spreadsheet and nightly receipts manually?

Managing a restaurant or bar involves making significant decisions that impact your business’ bottom line. Consider updating your restaurant's system to a more streamlined Point of Sale (POS) system .

It can be frustrating for you and your staff to use outdated processing systems to track orders, inventory, sales, and credit card purchases. Instead, take advantage of a POS system optimized for efficiency and let it do the organizing for you.

A POS system can benefit you, your team, and your customers from mobile ordering and managing timesheets to detailed sales reports.

Effectively managing your team is within your reach when you use methods and procedures that will allow everyone to grow and flourish. Whether you create an in-depth training program, display appreciation for your workers, or use an advanced organizing system, you are taking steps towards building a sustainable and healthy staff that will propel your restaurant or bar to success.

Order & Pay-at-Table Options Benefit Everyone. Here’s Why.

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 13:18:59 GMT

At Total Touch, we’re all about helping restaurants like yours offer the best dining experience possible.

Many factors contribute to this dining experience, such as the attitude and attentiveness of your staff, wait times, and of course the food.

Another key contributor to the success of a dining experience is the checkout process.

Is the customer left waiting several minutes for the check? Did a team member forget to apply the customer’s coupon? Was the customer accidentally charged incorrectly?

Everyone knows little mistakes like these are going to happen. However, they’re never fun for your staff or your customers. No one wants to end the dining experience on a sour note!

In this post, we’ll explore a technology that can help your restaurant avoid watching that otherwise satisfied customer leave with a frown on their face. Keep reading to learn about Order & Pay-at-Table technology, and how it can serve your restaurant team and customers.

What is Order & Pay-at-Table?

This technology offers exactly what its name suggests. When you choose a point of sale solution equipped with Order & Pay-at-Table technology, you put your customers in control of their dining experience. As the name suggests, this technology will allow customers to place their orders and pay their tabs on their time, from the comfort of their table.

This seemingly small change can make a big difference for your restaurant, especially as we continue to navigate pandemic challenges. Let’s take a look at the benefits this technology poses for your restaurant and customers.

Benefits for Restaurants

One of the biggest issues facing restaurants right now is staffing shortages. In fact, a recent study found that “51% of restaurateurs say hiring, training, and retaining staff is the biggest challenge they face.”

Friday night teams that used to operate with multiple cooks and a full group of servers are now down to one cook and only a few servers. Add in the supply shortages many restaurants are experiencing and dinner service can quickly become incredibly stressful.

Order & Pay-at-Table technology can help alleviate some of this low-staff dinner rush stress. According to the same study mentioned above, “95% of restaurant owners say using technology [such as Order & Pay-at-Table] improves the overall efficiency of their eateries.”

Let’s take a look at some of the specific ways this technology can serve your restaurant:

1. Reduce order entry errors.

When you put customers in charge of their own orders, you decrease the risk of a side being missed or substitution being forgotten. This puts less pressure on your staff and gives the customer peace of mind that their craving will be satisfied. Perhaps that’s part of the reason why 46% of restaurant professionals said handheld devices are essential to their business strategy.

2. Turn more tables.

In today’s world, turning tables quickly could quite literally help you keep the lights on. This is part of the reason why, in 2020, “40% of all restaurants added contactless or mobile payment or payment through a custom app.” If your customer doesn’t have to wait to pay their check, it’s likely they will leave shortly after finishing their meal. This allows your staff to clear and clean tables faster for the next guest.

3. Boost employee tips & revenue.

Satisfied customers tend to tip their server generously and return often. Now, that’s a recipe for success!

4. Give staff more time to focus on customers.

It may sound backwards, but Order & Pay-at-Table technology gives your servers more time to truly focus on customer needs. Because they’re not running back and forth to enter orders and process checks, your team will be able to make sure each customer is enjoying a pleasant dining experience. They may even have time to get to know the customers a bit more, which brings us to benefit number five…

5. Grow customer loyalty.

All these benefits trickle down the funnel into this crucial point – building customer loyalty. A loyal customer base is the backbone of any successful restaurant business, and satisfied customers quickly become loyal ones!

Benefits for Customers

Next, we’ll take a look at some of the specific benefits your customers can experience with Pay & Order-at-Table options. The benefits listed above also indirectly apply to your customers, but these next five dig a little deeper.

1. Increased payment security.

A major benefit for customers paying their check at the table is that they don’t have to hand their credit card details over to anyone else. This eliminates the risk of a disgruntled employee stealing those card numbers, which keeps customers and your restaurant safe.

2. Enhanced customer service and a better overall dining experience.

As we explored in the previous section, Order & Pay-at-Table options allow servers to spend more time focused on customer needs and less time running orders. This technology encourages customer engagement and (depending on your provider) may be able to facilitate things like loyalty program sign ups and feedback forms.

3. Split checks easily.

A pay-at-the-table solution puts your customer in charge of splitting the check. This way, no plates get lost in translation and their group can complete the dining experience on a positive note.

4. Service on the customer’s time.

Every customer has a different timeframe in mind when they arrive at a restaurant. Some are hoping to get in and out, while others wish to take their time. An at-the-table ordering solution allows customers to order and pay on their time.

5. Easy ordering for customers with specific dietary needs.

Customers with dietary restrictions may prefer ordering at the table, instead of explaining their needs to a server. This technology allows them to order easily and even leave a note with their order that warns kitchen staff of an allergy or intolerance.

The best customers are happy customers, because happy customers dine again and often recommend the restaurant to others. In fact, 43% of customers are likely to leave a review after a positive restaurant experience. This is why it is crucial to do everything in your power to create a welcoming, delicious dining experience.

Source: Small Biz Genius

Get Started with Total Touch®

Would you like to take advantage of these benefits in your restaurant? Total Touch can help! Contact us today to learn about our Order & Pay-at-Table technology and how we can help you offer the best dining experience possible.

Managing Labor Expectations During Worker Shortages

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 11:59:36 GMT

As restaurants and bars begin to open up to greater capacity following the pandemic, restaurant owners seek to combat the adverse effects of COVID.

From closing doors and restrictions on indoor seating to worker shortages, more restaurants are making adjustments to recoup the loss of time, business, and profits.

Unfortunately, the worker shortage is currently one of the highest deficits affecting the restaurant industry. With a smaller staff, restaurants have had difficulty keeping up with customer demands and services.

It’s time for restaurants to implement new strategies to reduce labor burdens and entice workers to return to work following COVID.

Here are six ways restaurant and bar owners can keep up with demands while managing labor expectations during worker shortage:

Reduce Menu Offerings

Restaurants may consider operating on a limited menu to compensate for a smaller staff and reduced costs. To curate a smaller menu, select the most popular and profitable options. Align your meals with your restaurant's brand identity by showcasing your customers' favorites.

When you trim down your menu options, you’ll reduce inventory costs, ease the workflow for staff, and improve ordering service for customers. More customers are speaking about decision fatigue and the frustrations they face with long menus. Smaller menus allow you to avoid that while simplifying the workflow for reduced kitchen staff.

Benefits to trimming down your menu:

Increasing worker efficiency: There’s less for the front-of-the-house and kitchen staff to manage with a smaller menu. Providing limited options allows your employees to enhance the food quality while maintaining a comfortable pace.
Reducing labor costs : Rather than forking out money on ingredients and produce that could go to waste, a smaller menu allows you to invest in a set inventory, purchase in bulk, avoid food waste, and reduce the cost of goods.
Enhancing your training process: If you're looking to gain and maintain recruits, a limited menu simplifies the training process, avoids premature burnout, and provides a stress-free transition for you and your new employees.
Impressing customers with a specialized menu: When a restaurant's menu focuses on a few cuisine options rather than many, it shows customers that you specialize in quality and taste. Customers are searching for top-notch meals, and a small menu offers just that.

Cutting down on food waste: A condensed menu allows you to focus on a few ingredients, sparing food waste and increasing profit.

Offer Higher Wages for Restaurant and Bar Staff

According to Business Insider , approximately half of former hospitality workers state that they will not return to their previous jobs, with 45 percent of workers commenting that they want higher pay. Additionally, studies have shown that workers are less inclined to return to work while COVID-19 unemployment benefits pay more than the average restaurant wage for kitchen, cleaning, and serving.

With the concern of worker shortages extending and straining the restaurant industry, larger companies—including McDonald's, Papa Johns, and Chipotle—are taking the initiative to raise wages to entice new applicants. So if you're searching for new workers, consider offering more pay. When you present higher wages, you show potential employees their work and time are valued at your restaurant.

Eater details that many restaurant and bar workers feel like their industry is exploitative, unsustainable, and doesn't match the cost of living. Restaurants can manage labor expectations and attract new workers by providing a liveable wage, alleviating labor concerns and allowing your restaurant to open at full capacity.

Provide Overtime Benefits

Consider appealing to potential workers with additional overtime benefits. People are less willing to work overtime for very little return; however, workers may be more inclined to work for your restaurant when you offer additional incentives.

Some benefits you can provide include paid time off, flexible vacation, and promotions. If you cannot offer monetary benefits, consider other incentives to interest recruits and maintain your regular staff. For instance, you may assign preferential sections or larger parties to dedicated employees, vocalize your acknowledgment of employees' efforts, and provide free meals.

By providing a positive and safe environment, you show your workers that you care about their work ethic and well-being. In addition, offering free meals is beneficial to cut down on food waste and reduce workers’ income strain.

Take Advantage of Third-Party Delivery Services

If your restaurant is understaffed, consider trying out a third-party delivery service to bridge the gap with your customers and bring in some income. Delivery apps, such as Doordash, GrubHub, and Uber Eats, can benefit your restaurant by depending on delivery workers instead of hired employees.

According to Forbes , delivery platforms can increase your restaurant's visibility, create accessibility for customers, and simplify the ordering process. Throughout COVID-19, many restaurants have had to shut down due to restrictions on indoor dining. Many restaurants converted to take-out and delivery services only.

Developing a third-party delivery option can allow you the freedom to keep your doors open without burdening your staff during worker shortages. While restaurants can increase revenue through delivery apps, be mindful that third-party software companies take a percentage of the revenue.

Limiting Restaurant Hours

Avoid stretching your limited staff too thin by reducing your restaurant's hours. In addition to a lack of responses from job applicants, an increasingly common issue that restaurants are facing is walkouts due to busyness and a small staff. When you operate on full hours at full capacity, you could risk slower business, walkouts, and unsatisfied customers.

On the other hand, running during limited hours allows you to reestablish business, optimize worker performance, and provide better service for your customers. Your restaurant may even see an increase in demand during limited hours instead of a couple of bursts during a full day.

Closing Temporarily

Many businesses are closing their doors temporarily due to not having enough staff to manage the workload. Business Insider states that reductions in work hours have forced many restaurants to increase menus' prices and ultimately close.

Temporarily closing your restaurant is a worst-case scenario and should be avoided at all costs. Instead, consider the alternative recommendation of limiting your restaurant hours so that you can continue to earn revenue, maintain a small staff, and keep your patrons satisfied.

The worker shortages have pushed restaurant and bar owners to consider a plan B, especially when staff cannot work. From reducing the menu and offering more pay and benefits to relying on delivery platforms and limiting restaurant hours, there are solutions for restaurant owners to keep their business afloat.

Restaurant and bar owners can also increase profit margins and simplify restaurant management with a robust POS system . Running a business during a labor shortage places heavy demands on business owners. However, a great POS offers advanced inventory tracking and detailed sales reports for more efficient restaurant management. Manage your labor expectations by making choices that benefit your restaurant or bar.

Need help implementing a restaurant management POS system? The team at Total Touch POS is here to help! Contact us today about a free POS software demo .

Increase Your Profit Margins By Lowering Food Costs Without Sacrificing Quality

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 13:35:05 GMT

There are five simple ways to increase your restaurant's profit margins without sacrificing quality or your reputation:

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant industry has undergone many changes.

Many changes are related to operations, workforce, menu creation, and supply chain management. From determining how to maintain traffic and revenue to analyzing inventory, COVID has pushed restaurants to operate leaner than ever.

A s a result, restaurant and bar owners are looking for ways to reduce food costs while maintaining a profitable business with a top-notch reputation. If you are one of these restaurant and bar owners on a mission for success, we have some good news for you. You can absolutely increase profit margins despite this challenging environment without sacrificing quality or damaging the customer experience. Keep reading for our five profit-boosting ideas!

Here are five simple ways to increase your restaurant’s profit by lowering food costs:

1. Keep It Local

As you may know, the costs associated with transportation and storage of off-season ingredients can significantly impact your profits. With customers less inclined to dine out, now is a great time to allot your financial resources toward locally-sourced foods.

Save on costs by planning your menu around the seasons and seeking out local suppliers. Head over to your farmer’s market or visit local farms to expand your network and open up your access to food sources. Although some farms compete with wholesale food distributors, there is a small difference in cost.

Investing in locally sourced foods also allows you to connect with your community while promoting your business. A couple of advantages to working with local farms include fresher produce (straight from the harvest!) and the freedom to curate delicious seasonal menus.
Connecting with local food markets also allows you to build relationships in the community, which could lead to partnerships and potentially additional discounts and deals. Start by sourcing locally-grown produce and adjusting your menu as needed to see how the change affects your profits.

2. Cut Down On Food Waste

Throwing away food and leftover ingredients is like tossing money in the trash. Naturally, this has a negative impact on your restaurant’s profits. To get those numbers back on track, commit to cutting down on food waste! With proper planning and budgeting, you can avoid overbuying ingredients and lower food costs altogether.

Additional methods to reduce food waste include:

Incorporate food scraps into your menu. Use your creativity to add a special of the day using the leftovers. You will intrigue customers by offering a new dish at every visit, while saving on costs in the long run.
Preserve and store food properly, so it doesn’t spoil. For instance, freezing herbs in oil or canning leftover produce can be great ways to save ingredients that still have some life to them.
Be mindful of portion sizes. Consider reducing the portion sizes if you see the same dishes returning to the kitchen with plenty of food left on the plate.
Donate food to charity. You can make a positive name for your restaurant or bar in the community while helping those in need.

Install a Point of Sale (POS) system . This system allows your restaurant to do paperless orders, automate inventory captions, and report sales analytics to pinpoint exactly how much of an ingredient you need to purchase.

3. Adjust Your Pricing

When you develop a menu pricing strategy, you establish your restaurant’s identity in the marketplace. However, price adjustments are inevitable, particularly in times of economic or community change. In certain situations—like the pandemic—you will need to make appropriate adjustments to keep from losing business.

Many customers are coping with safety and financial concerns, so try adjusting your prices accordingly and see how the changes affect your restaurant or bar’s traffic. Reducing costs on certain menu items may attract new customers, convert occasional buyers into regular buyers, and appeal to families.

More customers making purchases at lower price points can ultimately be better for your business than fewer customers paying higher price points — especially as you seek to rebuild a tentative customer base.

You will also want to take time to assess your restaurant’s revenue and expenses. Where are you losing money? Is there a dish that isn’t selling as well as you thought it would? You may find that you’re spending a fortune to keep it on the menu.

Look over your menu to determine whether you have dishes that put a hole in your restaurant’s pocket. By making adjustments to your prices and altering your menu, you could increase profits and traffic.

4. Negotiate With Your Food Supplier

You may be able to lower your food costs by negotiating new rates with your food supplier. Consider discussing bulk rates with your supplier to see if you can get a discount. If you can’t meet a fair rate, don’t be afraid to research alternative suppliers, different brands, or other products that can serve your restaurant’s needs at a lower rate.

Be aware that some vendors can be overpriced for your market, so consider connecting with a local supplier . There’s a diverse assortment of suppliers ranging from national wholesale food suppliers and organic suppliers to farmers and butchers.

As for bars, there’s no shortage of beer and wine suppliers. We recommend getting quotes from various suppliers and then determining the most cost-effective options for your restaurant. There’s no reason to stay with a supplier if it costs you more than it should. You may find that negotiating or connecting with a new supplier is a practical and profitable decision for your restaurant or bar.

5. Adopt Tech To Manage Operations

Time is money and, as a restaurant owner, you don’t want to waste either! It’s time to put an end to ineffective operations, such as poor inventory management, poor employee management, and outdated technologies that can’t properly serve your customers. For example, when your inventory is disorganized, you don’t know what you have in stock or need to buy. This can lead to overspending and food waste.

Instead, you need a system that keeps everything managed and organized, from pay stubs and timesheets to inventory tracking and menu pricing.

A POS system is an advanced processing system that allows your restaurant to:

Keep track of your inventory : menu items, ingredients, and kitchen equipment;
Create inventory management reports;
Access mobile and contactless ordering solutions;
Manage staff, track timesheets, and calculate wages and taxes;
Be user-friendly for delivery companies, bars, taverns, and restaurants;
Manage business finances.

A POS system is highly effective in keeping track of your restaurant or bar’s finances while increasing your profit margins and giving your customers quality service. When your point of sale system makes sense, everything falls into place!

If you’re feeling exhausted by an outdated system and want a growing and flourishing restaurant or bar business, consider this your sign to upgrade to a new system. The most successful restaurants are the ones that prioritize efficiency. Set yours up for success!

Need more guidance for incorporating a restaurant management POS system? Total Touch is here to help! Contact us today to request a free POS software trial .

5 Things to Consider Before Changing Your Payment Processor

Thu, 22 Jul 2021 04:00:02 GMT

Cash flow is crucial to run a restaurant successfully. Today’s diners prefer to pay with a card, and when such an option is not available, it can be a major inconvenience for your customers that can cost you repeat business. If your restaurant is running an outdated payment processing system, it’s time to change it to one that can accept contactless payments from phones , read the chips on new credit cards, and work well with traditional credit cards.

Before you change your credit card processor, consider these five things to make an informed decision that’s right for your business:

Consider Processing Fees

Rising processing costs are significant factors that prompt businesses to leave their current provider and switch to a competitor. The credit card processing industry is known to lure merchants in with low fees and raise it after a few months. Most payment gateways charge a fee in exchange for each payment they process for you. While some charge monthly or yearly fees, some take a small transactional fee for each payment. For instance, if you want to change from a gateway that charges a 4 percent transactional fee to one with a monthly usage, consider the overall costs you’ll pay at the end of every month.

Review What Customers Said

Customer feedback holds great importance if you are looking to improve your payment experience. If your customers tell you about the problems they are facing with your payment gateway, it’s time to change. Your customers might be asking for additional payment methods or supported credit card types. Some of the best ways to collect feedback are asking your customers direct questions or handing out a questionnaire with all the essential questions.

Find a Fully Integrated Solution

Ensure that the payment processor you are choosing is compatible with the software of your choosing. A payment gateway integrated with customer relationship management (CRM) and backend software will streamline business functions and reduce unnecessary duplicate work. A fully integrated payment system allows your employees to process credit cards, debit cards, and ACH payments without leaving the CRM system. This will enable you to keep your customers firmly embedded in your brand experience while serving up a high-quality checkout experience.

Make Sure the Vendors Are Experts within Your Industry

While there are many companies you can select, not all are created equal. Narrow down your search by looking at companies that have in-depth experience within your industry. Select someone who understands the unique challenges that your restaurant is facing. Don’t be afraid to ask important questions like:

How long have they been in business?
What experience do they have in your business field?
How is their solution better than the rest?

When selecting a payment processor, look for a business partner and not just a vendor . A processing company with a vast network will help your business grow long term.

Understand the Security Features

Security features are the most essential part of payment processing for both the restaurant owners and their customers. Any breach in security could spell disaster for the customers and destroy the reputation of your business. Here are a few key features to consider when deciding on a processor.

EMV-Chip Readers

EMV card processing uses fraud-reducing technology to protect issuers, merchants, and consumers against losses from the use of counterfeit or stolen payment cards at the point of sale (POS).

PCI

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) is a security standard that ensures that all companies that process, store, or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment.

Need more guidance incorporating a restaurant management POS system? Total Touch POS is here to help! Contact us today about a free POS software demo .

Growing Your Team | New Hiring Tips

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 18:32:58 GMT

If you’re reading this post, chances are yours is one of the thousands of restaurant businesses hoping to hire more team members after the pandemic.

Businesses of all types across the country have found themselves suddenly in need of more staff, as their customers begin to return from the pandemic hiatus.

Even though you may need more staff, fast, you shouldn’t resign to just hire the first person to walk in the door. Hiring the wrong person out of necessity will only end up costing you time and money that you can’t afford to lose. Therefore, it’s important to still do your due diligence and conduct thoughtful interviews.

In this post, we’ll share some insight on why it’s difficult to attract job seekers right now, tips on how to reach job candidates, and example questions to help you conduct interviews that get results. Let’s get started!

Why is it Difficult to Find Top Talent Right Now?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , job openings in the United States soared to 9.3 million in April of 2021, a record for most openings added in a month since December of 2000. Restaurants especially are bracing for a busy summer as vaccination availability grows and many pandemic restrictions have been lifted. Combine that with the staff cuts most restaurants had to make last year, and you get incredibly high demand for workers.

However, despite this demand, many people aren’t ready to come back to work. According to the same study, “American employers hired just 6.1 million people in April, a slight uptick from March, leaving millions of jobs unfilled.”

So, why aren’t people coming back to work? Forbes cites many reasons, including:

Parents are still juggling childcare and home responsibilities.
Many people remain concerned about the risk of contracting COVID-19 or related illnesses.
Workers are concerned about compensation levels and job security.
People want greater flexibility, including the option to work remotely when needed.
Workers want better working conditions and improved work/life balance.

According to Forbes, “Until the coronavirus pandemic completely upended the economy, few workers were in a position where they could demand the benefits they wanted or choose to leave a job that was treating them so badly. Now, there are more people with not only the bargaining power to get what they want, but also the motivation to ask for it.”

If your restaurant is going to stand out to these candidates, you’ll need to offer some of the workplace benefits they seek.

How to Reach Job Candidates

The businesses and restaurants that have found success despite a challenging labor market are the ones who have evolved their hiring practices.

For example, the popular burrito chain restaurant Chipotle recently became early adopters of TikTok Resumes , a pilot program that allows candidates to create short videos to apply for jobs. This change comes on the heels of Chipotle increasing hourly wages to an average of $15 per hour. Since January 2021, this popular restaurant has hired more than 82,000 crew members.

Amazon has also announced that they will pay an average of $17 per hour for 75,000 new workers, which is $2 more than their usual starting wage.

Offering incentives like these might be out of reach for your smaller restaurant. We certainly understand that and the challenges you must continue to navigate as job market expectations shift. Our advice to you is to focus on what you can offer and what you can control. Here are some tips to help you get started:

1. Advertise a compensation range on job postings.

A 2020 CareerPlug study found that job seekers would prefer to learn about compensation sooner rather than later. They want to know about pay up front, so they don’t waste time following a job that in the end won’t pay what they need. Therefore, we recommend including the starting salary or compensation range on all your job postings. This will help ensure a qualified candidate doesn’t pass your restaurant by just because they don’t know how much you’ll pay.

2. Consider offering a signing bonus.

If it’s feasible within your budget, consider offering a signing bonus. This is another benefit we recommend including on your job postings to incentivize more people to apply. If you get a bit creative, you may be able to justify moving the money you would spend on recruitment marketing and advertisements to these funds. (Try marketing on free platforms, like LinkedIn!) Plus, a signing bonus is a great way to show people outside your restaurant that you value talent and are willing to reward hard work.

3. Prove that your restaurant is a fun and safe place to work.

Now more than ever, job seekers are looking for workplaces that are enjoyable, clean, and safe. Before committing to a job, they may want proof that your restaurant treats employees well and protects them from toxic work environments. Use the storytelling tools you have (i.e., your website and social media) to market your company culture. Consider asking current employees to write or record testimonials as social proof of your story.

4. Make sure your company culture shines through in interviews.

Interviews with potential new hires are all about first impressions. And yes, those first impressions go both ways. It is just as important for you to impress the applicant as it is for them to impress you. One of the ways you can do this is by asking thoughtful, creative questions that spark engaging conversation.

Keep reading for ten example interview questions to inspire you!

10 Thoughtful, Creative Interview Question Examples

Interviews, whether virtual or face-to-face, are all about impacting the person at the other end of the table, phone, or camera. Job seekers know the first impression they make on their interviewer can make or break their chance for the position. Especially in these times, the impression you make on your interviewee is just as important.

Do your best to develop thoughtful, creative questions that start a conversation with the candidate you are interviewing. This can help put both of you at ease and make the process a little less robotic.

Here are ten example questions that may spark inspiration:

Can you tell me something about yourself that isn’t on your resume?
Describe a time when you had to work with someone whose personality or work style was very different from yours. How did you work together to get the job done?
How do you want to improve yourself in the next year?
Tell me about a difficult work situation and how you overcame it.
What challenges do you see impacting the industry?
Tell me about a time you had to manage a particularly hectic dinner service . How did you handle it?
What interests you most about this position/company?
Tell me something about yourself that others may be surprised to know about you.
Why do you want to work here?
How many jellybeans can fit in a suitcase? (This is a guesstimate question that can give you an idea of how fast the candidate thinks on their feet.)

To read more questions like these, view the full lists on Indeed and Glassdoor .

Growing your team is tough in any season but may be especially challenging right now. We hope the information shared in this post will encourage and inspire you as you move forward with the hiring process. For more restaurant tips and resources, check out these posts:

Your Complete Guide to Building a Restaurant Business

7 Tips for Using Online Reviews to Grow Your Restaurant

Sources: CareerPlug , Indeed , Glassdoor , CNN , Forbes

Untapped Profit Potential in Restaurant Gift & Loyalty Programs

Fri, 09 Jul 2021 14:55:46 GMT

Never underestimate the power of a good loyalty program.

Loyalty programs (a.k.a. rewards programs) have grown in popularity over the past decade or so. Most large retailers and restaurant chains use some sort of a loyalty program which rewards customers for making frequent purchases.

For example, Target offers Target Circle , which gives participants access to deals, special offers, birthday gifts, and more when they shop online or in-store.

We can also take Domino’s® for example. The popular pizza chain offers Piece of the Pie Rewards , which gives customers access to 10 points per order, with a free pizza earned at 60 points. These are just two simple examples of the thousands of loyalty programs out there today.

The demand for these types of programs has been steadily gathering steam in recent years. In 2020, the pandemic added tremendous fuel to the fire and loyalty program demand took off like a rocket ship – especially for restaurants.

What made customers suddenly crave restaurant rewards?

According to PYMNTS, “Consumers’ interest in loyalty programs skyrockets after signing up for one. Fifty-seven percent of restaurant customers who use one such program say they would spend more on food orders from other restaurants if those restaurants provided their own programs. ”

Many chain restaurants and retailers ramped up their restaurant reward programs during the 2020 pandemic to encourage customers to keep shopping. Therefore, we can conclude that customers were looking for their favorite local restaurants to follow suit. And if they didn’t, customers were more inclined to place orders that would be rewarded.

This brings us to another compelling statistic from a PYMNTS study.

“Fifty-four percent of table-service restaurant customers who are not signed up for at least one loyalty program say it is because their restaurants do not offer them, as do 40 percent of quick-service restaurant (QSR) customers who are not signed up. This works out to roughly 53 million table-service restaurant customers and 30 million QSR customers whom restaurants could add to their loyalty lists if they only had one. ”

And there it is – our untapped profit potential.

There are quite literally millions of customers out there who want to be loyal customers to their favorite restaurants. They want to know about menu changes, receive invitations to special events, take advantage of 2-for-1 deals, and much more. But they can’t because their restaurant doesn’t offer a loyalty program.

These customers might keep supporting the restaurant anyways, or they might choose to switch to one that offers a similar concept AND rewards loyal customers.

Here are three things you can do right now to retain these customers and attract new ones!

Get to Know Customer Personas

An early 2021 restaurant rewards study offers a closer look at typical restaurant consumers and how their demographics affect their ordering habits.

A census-balanced panel of 2,079 United States restaurant consumers were surveyed and three key personas were identified from the study: Restaurant Enthusiasts, Convenience Diners, and Occasional Diners . To offer your customers a loyalty program that will suit their needs, you first need to pinpoint where they are on this persona spectrum.

Restaurant Enthusiasts are customers who order from sit-down restaurants or quick-service restaurants (QSRs) at least twice per week. In the study, millennials and bridge millennials (born between 1978 and 1988) were found most likely to be Restaurant Enthusiasts.

Convenience Diners are customers who order from all types of restaurants but are most likely to place quick-service orders twice per week. In the study, 19% of these diners said online ordering options would convince them to increase their meal budgets.

Occasional Diners are customers who order from either sit-down or quick-service restaurants infrequently. In the study, 21% of these diners said the availability of loyalty and rewards programs would convince them to increase their meal budgets.

