Innventive News

10 ways to DOUBLE your wine sales this Christmas

Friday, July 13, 2012

Too busy to work smart? Even the best of us are so close to our business, we just can't see how to increase our sales and profitability. But it's not too late to finalise your Christmas plans and go for an all out DOUBLING of your usual December wine sales by following these tips:

 

  1. Make sure your wine list is FOCUSSED, SEASONAL and PROFITABLE - rationalise, go for spicy, warming reds and sparking and whites that are targeted to your best (usually female!) buyers. Get rid now of any poor selling and low profit lines, or you can always sell them as 'Bin Ends' in January.
  1. Ask your wine supplier for a low cost red that's going to make your MULLED WINE the best (and most profitable!) in the area.
  2. TRADE UP on a focussed, streamlined 'Wine by the Glass' list. Every grape and style should have an even better and £2 or so more expensive option. Again, get rid of low selling, low profit lines or they will cost you dearly.
  3. PROMOTE your Christmas Wine Specials everywhere, especially on Party Packs sent to all bookings, smart 'table talkers', framed pictures in the loos and with Party pre-order inducements.
  4. Join the 21st Century and offer a TAKE AWAY wine list. Why should your customers have to buy from the local supermarket? Box and wrap up 'Christmas Sixes', offer free tastings and carry the boxes to their cars!
  5. Promote a CHRISTMAS WINE SALE every Saturday afternoon in December. Turn your regulars and festive shoppers into raving fans.
  6. TRAIN and coach your staff in talking to your customers about their favourite wines, giving tasters and suggesting a take away.
  7. If you haven't got one already, promote your new WINE CLUB, especially tastings and dinners for the usually quiet months of January and February.
  8. Offer free WINE TASTINGS to all guests, not just party organisers. The chances are high on them 'trying & buying' and joining your Wine Club and could even incentivise last minute party bookings.
  9. Last but not least, splash out on a few ever so special FINE WINES. Bordeaux, Champagne, top end Australia must be offered in order to be sold!

You're probably doing some of the above already. If not, give your regional Innventive Project Manager a call. Peter Austen, FBII, is based in Oxfordshire and has wine sales coaching skills that are unbeatable, long lasting and fun.
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Friday, July 13, 2012

10 ways to DOUBLE your wine sales this Christmas

Too busy to work smart? Even the best of us are so close to our business, we just can't see how to increase our sales and profitability. But it's not too late to finalise your Christmas plans and go for an all out DOUBLING of your usual December wine sales by following these tips:

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Friday, July 13, 2012

10 'Bums on Seats' Tips for THIS weekend...

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Fill your restaurant!

An efficient bookings system will allow the kitchen and restaurant to operate effectively and profitably, maximising your trade over potentially busy weekends.

Of course we appreciate that every business is different, and what works well in one restaurant may not suit another, but here are just 10 tips from over 100 we have, from our experiences in top performing restaurants:


1. Confirm your weekend bookings – isn't it frustrating when customers don’t show up? Why not call them on the day to confirm, perhaps suggesting where to park, encouraging them to contact you if their circumstances change?


2. Have a waiting list- if you're already fully booked, then your staff team MUST start a waiting list so that, in the event of cancellations, you can contact potential eager customers.


3. Use Social Media – create a buzz by broadcasting last minute availability for free, quickly, to your regulars on Twitter and Facebook.


4. Online bookings- if you haven't got it already, consider an online bookings facility; an increasing number of surfers will only book online.


5. Introduce a “friends” scheme- if your regular customers bring along friends, then incentivise them further and reward them!


6. Stagger your bookings- avoid filling your restaurant at 8pm. All top operators stagger their booking times throughout the evening, improving overall service and re-selling each table at least twice!


7. Convert enquiries into bookings - develop your staff team to convert enquiries by phone and in person into confirmed bookings.


8. Encourage 'Walk-in' trade- always encourage booking in advance, but let everyone know of potential quieter dining times and encourage them to still walk in - they can always wait with a drink in the bar!


9. Early evening deal - quiet in the early evening? Then consider an early evening reduced price menu that will tempt people in, creating the vital early evening “buzz” in an otherwise quiet restaurant, which is a great first impression for any walk-in customer.


10. Manage group bookings – don’t allow a booked table of 10 to arrive as a table of 6 and leave you with empty chairs. Some operators charge seat deposits, but it's so much 'softer' to just stay in touch with the organiser on the day and ensure that final numbers are confirmed.


These 10 Points are just a taste of the Innventive 1 Day Restaurant Managers' Academy, which we deliver on site for as little as £295, plus VAT. 


PHONE US NOW on 07770 653138 or click here to enquire for more details.
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