If you’re a cafe owner, there’s a common problem you probably run into on a regular basis. Namely, your customers have a few complaints for you! And you’ll notice that these complaints tend to have things in common as well.
Maybe there’s not enough tables to sit at? Maybe your cafe has been called ‘dirty’ before by more than one person? Or maybe your customers have an issue with the price you’ve set for your products?
These things can all be run of the mill in the food sector, but they can reveal an insight into how customer focused your cafe really is.
If that’s something you’d like to investigate, and even try to improve on, we’ve got a few key tips for you. Check them out.
Signpost as Clearly as Possible
Many cafes allow their customers to ‘self serve’ in some way or another. For example, if they want to add sugar to their cup of coffee, they can grab packets of it from a station somewhere in the dining area. However, whilst this may be obvious to you, it’s not necessarily obvious to them!
That’s why you need clear signposting within your cafe. Let customers know what they can do whilst on the premises, and make sure they know where the toilet is. Similarly, if you operate on a clearing system in which customers take part, make sure you clearly signpost where they need to take their trays or throw away their waste when they’re done.
Keep the Line Moving
If the line takes a lot of time to work through, not only are you dropping the ball on your customer focus, but you’re making the job hard for your employees as well. And the best way to keep the line moving? Invest in equipment that works fast and efficiently.
If you allow people to order teas and coffees, make sure you’ve bought from a line of commercial coffee machines that are known for increasing customer flow. If you allow customers to ask for their pastries to be warmed up before serving, invest in a commercial oven unit that keeps the reheating time low.
Prioritise Hygienic Design
Food establishments need to be clean places. And most of them are, yours included. However, they also need to give the impression of cleanliness as well. Someone needs to walk in and immediately be comforted by the interior design, whether it’s cosy and chic or minimal and spacious
To do that, materials you use, furniture you place, and lighting you hang needs to feed into this hygienic design. From your flooring to your wallpaper, to the texture of the chairs or booths you’ve set up, everything needs to help create this clean and approachable design.
Tables that have interesting varnish patterns are good in theory, but they can often be confused with actual stains!
Putting a new emphasis on your cafe’s customer focus will always benefit you. Use ideas like these to make customers feel more valued.