Keep in mind these aren’t the only options. You may find other personas related to your specific restaurant concept, and that’s okay! Just make sure you identify what your customer personas are, and what is most important to them. This will help you determine what your restaurant can do to encourage them to dine with you more often.

Develop a Custom Loyalty Program

This doesn’t have to be complicated, if you partner with the right provider.

We always recommend Electronic Merchant Systems (EMS) for your restaurant loyalty program needs! EMS offers many different software options and configurations to help you engage and grow your current customer base. Plus, their loyalty cards can double as gift cards !

The in-house creative professionals at EMS will work with you to design a card that is consistent with your brand. To learn more about a gift & loyalty program with EMS, click here .

Market Your New Loyalty Program

Once your program is in place, spread the word! Here are a handful of ideas to help you create more effective restaurant marketing to inform customers about your new offering:

Add head-turning signage to your front window.
Announce the new program on your website.
If you have customer email addresses, send them an announcement email.
Create promotional table tents to place on each dining table.
Design a menu insert or card that your host staff can hand to each customer when seating.
Encourage staff members to ask customers if they have signed up for your new loyalty program.

These are just a few of the simple ways to grow awareness of your new loyalty program. Don’t forget, you can also use social media and other free online tools to post frequent reminders and updates.

Tap Into New Profit Potential

Are you ready to grow your restaurant business by offering a unique loyalty program? New customers and revenue-boosting opportunities await you! To get started, head over to Electronic Merchant Systems’ website and read about their custom gift & loyalty card options or request more information.

Sources: PYMNTS , PYMNTS

5 Ways a POS System Can Benefit Your Restaurant

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 20:28:56 GMT

Point-of-sale (POS) systems have evolved over the past decade to improve the customer experience and empower business owners to conduct operations efficiently. While the traditional POS systems could only process payments and produce receipts, the modern POS systems have changed the way restaurants accept payments, process orders, manage inventory, and engage with their customers.

Let’s take a look at five ways a POS system can help you manage your restaurant, staff, and inventory:

Advanced Inventory Tracking

Controlling the cost factor is crucial for any restaurant. Real-time inventory helps you stay on top of what’s selling and. It allows you to do a comparative analysis to find out the gap between the production value and sales. You can significantly improve your inventory tracking capabilities by using a modern POS system. Such a system allows you to track menu items, ingredients, and many other things in your kitchen. Through inventory management reports, restaurants can improve their inventory purchasing, minimize inventory lost due to theft, spoilage or waste and maximize profits.

Mobile and Contactless Ordering and Payment

In view of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, customers are focusing more on contactless ordering and payment. Contactless ordering allows customers to view a menu, select a meal and pay through a smartphone. Customers appreciate paying at the table as it provides them safety, and they can quickly conclude their visit at the restaurant. The modern POS system comes with bills having a QR code at the bottom. This allows customers to just scan the QR code with their phone and make the payment through methods such as Google Pay.

Manage Staff and Timesheets

Effective management of staff is vital to effectively and efficiently run your business. The staff management option in your POS lets you closely monitor the time spent by each employee at the restaurant. POS with payroll automation provides benefits such as:

More accurate timekeeping
Improved record keeping with less clutter
Quicker and easier wage calculation
Easier tax deduction calculation with less chance of errors

A POS system is your first line of defense in a high-volume business to prevent theft and mistakes. The POS system with cash-management reporting can let you carefully document cash-ins and cash-outs and generate comprehensive reports.

Deliver a Personalized Customer Experience

With a POS system, you can make the customer experience more personalized. It allows you to record and organize customer information. That means you can delight your custome r by offering their favorite complimentary dessert or cocktail on a birthday. You can also customize discounts right in their inbox by tracking the frequency of their visits and similar other information. You can also create reward programs, which also foster loyalty to your restaurant. Such programs tell customers that they’re important to you, and you’ll make efforts to make them return.

More Detailed and Accurate Reports

Some POS systems let you generate comprehensive reports covering all aspects of your business from inventory, costs, sales, products, staff members, and customers. A restaurant owner can remotely monitor data from smartphones, tablets to other devices by syncing various channels. It comes in handy if you own multiple stores or multiple warehouses. In addition, a POS system also allows you to view real-time reports and summaries so that you make well-informed business decisions.

Need more guidance incorporating a restaurant management POS system? Total Touch POS is here to help! Contact us today about a no-obligation restaurant POS software demo .

5 Benefits of Online Ordering for Restaurant Owners

Wed, 19 May 2021 19:06:55 GMT

There’s little doubt that humans are hardwired for convenience. And with a smartphone in almost everyone’s hands, ordering food online has become as easy as texting a friend or asking Alexa to play your favorite music track. Today’s diners, especially millennials, prefer using technology to access restaurant services. With their fast-paced lives, they spend the highest share of their budgets on food deliveries. Therefore, it is hardly a surprise that restaurant owners need to have a strong online presence.

Has your restaurant implemented an online ordering system? If not, here are five benefits of online ordering to help you decide:

Efficient Customer and Order Management

An online delivery platform with an efficient order management system (OMS) streamlines the delivery process. It helps reduce delays, eliminate duplicate efforts, minimize errors, and raise the overall efficiency of your restaurant. It also assists to create systems of service and delivery for long-term growth. At heart, an OMS makes life easier for both the restaurant and the customer. The best OMS lets you capture orders, route them to the right location, and much more. In order to pick up the right OMS, assess your current business and expectations of future business growth.

Free Marketing

Web and online ordering is an absolute must for a restaurant’s survival. A strong digital presence enhances your brand’s recall value and boosts sales by adding new and returning customers. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram help you reach your target audience more effectively at a fraction of the cost of traditional marketing. It’s a great way to bring your products and services to new customers.

Convenience of Mobile Ordering

The greatest advantage of ordering through a mobile phone is the flexibility it provides. To retain the interest of an increasingly digital customer base, restaurants must offer the convenience of offering the food anytime, anywhere. With an app on their mobile phones or tablets, customers can place an order without the hassle of talking over the phone. Ordering through mobile also eliminates human error, which improves order accuracy and customer satisfaction.

Built-in Loyalty Program

Loyal customers are more likely to place online orders and visit your restaurant frequently. A restaurant’s loyalty program also helps you improve the bottom line using up-selling and cross-selling. The rewards program could be in the form of discounts, rebates, merchandise, points, or coupons. The goal is to generate consistent sales. The biggest hidden benefit of having loyal customers is that you can make accurate sales forecasts.

Monitoring Your Cash Flow

Tracking and understanding your business’s cash flow is vital. As a business owner, you need to know how much money you are spending compared to the total expenditure. An online ordering system can give you precise information about the cash flow situation in your restaurant. Online ordering allows you to stay on top of your business’ revenue streams . You can use this knowledge to implement policies and procedures to increase your restaurant’s profitability. This ensures that your business is profitable and financially resilient.

Convinced? Total Touch POS can help you get an online ordering solution up and running in just a few short days!

4 Easy Ways to Incorporate a Restaurant Management System

Wed, 19 May 2021 13:30:34 GMT

The Point of Sale (or POS) system is a critical piece of technology that acts as the hub of your restaurant operations. In simple terms , a POS system is analogous to the traditional cash register. It is a digital platform that enables your business to carry out sales. It allows you to track sales, food inventory easily, and cash flow to streamline bookkeeping. It helps your staff do the job quickly and efficiently.

Here are four easy ways to incorporate a restaurant management POS system:

Take the DIY Route

Whether you are a retailer, restaurant, or hotel, make sure you choose a POS that is compatible with your business model. Installing a POS system is simple, but the process varies for each manufacturer. Many POS systems give you the option of sourcing and installing the hardware yourself. Each POS has unique features specifically tailored to the business needs. Simple retail workflows simply require that you install the POS software. An efficient POS system can go a long way in ensuring that all your operations are running smoothly.

Get Help from Your POS Vendor

If you are operating multiple stores with an extensive range of products, it’s better to enlist the help of a POS vendor. Several solution providers offer services to help retailers launch their products and services quickly and efficiently. They can help you maintain your store data, upload your products, train your team, configure system settings, and integrate it with other apps .

Train Your Staff

There’s no substitute for hands-on experience. Many POS providers provide video tutorials to train your staff. Learning by doing gives instant feedback to the learner, allowing them to adapt their working methods based on the input. Nowadays, the POS tablet terminal has become a mainstay for restaurants. If your restaurant uses a mobile point-of-sale system, make sure your employees understand the tablet-based platform thoroughly. Tablets make navigating a POS system intuitive and fast, giving your employees an edge when processing sales or providing customer support.

Set up Your Hardware

Depending on your restaurant’s requirements, you may need several devices like cash drawers, barcode scanners, payment terminals, and receipt printers. Before you decide on the POS system, draw a list of the parts that you already own and want to use. Also, check if there are any services you want to integrate with the system. For most business owners, a small tablet may be enough. You can consult your POS provider to determine the best solution for you.

Need more guidance incorporating a restaurant management POS system? Total Touch POS is here to help! Contact us today about a free POS software trial .

What is a Restaurant Management POS System?

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 12:00:02 GMT

POS System Glossary, Terminology, and Definitions

Many restaurant owners still rely on paper, pen, and carbon-copy paper to take food orders and total sales at the end of the day. Cash registers, credit card swipe terminals, and online PDFs make for an awkward sales ecosystem and poor customer experience.

Restaurant, bar, and nightclub Point of Sale (POS) software systems are similar to retail POS systems. A point of sale system allows servers and managers to accept payments from customers at a checkout stand or at the table. When you’re serving diners in a restaurant, taking delivery or takeout food orders in-person or online, it’s important to know that a POS designed for hospitality and digital dining is different (and often more robust) than a stand retail POS.

A POS can include a physical POS terminals, an online portal that processes payments through a mobile phone or computer, and handheld devices that allow servers to enter orders and take payments. The online modes are run with the help of a digital module called POS software. The restaurant POS software is one such system specifically designed to cater to the restaurant industry.

In this article, we give you common industry terms for a restaurant POS system. We’ll also review the types, benefits, and share recommendations for how you can choose the best POS software for your restaurant, bar, and nightclub business.

Types of POS Software and Systems

There are three types of POS software:

On-premise POS: You can use this software only at specific physical locations where they are set up, usually the restaurant’s payment counter. On-premise POS software must be bundled with hardware (such as a PC, kiosk, or tablet to operate.
Cloud-based POS: A cloud-based POS is set up on internet-based servers and is accessed from any location with an internet connection. They offer flexibility and ease of setup but are vulnerable to internet outages and weak WiFi coverage.
Hybrid POS: Hybrid POS has the features of both cloud-based POS reporting software and on-premise POS solutions. For example, Total Touch POS is a Hybrid POS with a physical PC interface at your restaurant, which allows you to enter menu items, orders, sales, and employee data. It has a cloud-based interface to collect data and generate weekly reports. The Total Touch Essentials Bundle includes a tablet for order entry.

Restaurant Management POS Feature Definitions

Sales Tracking: An advanced restaurant POS software integrates the menu into the system to track every order and payment transaction in your restaurant.
Online Ordering: Many POS systems include an online and/or mobile ordering integration option that permits customers to place an order from the convenience of their office or home, schedule delivery or pickup, pay, and send orders directly to the POS and the kitchen.
Employee Management: With POS management software, you manage employee leave schedules, work schedule, monitor in and out timings, and calculate payroll hours of your employees.
Inventory Control: Inventory management is a time-consuming and crucial task for every restaurant since lack of raw materials at rush hours can thwart the entire operation. Advanced POS software can resolve this issue as they keep track of every ingredient and the quantity available.
Marketing Capabilities: A restaurant POS software can identify your customer preferences, provide in-depth reports about holiday sales, promotional offers, and seasonal changes. You can use these insights to create personalized promotional offers for your customers.
Menu Items: With POS system reporting features you can monitor sales and also know what menu items are popular and top sellers.
Credit Card Processing: Often referred to as merchant services or payment processing, proprietary credit card processing is often required by some POS providers. You want payments to be simple for your customers, easy on you, and cost-effective for your business. If you prefer your current merchant services provider, you should consider a POS that allows you to keep your credit card processing agreement , or select one that offers competitive credit card processing rates when bundled with the POS restaurant management software.
Terminals: Make it easy to pay with secure terminals that support EMV chip card , contactless and mobile wallets. Terminals support EMV chip card, contactless and mobile wallets with secure, contact-free or swipe features.
POS restaurant management software: If a POS system claims that it will help you manage your restaurant, it should do more than take food orders. Evaluate all the POS system features before you make a commitment.

Choosing the right POS software

1. Prioritize your needs

When selecting the right POS software for your restaurant, you need to begin by identifying what you require from it. Do you need advanced ordering software that takes care of reporting, analytics, and promotions, or do you simply need a POS that can automate your sales and order tracking processes?

2. Take a free trial

Most professional companies that offer POS also offer free POS software and demos that let you test the software’s functionality in your restaurant before purchasing it. Use these trial versions to get accustomed to the software. Make sure it adds substantial value to your restaurant business before making the purchase.

3. Check what is included

Many POS software and restaurant management systems are pre-installed with built-in features , such as loyalty programs, mobile apps, third-party integrations, and sales reporting. To gain the most out of your POS software, ask the service provider about its features. With Total Touch, you get advanced features like multiple payment options , pour control, and pre-authorized bar tabs .

4. Beware of hidden fees or agreement terms

Some POS software companies offer month-to-month pricing, while others provide yearly packages with lower monthly rates. Read the agreement carefully and ask specifically for pricing to avoid paying hidden POS subscription fees and credit card processing fees.

How Belleria Italian Pizza Gains Peace of Mind

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 17:38:07 GMT

We’re back on the road with the Total Touch Experience. We're here at a local pizza shop Belleria Pizza , just outside of Youngstown, to learn how their employees use Total Touch daily, and how Total Touch makes managing the day-to-day operations of their restaurant easier.

I’m talking with Joe, the owner at Belleria Pizza, who chose the Total Touch POS Restaurant Management System.

Why did you choose Total Touch POS for your pizza shop?

it was cost-effective at Harbor Touch but they didn't have all the pizza shop management features I needed with being delivery and takeout.

I wasn't able to keep track of deliveries, it was just a lot of extra paperwork that I didn't need at the time. With Total Touch, I can keep track of where my drivers are, and which driver has what delivery. And it's just easier! If there's a problem with anything, all I do is go on the computer, it tells me where he is or where it should be. The driver management system was one of the key components that really sold me on the system.

Do your drivers use the mobile payment option?

Yes, it’s called SwipeSimple and drivers carry the print unit with them.

What features do you like the most about the Total Touch System?

I like to keep track of inventory. You can turn off the buttons. If you run out of something, you can just go to your back office and it takes five seconds to turn off. Total Touch POS Customer Service is amazing. Anytime I've ever had a problem, it is fixed within five minutes. And if it's not, Customer Support gets back to me pretty quickly. The local US-based Customer service is phenomenal.

The process leading up to choosing the system was a great one. My sales rep reviewed my credit card processing statement from Harbor Touch and showed how much I was going to save within a year, three years, five years. Anytime I needed something in the process, she was there when I needed her.

That's important with a busy pizza shop like this. You know, it's important to have a really smooth and easy transition from the old system to your new system. Yeah, so it sounds like the installation process was what you expected if not better? Yes.

Now you're also using the online restaurant ordering platform?

Yes, it's great! Before I set up online ordering for my restaurant using the Total Touch Web Orderin system , I was averaging about $2,500 a month in sales which cost me almost $800 a month. It all integrates and costs me $100 a month. I'm saving hundreds p month.

That's what Total Touch is all about — putting more money in your pocket, saving you money — How is it with the employees?

The employees love it, it's easy for them. We all learned it. I learned it in about an hour, they learned it all within the first day, easy to use, very easy. Anytime they've had a problem, they get a hold of me, we can get it resolved instantly. We never wasted any time getting things done.

As a small operator, I'm sure that you know you have limited staff, and for them to be able to use it. And would it be easy for them is great because it just makes them happier. It makes running your business much more efficient and writing easier on your mind. Right?

Very easy.

As an owner, it's tough to get some personal time, right? When you step away, do you do you log in remotely and see what your sales are? See what your inventory is?

Yes, you can see up to 15 minutes prior to the sales so you know within the last 15 minutes where you're at. You can check all your no sales if you're on vacation. So you have peace of mind that I could see if somebody pulled in orders, or anything like it. We log in anytime that door opens or anything time something goes on or off. Total Touch POS cloud reporting (helps us with security) tells you what’s going on and you could sync it up with your camera so you can always go in and see what's going on.

It's great to have peace of mind.

6 Ways a Point of Sale Platform Makes Restaurant Management Easier

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 16:55:45 GMT

The retail industry—especially restaurants— uses point of sale (POS) system software to track sales transactions.

Do your servers still take orders with paper and pen?

POS systems are a powerful way for bar, nightclub, and restaurant owners to manage and track customer payments, orders, sales figures, invoices — the list goes on.

But there is one problem with many POS software and hardware bundles : they’re not always designed with restaurants’ needs in mind.

Most standard POS software exists solely to take a customer’s order and doesn’t help you keep tabs on how much money is coming through or what kind of profit margins each dish brings in. When you know what’s popular and most profitable, you can make better-informed decisions about your menu selections and customer favorites.

A basic point-of-sale system collects data from receipts which allows bar, nightclub, and restaurant managers and owners to monitor their business performance against revenue goals every day—even during off-hours! With this information available all times throughout the year, owners keep their fingers on their business pulse anywhere, anytime.

Do you waste valuable time at the end of the day manually totaling your day’s revenue?

If so, that’s just wrong . You deserve to enjoy time with friends and family at the end of the day.

Total Touch POS is a comprehensive restaurant management solution that helps owners get the information they need to run a profitable and successful business. With Total Touch, you can keep inventory records, track payments, manage employee schedules, and gain insights into the health and profitability of your bar, restaurant, or nightclub with comprehensive, cloud-based business analytics.

A restaurant management solution will give you valuable insights into your business, helping you run it better and make informed growth choices.

Gain valuable hours and enjoy the rewards of your hard work when you reclaim your time with a restaurant management solution:

1. Control Restaurant Inventory

Restaurant owners keep a more complex and diverse inventory than most other retail businesses, as several ingredients go into preparing varied recipes. You don’t want to fall short of a crucial component in the middle of a busy day. With a robust POS system, you can track your inventory at the ingredient level and order supplies in advance. You can also compare prices to get the best quote for your stock.

2. Minimize Waste

Total Touch POS version 2.4 and above come with integrated scale support that allows you to size your portions correctly. It helps maintain transparency with customers and minimizes wastage. Total Touch also offers ‘pour control’ features for bars and nightclubs so that they can easily dispense precise amounts of alcohol every time.

3. Retain Customers Built-in Loyalty Programs

Customers feel special and valued when they get gift cards and discounts on ordering at your restaurant . Total Touch POS system can track customer preferences, such as their choice of dishes, usual dining time, and order frequency. You can use this data to create personalized loyalty programs for your regular customers.

4. Improve Staff Management (and Morale)

Running short on staff is a nightmare for every restaurant owner. It can lead to service delays, poor-quality food, and payment and order tracking mismanagement. In short, it can be a recipe for disaster.

With an advanced POS system like Total Touch, you can automate staff scheduling, payroll hour calculation, and track time to manage employees efficiently.

It’s a win-win. Simplify your staff management and make your employees happy!

5. Identify Sales Trends

A modern POS software has a record for every dish ordered at your restaurant, which goes into a cloud database. For example, Total Touch generates real-time reports to give valuable insights on which menu items are popular, rarely requested, or need replacement. You can also gauge the seasonal preferences of your customers and make changes to the menu accordingly.

6. Make Informed Decisions

Total Touch is an advanced POS solution specially designed to cater to the dining industry’s needs. It can help you with every aspect of your restaurant business, including sales, inventory management, communication with the kitchen and waiting staff, and employee management. With its robust reporting system, you can identify patterns and trends in your business to make more informed decisions and improve your restaurant’s service quality, productivity, and revenues.

Your Complete Guide to Building a Restaurant Business

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 14:09:08 GMT

Are you dreaming of starting your own restaurant business? Before taking the steps to make that dream a reality, there are a few tips and facts you should know. Let’s begin!

7 Basic Tips and Tactics for Successful Bar & Restaurant Management

Opening a new restaurant can be a risky business endeavor.

There’s a risk that customers won’t enjoy the food, post negative reviews, and prevent future customers from visiting. There’s a risk that the location you’ve chosen won’t turn out to be as great as you thought, and won’t see much foot traffic. There’s risk of a fire that could completely ruin your business.

You get it, there’s a good amount of risk involved. But, don't let these potential threats discourage you! You can still pursue your dream. Plus, using these seven tips to do so can help put your mind at ease!

1. Define a concept and hire a great chef

First and foremost, decide what your restaurant will serve and who your target customers are. Whether it’s pizza, tacos, or Asian fusion, choose a concept and stick to it . This could very well be what it is known for, so choose wisely! Then, make sure you hire a rock star chef with many years of experience. Customers will often flock to a restaurant because they hear of a chef with a reputation for preparing unique and tasty creations.

2. Save money for the off-season slump

3. Create an eye-catching, memorable logo

4. Design a unique and appealing menu card

The first experience guests will have with your restaurant is your menu. Just like your logo, this is a tool for drawing customers in and can say a lot about your business. Make sure your menu is attractive, easy to read, and free of crumbs or stickiness for guests when they arrive.

5. Develop a user-friendly website

When someone is looking for a new dinner spot, they first turn to the internet. Your customers will go to your website to book a table and review menus, so make sure it is simple, clean, and easy to navigate . Don’t forget to include important information like your contact phone and email, reservation details, menus, and more.

6. Use social media and keep up with review sites

Social media is one of the most effective (and free!) ways to promote your restaurant. Create pages for your business and post regular updates to keep customers engaged. Customers will also visit review sites like Yelp , Zomato , and OpenTable to see what others think of your restaurant. Be sure to keep those pages updated as well to make it easy to find your website and menu.

7. Invest in your guests

Your customers are guests in your restaurant, so treat them as such by offering the best experience possible. To be successful, you’ll need to go above and beyond for every guest. That means you will need to invest in high-quality equipment and food. Train your staff to offer excellent service with a smile. Your guests will reward you by spreading the word about your business.

Want to share these tips with your team or as a reference? Download our free infographic !

The Truth about Restaurant Profit Margins:

If you’re starting a restaurant, you need all the facts to help you be successful.

So, let’s talk profit. According to Restaurant Resource Group , the national average for restaurant profit margins ranges from about 2 to 6 percent. Full-service restaurants are on the lower end of this spectrum, with quick-service restaurants on the higher end. Those numbers are a little daunting, but we believe with hard work and some creative thinking, you can still be successful.

How to Calculate Your Restaurant's Gross Profit

Gross profit is the difference in value between the menu price of a meal and the cost of the ingredients and materials used to make it.

The cost of these ingredients and materials is known as “cost of goods sold” in the world of accounting. To calculate gross profit, subtract the cost of goods sold from the price of the dish. For example, if a meal costs $100 to the customer but only $30 to create, your gross profit for that meal would be $70.

You can also calculate gross profit for your restaurant as a whole. Simply take the total sales amount for a specific period of time, and subtract the cost of goods sold for that same period of time.

For example, let’s say that the total sales for Mario & Luigi’s Pizza Shop from April to June of 2019 were $500,000 and cost of goods sold was $150,000. Simply follow the below formula to calculate the pizza shop’s gross profit:

Gross profit = Total sales – Cost of goods sold / Total sales
Gross profit = (500,000 - 150,000) / 500,000
Gross profit = 350,000 / 500,000
Gross profit = 0.70
Gross profit = 70%

Mario & Luigi’s Pizza Shop has a gross profit percentage of 70%. This means that for every $100 spent at their shop, $70 is profit that can be used to pay for overhead and operating expenses.

If you need help figuring out your bar or restaurant’s food costs, try using this helpful food cost calculator .

Calculating Net Profit for a Bar, Nightclub, or Restaurant:

Net profit is the amount that remains from your gross profit after you subtract things such as payroll, rent, utilities, ingredient, and equipment costs.

To calculate net profit, you will need your total sales, gains, expenses, and losses for a specific period of time.

For example, let’s say that Peach’s Ice Cream Parlor has $400,000 in revenue, $2,000 in gains, and $375,000 in expenses from April to June. Follow the below formula to calculate the parlor’s net profit:

Net profit = (Total sales + Gains) – Expenses
Net profit = (400,000 + 2,000) – 375,000
Net profit = $27,000

Peach’s Ice Cream Parlor saw $27,000 in net profit from April to June.

Calculating Net Profit Percentage:

To calculate the net profit percentage for Peach’s Ice Cream Parlor, apply the formula below:

Net profit percentage = (Net profit / Total sales) x 100
Net profit percentage = (27,000 / 400,000) x 100
Net profit percentage = .06 x 100
Net profit percentage = 6%

Peach’s Ice Cream Parlor’s net profit percentage is 6%. That means for every dollar a customer spends, the parlor keeps 6 cents as a profit.

Why are Restaurant and Bar Profit Margins so Low?

Many different factors affect the bottom line for your restaurant, and all restaurants are very different. However, there are three major expenses that affect all profits, known as the “Big Three.”

Cost of goods sold
Labor/payroll
Overhead/operating expenses

It’s a general rule that one third of a restaurant’s revenue is allocated to cost of goods sold, and another third to labor/payroll expenses. The remaining revenue is used to cover overhead costs, such as rent and utilities. After all these expenses are paid, it typically leaves you with around 2% to 6% in net profit.

By increasing sales volume and decreasing expenses, you can start to improve profit margins for your restaurant. Some simple ideas for improving sales volume include:

Adjusting your menu pricing
Updating the layout of your menu
Improving table turnover
Adding more seating to your restaurant

Next, let's review some tips to help you write a business plan for your new restaurant.

How to Write a Bar or Restaurant Business Plan

With our seven tips for restaurant management and profit margins in mind, you can move forward with developing an effective restaurant business plan. Here are some points to help you get started:

1. Research, research, research!

There are hundreds of thousands of restaurants in the United States alone. That’s a lot of competition! Before you develop your business plan, do some digging into the restaurant market in your area and identify your target customers.

2. Choose your concept

You’ll first need to decide what type of restaurant you plan on starting. That doesn’t mean you need a menu right away, but you should at least identify a general price point and the type of experience you plan to provide. Like we said before, your concept may be what your restaurant is known for, so make sure it’s solid.

3. Determine where you will find customers

When you’re planning the look and feel of your restaurant, don’t forget about your customers! If you want to succeed, you’ll need to plan out the best way to reach your customers and when. For example, Brewnuts donuts and beer shop in Cleveland does a great job of marketing their daily specials on Instagram and encouraging customers to stop in before they’re gone.

4. Pinpoint your ideal location

Now that you know the experience you want to provide and the customers you want to attract; find a location that fits the scene. However, keep the rent costs in mind when choosing your location. Sometimes spending a little more in marketing for your restaurant down the street can mean better profitability than paying high rent costs in the heart of downtown.

5. Dig deep into the financials

Once you are further in to developing your business plan, it will be time to get specific. Outline your prices, equipment expenses, rent, utilities, and anything else that will affect profits. As you forecast your revenue and expenses, this is where some of those formulas we shared earlier can start to come in handy.

There are plenty of resources available to help you plan, establish, and grow your business. Once you’re ready to start making money, we can help you start accepting payments and managing your restaurant.

Start Accepting Payments with Total Touch®

Total Touch is the preferred solution for leading restaurant concepts, from quick-service to fine dining. It’s more than a simple way to accept payments. With Total Touch, you can also manage inventory, employee timecards, the kitchen, bar, and more.

Take advantage of its flexibility and powerful features from the very first day you open your restaurant and you’ll be miles ahead of the competition. This complete solution offers incredible value you won’t find with Toast or Clover.

The benefits of Total Touch include:

Choice of Payment Processor – Total Touch integrates with most payment processors, so you can work with whomever you choose. We highly recommend EMS!
Increased Profit Opportunity – There are numerous advantages to partnering with the same company for POS software and payment processing. Choose EMS for both, and you’ll spend less time on the back-and-forth and more time selling!
Hybrid Server and Cloud-Based Restaurant Management System – Total Touch operates on a powerful hybrid server and cloud-based system. This means you will experience less downtime and can stop worrying about internet interruptions and limited bandwidth.

Five Ways to Enhance Valentine’s Day in Your Restaurant This Year

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 17:22:00 GMT

Valentine’s Day and its surrounding weekend is one of the busiest times of year for most full-service restaurants.

