Restaurant Promotion Idea # 31 – Unique and Useful Corporate Gifts

Unique and Useful Corporate Gifts to Impress your Customers

  Everyone loves receiving gifts how small it may be and giving out little gifts with the company logo is a norm nowadays. So it’s important to give gifts that your customer will eventually use for some time. Most companies give out pens, calendars and key chains. But with the dawn of affordable tablets and smart phones, most of these gifts are obsolete, especially the calendar. Most people nowadays have a smart phone and all smart phones have some sort calendar in them or you can get one on Google Play store. Therefore, I feel the best gifts should be centered around the mobile phone as almost every one owns a smart phone. Here are a few gift ideas that I have seen and have received.

One Touch Silicon Phone Stand

I got this little gadget together with the phone cover that I purchased online. What this is is a flat piece of silicone and steel that you stick to the back of your smart phone. As it is thin and small it’s hardly noticeable. If you press the middle of the gadget it will curl up into a C. You can rest your phone on it to enjoy hands free viewing. This is a not too expensive gifts for your customers and also quite useful. Put your logo and website on it and it will be an instant advertising tool for your restaurant.

Smart Wallet Mobile Card Holder

This was given free by our beer supplier Guinness Anchor. It’s a sleeve that you stick to the back of your mobile phone. Here your customers can place anything from their ID, business cards, bus pass, library pass to even key cards. As for you, there is a place where you can prominently display your business logo or advertising slogan.

Also read please click Restaurant Promotion Idea #10. Unique Gift Ideas

Selfie Sticks

Recently I read an article on hotels renting, loaning or giving out selfie sticks to their guest. I think if you have the budget, then this would b a great gift for your regular customers. Taking selfies and having a selfie stick is the in thing nowadays. So why don't you capitalize on this before the fad disappears. You can put your website address on the stick and even hold a selfie photography contest on facebook, instagram or even tweeter.

World Adapter and USB Charger

This is another great gift if you have the budget. I received his gift from a friend who was attached to the Kaspersky Anti Virus Company. This is a very useful gadget if you are always on the move, traveling from country to country. I receive this give about a year ago and I am still using it. So you can imagine how your customers will feel if they receives one of these.


Aritcle spource ;-Restaurant Promotion Idea # 31 – Unique and Useful Corporate Gifts

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Restaurant Promotion Ideas # 27 – Year End Holiday Gift for your Customers

With the closing of the year, a lot of business will be looking for appreciation gifts for their customers and regulars. Searching the web, you will find a number of organizations offering to create some sort of year end gifts with your logo on it. For small business owners who are scrambling to meet year-end commitments and running the day to day operations, finding just the right gift for your customers can be overwhelming. But you can still give out memorable year end or thank you gifts. One way is to make it your self. Search the web for ideas, there are various ideas that you and your staff can create by yourselves. Below are some of the ideas. I have done two of it myself and the rest I plan to implement it soon.

To know more, please CLICK HERE

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7 Habits of Unsuccessful People – Sam Breen

Guest post from Sam Breen, at The Gentleman Life

You want to be successful. I want to be successful. I want you to be successful. And I want you to want to be successful.

So, I took a little inspiration from Stephen R. Covey’s book and added a little twist and instead I have listed 7 habits of unsuccessful people, the habits that are holding you back.

Holding you back from what? You may be asking at this point. The answer:

What you want. What you desire. Your life purpose.

I don’t care what it is, if you completely remove the following habits, you can have whatever you want in life.

Habits are patterns of behavior and they can be hard to break. But taking action and applying self-discipline will help you overcome even the most deeply ingrained habits.

You have to practice the habit consciously before it becomes an unconscious effort (when it becomes easy) there is a great quote I love, although I can’t remember from whom I read it. It goes like this:

"Firstly, you form your success habits and then, you let them form you.”

If you know who it was, comment and let me know because I’d love to give the appropriate credit. What that means is, after you put in all the conscious effort to make your habit truly effortless, they will form you into an entirely different, more successful person.

Maxwell Maltz stated in his amazing book “Psycho-cybernetics” that habits usually take 21 days to form. Other psychologists have agreed and of course, some have disagreed.

Me? I’m a bit dubious that you can fully form a new habit, and replace an old one in 21 days. In my experience it takes longer than 21 days, depending on the habit you are trying to create and how deeply rooted it is into your behavior.

