First impressions matter

Strewn coffee cups and plates scattered everywhere; bins, beer kegs and chipping paint… Just some of the things that you might see when you walk into a venue to eat in any town in any place. 
 
I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that first impressions count, but think of this more like a gentle reminder that they absolutely do and always will. When was the last time that you walked into your business and saw it as a customer does? 

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When was the last time you were objective of how your venue presents from start to finish? Generally, something that is forefront in your mind when you first start or renovate a venue but after some time, weeks, months, years standards start to slide.
 
When we are at a place every day, we often get comfortable with the surroundings, we forget about the boxes of wine stacked in the hallways on the way to the bathrooms or bins around the side of our venue in plain sight of the customer walking in.
 
They become normal, but here’s what’s not normal – It’s not normal for the customer to see these things. Especially if they are approaching your venue for the very first time. Things like windows that need a clean, paint that is stripping from your skirting boards and clutter are evident to your customers.
 
Much like people who are getting a house ready for sale need to do a spring clean of sorts and remove clutter to make the place more visually appealing; so, do venues that deal with customers on a day to day basis.
 
We recommend to our clients to try and approach your venue like a customer would every six months minimum. This means getting your management crew together and walking into the venue like a customer.
 
Through your front doors, sit down at a table, do a wine tasting, use the bathrooms etc. and see how it looks. How it feels, smells and is it a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Take a note pad a pen with you and be as objective as possible to everything in and directly around your establishment.
 
And it might not be the things you see at first glance when you are standing behind the bar, running around in the kitchen so forth, these things might not become visible until you sit down and eat, or have someone pour wine for you.
 
So, when was the last time you entered your business like a customer?
 
KB