Last year, you were probably able to make the most of Valentine’s Day for your restaurant by changing up the menu, adjusting your table configurations to suit more couples, and requesting reservation deposits. This year, however, will undoubtedly be different.

With temperatures plummeting and the pandemic threat still looming, many happy couples will likely choose to stay home for Valentine’s dinner in 2021. This means you’ll need to get even more creative with your lovely offerings.

Most importantly, you’ll need to continue to meet your customers where they are. If they’re heading out to safely dine in your restaurant, that’s fantastic. But, if they want to take their romantic meal to-go, you need to be ready to make that happen.

As the big day approaches, we’d like to share some ideas that may spark inspiration. Keep reading and let’s see some sparks fly!

5 Ways to Elevate a Socially Distant Valentine’s Day

If you’re looking to offer an unforgettable experience this Valentine’s Day, you’ve found the right post! Here are five ideas to help you create an intimate atmosphere, even from a distance.

IDEA ONE: Offer a Romantic Prix Fixe Meal, To Go

Many couples look forward to enjoying a multi-course, decadent meal paired with the perfect wine for Valentine’s Day. There’s just something extra magical about lobster tails and crème brûlée when you’re with that special someone. However, those aren’t easy dishes to make yourself!

Save your customers the pressure of trying to prepare the perfect meal this holiday by offering a prix fixe option. Better yet, consider including instructions for reheating or cooking the meal at home to bring your customers a little closer to that perfect restaurant experience.

IDEA TWO: Let Cupid’s Arrow Fly with Special Add-Ons

Especially this year, enhancing the Valentine’s Day dining experience with small, impromptu add-ons will go a long way.

What do we mean by add-ons?

It will depend on your restaurant and your customers, but overall, we’re thinking anything that makes you think of celebrating love. Things like flowers, romantic candlelight, chocolate-covered strawberries, and champagne are typical romantic add-ons. There are a few different ways to offer these things to your customers this year:

1. Allow them to order ahead of time.

Many restaurants offer these special options at this time of year, so your customers may expect the ability to order them ahead of time. This way, they can surprise their sweetie with a fresh bouquet of roses or chilled champagne waiting on the table. Include details for any special Valentine’s add-ons you will be offering on your website and in your online menu.

2. Surprise them with their pick-up order.

Show your at-home guests how much you care about their special evening with a surprise personal touch. Depending on your budget, you could include a small box of complimentary chocolates, bottle of wine, red roses, or even just a simple, personalized note. Your guests will appreciate the extra sentiment and your conscious effort to elevate their special day.

3. Enhance the atmosphere in your restaurant.

Are you changing up the food or drink menu for Valentine’s Day? Make sure the overall atmosphere of your restaurant is cohesive with that special menu. This will help to enhance the experience for those guests who do choose to dine-in with you this holiday.

IDEA THREE: Create a Themed Menu

As with all the tips we’ve provided here, this one will depend on your restaurant’s aesthetic and target customer. Maybe your restaurant isn’t particularly equipped to offer a multi-course, prix fixe menu. Instead, consider enhancing your current menu with the theme of the holiday. Here are a few ways to do this:

Create a themed cocktail menu, with recommended entrée or dessert pairings.
Develop themed appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Consider including a “chef recommends” full meal list to encourage customers to order all three courses.
Don’t be afraid to lean into the holiday! Using a play on words to re-name menu items you already serve will catch your customer’s eye. Here are some examples:
“You’ve Caught Me” Fish & Chips
Chocolate “I Lava You” Cake
“On Fire for You” Roast Chicken
Offer a “couples discount”, such as buy one dessert, get one free or buy two entrees, get a free bottle of wine.

Choose which of these options fit best with your restaurant’s style and go for it!

IDEA FOUR: Partner with a Local Bakery or Candy Shop

Spread the love to your customers and fellow businesses this year by developing a partnership. If there is a small bakery, cake shop, or confectionery in your area, consider reaching out to them to see if they would be interested in partnering with you for the holiday. Your partnership could be as simple as offering a coupon for one another’s business with every purchase. This is a simple, inexpensive, and effective way to promote small business support in your area!

IDEA FIVE: Offer a Virtual Cooking Class

Maybe your customers have spent too much time ordering takeout together at home. To celebrate Valentine’s Day, they don’t want to just order another meal. They’d rather do something fun and different! You can help them achieve this goal and still have a great holiday meal, by offering an online cooking class. Simplify the entire experience for your virtual students by offering a prepared kit with all the ingredients they’ll need to cook the special meal. Then, set a date for the live class and get cooking!

Whether you choose to implement one of the ideas we’ve listed for you here or go your own way, don’t forget to market your special offering to your customers! You can do so quickly and easily using email, social media, or through push notifications in your restaurant app. For more tips to help you market your special holiday offers, check out these blog posts:

How to Market Your Restaurant’s New Menu

Ten Tips for Marketing Your Restaurant on Social Media

Email Marketing Basics | How to Develop Your Strategy

Happy Valentine’s Day!

The Top 15 Features Every Bar & Nightclub POS System Should Have

Fri, 05 Feb 2021 13:17:54 GMT

If you are in the hospitality industry, you know how challenging operating a bar or nightclub is.

You know it is essential to focus on making great drinks, running an efficient bar, and ultimately serving happy and satisfied customers who will look forward to returning.

Unfortunately, many bar and nightclub owners like you simply get caught up in the whirlwind of managing their business. There are unhappy customers to deal with, payroll to take care of, and employee schedules to coordinate. They don’t even have time to see if their business is profitable!

If this sounds like you, don’t be discouraged. Thankfully, you can take a step towards solving your management problems with a good bar POS system .

And that’s why we’re here.

The Total Touch team understands the challenge of managing bars and nightclubs, so we’ve put our years of experience to work to help you get a bar POS system that makes your business a success.

Let’s dive right in!

What you’ll learn in this article:

What is Bar POS Software?

A point of sale management system serves as the central component of a business. It’s the hub where everything merges - sales, inventory, customer management, and more.

What To Consider When Choosing a Bar POS System
Reliable
Intuitive
Ease of Management
Employee and Customer Happiness
11 Practical Features To Look For in a Bar POS System
What Is The Best POS System For A Bar?
Conclusion

What is Bar POS Software?

Before discussing the ideal POS software for your bar or nightclub, we need to explore what POS software is.

First, POS is an acronym for point of sale .

In the past, point of sale systems primarily referred to POS terminals - a place where a customer completed payment for goods or services.

Today, bar and restaurant owners expect point of sale systems to do much more.

A point of sale system serves as the central component of a business. It’s the hub where everything merges - sales, inventory, customer management, and more.

For example:

A florist may depend on their POS system to tell them if an arrangement is still onsite, out for delivery, or was delivered.
A restaurant owner may use their POS system to manage reservations and assist with table flow.
A bar or nightclub owner may use their POS system for pour control to manage profits more efficiently and keep a close watch on bar inventory. Plus, it can help them make consistently incredible drinks - no matter who is tending the bar.

Every POS system should have software and hardware components that make running any bar’s daily operations more straightforward and faster.

However, not all POS systems are created equally. Beyond that, POS systems are designed for different uses. For instance, a grocery store owner would require other POS features than a nightclub owner would.

So what features should bar POS software include?

Let’s take a look!

What to Consider When Choosing a Bar POS System

Bar POS software should make running your business easier.

Here a few things your POS system should offer to your bar or nightclub:

Bar POS Software Should be Reliable

There’s nothing worse than having your POS system crash in the middle of a busy night.

The results affect your bar in more ways than one:

Your employees are upset because they can't be successful in their work.
Customers turn angry because of the inconveniences a broken POS system causes, like not paying their tab or ordering a drink.
Training new employees and losing customers costs you time and hurts your profit.

Reliability is always important but is especially significant for bar or nightclub owners.

Why? Because your POS system has to be working all hours of the night!

Bartenders tend to juggle a lot in a hectic, loud environment late into the night, and they want to know they have a workhorse POS system that performs consistently.

Bar POS Systems Should be Intuitive

Why are items that pre-assembled more attractive to consumers than products they have to build themselves?

Because they can begin learning about the product and using it right away, pre-built POS systems make the experience and benefits more valuable to them!

The same goes for good nightclub POS systems. They should be easy to use so employees can begin understanding them and using them to their full potential right away.

When your point of sale system is not intuitive, training becomes a long, arduous effort, and it’s more likely your employees will make mistakes.

Plus, employees use valuable energy figuring out how to complete or memorize simple tasks. That means your employees have less energy to focus on their most essential duties.

On the other hand, a simple, intuitive user interface allows employees to learn quickly, minimize mistakes, and feel confident in serving customers.

It’s a win-win!

Bar POS Systems Should Help You Manage Your Business

Good POS software should help you know what is happening precisely in your business while simultaneously making it easier to manage.

For example:

Nightclub POS software should include robust business analytics and reporting systems that allow you to gauge your establishment’s health with real-time reports.

The best bar POS systems should include business analytics features like these:

A dashboard that shows sales, inventory, labor, and profitability
Sales comparisons between locations or across time periods
Peak performance by day of the week, holidays, and promotions
Trends of sales vs. guests by day and top-selling item reports
Tracking club member's monthly spending
Providing an end of day house account report
Allow r emote troubleshooting by sending station error log files to an ftp site for secure access from the POS technical support team.

With the knowledge that comes from reports like the ones listed above, you can take your bar or nightclub to the next level!

Bar POS Systems Should Improve Employee Satisfaction

One of the most important things to consider when making a business investment is your employees’ satisfaction.

Take it from us: disgruntled employees are bound to work the bare minimum. They have no reason or desire to give their best in helping a business succeed.

On the other hand, employees that are content and fulfilled at the workplace stick with you for the long haul and add value to a company. Happy employees are up to 20% more productive than unhappy employees.

While investing in an exceptional POS system doesn’t guarantee employee satisfaction, it does help. After all, when workers feel successful, the chances of them being satisfied dramatically increase.

And the best part?

Happy, long-term employees help to encourage satisfied, long-term customers!

A bartender who is knowledgeable, good at their job, and fun to be with will keep customers returning to your establishment. In contrast, an inexperienced or unhappy bartender will turn people away.

Practical Features To Look For In a Bar POS System

Ok - we’ve covered some big picture ideas regarding quality point of sale software.

Here’s a quick review of the concepts we covered:

Your POS system needs to be reliable.
Your POS system needs to be intuitive.
Your POS system needs to help you manage your business.
Your POS system should make people happy.

Now, let’s take those big ideas and apply them to the practical features a nightclub point of sale system should have.

We’ve gathered these features from actual successful bars across the United States. In other words, these are proven and reliable POS features that bar and nightclub owners love.

Feature #1: 24/7 Customer Support

You need your point of sale system to be reliable. But, even the highest quality systems break or malfunction on occasion.

Since your establishment is likely to open late into the night, you need to make sure your POS provider offers 24/7 customer support through your Authorized Dealer or your POS Provider.

That way, you can solve a problem when it comes up - no matter what time it is.

Does your POS system have a built-in link for On-Line Support ?

When you work with Total Touch, you can have the peace of mind that comes with US-Based support. Contact us and our dedicated support team will work closely with you until your problem is resolved!

Feature #2: Process Payments When Internet Is Down

There are few things as terrifying as an internet outage that abruptly end your ability to accept credit card payments.

The ever-growing line of customers and the huff of dissatisfied patrons is enough to rattle the most experienced bartender.

Thankfully, some bar POS systems offer a way around this dilemma: a POS offline mode . (Total Touch is a reliable hybrid POS system that works even if it's not connected to the internet, and gives you the ability to manage your bar or nightclub remotely.

While an offline mode inhibits many functions in your system, it still allows you to process credit card payments - and for that reason, it is an invaluable feature that every POS system should include!

Feature #3: Pre-authorizing Credit Card Tabs

What is bar tab pre-authorization ? Pre-authorization allows bartenders to:

Swipe a customer's credit card.
Securely save that information as to their bar tab.
Verify that the card is real.
Make sure it has a preconfigured amount of funds on it.

Why is this important?

The most common question bartenders ask – aside from "What are you having?" – is “Do you want to start a tab?”

The ability to set up a tab is convenient for your staff and the customer. It also incentivizes guests to stay longer and spend more during their visits.

Additionally, without pre-authorization, there is a risk that the customer’s card could be invalid or unable to cover their bill.

Quick tip: Look for a payment acceptance feature for accepting payment for a “split” off of a table-check, without logging out.

Feature #4: Easy Quick-Tip and Gratuity Reconciliation

Tips are an important part of the food industry. They act as an incentive for employees, and believe it or not, increase customer loyalty.

In fact, the best POS systems provide tip suggestions on the credit card slip to make it easy for customers to figure tips and increase tip amounts.

However, gratuity reconciliation can be a significant headache for owners or accountants.

Some POS systems have long, complicated processes for gratuity reconciliation - and that’s what you want to avoid.

Instead, find software that is easy and intuitive when it comes to gratuity reconciliation. It saves you time, money, and lots of unnecessary headaches!

Feature #5: Quick Access To Top-Selling Drinks and Food

There’s a high chance that you have a row of bookmarks at the top of your screen when you open your internet browser.

Why? Because you visit those sites so often that you want to be able to open them with the click of a button, saved links save you more time than you might think.

The same idea applies to bar POS software.

Every establishment has its special drinks and food that they sell over and over. It’s what makes them unique and brings people back again and again!

Your point of sale system should allow you to prioritize the drinks and dishes that are popular at your bar or nightclub. That way, you can access them with a simple click or tap.

Here are two ideas that bar owners love when it comes to quick access to popular food and drinks:

A speed menu button that allows you to navigate to a popular menu page.
A home screen designed for easy access to popular beverages and food.
The ability or option to p rint an online order by printing on the remote printer(s) a tag t hat reads, ON-LINE ORDER .

Feature #6: Logical On-Screen Organization For Bar Tabs and Food Orders

Bill Watterson is the creator of a witty and insightful comic strip, “Calvin and Hobbes.”

In one of the comics, Calvin, a six-year-old rascal, searches for his coat .

He looks under the couch, behind his bed, and on the kitchen floor. Finally, he finds his coat hanging neatly in the closet.

His response:

“Who put my coat in the stupid closet?”

We get a good chuckle out of Calvin’s illogical idea of where his coat belongs. We know that the best place for the coat was in the closet. It makes sense for it to be there, and that is where you should look for it.

You also want your POS software to be logical - especially the on-screen organization. The last thing you want is to spend minutes looking for valuable information, only to finally find it and wonder - “Who put it here?”

Feature #7: Round Up Ability

Your system should have the ability to round-up items like checks and bar tabs to the nearest whole amount.

For example, A beer that totals $2.21 with tax is “rounded-up” to $2.25.

Rounding up allows you to avoid lower change amounts and saves you the nuisance of dealing with coins or getting change at the bank.

Feature #8: Convenient Inventory Management and Tracking

Proper inventory management is crucial at any retail store or food establishment. You can take an “all eyes on the shelves” approach and ask employees to alert you when supplies dwindle, but that strategy is hard to trust completely.

A much better idea is to use POS software to do inventory management for you.

You simply have to receive various stock items into your POS inventory as you order them. The good POS system can then run a report telling you exactly how much material you have in stock.

Some systems even allow you to sort inventory reports by category.

For example, rather than sifting through pages of inventory, you can run a report on “drinks” or even reports on items received from a specific vendor like “Michelob.”

This allows you to be efficient in your reordering and avoid ordering twice from the same vendor in a short period of time.

Feature #9: Complete Remote System Access

As an owner or manager, you should be able to access the POS system for your bar or nightclub anytime, anywhere.

This is particularly important if you are involved in multiple locations or have other businesses.

With complete remote system access , you can visit your bar in another city while receiving real-time data on the performance of your home bar or nightclub.

It’s almost like being in two places at one time!

Feature #10: Accept Multiple Payment Options

Here’s a simple notion: the more ways you accept payments, the more customers you will retain.

Why? Humans like to do things the way they want to do them. It’s the way we are.

Older folks may want to pay with cash, while the younger generation might push for contactless payments. Make them pay in a way that’s unfamiliar or uncomfortable, and they’ll walk away disgruntled.

We suggest making sure your point of sale system accepts EMV and contactless payments.

After all, roughly 40.5% of U.S. consumers have downloaded at least one mobile payment app to their phone.

If you’d like to take a deep dive into contactless payments, make sure to read our blog: EMV & NFC: The Differences, Benefits, and Uses .

Feature #11: Pour Control

Humans are phenomenal creatures. We are creative, intelligent, emotive, and sensitive. Truthfully, we are far greater than anything we will ever make with our own hands.

However, we must admit that sometimes a computer or machine can complete a particular job better than we can. And when it comes to making the perfect drink every time, machines are essential.

Some restaurant POS systems include a pour control feature , which eliminates human error in making drinks. It can also help you manage inventory and keep a close eye on the profitability of your bar.

It’s quite simple:

Upload a recipe.
Allow the software to regulate alcohol and ingredients.
Produce the same drink every time regardless of the bartender!

This allows your employees to focus on offering quality customer service while the machine does most of the work to make a consistent drink. Plus, the simple consistency keeps bar profits healthy and helps you minimize shrinkage.

What Is The Best POS System For A Bar?

We’ve laid out several principles every POS system should follow, and eleven features POS systems should include.

Now for the million-dollar question:

What is the best POS system available for a bar?

Of course, we know there are many excellent options available for managing your bar, restaurant, or nightclub, yet we highly recommend you check out Total Touch POS . Our bar management software is designed specifically for nightclubs, restaurants, and bars of every size and is packed with features to make running your establishment easier.

We can’t list all the features here, but if you’d like to learn more, please read 17 Features Every Efficient Restaurant POS System Needs .

All the features listed in that article come with the Total Touch POS system.

No matter what we choose, we hope you can find a nightclub POS system that works perfectly for you!

Conclusion

The job of running a successful bar or nightclub may feel unattainable, but by investing in a quality POS system, you will take a big step towards achieving your dreams.

If you are considering a new or upgraded POS system for your bar, contact Total Touch today. At Total Touch, we provide a complete bar and nightclub POS system that is powerful, simple, and backed with great features . We also offer 24/7 support in the U.S.

Total Rouch received an award from the CIO Review for being one of the 20 most promising POS solutions in 2019, and we are ready to help you start getting results.

Contact our tea m today; we look forward to introducing you a better way to manage your bar or nightclub and maintain profitability!

How to Market Your Restaurant’s New Menu

Sun, 31 Jan 2021 15:02:10 GMT

When your restaurant rolls out a new menu, it is the perfect opportunity to bring in new customers and drum up excitement from your existing customer base. Advertising your new menu successfully can help you take advantage of your new menu’s potential and inspire customers to try your new offerings.

Attract Critics

One great way to draw attention to your new menu is to get influencers in to highlight your restaurant through a food review or social media post. Attracting influencers may sound intimidating, but it really isn’t as difficult as it seems.

According to Restaurant Engine , a great first step is simply to invite influencers into your restaurant. Often, that invitation is enough to get them in the door, and once they’re there you can wow them with your exciting new menu. A menu change is actually an organic time to bring in a critic. They are always looking to review new and exciting things, and your new menu is the perfect incentive.

Send Out a Mailer

A surprisingly effective way to bring in diners to try your new menu is by sending out a mailer. In fact, according to Lead Concepts , many customers often prefer tangible ads over an email message. There is something personal about getting mail that can bring your advertising campaign to the next level.

When planning your direct mail campaign, be sure to create a great design that will catch customer’s attention and take advantage of the print medium. Direct mail is a great option because it can be targeted at every address in your area, bringing in new customers.

Host a Social Media Contest

Everyone knows that social media is a growing way to advertise your business, but by getting creative with your social media campaign you can bring in a new audience and create a lot of hype surrounding your new menu. Rafflepress suggests creating a giveaway that asks customers to take a photo or make a post about your new menu. Ask them to share it on their own social pages while tagging your restaurant. This will attract new followers who will come in to try your menu and spread the news to their followers as well.

Promoting your new menu is a great way to bring in new customers and draw attention to the amazing work you’re doing. Start promoting your new menu in multiple ways today to reach the widest possible audience and increase your success.

To make your new restaurant run even more smoothly, try our restaurant management software ! Schedule a product tour here to learn more about it.

How Severino's Makes Restaurant Management Easier

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 20:00:03 GMT

At Severino’s Restaurant and Lounge , just outside of Cleveland and Eastlake, Ohio, general manager Shar knows the Total Touch POS Restaurant Management System inside and out.

She knows how the employees use it and why they like it. Severino’s loves Total Touch POS because “It’s one and done and fits our needs.”

Easy to Train

Shar says, “I’m the one that trains mostly the servers and bartenders. I find that it’s an easy system to train (people). It’s effortless to toggle back and forth between a food menu and a drink menu. Simple to get where we need to go between those two, and it’s easy to find what you’re looking for.”

Easy to Operate for Staff and Employees

We asked Shar what the staff and employees think about Total Touch:

“All the staff here like it, they said, it’s easy to use. For new people, it does not take very long to understand, especially if they’re computer-savvy. They pick up on these buttons right away; it’s easy for them to remember items with the color-coding, and the ability to break up things into sections that are related. It’s simple for them to use, and we can move very fast on it.”

Total Touch Customer Service Makes the Owner Happy

Total Touch Customer Service been a really good experience. The US-based customer service has been efficient, they’ve solved our problems very quickly when we add them. Whether it’s from credit fraud with a credit card or problem installing something on the system or upgrades, it’s been very simple and easy to work with them.

If you had to do it again, would you choose Total Touch?

Absolutely. Absolutely.

An Inside Look at What’s Coming to Total Touch

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 16:30:41 GMT

Matt Dye: Director of Sales, Total Touch POS

2020 was a difficult year for everyone. There seemed to be new challenges crouching behind every corner and many tough decisions had to be made.

However, the restaurant industry is resilient. Despite the monumental changes that overwhelmed us at times, we persevered.

At Total Touch, we spent the year doing what we could to help our restaurant owners and Dealers through the crisis and planning enhancements for our solution. Now that the new year is upon us, I’d like to share some of the opportunities, technological advancements, and innovative expansions coming to Total Touch in 2021.

Here’s what you can expect to see from us in the coming year:

1. Contactless Ordering and Payments

Coming this year on top of our existing tablet Order and Pay at the Table feature will be advances in NFC (Near Field Communications ), mobile ordering & online ordering , and delivery options with every major door-to-door service (DoorDash, GrubHub, etc.). In addition, we will incorporate more user-friendly Order and Pay at the Table and QR code devices and services.

2. New Products & Technological Advances

In the coming year, our PAX , Datacap, and USAePay integrations will continue to ramp up Total Touch’s ability to deploy innovations and increase the variety of peripherals we can offer to meet your needs.

We will be introducing more robust Split Tab and Split Check at the Table adjustments along with features to simplify end of day operations for servers. This will also create a more user-friendly interface for management to monitor their employees’ discount vouchers and tip adjustments.

Our new SQL database will speed up our ability to respond to hot fixes and quickly deploy new program modifier needs from our reseller network. We anticipate that our response times will be lightning fast and well above what the competition can offer.

As restaurant owners continue to face econ omic and workforce challenges, we will deploy new profit enhancing programs. These will include social network marketing and popular “Dual Pricing Program” and Surcharge capabilities.

3. Value-Added Offerings

We will officially be launching the Total Touch Essential Elements Bundle in 2021. These bundles, created in partnership with CRS, will be followed by additional vendor enhancement offerings. Our goal in this partnership is to assist our resellers and the restaurants they serve with selling and purchasing through CD Financial leasing and our Cash Advance Funding products.

We will also introduce our “ItsACheckMate” interface in 2021. This comes equipped with special API enhancements to empower our delivery services and mobile/online ordering to include communication, content management, and restaurant kitchen control.

4. Security Enhancements

Because our peripheral interfaces are equipped with the latest crypto and NFC (mobile wallet) technology, EMV communications will remain at the top of our security food chain.

There’s a large need for reliable WiFi equipment communication in today’s socially distant climate. Therefore, we will ensure our resellers and their customers have access to the latest technology and recommendations for contactless communications. These include, but are not limited to:

Static SSIDs for constant connection
Most effective decibel emitting equipment available
Minimum megabit speed recommendations for back office and front of house operations

We will strive to stay as many steps ahead of white and black hat hackers as possible. Fortunately, because we are considered “Out of Scope” for PA-DSS and do not store any credit card data, it is impractical for cyber criminals to risk punishment for a non-existent reward.

Above all in 2021, the Total Touch team will continue to be here for you and do all we can to help your business thrive. As always, it is our distinct pleasure to serve you and your restaurant. Please contact us or reach out to your Authorized Dealer with any questions about Total Touch Point of Sale.

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Matt has more than 20 years of experience in the industry and has worked in various positions from sales to business development and leadership. He has dedicated much of his career to leading high profit business sales strategies for major financial and technology driven companies. When he’s not working hard to grow Total Touch, you will most likely find Matt RVing or hiking the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff.

Start Fresh with these Four Restaurant Business Tips

Tue, 29 Dec 2020 21:43:09 GMT

Are you eager to get a fresh start, or is the future too unpredictable to get excited about?

Both feelings are completely understandable, especially for restaurant owners. On the one hand, 2021 will likely bring an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. But on the other hand, there’s really no way to predict when that end will be. There are still so many questions to be answered and you may be wondering if your restaurant business can survive that long.

If this thought keeps you up at night, you’re not alone.

According to a recent report from the National Federation of Independent Business, “21% of small and midsize business owners claim that they’ll go out of business within the next six months if the economy doesn’t improve.” Those are certainly difficult statistics to read, but there’s still plenty of hope among these business owners as well. In fact, the majority of small business owners in the United States (around 83% of people surveyed) believe that 2021 will be a successful year.

Although much of what lies ahead is still uncertain, it is possible to achieve success in the coming year! Here are four tips that we hope will help you welcome 2021 with open arms and an optimistic attitude:

1. Get to Know Your Customers All Over Again

This year has changed us all. We’ve made big changes in how we work, how we dine out, and even what we do with our spare time. For many of your customers, life is completely different now than it was in January of 2020. This means that in 2021, you’ll need to get to know them all over again. Take the time to deeply understand your customers’ new needs and wants. This will help you plan your marketing efforts and make helpful, informed changes to your restaurant throughout the year.

2. Plan to Keep Your Marketing Fluid and Relevant

Marketing is crucial to the success of your restaurant business because it’s one of the greatest tools you have for gaining new customers and retaining old ones. Typically, you might take time at the beginning of the year to set a marketing strategy for the next twelve months. In 2021, however, planning that far ahead will be challenging. As we’ve said before, there’s no telling when this pandemic will end, and when life will return to “normal”.

With this in mind, we recommend approaching the new year with a flexible marketing strategy. Take time to sketch out your ideas for campaigns or promotions but try not to put too much stake in them. In these times, it is more effective to convey sensitivity and awareness for the issues facing your audience than try to proceed with sales and marketing as if everything is normal. According to Content Marketing Institute, “Exercising sound judgment and practicing good sense in what and how your content communicates to your audiences could determine whether your brand continues to be welcomed into their lives or gets tuned out permanently.” Essentially, there are five simple words to keep in mind when it comes to marketing in 2021 - be ready to make changes.

3. Optimize Your Local SEO Strategy

Another challenge your restaurant may have faced in 2020 is gaining new customers. That’s not anyone’s fault, it’s just harder to gain new customers when less people are out and about. One way to help your restaurant get noticed is by optimizing your local SEO.

Local SEO is a Search Engine Optimization strategy that targets potential customers who live in your neighborhood. For example, let’s say you own an Italian eatery in Perrysburg. If you have a good local SEO strategy, your business should appear when someone types ‘Italian food in Perrysburg’ or ‘best pasta Perrysburg’ into their Google search bar. If you have claimed and updated your Google My Business page, the customer can click on your restaurant’s listing to learn more about your specific location, hours, menu, and more. This is a simple way to help your restaurant get noticed online.

Click here for specific directions to help you optimize your local SEO strategy.

4. Improve Your Website and Online Ordering Experience

The amount of people who have switched to placing take-out orders and shopping online this year is astonishing. A recent survey completed by Deloitte shows trends that became popular during this pandemic will continue to shape the future for restaurants. Some of these include:

Ultimate convenience via drive-through, takeout, and delivery options.
Simple digital experiences, either through a website or mobile app.
Safety-conscious contactless and curbside pickup options.

All these options and more emphasize placing an order online, therefore decreasing the number of people dining in restaurants. It’s likely that restaurants will keep offering these options, even after the COVID-19 threat has gone. If you haven’t already, now is the time to invest in an online ordering solution.