My advice would be to practice your new habit for 60 days, even if you feel it has become a habit before then, carry it on so the habit becomes stronger and stronger thus making them harder to break.

So, onto the list of habits you need to BREAK!

1. Judging others

People who judge other people are only projecting their insecurities onto the world. People who are comfortable in their own skin have no reason to judge others, they just let them do what they do.

The mental energy that you put into judging other people could be used for a more productive purpose. Instead, Why not take a look at yourself, objectively look at your weaknesses and see how you can change them into strengths? Or take a look are your strengths and see how you can make them even better.

Focus on yourself, and your own success and not other peoples.

“What you eat don’t make me shit” – J Cole

Also, the negative feelings you feel towards other people manifest to more negativity in your life. Positivity is the way forward, my friend. Spread the love.

2. Being selfish

If you haven’t read Adam Grant’s book ‘Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success’ I would recommend that you do.

The basis behind the book is simple. Be selfless and help people without wanting anything in return. It’s a simple idea that has a powerful effect because everyone out there is out to get; thus, you immediately stand out if you just give for no reason.

There are very few people who give just to give. Most people only give on a quid pro quo basis.

For the book, Grant did a whole lot of research that found the selfless people (Givers) always out perform the selfish people (Takers) in all industries.

Although, you should never exhaust yourself with too much giving. Grant recommends you have a specified day in which you do all your selfless acts. This way you stick on your own life’s path and are able to accomplish the things you want to accomplish.

If you do too much giving you can find yourself without time to achieve your own goals. It’s not selfish to have your own success as a priority.

3. Procrastination

There is a really great point I want to make. I’ll get to it later.

Just kidding.

Now or never.

This is an obvious barrier to success and it’s the biggest reason that dreams are not fulfilled.

People put off overcoming procrastination. Don’t get me started on the irony of that. It’s time to get up off your ass and achieve all the goals you are destined to achieve.

Start now by watching videos of successful people to help motivate you. Then, treat procrastination as a muscle that you need to develop.

You never train a muscle by doing the heaviest weight in the gym if you’ve never trained before. Why? Because you won’t be able to life it.

The same is with procrastination. Don’t try to go from being a couch potato from ultra-productive overnight. Slowly and gradually build up your workload and you’ll find that in a month or two, you have completely banished procrastination from your life.

To know the balance 4 hanits of Unsuccessul People please click here 7 Habits of Unsuccessful People – Sam Breen


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8 Ways to Live in 'THE ZONE'

Samurai warriors were without a doubt some of the fiercest fighters who ever existed. The key to the samurai’s incredible fighting ability was the complete elimination of their fear of death and their complete focus on being in the present moment.

They did this by entirely de-energizing their fear of death. If a person in a fighting situation is distracted by thoughts of being hurt or dying, he will be the loser. Samurai warriors were unencumbered by these fears and were courageous in the face of the unknown. In short, they were empowered by a lack of fear, and this allowed them to completely focus, react and stay in the present moment. They fought without hesitation and with complete confidence.

They were “IN THE ZONE”, they “OWNED THE ZONE”.

To know the 8 ways to live in "THE ZONE" please CLICK HERE

6 Ideas to Turn Your Restaurant Employees into Rock Stars

  

Every bar or restaurant owner understands how critical their employees’ performance are to their business. Just watch any episode of Restaurant Stakeout on the Food Network, and you’ll see all of the things that can go wrong inside restaurants when trouble employees act inappropriately on the job, such as stealing, drinking, or treating customers poorly when nobody is around to see them in action. 

Hopefully, you aren’t among the statistics of bar and restaurant owners which have had to deal with any of these tough scenarios. But even if you have stellar employees, everyone needs some motivation, encouragement and mentorship along the way to help them continually go above and beyond to exceed your and your customers’ expectations. Here are 6 Smart Ideas to help turn your employees into ROCK STARS!   

1) Get them involved in your business and let them know their opinions and ideas matter: Employees who care about your restaurant will be only more empowered to excel in their job if given an opportunity to participate in the strategic vision of your bar or restaurant. For instance, create a “Suggestion Box” asking employees to submit their suggestions or new ideas that will foster improvements and positive change for your business. Then show that their voices are being heard by implementing those changes and recognizing the employee who came up with the idea, such as a new promotion or menu item. 

2) Reward star employees for a job well done: If an employee shows exemplary customer service or management skills, for example, reward them with promotions, bonuses or other perks to let them know that their efforts are appreciated. Even a small gesture such as recognizing an employee with a Visa gift card and honor of “Employee of the Month” will go a long way in making that individual feel appreciated for their job well done. 