You’ll want to make sure that your online solution is user-friendly and easily adaptable to both desktop and mobile devices. If you need a solution like this, we can help! Total Touch integrates with Web Ordering , a mobile and online food ordering system , to make online orders simple.

What a year this has been. You have weathered an incredible storm, and for that you should be proud. We hope that these four tips will help you look forward to starting fresh, with renewed vigor for restaurant success.

Sources: Small Biz Trends , Market Splash , Content Marketing Institut e

7 Tips for Using Online Reviews to Grow Your Restaurant Business

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 13:44:58 GMT

As a restaurant owner, you know the importance of maintaining a positive reputation.

Word-of-mouth is one of the most effective marketing tools you have, and happy customers will often want to share their excitement about your restaurant.

In person, it’s easy to tell if a customer is satisfied with their meal. If they are, drawing new traffic to your business will be simple. But what if you’re fulfilling more orders online these days? How can you tell if your customers are still loving the food if you can’t see them enjoying it? Not to mention - how can you boost your reputation online to reach more people?

Even virtually, there are plenty of ways to elevate the customer experience. You know your customers best, so get creative! What can you do that will be meaningful to them? How can you show them that you care? These posts may help you get started:

How to Reassure Your Customers in Troubling Times

Today, we’re going to focus on that other big question: how can you boost your reputation online and reach more people? Keep reading to learn about the importance of developing a strategy for online reviews and sticking to it!

Why Reviews are Important

Especially when it comes to choosing a new restaurant to try, reviews are very influential. Check out these statistics from Bright Local :

82% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses, with 52% of 18-54-year-olds saying they ‘always’ read reviews
The average consumer reads 10 reviews before feeling able to trust a business
Only 53% of people would consider going to a business with less than 4 stars
The average consumer spends 13 minutes and 45 seconds reading reviews before making a decision
Among consumers that read reviews, 97% read businesses’ responses

Are reviews important? YES! Your customers trust and are influenced by the reviews they read. Next, we’ll share some tips for encouraging customers to leave reviews and how to handle any negative comments.

How to Encourage Positive Reviews

Online reviews can affect your search ranking, strengthen your reputation, and help you better understand your customers. So, how can you get more positive online reviews for your restaurant?

Here are three tips for encouraging satisfied diners to leave positive comments:

1. Monitor third-party sites like Google, Yelp, and Open Table.

To work on growing reviews for your business, you first have to know where customers are talking about you. Here some good sites to check:

Google
Yelp
Open Table
Facebook
Zagat
Zomato

Your customers may often write reviews for your restaurant on sites like these, along with your own website. Keep an eye on as many of these as possible to keep in touch with your customers and better understand their experiences.

2. Ask for feedback.

This is a critical step that may seem obvious, but don’t forget to ask customers for their feedback. Here are some ways you can do this in an online environment:

Include a link to a survey or review site with their order confirmation.
Add a “Submit Feedback” button to your website.
If you currently do not have a website, and are looking to get started, you can learn more about the best web hosting services here .
Send an email requesting feedback a few days after their meal.
Create a post on social media asking for customer feedback.

There are plenty of different ways to ask for customer feedback, but be careful not to incentivize reviews. Giving customers something in exchange for a review can lead to persuasive, misleading, and at times, fake online reviews. This is prohibited per the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Endorsement Guide .

3. Respond to all reviews, whether positive or negative.

When someone leaves a review about your restaurant, they are giving up time out of their day to write their thoughts down. Although not quite as fun to respond to, even negative reviews (when tactful and constructive) can help you improve your business.

It is both courteous and very important that you or a team member respond to each review. Thank the customer for their time, show your appreciation for their patronage, or express a sincere apology for a disappointing experience.

When current and potential customers see reviews with personalized responses, they will be encouraged to share their experiences too. Plus, as we noted earlier, 97% of customers who read reviews also read business owner responses.

How to Take Negative Reviews in Stride

Discovering four- and five-star reviews for your restaurant is like opening a huge birthday present: exciting and awesome!

However, when you receive reviews like the ones below, a wave of dread may wash over you:

“If I could give this place zero stars, I would. Our server was SO RUDE. Never coming back.” – Oscar G.

"Go here if you want to have worst meal and experience of your life. One star just doesn't seem low enough to represent my recent visit." – Ron S.

Yikes!

Navigating the waters of negative online reviews can be tricky. We find it is best to follow a simple, 4-step plan when responding to reviews like these.

1. Determine if the review is real or spam.

Unfortunately, not every review comes from an actual customer. Here are a few tips to help you spot fake reviews:

Check for glaring spelling and grammar mistakes.
Look for overuse of verbs and the word “I” or “me”.
Be wary of generic names, fake names, or numbers only and profiles without a photo.
Look for phrase repetition across multiple reviews.

While most social media and review sites won’t let you immediately delete a fake review, you can report spam comments. It can take up to two weeks to hear back on a fake review report, so be patient.

2. Create a list of common responses to begin the conversation.

Negative reviews can be incredibly disheartening, especially if you feel you’ve been inaccurately represented. Before crafting your response, take a deep breath and perhaps step away for a moment. The worst thing you can do is respond out of anger.

We recommend creating a running list of initial generic responses you can use when you aren’t sure where to start. Make sure these express genuine concern for their poor experience and a willingness to make things right. Here are a few examples to help you get started:

“I’m very sorry to hear about your negative experience. That was never our intention. We appreciate your feedback and want to make it right.”

“Thank you for bringing this to our attention. I’m very sorry to hear that we did not meet your expectations and would appreciate the opportunity to make things right.”

“We strive to only deliver the best to our customers, so I’m sorry to hear that you were not satisfied with your meal. What can we do to make it right?”

One of your goals here should be to engage the customer in a conversation that may lead to another chance to serve them. Keep in mind that it IS possible for the customer to go back and change their review. If you’re able to improve their second experience, they may feel inclined to bump up their star rating.

3. Personalize responses when you can.

More often than not, a disappointed customer just wants to be heard.

If you receive a detailed review and understand why the customer is dissatisfied, do not pass on the opportunity to make things right.

Carefully craft and personalize your message to respond to the customer’s specific grievances. Most customer reviews are left under the customer's actual name, which means that when you respond, you should use their first name.

Let's pretend we are responding to the first negative review from above. An appropriate, personalized response could be:

"Oscar, I am so sorry to hear about your recent visit. We strive to provide high-quality experiences and service to all our guests. Please send us a direct message or call in so we can make it right and your next experience better."

Addressing your customer by name shows that you truly care for their personal experience. Always apologize, even if you feel it was not your fault. The way you handle negativity will show Oscar and your other customers how to truly feel about them.

4. Explain how you are fixing the problem or addressing the issue.

Whether you’re responding with a public comment, private message, or phone call, you should explain what steps you are taking to fix the issue. And truly take those steps.

If a customer took the time out of their day to leave a review and express dissatisfaction, it’s likely that they just want to see the issue fixed. So, have that tough conversation with an argumentative employee. Address those ingredient quality issues. Review those prices to make sure they’re fair, and let your customers know that you are committed to serving them better.

Customer satisfaction is the key to the success of your restaurant business. It may be challenging at first to monitor and maintain satisfaction in an online environment, but with a little bit of practice and the right strategy, you can keep customers happy and boost your online reputation.

Five Ways to Streamline Carry-Out for Your Restaurant

Mon, 23 Nov 2020 17:10:01 GMT

People are still hesitant to dine-in at their favorite restaurants. That means focusing on online ordering, carry-out, and curbside pickup options are essential to your restaurant business.

The good news is most of your customers are used to ordering carry-out or delivery . In fact, even before the pandemic, more than half of consumers in the United States ordered delivery or takeout at least once a week. Since February, these numbers have increased to over 66%, according to the National Restaurant Association . The same study shows that consumers expect to order carry-out more frequently in the coming months.

To prepare for and capitalize on this shift in consumer behavior, you need to start thinking of ways to streamline your current carry-out offerings.

Here are five suggestions to get you started:

1. Simplify your menu.

To reduce the strain on your kitchen staff (and wallet) as more customers begin to rely on carry-out, consider simplifying your menu.

Think back to the beginning of the pandemic, when restaurants were required to offer carry-out and delivery only. What dishes were your customers more inclined to order? Perhaps pizzas, sandwiches, and wraps became more popular while full entrée options such as pasta dishes were not ordered as often. Shifting your carry-out menu to focus more on those dishes that tend to be ordered to-go more often can help you maintain profitability. While you’re thinking about your menu, analyze overall ingredient costs. If one dish requires completely different ingredients than the rest on your menu, consider taking it off for now. Making small changes like these will help you save money and streamline kitchen operations for carry-out orders.

2. Offer family or holiday meal packs.

While you’re evaluating your menu and consumer behaviors, take a moment to consider the holidays. After all, they are right around the corner! Many people will be reducing the size of their gatherings this year, and some may not be able to gather together at all. Perhaps your restaurant can bring a little flavor of Mom’s homemade holiday meal to those who are feeling lonely this season.

Think about adding a holiday special carry-out pack to your menu and encourage your customers to let you do the cooking for them. After the holidays, you can move forward with this idea and add family bundle meals to your menu. Don’t forget to include the following details on your website for each bundle:

Pricing
The amount of people the meal serves
Everything included in the meal
Any heating or re-heating instructions

This can help you keep costs down and maintain smooth operations.

3. Provide insulated containers.

Another key component to consider when streamlining your carry-out options is your container plan.

Keeping carry-out food warm from restaurant to kitchen table is a challenge in the winter months. You can help your customers out by making sure your carry-out containers are insulated for trapping heat in and keeping cold out. If you’re offering delivery, you can take the insulation one step further by transporting meals in insulated bags. Of course, you can’t control how far the food travels before it’s consumed. Even if you provide the best containers you can, the food still might be cold by the time it reaches its destination. To show your customers how much you care about their experience, consider including heating or re-heating instructions with their order.

4. Enhance your online ordering solution.

Especially now that more of your income might be coming from carry-out orders, it’s important to optimize your ordering experience. One of the best ways to do this is by adding or enhancing online ordering on your website. You’ll want to make sure that your online solution is user-friendly and easily adaptable to both desktop and mobile devices.

If you need a solution like this, we can help! Total Touch integrates with the top online ordering systems for restaurants, Total Touch Web Ordering , a mobile and online food ordering platform, to make placing carry-out orders simple.

5. Offer curbside pickup and payment options.

Offering contactless curbside pickup and payment options is a great way to show customers you are committed to their health and safety. Here are a few ways you can streamline the curbside pickup process for your staff and customers:

Ask for the car make, model, and color upon order completion
Dedicate parking spots for curbside customers
Clearly mark a phone number for customers to call when they arrive

If you haven’t already, consider adding a mobile payment solution to your current payment acceptance methods. This way, your staff can quickly, easily, and safely process credit card payments at the customer’s car, eliminating the need to run in and out of the restaurant. This saves time and hassle for everyone. Plus, it is a safer option for the staff member tasked with moving across a busy parking lot in inclement weather.

Our preferred payments partner, Electronic Merchant Systems, offers simple and secure solutions for mobile payment acceptance. Click here to learn more.

We hope these five ideas inspire you as your restaurant prepares to tackle a COVID winter. For more tips and resources to help in these challenging times, check out these blog posts:

How to Reassure Your Customers in Troubling Times

Tips for Switching Your Restaurant to Carry-Out Only

Sources: National Restaurant Associatio n

Email Marketing Basics | How to Develop a Strategy for Your Restaurant

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 19:53:57 GMT

Whether your restaurant is currently welcoming dine-in visitors or focused on carry-out only, you need a way to stay in contact with current customers and attract new ones.

Email marketing is a great tool for exactly that!

Did you know that the very first marketing email , sent in 1978, resulted in $13 million in sales? Back then, the idea of sending a potential customer a direct email to sell a product, service, or invite them to visit a restaurant was a completely revolutionary concept. Today, we receive hundreds of emails each week marketing products and services that we might want to buy and places we might want to go.

Regardless of your personal preferences when it comes to email marketing, there’s no denying that it is an effective tool. You just have to know how to use it properly and walk that fine line between sending spam and sinking far too much time into sending individual, personal emails.

In this post, we’ll share tips on how to get your restaurant started with email marketing by developing an effective strategy.

Why is Email Marketing Important?

Before we dive in, let’s take a moment to explore why email marketing is important.

At its core, the purpose of sending a marketing email is to communicate with everyone who is invested or interested in your business. There are many specific reasons why you might want to send an email or build a campaign, such as:

To build or nurture relationships with your customers.
To boost awareness for your brand.
To promote blog posts, videos, podcasts, or any other content you have created.
To market your restaurant or promote a discount.
To share important updates specific to your business, such as changes in operating hours or health and safety practices.

Do you have an idea of an email campaign you’d like to send? Keep reading for tips to help you get started.

The First Step: Develop Your Email Strategy

The first step for any good marketing campaign is to create a strategy. A solid strategy is especially important for email marketing because, as we mentioned before, your customers receive hundreds of emails each week. (Many even receive over one hundred emails in one day!) If you don’t take the time to develop a strategy, your emails are bound to be overlooked, lost in a spam folder, or just plain deleted.

No one wants their hard work to go unnoticed - or worse - completely ignored. Here are five steps to follow as you develop an email strategy for your restaurant.

1. Identify Your Target Audience

Who are you sending these emails to? Current and prospective customers of course, but that’s not enough information to move forward. To create a meaningful email campaign for these people, you need to know who they are, what they like, and what they’re looking to support. HubSpot, a leading digital marketing and customer relationship management company, calls this the buyer persona . Once you have created a specific buyer persona (or personas) for your customers, you can begin to tailor an email campaign to their needs and preferences.

2. Determine Goals for Your Campaign

What are you hoping to achieve with these emails? Your objectives will vary depending on the reason you’re sending the email, but it’s important to know what you want to get out of it before you start putting everything together. For example, if you are sending an email to announce a family carry-out meal discount, your objective would be to entice the customer to place an order. If you are sending an email to notify customers of changes to your business health and safety practices, your main objective would be to make sure your customers open and read the email.

3. Build Your Email List

Once you’ve determined the audience and goals for your email campaign, you’re ready to start building a list of recipients! Where do you start? Well, you can’t just start loading email addresses you remember from college or pull email addresses from the internet. There are privacy and ‘opt-in’ laws in place to protect people from receiving emails that they haven’t agreed to receive.

Think about the last thing you ordered online from a large retailer like Target or Home Depot. Do you remember seeing a small check box with a statement along the lines of “yes, I would like to receive promotional emails from Target”? That box is often called an opt-in box. By checking the box, you agree to receive emails from that retailer. This in turn gives the retailer permission to email you, without threat of legal action.

You need to make sure you have plenty of options that allow your customers to opt-in to receive emails from you. This could be as simple as a box to check when they are completing an online order. Or, you can add an opt-in field on your website, where interested customers can enter their email address to receive emails from you. You can also allow customers to opt-in to receive information through a contact form on your website. Add the promise of 10% off their first carry-out order or dine-in visit after signing up and you’ll be on your way to email marketing success.

So, if you only have a few email addresses to send to right now, that’s okay! Create several ways for customers to elect to receive your emails and your list will start to grow on its own.

4. Choose Your Campaign Type and Frequency

Next, you’ll need to decide on the type/style of email you want to send, along with how often you want to send it.

Deciding on the frequency of emails will be important. You don’t want to send them so frequently that your customers become annoyed, and you can’t spread them out too far and risk being forgotten. The best way to find the sweet spot is with some good, old fashioned trial and error. You can also ask for customer feedback on this topic or consult with other local restaurant owners to get a better understanding of what you audience might be looking for.

There are many different options for types of emails you could send. Here are some that you might want to consider for your restaurant business:

Menu Update/Announcement Email: Get customers excited about new and upcoming menu options with an announcement email.
Email Newsletter: Keep your customers updated with the latest information about your restaurant with a monthly or quarterly newsletter.
Event Invitation: Use this email style to invite customers to your next trivia night or special happy hour.
Welcome Email: The purpose of this email is exactly what the name says – to welcome! Send this email to customers who have recently signed up to receive communications from you.
To read more about these and other types of emails, click here .

5. Analyze Your Results

Good marketers measure everything. Use the tools available through your email marketing platform to track engagement, open rates, click throughs, and more. Taking time to meticulously analyze this data will help you identify what’s working, and where there is room to improve your email marketing strategy.

We hope these five steps will help you build an effective email marketing strategy for your restaurant business. For more marketing tips, check out these blog posts:

Ten Tips for Marketing Your Restaurant on Social Media

Creating a Restaurant Recovery Marketing Plan

Source: HubSpo t

EMV & NFC: The Differences, Benefits, and Uses

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 16:01:40 GMT

Did you know counting cash and change is safer than paying by credit card?

It's true! Paying with cash is safer than paying by credit card.

Why? Because every time you use a credit card, fraudsters have an opportunity to access your information.

In 2019, credit card fraud was the most common type of identity theft in the United States. Not to mention, in 2018, 24.26 billion dollars were lost due to payment card fraud worldwide.

It’s time to face the hard truth. While paying by credit card is convenient, it can put you at risk for payment card fraud.

As a consumer, you need to protect yourself when you pay at a store, restaurant, or gas station. And if you are a business owner, you have an important responsibility to protect your customers’ information.

So, how can you protect yourself from fraud risk as a business owner or consumer?

We can help you answer this question.

Thankfully, there are safer ways to complete or accept payments than traditional credit cards.

In the industry, these more secure ways of processing payments are called NFC and EMV .

In this article, we'll be exploring how NFC and EMV can help keep your customer's information secure and improve your business.

What you’ll learn about NFC and EMV from this article:

NFC: What Is It & How Does It Work?

If you stand in line at a store and watch someone hold their smartphone near the payment terminal to pay, you’ve witnessed the magic of NFC.

EMV: What Is It & How Does It Work?

The chip you see on an EMV-enabled credit card operates like a tiny computer. It is there to mitigate fraud risk and protect your personal information.

Benefits of Contactless Payment with NFC and EMV

Dig a little deeper into why NFC and EMV are important and take a closer look at the benefits of supporting NFC and EMV.

Disadvantages of Contactless Payment with NFC and EMV

While few and far between, there are some negative aspects of NFC and EMV as well. Take a look at some of the drawbacks to these payment options.

Security of NFC & EMV

It’s true – payments made through NFC or EMV are far more secure than traditional card payments. Learn why.

Why NFC and EMV are Critical to Success in Commerce

When your customers have to burn calories trying to figure out how to pay, or worry about the security of their payment, they aren’t happy.

Conclusion

Get on board now, so you can benefit from the convenience and security these payment options offer for years to come.

NFC: What Is It & How Does It Work?

What is NFC?

NFC ( near field communication ) is a subset of RFID (radio-frequency identification), a technology that allows us to identify objects through radio waves. RFID is nothing new — it's been used for decades to scan items in grocery stores, identify luggage in baggage claims, and even tag cattle.

NFC, which was introduced in the early 2000s, uses a specific RFID frequency for close-range communications.

That means that two NFC-equipped devices can communicate with each other when they're close together.

You’ve probably already seen NFC in action. If you stood in line at a store and watched someone hold their smartphone near the payment terminal, then walk away without opening their wallet, you've witnessed the magic of NFC.

How did they just hold their phone up to a payment terminal and walk away a few seconds later?

The simplicity of the answer might surprise you - all you need is an NFC-equipped mobile device (almost all new phones are NFC-equipped) and an NFC-enabled point of sale system.

If you have those two components, technology will do the rest.

When a contactless payment is initiated by a customer holding or tapping a mobile device to the payment terminal, the NFC technology goes to work. Using a specific RFID frequency, the NFC-enabled reader and the smartphone pass encrypted information back and forth to each other to complete the payment.

And the best part is - the whole process takes just a matter of seconds.

This may sound almost too good to be true. However, keep in mind that if your point of sale system is not NFC-enabled, the process won't work.

That's why we made sure Total Touch ® Point of Sale is NFC compatible - so you can serve your customers who want to pay in a few seconds with their phone.

Examples of NFC

Perhaps the most popular example of contactless payment is Apple Pay. It works on any Apple products produced after the iPhone 6.
Don’t worry, Android users! You haven’t been left behind.
Common examples of NFC for non-Apple users are Google Pay and Samsung Pay.
Some debit and credit cards have NFC technology that allows the customer to pay for items by tapping or waving their card above the card reader or terminal. These types of cards are called contactless payments cards.

EMV: What Is It & How Does It Work?

Have you noticed the small rectangular chip on your credit card? That chip represents the technology involved with EMV .

EMV stands for Europay, Mastercard, and Visa . It is a standard in the credit card industry for integrated circuit cards, point of sale terminals, and ATMs.

Historically, credit and debit cards only used a magnetic stripe to manage cardholder data. The cardholder would then sign a receipt at purchase.

This system did not provide a high level of security, as a signature can be forged, and the magnetic stripe proved relatively easy to hack and duplicate—revealing the cardholder's private information to criminals.

The chip you see on an EMV card operates like a tiny computer. It is there to mitigate fraud risk and protect your personal information.

So, how does EMV work?

The tiny "computer" in your card contains an integrated circuit chip, which encodes every transaction differently. If a criminal intercepts data from a chip card's transaction, the data cannot be reused to make another purchase.

Almost every single payment card issued today is an EMV card. That means all you have to do is make sure you have a point of sale system that is EMV-compatible, and you'll take an essential step towards protecting your customers.

To process an EMV transaction, the credit card is inserted vertically, chip first, into an EMV-enabled reader instead of swiping it horizontally on a magstripe reader.

That's it – simple and secure!

Benefits of Contactless Payment with NFC and EMV

The technology that both NFC and EMV uses is fascinating!

But, not everything new and flashy is beneficial. Is investing in an NFC and EMV compatible point of sale system worth it?

Absolutely.

We've already touched on some of the benefits of these technologies, but let’s dig a little deeper and take a closer look at the benefits of supporting NFC and EMV.

Benefits of NFC

There are so many benefits to making sure your point of sale system is NFC compatible. Here are a few examples:.

NFC technology is here to stay. It is continually growing in popularity. By supporting NFC, you prove to your customers that you are keeping up with trends, and using the best technology available.
A 2019 study by Pymnts, found that roughly 40.5% of U.S. consumers have downloaded at least one mobile payment app to their phones.
NFC transactions are incredibly fast - they take just seconds.
NFC can be used for more than just payments. Things such as reservations, booking tickets, and entry/exit passes can also be NFC compatible.
NFC does not require manual configurations, pairing, or settings (like Bluetooth) - just an NFC compatible POS system.
NFC is more secure than traditional magnetic stripe payment cards
Smartphone payments offer new revenue sources via marketing offers and loyalty programs that can be transmitted directly from the merchant to the device.
NFC increases workplace efficiency.
NFC is the most convenient way to pay - customers don't even have to dig out their wallets or purses.

Benefits of EMV

EMV transactions are secure and authenticated, which reduces the risk of fraud.
By installing an EMV reader, you place liability on the card issuer in the case of fraud. Without an EMV reader, you may be liable in the case of credit card fraud.
Almost everyone has an EMV card, so you'll always get paid.
EMV is a global standard. Even foreign guests can use their cards in your business.
EMV systems can operate in offline mode. Because EMV cards contain microprocessors that can interact with terminals, they can perform offline transaction verification and offline cardholder verification.
Chip card payments offer new revenue sources via marketing offers and loyalty programs that can be transmitted directly from the merchant to the card.

There are plenty of benefits to incorporating both NFC and EMV into your point of sale system. If you have any questions about how easy this can be, contact our team of professionals at Total Touch.

Disadvantages of Contactless Payment with NFC and EMV

While few and far between, there are some negative aspects of contactless payment with NFC and EMV as well. Next, let’s take a look at some of the drawbacks to these payment options.

Negatives of Contactless Payment with NFC

What might give you pause about NFC? Well, there are a few things worth mentioning and exploring.

While NFC transactions are undoubtedly more secure than regular credit card payments, this technology is not entirely free of risk.
It only works within short distances (devices need to be 3 inches or less apart).
It can be expensive for companies to adopt NFC enabled devices.

Negatives of Contactless Payment with EMV

Let's also take a look at a few of the negatives of EMV payment options.

Upgrading to support EMV can be expensive.
More data is sent with EMV transactions. Merchants will need to coordinate with their acquirer to support both message types while they continue to accept both EMV and magnetic stripe cards.
Although EMV cards are way more secure than traditional cards, fraud can still happen.

Your business might not be ready for NFC and EMV payment methods right now,, but we sincerely advise you to consider investing in these technologies. The money and effort it takes initially are worth the long-term cost savings and growth your business will experience.

Security of NFC and EMV

We started this article off by addressing security.

Why?

Because security is essential.

If a customer experiences credit card fraud after making a payment at your business, it hurts more than just them. The fraud can also harm your business, either directly or indirectly. Even if the bank takes liability, the damage done to the trust you've built with customers may be irreparable.

We've already acknowledged that credit card fraud is impossible to avoid altogether, even with NFC and EMV compatible POS systems.

However, it is true that payments made through NFC or EMV are far more secure than traditional card payments.

Here’s why:

Magnetic stripe cards are magnetized. When you swipe them, the payment processor reads the magnetic fields and matches them to your bank account information. However, this data is static, making it easier for fraudsters to lift bank information and clone it onto a new card.

On the other hand, the data on EMV chip cards is constantly changing, making it extremely hard to isolate and extract.

To isolate and clone it, someone would have to get into the physical chip circuit and manipulate it to access your bank information. This is extremely difficult for even the most sophisticated fraudsters.

That helps us understand EMV security, but what makes NFC secure?

As opposed to the data on a magnetic stripe card, the data involved in an NFC transaction is encrypted and dynamic, meaning it's continually changing. As an example, let's take Apple Pay, which uses a technology called tokenization to safeguard bank details.

Here’s how EMV security works:

Take a picture of your credit card and load it into your iPhone.
Apple sends the details to your card's issuing bank or network.
The banks and networks then replace your bank details with a series of randomly generated numbers (the token).
That random number is sent back to Apple, which then programs it into your phone. This means that the account details on your phone can't be cloned into anything valuable to fraudsters.

Although the process changes slightly depending on the NFC system you use, the concept stays the same.

Encrypted, dynamic data keeps information from being cloned and stolen.

But maybe you aren't worried about your customer's information being stolen.

Even if that is the case, point of sale systems that support NFC and EMV are becoming increasingly essential in commerce.

Why NFC and EMV Are Critical to Success in Commerce

Why are NFC and EMV essential in commerce?

NFC and EMV are dependable, secure payment methods. And remember, just because you have a POS system that supports NFC and EMV doesn't mean you can't accept cash.

Basically, accepting NFC and EMV payments increases your payment acceptance options. This, in turn, can help you retain more customers and increase sales. Here are a few examples:

Potential clients won't turn away when they realize they don't have enough cash in their wallets.
Customers that are worried about security gain peace of mind when they know you are doing everything you can to protect them.
Loyalty is encouraged when customers realize how simple it is to pay at your place of business.

And here’s the truth: easy, convenient, and safe is a big deal to your customers.

When your customers have to burn calories trying to figure out how to pay, or worry about the security of their payment, they aren't happy.

They won't come back, and they might even tell all their friends and family to stay away from your business.

That's why we want to take this one step further and urge you to accept both NFC and EMV payment options - not just one of them.

Allowing your customers to pay with whatever medium they prefer is a big deal. It allows them to feel as though the process is easy, convenient, and safe.

So, don't put yourself in a box by utilizing a POS system that is compatible with a single payment processor.

Instead, look for a POS system like Total Touch , that gives you multiple options for payment processing .

Are NFC and EMV right for your business (and customers?)

NFC and EMV are great advancements in technology. They are payment options that are here to stay.

Get on board now, so you can benefit from the convenience and security these payment options offer for years to come.

If you need to upgrade your POS system to be NFC and EMV compatible, contact Total Touch today. We provide a complete POS system that is powerful, simple, and backed with great features . We also offer full support in the United States.

We received an award from the CIO Review for being one for the 20 Most Promising POS Solutions in 2019 , and we are ready to help you get results.

Contact our team today; we look forward to working with you!

10 Frequently Asked Questions about Total Touch Features and Benefits

jgodsey@emscorporate.com (Cole Godsey) — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 19:16:30 GMT

At Total Touch®, we constantly strive to improve our POS software solution and help you deliver the best dining experience possible.

Over the years, the Total Touch point of sale system evolved from traditional POS software to a fresh, modern restaurant management and POS solution. Total Touch POS is packed with intuitive features to help restaurants like yours increase profitability and improve efficiency.

As any responsible restaurant business owner should, you probably have questions about these features. We’re happy to answer them! In this post, we’ll share the most common questions we hear about the unique features and benefits of Total Touch. If you don’t find the answer you are looking for, please do not hesitate to contact us .

10 Total Touch FAQs

1. Will Total Touch work with my current merchant service provider?

A: The Total Touch software is compatible with most merchant service providers. Our Total Freedom Guarantee puts you in control of your payment processing. That means you can keep your current processing relationship going strong, or experience the advantages of partnering with our preferred processor, Electronic Merchant Systems . Here are a few of the other processors we are compatible with:

Elavon
Chase
First Data
Global Payments
TSYS
WorldPay

2. Does Total Touch support gift card and loyalty programs?

A: Yes! Total Touch includes complete Factor 4 Gift Card integration for gift and loyalty card programs. This fully integrated software also supports Altus Premier if you have a gift card program through Electronic Merchant Systems.

3. Is Total Touch cloud-based?

A: Yes, but that’s not all! Total Touch is a hybrid server and cloud-based restaurant management system . This means that menu items, orders, sales, and employee data are entered into the software at your restaurant, while business analytics and reports are stored in the cloud. Cloud storage allows you to access your comprehensive reporting anytime, anywhere through a simple login.

4. Can I set up restaurant online ordering with Total Touch?

A: Yes! Total Touch supports online ordering system for restaurants through Total Touch Web Ordering . You can integrate the best online ordering systems for restaurants directly with your restaurant point of sale system or add it as a separate feature on your website. Either way, Total Touch will help you with customization and installation of Total Touch Web Ordering .

5. What restaurant types are best served by Total Touch?

A: All types! Total Touch is a preferred solution for every kind of restaurant; from quick-service pizzerias, to taverns, burger stops, premier fine dining rooms, and everything in-between.

6. How can Total Touch help me manage my restaurant?

A: We have crafted specific features to help you improve operations and better manage your restaurant. Here are a few of them:

Open Table Management: Manage tables, servers, and improve the guest experience from the front of house or back office.
Bar Tab Pre-Authorization : Keep profits healthy by ensuring bartenders accurately charge for each drink.
Kitchen Display System: Total Touch offers support for KDS and expo kitchen printers to maintain order accuracy from the dining room to the kitchen.
Pour Control and Weights & Measures: Avoid errors and maintain better control of alcohol and ingredient costs. Our integrated scale is NTEP certified .
Employee Scheduling & Timekeeping : Schedule staff for busy weekends and track employee time from any Total Touch terminal.

7. Can Total Touch help me track inventory?

A: You bet! We offer comprehensive inventory tracking and an item quantity countdown for complete inventory management.

8. My managers, kitchen team, and servers all need to access different aspects of the system. Is that something Total Touch can handle?

A: Absolutely. You can easily manage employee permissions within the system and empower your staff to best serve the needs of your customers.

9. What happens if I have an issue with my system during dinner service?

A: In the unlikely event you experience issues with your Total Touch software, hardware, or credit card processing, you can get the help you need through your Authorized Dealer or Sales Professional. Click here to learn more. If you have chosen Electronic Merchant Systems as your payment processor, you also have the option to call their 24/7/365 live support team at 800-615-1330.

10. Does Total Touch have an option for splitting checks?

A: Yes! Total Touch POS does have an option for splitting checks . With Total Touch, your servers have the option to split checks by seat or split bar tabs by drink.

As we continue to develop new features and improve the existing options, information will be posted on the Total Touch feature release page .

If you have any other questions about Total Touch or its features, please contact us ! We’d be happy to talk more about this solution or schedule a demonstration for your restaurant.

How to Reassure Diners Before They Walk in the Door

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 14:21:47 GMT

You can reassure your bar and restaurant guests even before they walk in the door.

Your guests are counting on you to reassure them so they can be confident about dining out again. Here are some tips to help you make them feel welcome!

In order to capture new patrons and invite loyal customers back, turn your attention to your restaurant’s curb appeal, safety protocols, reviews, and internet experience.

Curb Appeal

How your restaurant looks from the outside is an influencing factor in whether potential customers will choose your restaurant. Spend some time on your restaurant’s curb appeal. If people like what they see, they will stop in to eat.

If you want to boost your curb appeal, there are several small things you can do. Make sure your windows are always clean. Not only will a tidy-looking exterior portray your establishment as well-kept, clean windows also make it easier for passersby to view the interior of your restaurant and help them decide to stop in.

You also need to make sure your signage is visible to catch people’s attention. A flashy sign that communicates the theme of your restaurant can help interest potential customers and let them know you are there. Finally, take color meanings into account when choosing your color scheme. There is psychology in color —for example, red stimulates the appetite.

Keeping your Guests Safe, Healthy, and Happy

Before they get to your bar or restaurant, customers want to know what their dine-in experience is going to be like:

Place a layout of the seating arrangements at your establishment on your front window, website, and Facebook page. This will reassure people who aren't certain that they can be safe and maintain their health when they choose to dine out
Be proactive with your email list and on your website about how your bar and restaurant are practicing food safety. Tell customers what to expect and what you promise — then deliver on it!
Open, simple communications are essential for helping your customers regain their confidence. Make certain every sign and message you post is reassuring and friendly.

Focus on Positive Reviews

Foodies almost always look up a Google or Yelp review before they decide to eat at a restaurant, so positive reviews are crucial to your success. A positive review can easily convince a potential customer to eat at your restaurant. In fact, around 68% of customers are swayed by positive reviews online.

In order to accumulate more positive reviews, practice asking customers to leave a review. Give your employees rewards if they succeed in asking customers to do so. You can also incentivize your customers to give your business positive reviews by offering small gives or discounts for those who do.

Make Your Customer Experience Better than Ever

There has never been a greater need to create a fabulous customer experience for your restaurant. That experience begins online with your Google My Business presence, and your website.

To help customers make the most of their planning and visit to your bar or restaurant, think mobile-first for your website. Every aspect of your website and menu must be accessible on a mobile phone
Be sure that your Google My Business page is up-to-date with relevant safety, hours, and menu information
Make certain your website includes a mobile-friendly menu that does not require visitors to “pinch and zoom” in order to read your menu. Bonus points if your mobile menu lets customers order!

Go Social

Taking your restaurant to social media can spread awareness about your business to a whole new audience. You can reach potential customers who might never have otherwise heard about your restaurant. Posting high quality photos of your menu items is sure to interest hungry social media scrollers, and you can also draw your followers’ attention to promotions, discounts, and new offerings.

Many people rely on social media to find places to eat, so promoting your restaurant on social media, where people are located all the time, is a very smart (as well as free!) move. You can interact with your existing customers, find new ones, and give them all a taste (figuratively speaking) of what you have to offer. And seriously, who doesn’t love some scrumptious food pictures on their feed?

Through social media, positive reviews, and great curb appeal, you can win over new customers before they even set foot in your restaurant. If you focus on these few elements, you can watch your restaurant attract many more customers.

An important part of running your restaurant smoothly is having a good POS system. Schedule a product tour today!

Success Starts with the Right Point of Sale Solution

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 12:38:00 GMT

Matt Dye: Director of Sales, Total Touch POS

Throughout my 20+ years in this industry, I’ve had the opportunity to sell many different products and solutions.

My sales endeavors took me to various retail and restaurant businesses and introduced me to the strong individuals responsible for their operation.

It pains me today to see so many of these small business owners struggling in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As I watch the news and witness the closures of businesses in my own home town, I can’t help but wonder… If they had been better equipped to adapt to carry-out, delivery, and other socially distant service options, would they still be open?

I think we, as payments industry professionals, have an important responsibility in these times. We need to seek out these businesses that are struggling to adapt and offer solutions to help them survive the pandemic and thrive when it’s over. Total Touch Point of Sale may very well be this solution for many restaurants in your area.

You see, Total Touch is more than a simple vehicle for accepting payments. Of course, it has all the payment processing capabilities that a business needs, but its features and function goes far beyond that.

Total Touch is a hybrid Windows and cloud-based point of sale solution designed to help restaurant owners manage their business and thrive in a changing economy. Its hybrid design means that service can always continue, even during an internet interruption. Plus, Total Touch features the top online ordering system for restaurants , Total Touch Web Ordering, that creates customized website and app-based ordering solutions for carry-out or delivery.

Additional restaurant management features include:

Open Table Management
Cloud-Based Reporting
Bar Tab Pre-Authorization
Inventory Management
Pour Control
Employee Scheduling and Timekeeping

Plus, Total Touch also offers incentives and advanced features such as next-day funding to restaurants that choose our preferred partner, Electronic Merchant Systems , as their payment processor.

By offering this simple, powerful solution, we can give restaurants the solution they need, at the price they want, and the great value they deserve. This is sure to make a difference for restaurant owners, but it also affords you the opportunity to retain more merchants in your portfolio than ever before as a Total Touch Dealer or Point of Sale Agent.

What’s the difference?

When you add the Total Touch solution to your product offering, you’re considered a Total Touch Dealer. However, when you sell a Total Touch solution along with EMS processing, you become more than a Dealer. You become a Point of Sale Agent and can start minimizing compression of your residual income on each sale.

Point of Sale Agents receive expanded support from the Total Touch team, who will be here for you and will do the necessary work to help you increase merchant retention for your business. For example, we can take your merchant processing lead, negotiate with them, and create a contract that will optimize your revenue. We are also happy to share our tools with you if you prefer to compile your own paperwork. Either way, my team can provide the support you need to write both point of sale and merchant processing agreements.

If you’d like to learn more about the Total Touch solution or our Dealer and Agent Networks, please do not hesitate to contact me . Together we can support the business owners in our area during their time of need.

Matt Dye: Director of Sales, Total Touch POS

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Matt has more than 20 years of experience in the industry, and has worked in various positions from sales to business development and leadership. He has dedicated much of his career to leading high profit business sales strategies for major financial and technology driven companies. When he’s not working hard to grow Total Touch, you will most likely find Matt playing his keyboard, guitar, or bass.

17 Features Your Restaurant POS System Needs

Thu, 02 Jul 2020 18:50:51 GMT

Operating a restaurant demands more than the ability to make delicious food. Experienced restaurant owners know it takes a myriad of administrative, management, and marketing skills to run a successful restaurant business.

17 Features Every Efficient Restaurant POS System Needs (and 5 Reasons It Matters)

Mastering these skills is quite a task for someone whose talent is in grilling the perfect steak or arranging a stunning table setting.

So, where can a restaurant owner look for help?

The answer is deceivingly simple: find an efficient restaurant point of sale system!

Having an efficient point of sale system (POS) goes a long way toward ensuring that your entire operation runs smoothly.

The POS serves as the central component of your business. It’s the hub where everything merges - sales, inventory, customer management, and more.

Every POS system has software and hardware com ponents that make running daily operations of any restaurant easier and faster. However, not all restaurant POS systems are created equally! Many POS systems are designed for retailers, not restaurants. Even some systems that claim to serve restaurants exclusively are missing key features.

With so many options, how can you choose the efficient restaurant POS system that is right for you?

If this is a big question for you, you’re in the right place. The contents of this page can help you find the right solution for your restaurant business - whether you’ve been running it for years or are just getting started.

Keep reading to explore 17 key features every efficient restaurant POS system needs, and five reasons why it matters.

When we’re finished, you’ll have the tools you need to choose the right POS system and keep your restaurant running smoothly.

Let’s get started!

17 Features Every Efficient Restaurant POS System Needs

Simple User Interface

The importance of a simple user interface can’t be emphasized enough. A complicated interface causes nothing but frustration and can bring your restaurant business to a screeching halt.

The last thing you need is a massive headache caused by the installation and implementation of your POS system. That’s the opposite of efficiency!

Beyond that, a simple user interface allows new employees to learn quickly and master the basics of running a POS system. This will save you precious time and money.

A simple user interface also aids in excellent customer service. To avoid fumbling through several steps to accept payment or losing precious time when a small mistake is made, you must find a POS system that is simple, easy, and fast.

Flexible Payment Processing

Many restaurant POS systems are only compatible with a single payment processor. Be wary of these systems! Putting yourself in a “payment processor box” is a big mistake.

You should always look for a POS system, like Total Touch , that gives you multiple options for credit card processing providers . However, it is worth exploring the POS systems’ preferred payments provider if they have one.

Most likely, using the system with its preferred provider will lead to a smooth install process. Plus, if you choose to process with a merchant services company that understands your new system, you’ll experience less third-party failure points and faster response times when you need support.

Open Table Management

Regularly sending “scouts” out to check for free tables in your restaurant should be a thing of the past. There are plenty of great options that allow you to do this digitally! However, one of the best ways to manage tables in your restaurant is to have a POS system that is equipped to help with table flow.

A good restaurant POS system allows you to manage reservations and waitlists easily. It also allows you to see which tables are full, and which are empty.

Another great feature it should include is a focus on prompt customer service by automatically assigning servers to tables.

Gift and Loyalty Cards

Gift and loyalty cards are a great way to increase revenue and sales, gather valuable data, and make consumers feel appreciated. Make sure your POS system is equipped to sell and accept them!

Online Ordering

To grow a restaurant business In today’s world, you need an online ordering solution.

A POS system that accepts online orders will allow you to broaden margins and boost efficiency while reducing phone errors and wasted time.

The Total Touch POS system, specifically designed for restaurants, makes this online ordering process super simple. Here’s how it works:

A customer places an order online from their computer or mobile device.
The order is automatically sent to your Total Touch POS software and directly into your system.
Your profits increase when you reduce manual order entry time and costly order entry errors.

Pre-Authorized Bar Tabs

What is bar tab pre-authorization?

Pre-authorized bar tabs allow bartenders to:

Swipe a customer's credit card.
Securely save that information as their bar tab.
Verify that the card is real.
Make sure it has a pre-configured amount of funds on it.

Why is this important?

The most common question bartenders ask – aside from "What are you having?" – is “Do you want to start a tab?”

The ability to set up a tab is convenient for your staff and the customer. It also incentivizes guests to stay longer and spend more during their visits.

Additionally, without pre-authorization, there is a risk that the customer’s card could be invalid or unable to cover their bill.

Multiple Payment Options

Your guests will be surprised, delighted, and more likely to visit again when the answer to, “Can you split the check?" is yes!

A good restaurant POS system should be able to assign menu items to specific seats, split items between an entire table, and split checks

EMV and Contactless Payment Options

The tiny chip that most credit and debit cards have today is called an EMV. EMV cards are the global standard used to authenticate card transactions.

EMV cards are more secure than traditional magnetic strip credit cards. While the data in a card's magnetic strip stays the same over time, the chip in an EMV card generates a unique code for each transaction that can only be used once.

Why should your POS system accept EMV cards?

First, almost everyone has an EMV card. And second, it keeps your customer’s information more secure.

Contactless payment systems are credit cards and debit cards, key fobs, smart cards, or other devices, including smartphones and other mobile devices, that use radio-frequency identification or near field communication for making secure payments.

Like EMV cards, contactless payment options are continually rising in popularity, so having the ability to accept them at your POS terminal is critical.

Kitchen Displays

A kitchen display system replaces paper tickets and kitchen printers. It is designed to increase efficiency and accuracy.

In fact, an integrated kitchen display system creates opportunities that would otherwise not be available.

A kitchen display system increases accuracy and efficiency by showcasing everything the food preparation staff needs to know about each customer’s order, including the ingredients needed to fill it. This information is displayed on a brightly-lit, easy-to-read screen, and it serves as a central repository for all orders.

Plus, with a kitchen display system in place, information about additions and changes to orders reaches the kitchen as soon as customers ask for them.

This feature enables accurate orders to be delivered the first time around, minimizes waste, and prevents frustration among kitchen staff, waitstaff, and customers.

Integrated NTEP Scale Support

If you price any food based on weight, an NTEP certification for processing weighted items via integrated scale support is essential.

Some restaurant POS systems like Total Touch are already NTEP certified and can be integrated with any NTEP approved scales. This makes pricing food by weight a breeze!

Inventory Management

Inventory management seems so basic and simple. However, when you have so many other things on your plate, it can become difficult to keep up.

Any restaurant POS system needs to include tools for careful inventory management, so you avoid too much overhead, or running out of supplies.

Employee Management

Managing employees is tough, especially when lots of details like overtime pay, differing shifts, and job types apply.

Make sure your restaurant POS system includes features that allow you to create new employees, set wages, and give special permissions so they can complete the tasks they’ve been given.

Employee Scheduling

Employee Scheduling allows you to be in control of who is working when. Luckily, with a restaurant POS system like Total Touch, the process is a breeze! All you have to do is:

Select the job type you need to be filled.
Choose specific employees and click on the hours you would like them to work.
They will appear on the employee schedule sheet for that day.
See your entire employee schedule at a glance!

Staff Timekeeping

An easy solution for clocking in and out of shifts makes for happy managers and employees.

Effective timekeeping is obviously essential for employee wages, and can help make your payroll process easy and seamless. The right solution will save everyone unnecessary stress and headache!

Pour Control

Humans are phenomenal creatures. We are creative, intelligent, emotive, and sensitive. Truthfully, we are far greater than anything we will ever make with our own hands.

However, we must admit that sometimes a computer or machine can complete a particular job better than we can. And when it comes to making the perfect drink every time, machines are essential.

Some restaurant POS systems include a pour control feature which eliminates human error in making drinks.

It’s quite simple:

Upload a recipe.
Allow the software to regulate alcohol and ingredients.
Produce the same drink every time regardless of the bartender!

This allows your employees to focus on offering quality customer service while the machine does most of the work to make a consistent drink. Plus, it’s simple consistency keeps bar profits healthy.

Easy Business Analytics

Your restaurant needs to be making money if you want to stay in business - that much is obvious. What’s less obvious is if your restaurant is actually making money and where your profit is coming from.

A restaurant POS system that includes restaurant business analytics is enormously helpful in determining profitability.

A good restaurant POS system should offer these kinds of business analytics:

A dashboard that shows sales, inventory, labor, and profitability
Sales comparisons between locations or across time periods
Peak performance by day of the week, holidays, and promotions
Trends of sales vs. guests by day and top-selling item reports

Reliable Support and Customer Service

Even quality items break or wear out over time. That’s why the very best businesses to work with are ones that offer amazing support and customer service.

Your POS system could have all the best features in the world. But, if the company that provides the system does not offer good support and customer service, it will fall flat.

At Total Touch POS, we have a dedicated support team for U.S. customers that is always ready to offer a helping hand.

That wraps up the section on features every restaurant POS system should include!

If you found it helpful, let us know . Or, if you have additions that you think should be made, just point it out to us in the comments.

But at least one question is still one the table:

Will these features of valuable POS systems help you run a better restaurant business?

Absolutely!

Choosing a POS system integrated with these 17 features is important, and here’s why.

5 Reasons Choosing the Right POS System Matters

More people, particularly millennials, want to spend money on memorable experiences. Restaurants are prime spots for these unique experiences.

What’s your goal when you go out to eat a restaurant? To grab a quick sandwich and get out the door? Probably not.

Let gas stations take care of pre-packaged food. You’re in business to deliver fantastically fresh food, provide a great atmosphere, and create unforgettable moments.

Consumer surveys show that more and more people, particularly millennials, prefer to spend their money on memorable and shareable experiences than on material goods. Needless to say, restaurants are a prime example of places where memories are made and moments are shared.

If your restaurant isn’t running smoothly, it will distract customers from these special moments. Millennials, in particular, will expect technology to be implemented that allows them to have an amazing experience that they can record and remember.

Increase Restaurant Efficiency

Every restaurant owner should be looking for technology that gives them new and innovative ways to meet two goals: improve guest satisfaction and increase operational efficiency .

Of course, these two goals tend to go hand-in-hand. Combined, they translate into decidedly positive financial outcomes.

According to research conducted by Starfleet Research for The Smart Decision Guide to Restaurant Management and POS Systems; 84 percent of full-service restaurants, and 72 percent of quick-service and fast-casual restaurants, report that they achieved “significant” or “dramatic” improvement in revenue performance after deploying next-generation restaurant management and POS systems.

Such results obviously make for a very compelling business case.

It’s not just clients who get the good end of the deal, though. Restaurant owners and employees also free up time and creative space to go beyond survival when efficiency increases.

The growth a restaurant can experience when the people responsible for making it happen have time to be creative and innovative is phenomenal.

Improve Guest Satisfaction

Guest satisfaction may be the single most important goal every restaurant owner is working toward. Each 5-star review is unique, and every bad review leaves a scar that hurts.

Ultimately, the goal is always customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Customers are going to be happier when your seamless POS system amplifies their experience. Here are some examples:

A customer with lots of children knows bringing them all to your physical location is impossible. Instead, they order easily and efficiently online.
A customer wants to split a check with a friend. You are able to fulfill this request easily.
A customer loves your restaurant and wants to give their loved ones a chance to try it out. They are able to purchase a gift card quickly and easily.
Your POS inventory manager tells you there is no guacamole left. You are able to let a customer know this in advance instead of after they order it and wait for their food.
A customer is able to set up a pre-authorized tab in minutes so they can enjoy drinks anytime.
Thanks to your POS employee management tool, you were able to get a replacement for an employee that is on vacation. Your customers are pleased with the prompt service you provide.
A customer calls in wanting to make a reservation for a special date night. With the click of a button, you’re able to guarantee them a seat.

Of course, the list could go on. These are only a few examples of the ways you can grant satisfaction to your customers. Most importantly, you can do it quickly and hassle-free.

It’s a win for you and the customer!

Easy Online Ordering Increases Sales

Consumers spent $601.75 billion online with U.S. merchants in 2019, up 14.9% from $523.64 billion the prior year, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce .

That was a higher growth rate than 2018 when online sales reported by the Commerce Department rose 13.6% year over year.

Clearly, online buying is not going away. In fact, it’s becoming increasingly popular!

A good POS system boosts your sales through its ability to make online purchasing smooth and seamless. This isn’t just important - it may be essential for your very survival as a business!

A perfect example is the recent COVID-19 pandemic. There hasn’t been a time more difficult for small businesses to survive in recent history, especially if those businesses had no way to sell online.

However, many that had methods of selling online saw their eCommerce numbers soar! Ecommerce was literally the lifeline keeping them afloat. Without it, their businesses would have failed.

Although we don’t expect to live in a perpetual pandemic, it’s safe to say this teaches us a lesson about running a business - online ordering increases sales! There is not a time too soon to implement it for your business.

Restaurant Analytics Help You See What is Working and What Isn’t

Analytics aren’t just for numbers gurus. They are for every single restaurant owner out there. If you don’t have a good way to get analytics about your restaurant, you need to find a solution.

What makes analytics so critical?

Analytics are a tool to help you make profitable decisions. Without it, you’d be taking an educated guess (at best) on the best path forward.

For example, a good POS system can give you analytics on group sales. Pull this report to analyze sales based on group name (i.e., beer, liquor, wine, etc.) and you have a bird’s eye view of your most and least profitable groups.

Based on this information, you can make a confident decision about what steps you need to take next. Without this information, you’d have to follow your observation and intuition only to make important business decisions.

Albert Einstein said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results.” We agree!

However, it can be difficult at times to see through the fog and realize you are making the same mistakes repeatedly, all while expecting to be successful.

Analytics help you to see what is working and what isn’t, so you can make changes as necessary.

Conclusion

Clearly, successful restaurant owners have to be more than amazing cooks. They also need to have administrative and management skills.

These tasks may seem daunting, but people willing to invest in a restaurant POS system with the correct features find running a profitable restaurant manageable and enjoyable.

If you are considering a restaurant POS system, contact Total Touch today. At Total Touch, we provide a complete restaurant POS system that is powerful, simple, and backed with great features. We also offer full support in the United States.

We received an award from the CIO Review for being one for the 20 most promising POS solutions in 2019, and we are ready to help you start getting results.

Contact our team today ; we look forward to working with you!

5 Steps for Creating an Outdoor Dining Area

jgodsey@emscorporate.com (Cole Godsey) — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 19:52:45 GMT

While many restaurants across the nation are now able to welcome diners again, “business as usual” is still a distant dream.

Especially right now, your restaurant is more than just a place to eat. For many people, it’s a place to relax and re-discover a sense of normalcy. However, to bring the “normal” to as many people as possible under these new rules and regulations, you’ll need to get a bit creative.

Thankfully, summer is right around the corner. Especially in our home state of Ohio, when the sun is out, many people want to be outside with it! If you have space available for outdoor dining, it may provide a temporary solution for both your restaurant and diners looking to enjoy the summer weather.

Here are five steps to help you create an outdoor dining area.

1. Dedicate a space.

If you don’t already have a patio or deck attached to your restaurant, it’s time to get creative. Bring your team together to brainstorm ways you could use your outdoor property for dining space. Depending on your restaurant and location, you may want to try:

Safely blocking a section of your parking lot off for outdoor dining.
Contacting your local government to ask if you can use a section of sidewalk for outdoor dining.

Transforming the yard of your restaurant into a festive summer dining area.

2. Set your space up for sunny success.

Once you’ve chosen your outdoor space, you’ll need to set it up with the right dining furniture. Outdoor furniture is typically made of plastic, wood, or metal. All materials have their advantages and disadvantages. The right choice for you will depend on the size of your space and the amount of maintenance time you are willing to dedicate to it. Remember, no matter which furniture type you choose, it will need to be disinfected after each guest leaves. Some options to consider include:

Bar stools and high-top tables
Plastic or metal round tables and chairs
Wooden picnic tables or tables with separate benches

3. Develop an efficient workflow.

Especially if outdoor dining is new to your team, it is important to come together and develop an operating plan. The goal should be to make sure all customers are served in a timely manner, while also remaining focused on the health and safety of everyone involved. Make sure your outdoor staff knows that staying hydrated is essential, especially when they’re required to wear face coverings on hot days. Talk with your staff and determine their level of comfort with working inside, outside, or both. Be transparent and distribute the workload evenly, so all wait staff have an equal opportunity for service.

4. Consider seating by reservation only.

No matter what configuration you end up with, seating is going to be limited due to the capacity restrictions your restaurant is facing. To reduce stress for your customers and employees, consider seating by reservation only. Not only will this help you comply with capacity restrictions, but it will help your team know exactly how many tables they’ll be serving, and when they’ll need to turn those tables. Particularly now, when extra sanitization and safety measures are in place, accepting reservations only will provide a sense of structure and eliminate some of the unknown for staff and customers alike.

5. Let your customers know!

Once you have a plan in place, don’t forget to share it. Post on your website, social media pages, in your front window, or anywhere else you share information with your loyal customers.

As you prepare to reopen your restaurant, remember to think creatively. How can you reconfigure your indoor or outdoor space to safely accommodate the most people? What information do you need to share with your customers? How can you support your staff during this time? All of these questions and more will help you critically think about your entire restaurant experience and discover ways to focus on both people and profit.

For more restaurant resources, check out these blog posts:

Sources: Business Insider

Creating a Restaurant Recovery Marketing Plan

Tue, 26 May 2020 20:45:38 GMT

As you continue to serve your customers with curbside and delivery, you must continue to communicate with your customers about how you’re keeping them safe and how your restaurant is making it easy for them to order from you.

Staying engaged with your customers can be the difference between surviving as your state and local community permits restaurants to re-open and permanently shutting down.

Because the future is uncertain, you might be thinking, “Is there a point in creating a marketing plan?” Of course, because without a plan, it is more challenging to attract and retain customers.

Inspire Confidence

Even if you are operating with limited resources and offerings, use this opportunity to show your customers how you are planning for a successful re-opening. At a minimum, you should be in constant communication:

Add fresh content to your website at least once per week
Use social media and email to communicate with your customers to let them know what measures you are taking to support the staff, keep customers safe, and your restaurant clean

There are plenty of ways you can use social media to promote your restaurant effectively:

Add the menu tab on Facebook to take online orders from your customers
Add online and mobile ordering with a solution like Total Touch Web Ordering so customers can order online (and not have to redial to get through to your restaurant!)
Ask your loyal customers to write reviews about your restaurant on Google, Facebook, and Yelp.
Spend time connecting with the community and building your following on Facebook, Instagram, and social media platforms that make sense for your restaurant and the community you serve
Start a contest: Asking your customers to tag a previous trip to your restaurant in a post, and reward them with a complimentary entrée or discount
Emphasize seasonal foods and how you prepare them. People love to know what food is super-fresh
Stay engaged with and loyal customers. Go back six months in your social media and comment on every review, post, or comment about your restaurant and the food you serve. Thank your customers. If someone posts a picture of your restaurant, share it on your page. It will make your customer feel extra special
Post during specific times, like during lunch or dinner hours. These are the times when people are usually browsing for food options (the Facebook Insights tab in your Pages manager will show you when people are most active)
Continue to build your email list and offer coupons and email-only specials. People love to be “insiders,” and you can reward them for being one.