3) Lead by example: As the owner or manager of your bar or restaurant, it’s your responsibility to lead by example. Conduct your business and employee management matters in the same top-notch way that you would expect your employees to act. That means being present, accountable and accessible to employees with needs, concerns or ideas to share. 

4) Be transparent: Your staff will care more about your business if you give them an inside track into how the business is doing, the good and the bad. Hold regular weekly staff meetings to discuss overall operational or management problems, sales performance, financial outlooks, etc. Get employees involved in the problems and ultimately the solutions. 

5) Treat everyone equally and with equal respect: In a National Restaurant Association article contributed by Career Builder, entitled, Keep Restaurant Employees Motivated, this point was clearly emphasized as a must-have tool for improving restaurant employees’ performance. The article states: inconsistency and favoritism can kill employee morale. Treat workers equally, and do things as promised so they know what’s expected.

6) Have some fun along the way: Live by the philosophy of “Work Hard, Play Hard.” Your employees work hard and long hours, so it’s important to give them a break some times and an outlet to have fun at work. Consider organizing staff events or outings, “Movie night”, “Baseball night,” etc. Or close out your bar or restaurant once or twice a year for employee and friends-only events and parties.   Your employees are the lifeblood of your bar or restaurant. Treat them well and it will surely pay off for your business and your customers! 

Article source :- 6 Ideas to Turn Your Restaurant Employees into Rock Stars   

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Customer Service Tip-When a Customer walks through the Door

Great Customer Service begins at the Door Good customer service isn’t only about painting a smile on your face and performing certain plastic and rehearsed actions. Guest and customers can quickly and easily see through these feeble attempts at niceness. In order for you to build a Great Customer Service culture in your establishment, you need to constantly train your employees so as the Great Customer Culture comes naturally to them. Read more here, please CLICK HERE    


 



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This book says everything I have always believed. Its not only the Chef that makes a restaurant successful. The wait staff is also important. Most successful restaurants all have one thing in common... They provide customer service which exceeds their customer's expectations!

From the statistics below you will see why its so important Well, consider these statistics from the White House Office of Consumer Affairs in Washington, DC... For every complaint you're aware of, there are 26 additional customers who have unresolved problems or complaints... A dissatisfied customer will tell 9 to 15 people about their displeasure and sometimes they will tell as many as 20.

On the other hand, this same group also found... Up to 96% of customers would do business with you again if they felt you acted quickly and to their satisfaction and many said they would refer other people. On average, happy customers will tell 4-6 people about their positive experience.

The Fact Is... Businesses that provide extraordinary customer service can improve their profitability, increase market share and will have customers who are willing to pay more for their products and services simply because of the extraordinary service they receive.      

Inspired To Start A Blog? Learn What Makes These Five Bloggers Successful

Inspired To Start A Blog? Learn What Makes These Five Bloggers Successful

For this post, I set out to find people who started a blog and went on to do well; and I asked them about their story.  What inspired them?  What traits helped them?  What circumstances helped them?

The results of my search were interesting. Many common themes emerged among their stories, and it reminded me of my own journey.

Trying to make a living as a blogger is a lot harder than you might think. You may have read about how great it is to start a website that makes money while you sleep. It’s easy to forget about the intersection of factors (talent, hard work, circumstance, etc.) it takes to be successful.

Learning the story of five successful bloggers and what they have in common will help you to decide if the journey is for you.

The five Bloggers are:

• Ramsay Taplin of BlogTyrant.com
• Zac Johnson of ZacJohnson.com
• Erik Emanuelli of NoPassiveIncome.com
• Sue Ann Dunlevie of SuccessfulBlogging.com
• David Risley of BlogMarketingAcademy.com

What Inspired You?

I started by asking the question, “What inspired you.” I wanted to know their motivation for embarking on such an uncertain journey.

Sometimes we get so caught up in the day-to-day that we forget to reflect back on the reason we even got started in the first place.

I stumbled upon blogging because I’ve always had a love of creating content and a desire for freedom. I was looking for a way to be able to be creative and to make money at the same time when I stumbled upon Steve Pavlina’s blog and learned that he was doing what I wanted to do.

When I asked the question to my panel of bloggers, their answers had a familiar tone.

Avoid an Office Job

The desire to avoid an office job was the most common theme I recognized when asking bloggers what inspired them.