Invite People Behind the Scenes

People love great food, especially when they care about the restaurant. Customers prefer their favorite restaurant because of how it makes them feel and how delicious the food is. Introduce them to the people behind their favorite food and restaurant.

Start an Online Cooking Show/ Share Recipes

People who are currently cooking at home are looking for ways to stay busy. You can take advantage of this opportunity and keep them engaged by

Creating an online cooking show for them. Teach your customers how to prepare some of your beloved dishes.
Publish at-home versions of your favorite recipes. If you have rave reviews about your Paella Valenciana, publish a step-by-step guide on how to make it, and invite home chefs to post a photo and tag your restaurant

Even though this may seem counterintuitive, we are not saying you should give out your secret ingredient or family recipe. Just walk them through the steps so that they become more connected to your brand and familiar with the food they come to your restaurant to enjoy.

Even if you do decide to reveal the secret of your special sauce, you are still the expert, and your loyal customers will still come to you.

Experiment on Social Media

Now is the time for you to experiment with different social media channels that you have meant to try for your restaurant but haven’t taken the time to.

A popular form of social media marketing these days is live streaming on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. You can also explore TikTok for ideas other restaurateurs have been posting on the video site.

A lot of people post clips of their recipe video s on TikTok , which means this can be an excellent space for your restaurant marketing strategy.

Partner with Restaurant Influencers

Many restaurant owners partner with different charities, like food banks and community-relief programs. Just because your restaurant isn’t getting its daily foot traffic, it doesn’t mean you cannot create a positive awareness in the community with the help of other local restaurateurs.

Local restaurant influencers are often well connected, and people turn to them for recommendations. If you foster positive relations with them, it can help you reach a broader customer base.

Re-opening Your Restaurant Business

We know that right now, your restaurant business is hurting and trying to survive. When consumers regain their confidence, and your local economy starts to recover, make certain current and future customers are well-aware of your plans and how you can meet their pent-up desire to go out again.

Use this time to plan on how to re-open, keeping in mind food and customer safety while also focusing on how to regain profitability.

People love incentives. Now might be the time to create a loyalty card program, referral offers, or a pre- p a id gift card pro gra m .

We understand that the future of the economy has created wholly new challenges for restaurants, cafes, and other eateries. However, it has also given restaurant owners opportunities to capitalize on change and try out marketing tactics to keep their customers engaged.

A well-planned strategy and a few smart marketing tactics can give your customers the reminder they need to keep your restaurant top-of-mind and reward you with their loyalty once the restaurant business recovers.

Meanwhile, Total Touch and our network of Certified Dealers can help you with managing your business, financing, and prepare to accelerate your re-opening. Call Total Touch POS at (800) 717-8360 to find the help you need.

Ten Tips for Marketing Your Restaurant on Social Media

Wed, 20 May 2020 17:13:38 GMT

If the words “marketing strategy” make you break out in a cold sweat, you’ve come to the right place.

We’re not a marketing agency, but we do know a thing or two about how to build a successful marketing strategy for your restaurant without breaking the bank.

It starts with the tools you use. Marketing involves using a blend of printed and digital materials to communicate your brand and encourage customers to visit your restaurant. Printed materials and new websites, while important, can be expensive. If you don’t have the budget for these items, that doesn’t mean you should give up on marketing. In fact, you can reach many customers for little or no cost by marketing your restaurant on social media.

Keep reading for our ten tips on how to market your restaurant on social media.

1. Create Profiles for Your Restaurant

The first step to social media marketing success for your restaurant is to create profiles. You’ll want to make sure that you use create them on the platforms your customers are most likely to use. Two commonly used platforms that will give you a great start are Facebook and Instagram . Be sure to include key information about your restaurant in your profile, including:

Your business hours
Address and phone number
Links to mobile-friendly menus
A link to your website
A link to order online
Get more tips on setting up your restaurant’s Facebook profile

2. Capture and Post High-Quality Photos

Your customers want to know that they can expect a top-notch meal at your restaurant. What better way to reassure them than to show them exactly what to expect? Especially if you’re using Instagram, be sure to take high-quality photos often and post them with a fun caption encouraging customers to visit your restaurant and taste it for themselves! Click here for some examples to inspire you.

3. Engage with Your Community

Social media is first and foremost a communication tool, and good communication goes both ways. So, don’t just post every week and hope someone shows up at your door. Spend time engaging with your followers, other local restaurants, and businesses in your area. Your customers will respect you for respecting their community. Plus, it’s fun to connect!

4. Offer Contests and Rewards for Following Your Restaurant

One way to keep your followers engaged is through contests and other incentives. People love free stuff, discounts, rewards, and coupons – pretty much anything that will save them money or make them feel special. So, think about adding some creative contests to your social media pages. One example could be to ask your followers to name four ingredients in a common dish at your restaurant. Reward the winner or winners with a coupon for free dessert or $10 off their next meal. Even simple deals like this can go a long way for marketing your restaurant business!

5. Use Hashtags

Hashtags are especially popular on Twitter and Instagram, but can be used on pretty much any social media platform. They are used to categorize different posts, and can help you reach more customers. For example, if you run a pizza shop in Cleveland, you might want to try using the hashtag “#CLEpizza” to help new customers find you. We recommend creating a list of hashtags you would like to use frequently, and sprinkle a few of them in to each post.

6. Share Customer-Generated Content

Your customers create some of the best marketing content. When a customer posts praise for your homemade chicken noodle soup on social media, you need to capitalize on that. Share their post with a thank you, and others will see that not only is your food fantastic, but so are you!

7. Show Behind-the-Scenes Footage

Everyone likes a quick peek behind the scenes. Many people pay good money for backstage tours at concerts and theatrical performances. So, why not give your loyal followers a behind-the-scenes look at your kitchen? Show them where their food is prepared and the smiling faces of the chefs that prepare it. Posting a high-quality, short video like this solves some of the mystery of the kitchen for your customers. Plus, if done right, it can help reassure newcomers who may be extra cautious about cleanliness that your restaurant is safe and clean.

8. Reply to Comments, Questions, and Reviews

An important part of maintaining your social media presence and a positive image for your restaurant is your response to comments, questions, and reviews. Be sure to respond to each one of these in a timely manner, even the negative ones. It’s important to do this so an unhappy customer feels heard and your other customers see that you truly care about each person’s experience at your restaurant.

9. Introduce Your Team

People are most loyal to the places and people that are familiar to them. So, create a sense of familiarity by introducing your team on social media. Feature one team member per month or week, depending on how many employees you have. Share a bit about what they do at work and outside of work, along with a photo. Make sure you encourage all your employees to share the post to their social feeds as well. This gives the featured employee an extra pat on the back and can help your post reach more people.

10. Spotlight Your Vendors

Show your followers where your ingredients come from! Especially if you are using locally-sourced ingredients, give your vendors a shout out on your social media pages. This gives you a chance to promote the fact that your restaurant uses ingredients from nearby farms while also sending traffic to your vendors’ social pages or website.

Paying close attention to your social media pages is one of the most effective and free ways to market your restaurant.

We hope you find these ten tips helpful as you continue to grow your business by offering the best dining experience possible. For more marketing tips, click here !

How to Get Customers to Follow Safety Precautions in Your Restaurant

access@buildmycontent.com (Total Touch) — Mon, 11 May 2020 13:11:29 GMT

If you own a restaurant, you are doubtlessly eager for things to return to normal.

Fortunately, most states are taking steps to begin opening the economy back up in the coming weeks. As exciting as this is, it’s important to remain cautious.

You don’t want to risk customers getting infected at your establishment. Here are a few things you can do to keep safety your top priority as government restrictions relax.

Continue to Encourage Pickup Options

Pickup (aka takeout) is a great way to show customers that you are taking the current situation seriously, while continuing to offer delicious food. You can make pickup easier when you add online ordering options to your website.

As you begin to open your diner, don’t abandon pickup options. Many of your customers will have become accustomed to the convenience of pickup and may wish to continue using it. Others may still be concerned about visiting a busy establishment and wish to continue maintaining social distancing. You may find that it is economically advantageous to make pickup a permanent option. You can encourage people to continue using pickup by offering deals exclusively for meals that are picked up.

Remind Customers about Pickup, Takeout, and Online Ordering

You need to continuously remind customers of safety protocols so your employees and other customers can remain safe.

You should have signs posted as visual reminders. There are several ways you can make your signs and safety notices stand out better at your restaurant.
Attach reminders to your menus and table advertisements to ensure that they get seen.
Whenever a server approaches a table to take an order, have them give a short reminder about safety as part of their introduction. They could say something like, “ In order to keep everyone safe, we ask that you keep to your table and avoid walking too close to other parties .”

Space Out Tables

Due to the losses you have recently experienced, it can be very tempting to want to fill your dining area with as many customers as possible. This would be a very dangerous thing to do. A crowded restaurant is the perfect place for the virus to spread. You can safely seat your customers if you remove some of your tables and spread your seating out.

If you have a large party come in, greet them personally, apologize for the inconvenience, and ask that they split into smaller groups to be seated. Make sure that you https://www.centralrestaurant.com/resources/coronavirus-cleaning-procedures/

https://www.centralrestaurant.com/resources/coronavirus-cleaning-procedures/

sanitize between each customer.

It’s important to realize that not everyone is going to appreciate your efforts to keep your customers safe. Some customers may complain about delays caused by your protocols. However, this will be a vocal minority. The majority of your customers will greatly appreciate everything that you are doing to provide quality service in such a difficult time.

As restaurants begin to open back up, it’s important to make sure the customers continue to have a stellar experience when they check out. Watch a video demo today of our outstanding POS system!

How to Reassure Your Customers in Troubling Times

Mon, 13 Apr 2020 14:45:13 GMT

Lately many news stories, articles, and blogs (including ours ) have focused on how customers can support their favorite local restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic.

There’s no doubt that many restaurants are struggling during this time, so it’s only natural that service providers and the media would want to share as much helpful information as possible.

However, we must not forget that the customers who support your restaurant also have needs right now. Whether you’re a business owner, manager, employee, or customer, we are all people, and it’s important to put people first in times like these.

So, let’s shake up the narrative a bit. In this post, we’ll share some ways your restaurant can help customers cope with the changes caused by COVID-19.

Share Frequent Updates

Many restaurants are still open for carry-out and delivery, but some have temporarily closed their doors. According to Google , there was a 285% increase in search interest for “take out” in March of 2020, due to the need for individuals and families to shelter in place. That means your customers are wondering if you are still open to offer carry-out meals. They will be searching for information they can trust, especially if they must leave their home. Help them plan their family dinner by frequently sharing updates about your restaurant. Here are some ways you can do this:

Send informational emails
Post on social media
Update your business phone voicemail message
Build a page with information on your website

Update Business Information on Google

Unless they have your website bookmarked, it is likely that your customers will turn to Google for the information they need about your restaurant. You can help them by keeping your Google business profile updated. Here are the sections you should be sure to update:

Business Name
You can temporarily edit your business name field to mention if you are offering curbside pickup, carry-out, or delivery services.
Phone Number
If you are using a different phone number for order placement, update this field.
Hours of Operation
You can set temporary special hours or implement the “temporarily closed” button provided by Google if necessary.

Don’t forget to also update your business listings on websites such as Yelp, to make sure all your customers have the most accurate information.

Inform Customers of the Safety Measures You Are Taking

Google also reported a 650% increase in search interest for “is food delivery safe” in March of 2020. This tells us that your customers want to order from you, but many may be hesitant due to safety concerns. Help your customers by reassuring them of all the precautionary measures your restaurant is taking.

You may be making an extra effort to disinfect high-touch surfaces, keeping a 6-foot distance between employees and customers, providing sick leave for employees who are feeling ill, taking employee temperatures, along with offering curbside pickup, carry-out, and delivery options during this time. If you changed how you do business in any way, make sure you inform your customers. Not only will this focused communication show them that you are taking the situation seriously, but it will help them understand what to expect when they place an order.

Connect with Other Business Owners

If you have no choice but to shut your doors during this time, you’re not the only one. Hundreds, if not thousands of small businesses and restaurants across the United States can’t operate at all right now because of COVID-19 restrictions. When these businesses close, it affects everyone in the community. Why not take this time to check in with each other? Reach out to your customers and other small business or restaurant owners in your area to ask them how they’re doing. The answer may not be a positive one, but that’s okay. If we do our best to support one another, we’ll emerge on the other side of this pandemic with a stronger community; resolved to bounce back.

Above all, remember to support one another during this time. There are so many things we can do to help each other, and it all matters. So, take the time to make sure you send or post the information about your restaurant that your customers need. This will not only help to improve your relationship, but it also helps them help you. If we all put people first, we’ll get through this together.

Check out these blog posts for more information and resources to help you through manage and adapt to the staffing and take-out orders.

Sources: Google , Moz

How to Be More Confident During an Economic Crisis

brian@aespire.com (Brian Sooy) — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 13:15:55 GMT

Being a restaurant owner can be a real challenge , especially when you've been forced to reduce your service to online and takeout service only.

When you own a restaurant, you’re in a leadership position with workers and customers alike. It’s important to reassure customers and workers that you’re committed to their health and safety at all times. As a confident leader, you demonstrate and model pride in how you operate your business.

A health and economic emergency is the time to fight for what you’ve worked so hard to build.

Here are a few tips to get you on the right track.

Be Consistent with Messaging and Marketing

Now isn’t the time to go dark. If you want your business to survive, you must invest more time and resources in constant and caring communications.

If you haven't figured out how to pivot yet, there are dozens of ideas you can try to keep your restaurant afloat. Check out this list of ideas for keeping your restaurant operating and brainstorm with your staff and partners to figure out what works in your market and with your offering.

Maintaining consistency makes your brand familiar and your restaurant more recognizable. When people are ready and able to begin going out again, be ready with specials and a manageable schedule for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that your customers can look forward to. If you have a special breakfast restaurant, advertise all of your specials as well as your regular menu items for customers who come in every day.

Understand Your Market

Look to the area where your restaurant is in and make changes to your menu, takeout offerings, and design if you feel it’s necessary. A young demographic is more likely to share appetizers with friends and enjoy cocktails while older generations will take advantage of senior discount specials and early breakfasts.

Try out different menu items to see what sells and ask your customers to give feedback on what they like or would prefer for you to do differently. Another option is to do daily specials and promotions to keep customers coming back for more.

Many restaurant owners know their POS system is the lifeline of their restaurant, and those that have online food ordering and mobile ordering in places are able to serve more customers even when their phones are busy.

Gain Respect From Your Workers and Community

In order to be a strong leader in the community that people turn to, you need to inspire your employees and the people you serve at your restaurant.

No matter the age of your audience, your customers look to you as a business owner and a friendly face who care about them as neighbors and customers. That’s what makes your restaurant a favorite, even when people can only order takeout.

Successful business owners know the ins and outs of their restaurant and are willing to learn more in order to provide the best experience for all.

Your employees should be paid fair wages and treated with the respect that will show your customers they enjoy working for you. With great customer service and delicious food, your restaurant can continue to grab attention that may end up with glowing reviews and rewards to gain new customers.

Your confidence as a leader in your community and restaurant owner will grow when you show your community that you have pride in your business and in the community where your restaurant is located.

Don’t be afraid to make changes to improve your restaurant and keep your customers and employees happy and coming back when the economy reopens.

Five Steps for Cleaning Your Touch Screens

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 20:05:05 GMT

When was the last time you cleaned the screen of your smartphone or tablet? If the answer is never or you can’t remember, you may want to keep reading.

In this post, we’ll not only share why it is important to clean your screens, but also tell you how to do so properly. Let’s get cleaning!

Why You Need to Clean Your Screens

Let’s take a moment to think about your typical week. How many different places do you go? You may travel to work, a restaurant or two, a few stores, to and from a school or daycare with your children, a gym or fitness center, or maybe even your local library. The list of places you could go in any given week is endless. Does your smartphone or other mobile device travel with you?

Most likely the answer is yes. And if you have that phone out on a table or set it on a counter at all these locations, it can quickly become a breeding ground for unwanted germs. Not to mention, a recent survey found that the average person touches their smartphone 2,617 times per day. Unless you’re washing your hands every time before touching your phone, any bacteria or germs that may be on your hands can spread to that surface.

Our smartphones aren’t the only screens that need to be cleaned. If you’re the owner of a retail store or restaurant that uses a point of sale system , it is very important to clean those screens regularly.

Your POS system might not travel, but it is touched by many people each day. During a busy day, it’s unreasonable to ask cashiers, wait staff, bartenders, managers, or anyone else who may use the POS system to wash their hands before touching the screen every time. Therefore, you need to clean it as much as possible to prevent the spread of illness and keep your operation running smoothly.

However, touch screens are made of delicate technology. You can’t simply spray it down with a multi-surface cleaner and wipe it off with any cloth. To protect and prolong the life of your POS system, you need to take special care with its cleaning. Keep reading for the proper way to clean your smartphone, tablet, and POS touch screens.

How to Clean Your Screens

Let’s start with your POS system. To effectively clean and disinfect these screens, you’ll first need to make or purchase a cleaning solution consisting of 80% alcohol and 20% water. Never use household ammonia-based glass cleaners, such as Windex, to clean your POS screen. These can destroy the screen membrane and cause permanent discoloration. You’ll also need two lint-free or microfiber cloths to wipe the surface. Once you have these supplies, follow the below cleaning process:

Power off the system and unplug it from the wall. Eliminate any residual static electricity from the computer by touching a metal part of the case, not any of the inside components. It is important to clear this static electricity first to prevent a shock to yourself or damage to the machine.
Spray your cloth with the cleaning solution. DO NOT spray the cleaning solution directly on the screen. The concentration of liquid could soak in between the thin layers and cause black spots to appear on the screen.
With a circular motion, gently wipe the screen surface to remove any dirt or residue from the glass. Using a circular motion can help prevent streaking.
Use a dry cloth to remove any moisture. DO NOT use paper towels, napkins, or tissues to dry the screen, as it could scratch.
Once the screen is completely dry, plug it back in and turn it on.

It’s as simple as that! You can use this same method to clean and disinfect your other touch screen devices, such as smartphones and tablets. You can also use simple 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes to clean these smaller, everyday devices. Always remember to unplug them from any power first!

Now, let’s talk about how often you should clean these touch screens.

How Often Should I Clean My Screens?

The short answer to this question is you should clean all screens regularly. However, in the wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the United States, you should be disinfecting and cleaning all surfaces as often as possible. Ideally, POS screens should be cleaned anytime a new user is going to log in. Sometimes this won’t be possible. In these cases, it is a good idea to keep a bottle of hand sanitizer next to the system and encourage employees to sanitize between each use.

As for personal devices, how often you clean these will depend on your habits. If you have recently been around someone who is coughing or sneezing, clean your device right away. The microscopic droplets that fall from a cough or sneeze can settle on your phone and contaminate it with illness-causing germs. However, if you haven’t been near someone who is ill and are diligently washing your hands, you won’t need to clean the screen as often.

Ultimately, it is up to you to determine how often these high-touch surface screens need to be cleaned. Use your best judgement and clean as often as you feel is necessary to protect yourself, your employees, and prevent the spread of disease.

For more tips on preventing widespread illness, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or World Health Organization .

Sources: Healthline , Touch Dynamic

How to Quickly Set Up Your Restaurant Website with Online Food Ordering

Mon, 23 Mar 2020 15:16:25 GMT

Getting an online ordering system in place is critical to help you fill orders and make the most of limited staffing.

We know you need to get a platform in place now. Your online store isn’t the same as an online ordering system and doesn’t provide the same features you need in a time like this to accept take-out orders. If you’re wondering, “How to set up online ordering for my restaurant,” follow this guide to get the recommendations you need!

There are dozens of online ordering & delivery solutions, but that may not be what you need right now. The problem is these solutions take a portion of revenue from each sale and right now, you need to capture as much revenue as possible.

Get an affordable online ordering system for restaurants for one low monthly fee

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You need a solution that will offer you commission-free online ordering that you can get set up quickly and easily, and integrate with your current website.

A solution like GloriaFood offers a commission-free online food ordering system. To get the best online ordering systems for restaurants , Total Touch Web Ordering integrates with Total Touch POS or functions as an independent restaurants online ordering system.

Online Ordering & POS Systems for Your Restaurant or Restaurant POS System

GloriaFood (easy to setup and free; quick solution)
SinglePlatform (A Trip Advisor company, free)
Total Touch Web Ordering (Contact your reseller today or contact our solutions team to get this integration up and running as quickly as possible)
Online Ordering System from the App Institute

These solutions do not include a delivery service, so this may be something you want to discuss with your restaurant customers.

Promote the New Delivery or Takeout Service

Once you have an online ordering system in place it’s important to let your community and customers know on Facebook and social media — anywhere that you have a relationship with people who look to takeout meals to maintain a sense of normal, and as a way to get with some great comfort and food from a familiar restaurant to take their mind off their worries.

We hope these solutions will inspire you with new ways to serve your customers and sustain your restaurant business.

We’re here to help you move forward. Stay strong!

Tips for Switching Your Restaurant to Carry-Out Only

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 14:02:03 GMT

Has your restaurant business been affected by changes in how people are dining out?

As the pandemic continues, local governments across the nation are calling for precautionary measures to slow the spread of illness. Unfortunately for many states, these precautions include moving dine-in restaurants to carry-out and delivery only.

This is an unprecedented situation. It has taken most restaurant owners by surprise, and left many scrambling to figure out how to keep their business running. Whether you’re already equipped to prepare carry-out and delivery orders or not, this is still a trying time for your business. We hope to ease the burden at least a little by sharing tips and insight on being a carry-out and delivery restaurant.

TIP ONE: Equip Your Business and Staff

The first step in pivoting to this temporary reality is to get your business ready. If you already offer takeout or delivery service, you will have an advantage here. If all of this is unfamiliar to your restaurant, you’ll need to bring the team together to brainstorm the best way to quickly pivot for your customers.

First, you’ll need to make sure you have the right containers for transporting food. Whether your customer comes to the restaurant to pick up their order, or you send it to them via a delivery driver, you’ll want it to stay at a safe temperature. You also need to make sure it is in a sturdy container to prevent leaks and spills. Check out stores like Costco , Sam’s Club , Walmart , and even Amazon to buy these containers in bulk.

If sustainability is a priority, Green Paper Products is a leading resource for environmentally friendly and biodegradable products for takeout and carry out.

Once you decide on the containers you need, get your staff ready for the change. If you want to offer delivery, find out who is comfortable with pivoting to delivery driver for the time being. These team members will need to be friendly and personable, as they will physically represent your business. You should also make sure they are prepared to answer questions and offer advice on storing and reheating meals. Depending on your operation, you can assign other staff members to specific roles such as taking orders, processing payments, and quality control.

Get the kitchen team together to talk about your menu, and any adjustments that may need to be made. Make sure you post the new menu on your website, social media pages, in your front window, and keep them on-hand in your restaurant for quick phone orders. Prepare hosts and servers to accept orders over the phone and help to facilitate any orders that may come in online, if you have that capability.

TIP TWO: Make Ordering Easy

We touched on this briefly above. A key factor for keeping your restaurant running efficiently will be to make ordering easy for customers. If you have a website equipped for online orders, that’s great! You’re one step ahead. If your website isn’t prepared to accept orders online, that’s okay. You can still accept phone orders and even consider accepting orders via email.

It may also be beneficial to partner with a third-party delivery service such as Uber Eats , GrubHub , or DoorDash . This will help you reach more customers and increase your delivery abilities. The more options your customers have available for placing orders, the better.

If you’re offering delivery directly through your restaurant, consider encouraging customers to place direct orders with an extra incentive. For example, free delivery within a certain distance or with an order over $50. Studies show that 80% of people are more likely to try a restaurant if a deal is being offered.

TIP THREE: Market the Change

Finally, market these changes to your customers on as many channels as possible. Customers who would typically visit your restaurant for happy hour with friends or sit down for a nice relaxing evening with a loved one will be missing you! Make sure you tell them that you are still open and eager to provide them with a delicious meal. Depending on what access and information you have, post your announcement and menu in the following ways:

On your social media pages: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
By sending emails to regular customers
With a display in the window of your restaurant
On the home page of your website
With push notifications through your mobile app

Along with marketing your temporary carry-out or delivery service, we recommend marketing gift cards if you offer them. Gift card sales are crucial to your business right now. They’re a great way for your customers to support you by giving you revenue now for a meal they will purchase later. Consider offering additional incentives or gift card bundles to encourage more customers to buy now.

Encouraging Online Ordering & Delivery Stats

The good news is. most Americans are used to ordering carry-out or delivery. Even if you haven’t offered it before, they know what to expect because most of the population orders delivery or takeout at least once a week. In fact, customers ordering delivery or takeout often spend more than they would if they dined in the restaurant. Here are some encouraging statistics regarding delivery and takeout:

60% of U.S. consumers already order delivery or takeout once a week.
34% of consumers spend at least $50 per order when ordering food online.
Working with a third-party delivery service has raised some restaurant sales by 10% - 20%.
20% of consumers say they spend more on off-premise orders than a dine-in experience.
31% of consumers say they use third-party delivery services at least twice a week.
59% of restaurant orders from millennial buyers are takeout or delivery.
Digital ordering and delivery have grown 300% faster than dine-in traffic since 2014.

Remember, your customers know that your business may be struggling, and they want to support you! Make it easy for them to find out how to order carry-out or delivery and stay in touch with them to let them know other ways they can help. We’ll get through this together!

Sources: UpServe , National Restaurant Association , GrubHub

Long-Term Contracts Could be Holding Your Restaurant Back

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 21:08:13 GMT

If you’re a budding restaurateur, the longevity of your business is probably at the top of your mind.

You want your restaurant to endure any unforeseen circumstances and see a profitable return on your investment. Because longevity is important, you may think that signing long-term contracts with vendors is the best option. After all, “long-term” means more permanence and stability, right? The truth is, signing a long-term contract typically comes with more risk than reward. Allow us to explain why.

Higher Rates

When you choose to enter a long-term contract, you may be signing yourself up to pay more than you should. What happens if the rates from your vendor, credit card processor, or point of sale solution provider start high and then decrease as time goes on? If you’ve signed a long-term contract, the fine print may state that you are locked in to those higher rates. Paying higher rates and fees can seriously impact profits for your restaurant. Instead of getting stuck with one of these multiple-year contracts, look for vendors or providers that offer shorter contracts or even month-to-month options. And remember, everyone has different contracts, so you’ll definitely want to make sure you read it thoroughly before signing.

Apathetic Customer Service

Another drawback to long-term contracts is that they are often accompanied by lackluster customer support. It may seem like customer service and contracts aren’t related, but they are. If your vendor or provider has you in a long-term contract, that often means they have heavy fees in place for dropping their services. This is typically common knowledge within the company, so everyone knows you’re not a flight risk. This can make customer service team members less motivated to work to keep your business, leaving you without the help you need in times of crisis.

Stagnant Solution

Tying your restaurant to a solitary solution can hold you back as you grow. If you sign a five-year contract with a provider when you start your business, you’ll be locked in to using those same services for that time. This is sometimes a fine option, but what happens if your restaurant takes off running? If you start growing rapidly and are stuck with a solution that doesn’t grow with you, moving forward will be a struggle. Avoid this problem by seeking a solution that includes scalable options.

The Transparent Solution You Need

We didn’t share all of this information to scare you. We simply want to do our best to keep you informed and moving toward complete restaurant business success ! If you’re in the market for a new point of sale solution, we hope you will consider Total Touch.

Total Touch is a complete point of sale and business solution for all restaurant concepts, from quick-service pizzerias to premier fine dining rooms. It’s more than a simple, secure way to accept payments. With Total Touch, you can also manage inventory, employee timecards, the kitchen, bar, and more. Take advantage of its flexibility and powerful features from the very first day you open your restaurant and you’ll be miles ahead of the competition.

Plus, our developers are constantly working to grow this solution based on the changing needs of restaurant owners like you. We seek new integrations, make frequent system updates, and more to make sure that Total Touch is a solution that will grow with your restaurant.

This complete solution offers incredible value you won’t find with Toast or Clover, including:

Choose Your Payment Processor

Total Touch integrates with most payment processors, so you can work with whomever you choose. If you don’t want to switch, you don’t have to!

Increase Profit Opportunities for Your Restaurant

If you do need a new payment processor, we recommend Electronic Merchant Systems. They are our preferred payment processor, and there are numerous advantages to partnering with both Total Touch and EMS. One of the biggest perks is that you’ll spend less time on the back-and-forth if issues arise and more time focusing on your customers!

Hybrid Server and Cloud-Based System

Total Touch operates on a hybrid server and cloud-based system, rather than a system that is exclusively cloud-based. This means you’ll experience less downtime and can stop worrying about internet interruptions or limited bandwidth.

Flexible Contracts

You won’t find any long-term contracts or hidden fees here! We offer flexible contract options that will give you peace of mind and help you focus on growing your restaurant business.

Source: Bankcard Services

Preparing Your Restaurant for a Big Event

Fri, 31 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT

Events like Mother’s Day Brunch, big wedding parties, and Super Bowl parties provide restaurants with a big boost in revenue.

However, ensuring that these events run as smooth as clockwork requires some advanced planning. If you have a big event coming up at your restaurant, here are a few tips to keep in mind as you prepare.

Making Sure There's Enough People

It’s imperative that you staff enough people for a big event . Otherwise, you’re going to have long ticket times and a lot of angry customers, customers who’ll leave negative reviews on sites like Yelp. If you’re not sure how many employees this needs to be, then look at your numbers from past rushes.

This will give you a pretty idea of the number of people you need to have on a shift. It’s also good to keep in mind that it’s better to have too many employees working a big event than not enough if you’re having trouble nailing down an exact number of employees.

Brush Up on Safety Measures

When people are busy, the likelihood of them making mistakes and having accidents goes up. Before your big event, make sure you review safety plans with the management staff and with the employees. Provide everyone with a go-to game plan just in case something goes awry.

This might look like going around and making sure everything has the correct GHS label on it. These visual aids give your employees an at-a-glance look at food safety guidelines and regulations. Putting these reminders where people can see them allows them to act more quickly should mishaps arise.

Do Extra Prep Work

The chances of you running out of stuff goes up exponentially when you have a big event in your restaurant. Any time you run out of supplies, your workflow suffers. The only way to lessen the chances of this happening is to over-prepare and overstock.

For example, if your restaurant uses rolled silverware, then make sure that your staff makes lots of extra silverware rolls. Additionally, set them up with extra napkins and utensils so that if you do run out of rolled silverware, they’ll have the raw materials they need to make more.

Big events at restaurants are often stressful. However, the amount of prep work you do ahead of time can lessen some of the stress that naturally occurs with these events.

Scheduling enough employees, reviewing safety plans, and doing extra food and restaurant prep helps to cut down on the mishaps that inevitably come with a big restaurant rush. Doing these things will help to make sure your customers have a great experience at your big event.

What to Look for at the 2020 Mid-America Restaurant Expo

Wed, 29 Jan 2020 14:13:30 GMT

What to Look for at the Mid-America Restaurant Expo

This year’s Mid-America Restaurant Expo promises to be a fantastic couple of days for restaurant industry experts, exhibitors, and operators from across the Midwest region. This is an industry-only event and is not open to the general public. If you’re not an industry professional, you may want to go back to our home page because this post is about to get tempting!

About the Show

The Mid-America Restaurant Expo will be held February 23-24, 2020 , at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio . As we mentioned before, the expo will attract 4,000+ experts, exhibitors, and operators from the region. These professionals will gather to discuss the latest trends and topics affecting the restaurant industry.

The exhibit hall at the expo will showcase the newest equipment and tools created specifically for restaurants, in addition to the most innovative food and beverage products available. And yes, there will be plenty of samples – keep reading for more info! The expo will also feature 50+ educational seminars, which are available to all attendees.

Eat, Drink, and be Merry!

Plenty of restaurant owners and operators will be attend this year’s Mid-America Restaurant Expo, ready to share samples and discuss their culinary creations. Check out these specialty areas to learn more about emerging companies in the industry:

Tour the Exhibit Hall

Between bites or sips, don’t forget to walk the exhibit hall floor and check out the hundreds of booths! The show floor will be open on Sunday, February 23rd from 10am – 5pm and Monday, February 24th from 10am – 4pm for your enjoyment. Vendors from every nook and cranny of the industry will be in attendance, including those representing:

Appetizers & Snack Foods
Baked Goods
Food - All Kinds
Cleaning Equipment & Supplies
Computers/POS (come see Total Touch at Booth #345!)
Cooking & Prep Equipment
Decor & Furnishings
Ingredients & Supplies
Professional Services
Signage & Banners
Technology
New Innovations

Visit the Total Touch team at Booth #345 and check out our new booth design! To view the full exhibit hall map, click here .

Attend a Seminar or Demonstration

For no additional charge, Mid-America Restaurant Expo attendees will have full access to more than 50 educational seminars and demonstrations. This year’s programming focuses on the innovation, technology, and trends that are currently transforming the food service industry. Click here to view the full agenda! You can also browse this year’s featured speakers here .

Visit Total Touch at Booth #345

Total Touch® is a powerful, uncomplicated point of sale software designed to help you achieve your primary goal – to deliver the best dining experience possible. Our solution is equipped to support all kinds of restaurants, from quick-service pizzerias to premier fine dining rooms. Manage and schedule employees, run reports, enter orders, accept payments, and more with this intuitive solution!

The benefits of Total Touch include, but are certainly not limited to:

Cloud-based Reporting – this new feature allows you to access real-time analytics for your restaurant anytime, anywhere.
Open Table Management – manage tables, servers, and improve guest experience.
Simple, Easy-to-Use Interface – keep your staff focused on customers instead of fighting with a complicated system.
Gift Cards and Loyalty Programs – integrate your gift and loyalty programs to reward customers and keep them coming back for more.
Online and Mobile Ordering – increase satisfaction, sales, and reduce order errors.
Pre-Authorize Bar Tabs – ensure bartenders accurately charge customers to keep profits healthy.
Kitchen Display System – receive support for KDS and expo kitchen printing.
Payment Options – deliver customer-first service with options such as splitting checks by seat.
Employee Management – manage employee permissions, schedule staff, and track time from any terminal.

If you have questions about the expo, check out their list of FAQs here. To schedule a time to meet up with the Total Touch team, contact us today!

Above all, have a great time, make connections, and learn as much as you can at the 2020 Mid-America Restaurant Expo. We’ll see you there!

How to Determine Where Your Restaurant Should Be Located

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 15:29:48 GMT

Building and launching a new restaurant business is an exciting venture, especially when you feel confident in the menu, restaurant concept, or catering services you intend to offer.

Choosing a storefront location and where your restaurant should be located is one of the most important decisions you will make as the owner of a restaurant. Knowing how to determine where your restaurant should be located can drastically improve your chances of achieving success.

Is Competition Nearby?

Spend time scoping out the competition you have in the neighborhood of the locations you are interested in using for your restaurant. If a location is already saturated with the same business model or type of restaurant you are considering, consider an alternative spot to get your brand off the ground.

Not only is it important to check for local and online competition using search engines, but it is also advisable to spend time researching local restaurants and competition in person, as not all brands have an active and updated online presence.

Consider Foot Traffic

Consider the foot traffic in the areas you are interested in using for your restaurant. Research income generated in different cities and counties to find a location that is on the rise.

The last thing you want is to end up in a location where your target market can’t find your business. You’ll want to make sure that you find a location where you can get the most foot traffic and highest visibility possible for your restaurant so you can be more successful.

Which Type of Business?

It is important to keep the type of business you intend to launch in mind when choosing a location that is likely to allow your restaurant busines to thrive. There are various types of restaurant franchises to consider if you are planning to invest in a franchise in your local area.

Be sure to gather data on specific existing franchises and business types in your target location to ensure that your business plan and model is unique, appealing, and relevant to the demographic.

Proximity to Other Businesses

Building a restaurant in an area that is in close proximity to other businesses is one way to quickly garner interest in the concept or brand you are attempting to create. Building a restaurant in a rural area or in a space that is devoid of foot traffic and other businesses can quickly lead to a negative and drastic impact on your company’s overall profitability.

Knowing how to best determine where your business should be located is key to truly finding success in any market or industry. With the right location, attract traffic and spread the word of your restaurant and brand to the target demographic and audience you have in mind.

Read more here: How Focusing on the Local Scene Can Help Your Restaurant Grow

Four Ways to Encourage Restaurant Employees to Clean More Often

Mon, 20 Jan 2020 13:31:16 GMT

One of the key requirements of running a successful restaurant business is being able to keep it clean and sanitized at all times. Without proper sanitation practices, your restaurant will lose customers, and you could put yourself in danger of being shut down by inspection authorities. Your employees are a vital cog in your efforts to keep your restaurant sparkly and shiny. Here are four ways that you can encourage them to clean more often.

1. Bonus Incentives

It is no secret that one of the best motivators is money. Setting goals and offering bonus incentives is an ideal way to encourage employees to step up and clean more regularly. Performing random cleaning checks is an easy way to monitor how workers are performing. A solid incentive program will also boost company morale.

You can make it more fun by making it a healthy competition between the employees. If you do not want to offer money as a bonus, you can offer incentives such as gift cards or other types of prizes.

Encourage Ownership

Encouraging ownership over their work will make employees feel more valued and empower them to take pride in their cleanliness. You can make your workers feel more in charge by giving them a say over their schedule. Giving them this freedom will ensure that they feel as if their contributions matter, and they are all part of a collaborative team.

Task Lists

Before you can expect your employees to practice exceptional cleaning habits, you need to provide them with the proper direction. Creating task lists will serve as a guiding framework so that your employees will clean more. It's important to clean kitchens often since 73% of serious food safety issues go unresolved. Formal task lists will also give employees structured goals to strive to attain.

Provide Positive Affirmation

You should never discount the power of your words. It is vital that employees know when their managers take notice of their hard work. Providing positive affirmation for a job well done will go a long way in making sure that your employees feel valued. This feeling of worth will translate into motivation for your staff to continue to work hard to keep the restaurant clean.

Keeping your restaurant clean is very important. With the right motivation and rewards system, you can encourage your employees to do their part in maintaining a clean restaurant environment. This will go a long way to ensuring the success of your business and keeping your customers satisfied their food is prepared and served in a clean environment.

How Gift Cards Can Help Boost Restaurant Sales

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 17:50:54 GMT

Your restaurant provides people with something they need, and we’re not just talking about food and water.

When days are busy and your customers are feeling weary, they need a place to rest and refuel.

As they sit at your table and enjoy the soup of the day or a cheesy, melty sandwich, imagine if they looked up to see a tasteful display of gift cards . Perhaps that combined with the tasty lunch makes them think of a friend who would enjoy your restaurant. So, they purchase a gift card on the way out the door. In this situation, you’ve doubled your sales from one customer. Just imagine how much your profits could grow if others followed suit.

Dream sales scenarios like this don’t happen without effort on your part. To truly impress your customers and inspire them to purchase that gift card, you need to offer the best experience possible.

What do customers see when they walk in the door? Is your restaurant clean and inviting, or is there an atmosphere of complete chaos? Are they greeted at the door, or do they have to search for the host or hostess? These factors and more contribute to the guest experience of your restaurant. Offering great experiences is one of the best ways to help build customer loyalty and generate positive buzz in your area.

Why You Need to Sell Gift Cards at Your Restaurant

When a customer wants to give a gift that’s a little more personal than cash, they will often choose to purchase a gift card. This goes for all types of businesses - restaurants, retail stores, grocery stores, and more.

While the holidays are typically the most popular time for gift card purchases, customers look for gift cards throughout the year. They can be purchased for special occasions like weddings, birthdays, or graduations, but also just as a “thinking of you” gift. And that’s not all. A recent study found that 64% of consumers bought a gift card for themselves in 2018.

Why do consumers choose to purchase gift cards for themselves? Well, many gift cards today can be linked to loyalty programs. The issuing store or restaurant can then offer discounts and incentives to those who choose to continually load a gift card and use it as their form of payment. To learn more about linking your gift and loyalty program, contact Electronic Merchant Systems !

So, why does your restaurant need to offer gift cards? In the interest of reading time, we’ll just say this: gift cards are a simple, risk-free way to grow profits .

When a customer purchases a gift card from your restaurant, they essentially pre-pay for a future purchase. Sometimes, that future purchase is never made, which means you keep all the gift card amount as profit. Alternatively, most customers who pay with a gift card will end up spending more than their gift card is worth – about $59 more, according to a 2018 study.

Check out these other gift card statistics:

44% of consumers say they visited a new store or restaurant because they had a gift card
54% of consumers expect to purchase a gift card from a restaurant or coffee shop
8 in 10 consumers expect to purchase more than one gift card at a time
Gift cards are the most requested gift

Have we convinced you yet?

How to Promote Your Gift Cards

Now that you see why your restaurant needs to sell gift cards , let’s look at some ideas for how to promote them.

1. Hold a Contest

Everyone likes free stuff, especially if they win it! Try holding a contest for every customer who purchases a gift card. You don’t have to give away a free car or anything extravagant, just put together a basket of goodies from your restaurant or an appealing discount offer. Then, ask each customer who purchases a gift card to write down their name and phone number or email address to be contacted if they win. (Side note: be sure to keep their information on file after the contest is over. It may come in handy for future marketing purposes!)

2. Create an Eye-Catching Design

Grab the attention of your customers with unique, attractive gift card designs. It’s a good idea to invest in new cards as the seasons change, to keep the look fresh and interesting. Remember, the cards will represent your restaurant, so make sure they include your logo and colors. If you need help creating the perfect design, contact the creative professionals at Electronic Merchant Systems. They will be happy to assist you with a custom design.

3. Incentivize Employees

Create a little friendly competition among your employees by offering a reward or prize for the person who sells the most gift cards. Again, the prize doesn’t have to be extravagant, just something special to recognize their hard work. This is a great way to keep servers engaged with customers throughout their work day and bring in additional revenue for your restaurant.

4. Offer a Great Value

Customers love contests, but they also love discounts and promotions. Especially during busy gift-card-buying seasons like the holidays or graduation time, offer additional value with your gift cards. Some examples of this could be:

15% off a meal with purchase of a gift card
Buy $200 worth of gift cards, get a $25 card for free
Buy three gift cards, get one free
Get a $60 gift card for $50

Valuable promotions like these give customers who may be on the fence about purchasing a reason to get that gift card. There’s no arguing with a great deal!

Increase Profits with Gift Cards

If you’re looking for an easy way to boost profits for your restaurant, gift cards may be the answer. Remember, to inspire customers to buy those cards you will first need to delight them with a great experience. Combine these strategies, and you’ll be on your way to sweet restaurant success.

Want more tips on building a successful restaurant business? Click here !

Sources: UpServe , Restaurant Dive , Toast

How Focusing on the Local Scene Can Help Your Restaurant Grow

brian@aespire.com (Brian Sooy) — Mon, 23 Dec 2019 13:56:03 GMT

When you’re a restaurant owner, you know that promotion is an important part of the job.

For many owners, it's easy to get so caught up with promotion and marketing that you forget to reach out to local customers. Here are a few ways to connect with your local scene to grow your business in terms of both sales and positive reputation.

Connecting to Community

Getting involved with your local community is important. But how do you do it? If you're in a larger town or city, see if your location is involved in First Fridays . First Fridays are held, as the name suggests, on the first Friday of each month. During these events, many restaurants opt to have sampling booths outside of the restaurant, and many also have dinner specials. First Fridays also offer arts-based businesses an opportunity to connect with the public, making this event a great way to potentially connect with your local community on a large scale.

You also can host your own event or make sure you have a business presence at regular community events. Most festivals and parades give businesses the opportunity to have a tent or booth. Attending events gives your business more reach, and customers who try your food might eventually visit your restaurant.

Showing Up

In the digital age, many people use Google maps and similar services to find new places to eat. But if your business doesn’t have a strong presence here (or worse, if your business doesn’t show up at all), you’ll have a hard time reaching customers. Google maps marketing is a great way to make sure that you show up online for customers looking for your restaurant specifically and those just looking to try something new. Showing up on maps as more than just a pin can help attract customers who are looking for your restaurant.

In addition, it may be wise to consider listing your restaurant on GrubHub, Postmates, or one of the many other online services. These options effectively make it so customers can have your food delivered to them, without you needing to budget for delivery drivers. Of course, whether you choose this option will depend on the kind of restaurant you run. If your business is primarily a bar or a fine dining establishment, you may not want to deliver.

Community Service

This may sound like an unusual example, but when the public has a very positive opinion of your restaurant, it can go a long way towards drawing new customers. There are many ways your restaurant might be able to serve the community. One option is to donate food to a local shelter. This doesn't have to be an extremely large or ongoing donation, but offering food to those who need it will make your business look like a good corporate citizen. In some cases, donations like these draw press coverage, which is effectively free advertising, too.

Another way to connect with the community is by offering discounts for veterans, first responders, etc. Whether you choose a day a month or even a day a year to offer discounts, your business will show that you appreciate people who make sacrifices for the community. As it is with many promotional discounts, people who discover your restaurant through a promotion may be more likely to come back in the future .

Another service you may not have thought of is donating food to community events. If your community has 5Ks or other events, local businesses are sometimes invited to supply food. This may help you get your business name out into the public sphere.

Include Locally Sourced Foods

If you can, incorporating locally grown and sourced foods into your menu is a great way to connect with your local scene. This method also supports your local economy and other business owners. If you aren't sure if you want to commit to this method, you can always start small by only choosing an ingredient or two to include. For example, making a dish out of a locally grown vegetable is a good place to start. If your advertisement mentions local foods, this may mean more business automatically. A significant portion of people say they specifically look for local ingredients when choosing a place to eat.

This method of connection also makes it easier for you and other local businesses to cross-promote. Your menu might mention the farm that grew the ingredients you use and in turn, the farm can mention your restaurant in brochures, at farmers market displays, and more.

Being a newer business can be daunting. As you work to develop and tweak your marketing strategy, making sure that you tap into the local scene is an essential way to make your restaurant stand out. By making a plan and systematically reaching out to your community, your restaurant will be well along the way to even greater success.

10 of the Best Restaurants in Austin, Texas

Fri, 20 Dec 2019 14:24:10 GMT

Are you looking for somewhere great to eat in the Austin area?

Well, we’ve got some good news for you. There is no shortage of colorful dining spots and flavorful creations in the capital of the great state of Texas. Whether you’re in the mood for pizza, southern cuisine, creative Japanese fusion or some good old-fashioned barbecue, Austin has got you covered.

Here are ten of the top restaurants in the area.

1. Franklin Barbecue

900 E. 11th Street
Austin, TX 78702

As far as Texas barbecue goes, award-winning chef Aaron Franklin is a meat wizard. People from all over the country flock to this iconic, smoky meat house for a taste of the famous, melt-in-your-mouth brisket.

2. Bufalina

1519 E. Cesar Chavez Street
Austin, TX 78702

If you’re looking for that traditional Neapolitan-style pie, Bufalina comes highly recommended. The combination of wood-fired crust, fresh toppings, and mozzarella will be your new slice of heaven.

3. Kemuri Tatsu-Ya

2713 E. 2nd Street
Austin, TX 78702

Kemuri Tatsu-Ya serves creative and tasty Japanese dishes with a Texas barbecue influence. The menu features plenty of ramen options along with a dynamic and flavorful “smoked” section for adventurous eaters.

4. Emmer & Rye

51 Rainey Street, #110
Austin, TX 78701

If you want to try new American cuisine served in an inventive way, stop by Emmer & Rye. This restaurant opened in late 2015 and serves tapas and small plates in a dim sum style.

5. Uchi

801 South Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78704

Got a hankering for the best sushi in town? Head over to Uchi (or its sister restaurant, Uchiko) for fresh sushi infused with classic Texas flavors.

6. Olamaie

1610 San Antonio Street
Austin, TX 78701

If you are looking for some classic southern comfort food served with a fine dining flare, this is the place to be. Celebrated chef Michael Fojtasek and his team take the classics to new heights at Olamaie. Plus, we hear the biscuits are some of the best in Austin.

7. The Peached Tortilla

5520 Burnet Road, Suite 100
Austin, TX 78756

This food-truck-turned-restaurant offers simple southern comfort food with an Asian twist. The colorful and flavorful menu features special southern favorites, along with plenty of tacos, salads, curries, and rice bowls.

8. Contigo

2027 Anchor Lane
Austin, TX 78723

Check out Contigo if you need a place that’s great for the whole family! Well-known for their classic burgers and bar snacks, this restaurant also offers a kids happy hour where you can enjoy a $2 drink menu and kids meals at half price.

9. Dai Due

2406 Manor Road
Austin, TX 78722

Need a meat feast? Head over to Dai Due for a hearty dinner that is tastefully regionally-sourced and incredibly delicious. The menu also features empanadas and other lighter fare if you’re not in the mood for Texas meats.

10. The Salty Sow

1917 Manor Road
Austin, TX 78722

An American Gastropub with locations in Austin and Phoenix, The Salty Sow is a great place for a night out with friends. The culinary team at this Austin favorite serve “swine, wine, and beer” along with hand-crafted cocktails.

Hungry for More?

We bet this list of ten restaurants made you hungry, but did it also spark inspiration? If you’re an aspiring restaurateur yourself, these establishments can be great role models for your business to emulate. They all bring something unique to the Austin food scene, and you can too.

Starting a restaurant business is no simple task. You’ll need plenty of support to get started and build to success. That’s where we come in!

A reliable, easy-to-use point of sale system is essential for the profitability and overall success of these Austin restaurants. Total Touch® is a powerful, easy-to-use point of sale solution that goes beyond classic systems. It is designed to meet the distinct management and operational needs of restaurant owners, including payment acceptance, back office management, inventory control, scheduling, and more. This is the preferred POS solution for any Austin restaurant, from quick-service pizza joints to premier fine dining spots.

Total Touch is offered by Electronic Merchant Systems , a leading payment processing and merchant services provider. That means any restaurant that chooses Total Touch also has the option to utilize EMS’ payment processing. With one company supplying both system and service, you’ll never have to wonder where to turn for support for your new restaurant.

Are you already working with a payment processor you trust?

That’s no problem. The Total Touch system is compatible with most merchant service providers, which puts you in total control of your payment processing. If you don’t want to switch processors, you don’t have to.

The Big Picture

All this talk of point of sale solutions and payment processing may be a bit premature right now, but we’re just so excited about the opportunities in front of you.

Many important decisions lie ahead. Let’s take a step back for a moment and think about the big picture of your new restaurant. What will you serve? Who are you hoping to attract? What will set you apart from the competition? Click the links below for additional resources to help you get started on this journey.

Your Complete Guide to Restaurant Business Success

How to Avoid Overspending on Your New Restaurant

Total Touch Answers 8 Questions All Restaurant Owners Should Ask

When you’re ready to talk about getting paid, be sure to contact us !

Sources: Culture Trip , Food Network , Thrillist , Austin360eats , Eater Austin

How Can You Determine Realistic Production Goals for Your Restaurant?

Fri, 13 Dec 2019 16:50:58 GMT

Running a restaurant is a fast-paced and rewarding experience. It’s such a thrill to run your own business and this field of work especially allows you to serve customers the way you want. Whether you’ve just started out or you’ve been in business for a while, it’s important to set realistic production goals for your restaurant. After all, these goals will determine your profits and success.

What's the Demand?

There are many ways to determine your restaurant’s demand. We recommend you start by examining the sales trends you’ve been experiencing. You may find there are days of the week that are more popular than others. Typically weekends will be busier than weeknights, but what’s outside of the usual weekend crowd? If you see a spike in traffic on Wednesdays at 3pm or for lunch on Mondays, think about whether you have been running promotions or special items on those days. This can help you determine some of your most popular dishes and discounts. Capitalize on that research by creating a realistic production goal.

How Much Food Can Your Restaurant Make?

How long is your customer waiting from the moment they order to the moment they receive their food? Your restaurant’s rate of production needs to match the customer’s demand. In the manufacturing industry, this is called takt time . Takt time in manufacturing is the average time between the start of production of one unit to the start of production of the next unit, when production is set to match the rate of customer demand.

For this post, we’ll consider takt time as the turnaround time for each table. To determine accurate wait times for your hungry guests, find the average amount of time that occurs between the start of production for one table and the start of the next table. Your takt time needs to be up to speed with your customer demand to run an efficient restaurant. If you calculate takt time and find that customers are waiting longer than usual, that may indicate that you need to add staff or improve overall efficiency in your kitchen.

Even if you have the fastest kitchen around, you can’t effectively reduce your customer’s wait time without also minimizing mistakes. With quality point of sale (POS) software, you can create a seamless production line between your front-of-house and kitchen staff. Intuitive, easy-to-use software (like Total Touch®) can provide your employees with a clear reference for their tasks and even help them increase productivity and minimize mistakes. When you have systems set in place to document your efficiency, you will gain a better understanding of how much you can produce.

What Can You Afford?

Regardless of the type of food you’re serving, you have to think about the costs associated with each meal. If you’re running a special that will require you to invest in higher quality cuts of meat or a specialized product that you don’t use often, you should especially think about the costs. To avoid overbuying, try marketing these special meals as “exclusive” or “limited time only”, and just serve them until the ingredients run out. Thoughtfully marketing these special meals can increase demand and help you maintain profitability.

It’s important to set realistic production goals for your restaurant. If you need help managing these goals, contact us today!

How to Avoid Overspending on Your New Restaurant

brian@aespire.com (Brian Sooy) — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 13:41:14 GMT

Most restaurant owners start with a dream.

They dream of creating an incredible menu, hiring impeccable staff, and filling the restaurant with only the best décor and atmosphere to help draw customers from far away. With research, planning, and a whole lot of hard work, you can make your restaurant dream a reality.

Then they ask: How much does it cost to start a restaurant?

In this post, we will discuss the five ways in which new restaurant owners tend to overspend. Be conscious of these and aware of your bottom line, and you’ll be well on your way to successfully opening your restaurant.

Five Ways Restauranteurs Typically Overspend

The average cost to start a restaurant can range between a few thousand to a few million dollars. According to a survey from RestaurantOwner.com, the median cost for a restaurant startup is $375,500; which equates to about $3,586 per seat. If these figures seem overwhelming to you, you’re not alone. Most restaurant owners who participated in the survey estimated that these median costs were 15% over their projected budget.

Before you start planning to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to get your new restaurant up and running, let’s look at some ways to keep control of your budget.

1. Equipment

Be careful not to overspend when purchasing equipment. Investigate second-hand options, do some shopping online, and buy only what you need to get started. You can always add more equipment as you start gaining revenue. If you know your restaurant is going to need more expensive equipment to operate properly, you may want to look into financing options to reduce the risk of overspending.

2. Technology

It’s a necessity in today’s world, but purchasing and maintaining high-end restaurant technology can be expensive. Before you decide to make the investment, build a list of the tech you want and prioritize that list. What is essential to the everyday operation of your business? The most important technology to invest in is probably a bookkeeping system and point of sale system. Total Touch ® is a great point of sale solution, with affordable pricing options!

3. Sales & Marketing

If you’re unfamiliar with marketing, you could easily overspend while trying to get the word out about your restaurant. Often new restaurant owners either get coerced into an agency contract or hire expensive advertising agencies to do their marketing. There’s nothing wrong with hiring an agency to market your restaurant, but if you’re trying not to overspend you may want to look into other options. You can start building buzz for your restaurant yourself by posting on social media, creating low-cost Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram ads, or even go old school and start handing out flyers.

4. Construction & Décor

This is arguably the most fun part of bringing your restaurant dream to life. Through construction/remodeling and decorating, you can truly make your restaurant whatever you want it to be. But, of course, creating perfection comes with a price. Construction expenses can add up quickly, especially if you run into an unforeseen problem. Make sure to account for the unexpected when planning your construction budget, as more often than not you will experience something unplanned. When choosing your décor, keep in mind that a few high-impact elements can be more effective (and cost-efficient) than a myriad of small items.

5. Food

The most important part of any restaurant is the food. After all, it’s the reason you’re in business! It can be easy to overbuy when it comes to ingredients, but with careful planning and budgeting, you can manage your food expenses so you actually make a profit at the end of the day. First, don’t be swindled by a fancy food vendor. Think local! You’ll probably find fresher ingredients from your local farmers, plus customers are often drawn to locally-sourced ingredients. Reach out to farmers and suppliers to establish relationships and lock in pricing that works for everyone. Next, identify areas of waste by monitoring what food is left uneaten, and perhaps consider changing your portion sizes. Finally, weigh everything before you make your purchase. Fresh fruits and vegetables won’t last all week, so make sure you purchase an appropriate amount and don’t end up throwing money in the trash.