Man, I can relate to that. The vision of sitting in a cubicle for eight hours a day and getting bossed around by Bill Lumbergh from Office Space is enough to make my skin crawl.

I’ve debated whether this aversion to authority and structure is a sign of creativity and the desire for greatness; or the result of an unhealthy and over-inflated ego. The fact remains: many of us get started because of it.

Read more here :- Inspired To Start A Blog? Learn What Makes These Five Bloggers Successful
Also read

9 Ways Gratitude Can Make You Happier, Fitter and Richer

Your parents taught you to mind your manners. You write thank you notes and tip your barista. But there’s more to being grateful than going through the motions. According to numerous studies, true gratitude is a powerful force that can improve your relationships, increase happiness and even boost immunity. Deep down, most of us know this to be true. But we still have trouble taking time from our busy lives to actually stop, reflect and give thanks for what matters most. The good news: Making the effort to get grateful is easier than you’d expect, and it’s way more effective that you might imagine. 

Read more here, CLICK HERE

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5 ways Starbucks entices you to spend more money

Starbucks stores are meticulously designed to make customers stay longer, buy more, and return for another visit.

From the lighting to the ordering counters, everything in the store has a specific purpose.

In a Bloomberg video, reporter Sam Grobart points out five of the most common design tricks that Starbucks employs.

1. Starbucks often advertises new products on its doors. “  Designers like to call this the handshake between the customer and the store,” Grobart says, referring to a store’s front door. In most cases, Starbucks stores place ads at eye level on the outside glass. In this case, the door handle is also subtly inscribed with advertising.

 

2. Starbucks places its ordering counter toward the middle or back of the store to ensure that customers walk past the store’s seating area. This allows customers to scope out open seats, encouraging them to stay and enjoy their drinks in the store. The longer customers stay, the better the chances are that they will return to the counter and purchase another product.

3. Starbucks uses lighting to guide customers through the store. At the store Grobart visited, the ordering counter is towards the back of the room. Starbucks has placed a brightly-lit set of shelves in the rear of the store to naturally guide customers in that direction. The lighting also functions to bring Starbucks’ merchandise to customers’ attention, encouraging an impulse buy.

Read more at 5 ways Starbucks entices you to spend more money

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2. "They" don't want to create more competition for themselves (ie, other coffee shop owners).
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5 ways Starbucks entices you to spend more money

How to Build a Restaurant Website with WordPress

    

by Brenda Barron


The primary purpose of a restaurant website is to give guests and potential guests information they need to choose your restaurant. But a well-designed website can actually do a lot more than that.
Sometimes restaurants are chosen days ahead. Other times they are chosen by the visitors while they’re on their way to the restaurant. For this reason, you want a restaurant website that’s localized, works great on both desktop and mobile, and has the information that customers need to make their choice – which often includes information for the whole family.
This means the website has to be easy to use from any type of device or system, needs to give customers information about their menu, and shows them how to get there. It also needs to be easy to find on the web. I know that’s a lot to manage, but bear with me; we’ll cover all that and more here today  

Elements of a Restaurant Website

No matter what kind of restaurant you have, whether it’s a café, a buffet, or a coffee and doughnut shop, all restaurants need the same key elements.
A great site isn’t about looking cool. It’s about providing your guests (and potential guests) with the information they need about your restaurant.
It must be mobile friendly. Mobile devices are becoming more popular and many visitors will use mobile devices when searching for a restaurant. Be sure that every plugin and theme you use is not only responsive, but looks amazing when used on mobile systems.
Here’s a list of the features and pages to consider when building your restaurant website. Some of these are just content while others might take a special plugin. Plugins have been suggested for the elements that require them.

Your Story

People love stories. Especially origin stories and stories about overcoming great obstacles. Restaurants often have great stories to tell. Give your readers your interesting story in an About page. This is also a great place to add a photo gallery to show off your company’s history and your restaurant’s current ambiance.  

Menu

There should be detailed information about the menu. The menu is the star of the show. So please don’t make people download a PDF menu. Show it to them on the site. Make it interactive. Make it shareable. Don’t use Flash.
It should be viewable in mobile devices. Give them the information they need for their entire family. The menu should include information such as:

• Pictures of the food
• Detailed descriptions
• Dietary information
• Price
• Recommendations
• Specials
• What’s new

You may find using a plugin to be the best option for displaying this information. Here’s a good plugin that provides this and more:

This great article gives you a detailed infomation on How to Build a Restaurant Webiste with Wordpress. Please CLICK HERE to find out more.        