Affordable, Powerful Point of Sale Software

We mentioned it before, but it bears repeating – the most important technology to invest in for your restaurant is a point of sale system. Our powerful, easy-to-use restaurant point of sale solution, Total Touch , helps restaurant owners like you increase sales and manage your restaurant. It is designed to meet your distinct management and operational needs, including payment acceptance, back office management, inventory control, scheduling, and more. Total Touch is equipped to support a variety of restaurants, from quick-service pizza joints to premier fine dining spots. The system is also compatible with most merchant service providers, which puts you in total control of your payment processing. (If you haven’t chosen a payment processor yet, we recommend Electronic Merchant Systems !)

Additional benefits of Total Touch include:

Open Table Management – manage tables, servers, and improve guest experience.
Simple, Easy-to-use Interface – keep your staff focused on customers and not fighting with a complicated system.
Gift Cards and Loyalty Programs – integrated features to reward customers and keep them coming back.
Online and Mobile Ordering – increase sales and reduce order errors.
Pre-authorize Bar Tabs – ensure bartenders charge the customer correctly to keep profits healthy.
Kitchen Display System – support for KDS and expo kitchen printing.
Payment Options – options for customer-first service, such as splitting checks by seat .
Employee Management – manage employee permissions, schedule staff, and track time from any terminal.

To learn more about building and managing your restaurant with Total Touch point of sale software, contact us today!

How to Grow Sales in Your Sushi Restaurant

brian@aespire.com (Brian Sooy) — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 12:18:05 GMT

Is it your dream to open a sushi restaurant?

That’s an exciting and achievable dream, as long as you do diligent research beforehand and set S.M.A.R.T (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, timely) goals for yourself. In this post, we’ll review some factors that are specifically important for sushi restaurants, and how a Total Touch point of sale system can help your business thrive. Let’s roll!

Factors that Can Make or Break Your Sushi Restaurant

Sushi is one of the most popular international dishes in the United States. In fact, there are more than 4,000 sushi restaurants across the country, each with something unique to offer hungry diners. Although it was introduced to western culture shortly after World War II, sushi did not start gaining true popularity until the late 1960s .

Throughout the years, the sushi and Japanese restaurant industry in the United States has seen its share of praise and aversion. Much of this aversion has been due to cases of illness caused by consuming raw fish. This brings us to the first important factor to keep in mind when starting your sushi restaurant – food safety.

Choose a Local Supplier for Seafood Safety

Because many of your sushi shop dishes will include raw fish, it’s important to make sure that you work with food distributors who practice safe food handling. According to KaTom Restaurant Supply , “The most reliable way to source safe, fresh seafood is to get to know your supplier”. If possible, choose a local Japanese restaurant supplier that only handles seafood. This may come with an added expense, but it’s best for you and your customers in the long run. It’s also a good idea to build a positive relationship with your supplier and understand how they handle the fish, crab, and shrimp before you receive it.

Licenses and Permits

To own a sushi shop, you will be required to have more licenses and permits than a typical business. This is because you’ll be serving a raw seafood menu.

You’ll need general business licenses, an Employer ID Number from the IRS, and worker’s compensation insurance through your state. These are required for all businesses.

You will also need to obtain food-specific permits such as a food handler’s license, register with the Department of Health, and will be required to have beer and liquor licenses if you plan to serve those items. Research the requirements for your state to make sure you are properly licensed-up before opening your doors.

Equipment to Build Your Sushi Restaurant

All restaurants need the proper equipment to serve their diners the best possible meal. However, your essential equipment will vary from that of other restaurants because of the nature of your menu. Consider purchasing the following equipment:

A sushi case with refrigeration
Cutting boards
Japanese knives (deba and sashimi knives are designed for preparing fish)
Rice cooker
Deep fryer if you plan to serve tempura or other fried dishes
Wok range and woks if you plan to serve traditional stir fry
Grill and broiler for preparing meats

Hire an Experienced Chef

A talented chef who has sushi industry experience will be imperative to your restaurant. It takes many years for a chef to learn skills needed to prepare sushi properly and handle raw ingredients. You’ll want to make sure you hire a chef with plenty of creativity and experience to help train future staff and keep your restaurant running smoothly.

Create a Marketing Plan for your Sushi Restaurant

If you think creating a marketing plan for your sushi restaurant is overwhelming, these resources can get you started:

How to Build a Customized Menu & Grow Your Sushi Restaurant

To have the very best chance at success, you need a comprehensive point of sale system designed to serve sushi restaurants. Total Touch® is a powerful, simple point of sale solution that is designed to help you manage your business and provide the best dining experience possible. Keep reading to discover a few of the ways this point of sale solution can help you build a customized menu and ultimately grow your sushi business.

How will you attract sushi lovers and give them a dining experience that makes them want to return? One way is through offering a unique, build-your-own sushi menu . That way, your diners can order exactly what they are craving. However, customized orders can get tricky if your POS isn’t properly equipped for customizable meals. Orders can be confused and miscommunications can happen, which can end up being a dangerous liability, especially if the customer has a food allergy.

Total Touch allows you to build and customize your sushi or seafood menu within the software. This will especially come in handy for your restaurant because it will allow your customers to create their perfect sushi roll, completely hassle-free! Plus, you are in control of the custom options within your menu, which will make the order process faster and help to eliminate communication issues. All these features and more are designed to grow your restaurant and sales! Click here to visit the Total Touch POS YouTube channel and watch our tutorials on building your menu and adding custom modifiers.

Total Touch is also equipped to serve you and your customers in the current socially distant climate. We offer integrated solutions for online ordering and delivery, along with order and pay-at-the-table technology. These features are designed to help your restaurant increase efficiency and improve profit, but more importantly, to safely serve your customers.

For more tips to help your restaurant business navigate current challenges, check out these posts:

Would you like to learn more about Total Touch and how it can help your sushi restaurant thrive? Contact us or find your nearest Dealer today!

Sources: KaTom Restaurant Supply , Roka Akor , URoll Sushi

Total Touch Answers 8 Questions All Restaurant Owners Should Ask

brian@aespire.com (Brian Sooy) — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 15:52:28 GMT

A powerful point of sale system is the key to a well-managed and successful restaurant.

It’s the central hub through which orders are entered, tickets are printed, payments are accepted, employees are managed, and more. If you’re just starting out or need a new system, how can you be sure your new POS won’t flop?

According to a recent article by Reforming Retail , there are eight attributes to look for when choosing your next POS partner. If you get positive answers to all of these questions, there’s a good indication your partnership will be successful. If not, maybe try doing a bit more research before making a commitment.

Before you sign that contract, Reforming Retail recommends that you consider the following questions:

Is your POS company shipping new code often?
Is your POS company actively investing in a stable API and are integrations financially onerous?
How does the POS company work with partners and what solutions do they prefer you source from them?
Does the POS only offer one payments processing option?
Does the POS boast “Free POS”?
How does the POS company handle their mistakes?
What does the POS company do with your data?
Does the POS offer offline and online capabilities?

There you have it. End of blog post!

We’re joking, of course. We couldn’t simply leave you with a bunch of unanswered questions to research for yourself! That’s extra work you don’t need on your plate. In this post, we will answer these eight questions for you as they relate to Total Touch.

1. Is your POS company shipping new code often?

We believe your POS system should be more than just a system, it should be a solution backed by powerful software. As such, Total Touch is a complete POS software solution designed to not only process payments, but help you effectively manage your restaurant. We consistently monitor the software and present version updates and improvements to keep your restaurant running as smoothly as possible.

2. Is your POS company actively investing in a stable API and are integrations financially onerous?

An important part of our job at Total Touch is to make sure your payment processing equipment is as secure as possible for you and your customers. As such, we do invest in a stable API, because we know it’s in the best interests of our merchants. Total Touch also provides opportunities for easily and affordably integrating your loyalty program and more. If you need to integrate something new to your system, just let us know and we can help provide a solution.

3. How does the POS company work with partners and what solutions do they prefer you source from them?

The most important partner for your POS company to have is probably a payment processor. After all, you want to make sure you get paid for the food and service you offer. Total Touch does have a payment processing partner, Electronic Merchant Systems (EMS). We highly recommend using EMS as your payment processor, as they have some of the best 24/7/365 customer support available in the industry. However, if you prefer to stick with your current processor, you can do so with Total Touch. Our system is compatible with most payment processors.

4. Does the POS only offer one payments processing option?

Nope! The Total Touch POS system is equipped to handle all payment types, from cash, check, credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, and more. As long as your payment processor supports the payment type, Total Touch can handle it.

5. Does the POS boast “Free POS”?

We cannot tell a lie. No, Total Touch is not free, and we don’t market it as such. However, it is a very affordable solution that can help improve the profitability of your restaurant. Find a dealer near you to learn more about Total Touch and pricing options for your restaurant.

6. How does the POS company handle their mistakes?

We proudly uphold the values of integrity, transparency, and professionalism. If we make a mistake with your Total Touch system, please let us know and we will do everything in our power to make it right.

7. What does the POS company do with your data?

The only thing we do with your data and your customers’ data is keep it safe. Our payment processing partner, EMS, is fully PCI-compliant and has been for over a decade. If you choose Total Touch and EMS, you can rest assured that all payment data and personal information is securely managed.

8. Does the POS offer offline and online capabilities?

Yes! Total Touch is both cloud and server-based. This means you’ll never experience system downtime during an internet interruption, but can also access reports from anywhere. It’s the best of both worlds!

We hope that this helps you in your search for the next great POS system for your restaurant. If you have any questions about our answers to these questions or would like to learn more about Total Touch, please contact us .

3 must-have strategies for restaurant marketing

brian@aespire.com (Brian Sooy) — Mon, 07 Oct 2019 14:38:54 GMT

We know marketing and managing a restaurant can be hard

These three tips will help you make it easier.

First, you NEED email to be part of your marketing mix. No exceptions

According to the Digital Marketing Association, for every $1 you spend on email marketing, you can expect an average return of $32.

When you're trying to get the attention of new customers, how do you write the perfect email subject line?

Check out the 6 best practices for writing the perfect email subject line from Convince and Convert.

Second, marketers should pay attention to TikTok

If you have a smartphone with a video camera, you can create quick, simple videos that start to grow your audience.

Michael Stetzner shared this gem on the Social Media Marketing Podcast :

“In spite of having only six followers, her first video was viewed by 9,400 people by the next day. She immediately saw a big opportunity in TikTok that neither Facebook nor Instagram can deliver.”

Third, you need to create a loyalty program

When you offer visitors a free purchase or discount for visiting a certain number of times, or discounts on gift cards so they “pre-pay” their dining, customers are sure to come back again and again!

If creating a strategy for unique restaurant promotion ideas for marketing your restaurant seems overwhelming, don’t give up! From Sushi restaurants to fine dining, you can increase restaurant guest retention and grow your restaurant business when you start with what you can manage.

Bonus tip: According to Sprout Social, “With more than 200 million posts tagged #food and 23 million with #drinks, food and beverage photos are easily some of the most popular types of content on Instagram. It’s very likely that your customers are posting with or without your interaction.”

You can’t afford to not be active on social media. Check out Sprout Social’s Complete Guide to Social Media for Restaurants & Bars .

How to Choose an Awesome POS Partner

brian@aespire.com (Brian Sooy) — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 18:28:12 GMT

A reliable, easy-to-use point of sale system is essential for the profitability and overall success of any restaurant.

Gone are the days of cash-only ice cream shops where every server had the menu memorized and calculated the amount and change due by hand or with a traditional cash register. There are very few food service establishments left without the ability to process credit cards, and even fewer without some type of point of sale system (and cash registers don’t count!).

If you are a cash register dealer or point of sale reseller (or plan to become one), you provide restaurants with the system and service that they can’t do business without. You care about your customers and their restaurants, so you want to provide them with the best solution for their operation.

If you’re not sure how to choose an awesome POS partner, you found the right post. We have plenty of first-hand knowledge when it comes to both point of sale systems and successful business partnerships. Read on to learn about the top qualities to look for in a POS partner.

Persistent Innovation:

A clear sign of a quality partner is persistent innovation. If the POS provider you are considering has a proven record of reinvesting in their product, making improvements, and offering updates, that is a good indication that they would be a profitable partner. Successful innovators are constantly watching the industry and monitoring the needs of restaurants and diners alike. The ability to serve restaurants and meet demands when they arise turns POS providers like these into industry-leading companies.

Consistent, Reputable Profit Margins:

Analyze the profit margins of your potential POS partner. Surely you want to be paid fairly for your work, and you should! Choose a partner with a healthy profit margin. Some companies have better margins than others, so you’ll want to make sure the company you choose has a commission structure that suits you.

Don’t Fight for Customers:

Your POS partner should be just that – a partner – not a competitor. Sometimes choosing a partner who also tries to sell to end users can be frustrating, and you can find yourself competing for the same business. Your partnership should allow the POS provider to sell through you, and offer you compensation for those sales. Make sure your partner plans to sell through dealers like you only, or to different regions beyond your reach.

Strengthen Your Portfolio:

Choose a POS partner that offers high-quality products to complement and enhance your portfolio. With a bigger selection of products, you’ll be able to serve more and different kinds of customers. You can also ensure that your customers will have access to additional tools that all integrate into their POS system. You may even be able to bundle items to offer your customers a better value for their business and increase sales for yourself.

High-Quality Support:

If a potential POS partner does not offer their own technical support – run far away. If a problem arises, you don’t want to be left to search for someone else who can provide support. The extra time wasted on searching could cost you in missed sales opportunities. Plus, where will your customers turn if they need technical assistance? Probably to you, so you want to be prepared to assist them. Select a partner who will be able to provide you and your customers with high-quality, fast support.

Marketing Assistance:

You have a lot on your plate, and don’t have time to worry about creating marketing materials to help sell your products. Marketing is its own job, often handled by many different people. When you’re looking for a partner, find one that will offer marketing assistance. Some companies can provide you with printed materials, branded email templates, web pages, or even promotional items to help you make the sale.

Payment Processing:

Finally, look for a POS partner that also offers payment processing services. By trusting one source for both services, you’ll spend less time communicating back and forth between the two when you have an interested merchant. In turn, the merchant will spend less time making phone calls back and forth if an issue arises with their system.

Why Choose Total Touch?

If you’re looking to upgrade your traditional cash register or start new with a POS system that will meet all of these awesome partner qualities, we’ve got it! Total Touch is a powerful, easy-to-use point of sale solution that goes beyond classic systems. It is designed to meet the distinct management and operational needs of restaurant owners, including payment acceptance, back office management, inventory control, scheduling, and more. Total Touch is the preferred POS system for a variety of restaurants, from quick-service pizza joints to premier fine dining spots.

Total Touch is offered by Electronic Merchant Systems , a leading payment processing and merchant services provider. That means any restaurant that chooses Total Touch also has the option to utilize EMS’ payment processing. With one company supplying both system and service, restaurant owners will never have to wonder where they should turn.

Plus, you look like a true expert who offers only the best of both POS software and payment processing. However, if your customer already has a payment processor that they trust and doesn’t want to switch, Total Touch can accommodate that as well. The system is compatible with most merchant service providers, which puts the restaurant owner in total control of their payment processing.

Additional benefits of Total Touch include"

Open Table Management – manage tables, servers, and improve guest experience.
Simple, Easy-to-use Interface – keep staff focused on the customer and not fighting with a complicated system.
Gift Cards and Loyalty Programs – integrated features to reward customers and keep them coming back.
Online and Mobile Ordering – increase sales and reduce order errors.
Pre-authorize Bar Tabs – ensure bartenders charge the customer correctly to keep profits healthy.
Kitchen Display System – support for KDS and expo kitchen printing.
Payment Options – options for customer-first service, such as splitting checks by seat.
Employee Management – manage employee permissions, schedule staff, and track time from any terminal.

To learn more about the Total Touch system or to become a Dealer, contact us today!

Increase Restaurant Sales When you Boost Customer Loyalty

brian@aespire.com (Brian Sooy) — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 20:06:31 GMT

There’s also never been more competition for your restaurant customer’s loyalty

That’s why it’s so important to set your restaurant up for success and avoid costly mistakes.

Focusing on your guests first can help generate new, loyal customers whose business you can count on over and over again. Here’s how you can win the loyalty battle:

1. Make Your Restaurant a Social Experience

Some things just go better together. The same goes for dining and socialization.

Punch Bowl Social discovered the secret of turning dining into a social experience. People love good food paired with good conversation. That’s why it’s important to figure out how your restaurant can be conversation-friendly so the stories, jokes, and ideas your diners want to share with each other during mealtime aren’t drowned out by loud music or an overly-attentive server.

The secret? It’s all about human interaction .

Relationship-building happens everywhere: it’s essential to encourage conversation on your social media channels. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to neglect your Facebook page. (Or worse, to not have one at all.)

If you’re too busy to manage your social media channels by yourself, find someone on your team who is passionate about connecting with customers online. Make sure he or she understands how to leverage paid social marketing to gain and retain customers

2. Dig Deeper Than Guest Check Average

As a restaurateur, you know how important it is to keep tabs on your guest check average But, that’s not the only stat you should be monitoring. Your guest check average is just that — an average.

This number alone doesn’t provide the insight you need to act on if you want to find new opportunities for increasing sales.

Dig deeper. Ask questions like:

How many apps and entrées did you sell?
What about desserts, bottles of wine, or craft beers?
What sells the most, and of those, which are most profitable?

Now, put this insight into action. For example, if you notice that dessert sales are lower than expected, ask your servers if they’re offering dessert to every customer, every time .

3. Delight Customers During the Entire Dining Experience

From the moment a customer arrives at your restaurant to the moment they leave, it’s important to offer a memorable and satisfying experience.

Many restaurant owners overlook the brief moments just before a customer steps back out into the world. We’re talking about the checkout process . These days, it goes far beyond your standard restaurant credit card processing systems to the options your customers expect, like split checks, split items, and splitting items by seat.

While the process is not necessarily glamorous, nothing leaves a more bitter taste in a customer’s mouths than when their swipe or dip doesn’t work as expected — or if they have to wait 20 minutes while you figure out how to split their check .

What if the payment process could be more than expected and one final opportunity to delight your customer?

The last experience your customer has in your restaurant is the checkout process. When a guest feels like the checkout process is tedious, a great meal can turn into a bad memory.

For example, the lunch crowd is notoriously strapped for time—especially when the meal is over and diners are trying to make a quick exit. Even if you’ve done everything right so far, each second spent waiting for the check can feel like an eternity for the customer.

Why not let them pay for their meals right there at the table, using a feature like Total Touch POS EMV or contactless checkout ?

Not only will they appreciate the time savings, they’ll also leave your restaurant on one final high note — and perhaps share their experience with their friends!

Three Ways Your Policies and POS Impact Guest Experience

brian@aespire.com (Brian Sooy) — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 19:16:40 GMT

What three things go wrong before the guest opens your menu?

As we opened our menus for a pre-theatre meal at a fine dining establishment, one line of copy caught my eye. Little did I know it would foreshadow our checkout experience and haunt us more than two weeks after our evening out.

“20% gratuity automatically added to checks. No more than two checks per table. Tax included in all item prices.”

On this particular evening our party consisted of two couples — so we didn’t give it much thought —until our check arrived.

Why Your Management Policies Turn Your Guests Away

Your Policies Turn Diners Off

A “20% gratuity automatically added to checks” policy sends a signal to guests that you expect them to tip handsomely, regardless of the quality of service. That type of policy makes guests nervous about the experience, even before the server takes their order.
A “No more than two checks per table” policy also sends a signal: “We’re going to do what’s convenient for us, not the guest.”

I can’t think of a quicker way to encourage guests to not return.

You Make Guests Wait for Their Check

The checkout process is the last – and at times the most memorable part of a guest’s dining experience – for all the wrong reasons.

We were presented with one check which the server left at our table before dashing off to another table. After a few minutes, we looked at it and realized it wasn’t split.

When the server returned, we requested that they split the check, to which they reluctantly agreed. Then we waited, and waited, and waited…

Your POS Can’t Split Checks

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the server standing at the POS for several minutes, obviously struggling to split the check.

At first one, then a second manager joined the conversation, all struggling to find a solution.

Guests expect that you can split the check, by seat, and at times by item. Diners want the convenience a modern POS can offer, from split checks to other flexible payment options for customer-first service.

Over 15 minutes later the server returned apologetically with our check, presumably split. The split wasn’t quite right, but it was close enough and by now were running late to the show.

The checkout experience is the last experience your customer has when they visit your restaurant. What impression do you want them to leave with?

You Won’t Believe What Happened Next

Two weeks later, our credit card statement arrived. We were surprised to find a double charge on our card, for twice the amount of our meal. We think it was the other couple’s meal charged to our credit card!

What could have been a great night out was now a series of bad memories about the restaurant and the checkout process.

It could have been so much better for the restaurant manager and our party if they had made a different choice for a point of sale system that’s designed with the customer in mind.

Your choice of a restaurant point of sale system can help delight your customers when your policies and checkout deliver a positive experience with no surprises.

Total Touch Can Help You Deliver Exceptional Dining Experiences

If you’re looking to give your restaurant an extra edge, Total Touch Point of Sale can help you increase sales, manage your restaurant, and avoid creating unpleasant customer experience like I had.

Learn how Total Touch helps you sell more and deliver the best dining experience when you schedule a demo today.

3 Promotion Ideas to Help Your Restaurant Stand Out

brian@aespire.com (Brian Sooy) — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 18:46:09 GMT

You’re up at dawn and managing your restaurant until late in the day.

With so many dining options competing for diner’s attention, you might be asking yourself how to market your restaurant to gain a competitive edge and attract new customers.

With new establishments popping up every month, it can be hard to get your message in front of the people who love the food you serve. In a noisy marketplace, how can customers hear your voice and enjoy the dining experience you offer?

We will leave you in charge of the food and share some unique restaurant promotion ideas you can use to attract and retain a larger customer base.

Marketing your restaurant effectively depends on how you engage potential customers in unique and memorable ways. Here are three restaurant promotion ideas to use for your business.

1. Start with High Quality Photography

How often to you visit a restaurant and end up ordering something you saw in a photo?

How often do your guests post photos of the food they enjoy?

Researchers say that people eat with their eyes first, so it makes sense to share high quality photos of your food. A high-quality photo helps people envision an experience and make a great first impression.

“As a chef, I won’t get a second opportunity to make a first impression. A badly presented meal will set the mood for the rest of the customer’s dining experience.”
— Jason Ford, Ford on Food

To take full advantage of this promotion idea, we recommend posting your photos on a regular schedule. And the best part? You don’t have to use a professional photographer to capture the character of your food. The mobile phone in your pocket takes beautiful photos, especially when you follow our tips for lighting and composition.

Follow these few quick tips to help people imagine what your food will taste like when they see it with their eyes:

Use natural lighting
Try strong color contrast
Incorporate a simple background
Remember the rule of thirds: Place the hero of your photo 1/3 of the way from top, bottom or sides — not the center
Tile your camera slightly to create drama in the photo
Have only one point of focus (your food!)
Take photos of your dishes paired with a recommended beverage

How can you market your restaurant even more with this strategy?

When you post your photos on social media, include hashtags. Hashtags help other people find your photos and your restaurant, leading to a more effective social media presence and interest from prospective customers.

Don’t forget to feature your food photos on Yelp, Trip Advisor, and of course your Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Bonus tip: Encourage your guest to post their photos of your food. Place a table tent on the table with a hashtag that references your restaurant. It’s part of the experience!

2. Grow your Audience with Food Bloggers and Influencers

You could have the best food in town, but if people aren’t hearing about it, it’s bound to hurt your business. One of our favorite restaurant promotion ideas is to invite food bloggers to visit your restaurant and share their experience to create buzz about your business. There is no shortage of food bloggers who love to experience the cuisine you have to offer.

First, do a little research to find food bloggers in your area that have interest in the type of food you offer. When you identify your best prospects, invite them to your restaurant and entice them with a free meal, dessert, or appetizer. Be sure to ask them if they would like to objectively review your restaurant and share their experience online.

For example, standing out in the restaurant industry can be as simple as having the right endorsements from influential people in Nashville. Since there are plenty of food bloggers that have large followings, one review can have a large impact on your business.

If you’re asking yourself how to market your restaurant, finding food influencers is a great place to start.

3. Sponsor a Social Media Contest

From Yelp to Instagram, so much of the restaurant promotion scene involves social media, but simply posting sometimes isn’t enough. This restaurant promotion idea takes that inspiration and turns it into a social media contest.

Contests are a great way to keep your customer base engaged with and encourage loyalty for your restaurant when they aren’t there.

Getting started is easy. We recommend using Instagram, given the importance of photos when it comes to the food industry. Think about how you want to engage your audience.

For example, if you want people to be more engaged with your food, create a photo contest where your followers compete to take the best picture of your food and share it with a hashtag like #instafood that you can track. Check out the most popular hashtags and give your posts a boost!

To be successful, this idea requires you to offer some kind of incentive for participation. When you promise the winner a gift card and a special shout out from your business, they’ll enjoy their next meal and 15 minutes of fame!

An extra benefit of social media contests is that you’ll get tons of great content that can help fuel any other unique restaurant promotions ideas you come up with on your own. For example, you could use the customer photos from your contest and update your menu. Crediting the images on your menu to real customers creates a deeper level of engagement that other restaurants might not have.

Bonus tip: One restaurant and brewery in the Midwest encourages patrons to take selfies wearing a shirt from the restaurant when they travel. Guests have shared photos from as far away as Barcelona, Spain; The Arctic Circle; and Singapore. Combine this idea with a social media contest, and you’ll have lots to talk about when they visit!

Grow Your Business with a Restaurant Loyalty Program

brian@aespire.com (Brian Sooy) — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 17:25:43 GMT

Build a Strong Customer Base with Loyalty Programs

How do you make your restaurant a local favorite?

To build a base of returning customers for your bar or restaurant, make an effort to reward your most loyal guests so you can make a long-term impact on your bottom line.

Guests who have previously dined at your restaurant are 60 percent more likely to return at least one more time.

The statistics don’t lie. Many restaurants put customer retention on the back burner and focus their time on bringing in new customers.

New customers are essential to the bottom line of a thriving restaurant, but it’s only one side of the coin for restaurant owners.

What Does it Really Cost to Attract New Customers?

Trying to recruit new customers is five times more expensive than retaining your current customers.

What’s more, trying to establish loyalty between you and a new customer is 16 times more costly than focusing on the relationship between you and existing customers.

What can you learn from these compelling statistics?

Brand loyalty is powerful . To tap into brand loyalty, begin nurturing a following of loyal customers through customer loyalty programs.

Three Top Loyalty Program Benefits

Loyalty Programs Make Your Restaurant More Competitive . Did you know that over 70 percent of customers make their choices based the loyalty program offered? Customer loyalty programs give you an edge over the competition by attracting new customers and retaining them.
Loyalty Programs Build Trust. Cost-conscious consumers are more focused than ever before on supporting brands they can trust. A loyalty program sends the message that you care about your guests and want to reward them for choosing you. When you build long-term relationships, it helps you establish trust and share gratitude.
L oyalty Programs Improve Your Bottom Line. Customer loyalty programs can have a significant impact on your restaurant’s bottom line. A small lift in customer retention can make a measurable increase in your company’s profit.

Customer Loyalty Program Ideas for Your Business

Loyalty programs have the potential to offer both you and your guests a variety of benefits.

What sort of loyalty program is right for your restaurant? Think about your guests and what they expect, and get started with these five ideas for restaurant loyalty programs:

Start a Mobile Loyalty Program for Online Ordering and Customer Engagement : A mobile program lets you easily reach your customers on their mobile devices anywhere. It’s quick, convenient, and gives you the chance to target special offers to specific audiences.
Promotional Gifts and Incentives with Purchase : This is a great idea to use during the holidays when everyone is hungry after a long day shopping. A free gift for guests who visit at this otherwise busy time of year gets your customers excited and keeps your business top of mind.
Loyalty Points Rewards System : If your restaurant business has a high frequency of returning guests, a points system is a great way to go. It’s low-risk, flexible, and makes it fun for your customers as they earn and spend points.
Gift Cards : Smart restaurant owners take advantage of gift card sales. When a guest pre-purchases the dining experience, they’re more likely to return because it’s convenient, and in their mind their meal is pre-paid.
Referral Programs : Give customers discounts and exclusive rewards for referring new guests. Referrals bring in new customers (since people trust recommendations from friends and family) and encourages your current customers to bring their friends for a memorable dining experience.

The added benefit to loyalty programs is the intangible benefit of creating community. When you get to know your frequent guests and continue to delight them, they share about the great experience you give them. It’s a win for everybody!