Restaurant Website Design, The Easy Way

   

 Professional Web Design Without Spending Thousands

The beautiful collection of website templates available on Restaurant Engine were crafted by top professional web designers who normally charge thousands for custom web design. Every detail perfectly positioned for restaurant websites to impress and attract more customers.

See what so many restaurateurs are raving about

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Inexpensive, Tasteful and Easy Valentine's Day Decoration Ideas

Where to find easy DIY Valentine's Day Decorating Ideas for your restaurant or bar

As mentioned in my previous post,Inexpensive, Tasteful and Easy Halloween Decoration for your Restaurant in search of decorating ideas for my restaurant, I use a great platform which is the Pinterest. Here are some easy and inexpensive decorating ideas to decorated your restaurant this Valentine. They are mostly decorations for home Valentine Dining experiences but with a little imagination you could use it in your establishment. Valentine's Day don't have to be all Pink and Red, you could also add other colours and still make it romantic. Read on here.    

Hanging Candle stands using Mason Jars

This little candle stands is made from old mason jars. Its a very good idea cause you can hang it on anything that have a hook. You can hang it on poles along your walkway, your fence and even on the walls. The list is endless. On a safe note, make sure you hang the jars away from any items that can easily burn. The website to go is Hanging Mason Jars on PB  

 

Hanging Flower Vase using Mason Jars

This idea is similar to the one above but instead of candles you put rose a into it. You could hang it along your wall, along your walkway, your corridor and so on. There's no tutorial here but from the picture you can have an idea how its done. The website to go is a-la-la-bonne-vie.tumblr.com      

Flower pots of Hearts

This is another simple but elegant ideas that you could place round your restaurants to create little romantic corners for those loving couples. You could buy those heart shaped candy boxes, paint it red and white, get a few red flower pots and some flowers.

The website where I found this idea was Garden Whimsy from Friendship's Garden

 

Hearts released from the can

I have a large glass window in my restaurant, therefore I am thinking of doing this. I found this idea in a Spanish website. Not sure what they said in it, but the picture will explain everything. Its also a great photobooth, so don't forget to put in your restaurant logo as well name so people will remember you whenever they look at the picture of the romantic dinner they had at your place. The website to view this picture is San Valentín de Que tono de verde

 

A Wall of Paper Hearts

This is another variation of the Hearts released from the can deco. There is also a tutorial on how to make the hearts stand out. Just go to this site , Make a wall of paper hearts    

Crayon Hearts

If you have a window with light coming through or you need a partition. This is a simple deco. You just need to build some frames. The hearts are made from waxed paper, crayons, an iron and craft paper. The tutorial for this project comes from the Martha Steward's website.  Crayon Hearts      

White Colour Wine Bottle with Hanging Hearts

This can be a centre piece for your tables. Collect some wine bottles, spray them white, get some nice string, cut out some hearts and hanging it around the table. To add to this centre piece you could put your Valentine's Day Special Cocktails on each heart and the centre piece becomes your promotion standy. You could even place candles on it and it will become a Valentine's Candle Stand. I love to see the patterns that flowing candle wax does to bottles. Its really beautiful. The website to go is I LOVE St. Valentine’s Day!      

Garden Light Balls

This is actual from a site that is dedicated to Christmas Deco but I felt if you are going to have an outside Valentine Dining Experience why don't put some of these lighted balls around the area. I would surely look romantic and unique. The website has a great picture tutorial, to know more click here How to Make Christmas Light Balls      

Wine Glass Lamp Shades

When I saw this picture on the net, I had one of those "Awwwh why didn't I think of that" moment. All you need is a wine glass or any glass with a stem, tea candle, some paper (make sure its transparent, so light can shine through). This website gives you a step by step guide on how this is done  Wine Glass Lamp Shades    

Simple Wine Glass Candle Stand

If you don't have much time to prepare nice candle stands. you could do something like this. You just need a wine glass, a rose and a ribbon. And wahlaah you have a Valentine's Day Candle Stand. The website where I found this ideas was Valentine’s Day Centerpieces      

Rustic Decorated Candles

This is a very nice and simple way to make your candles look beautiful. Just wrap your candles with some rope and add some heart shaped decoration.. The website which I found this idea was GUEST POST: VALENTINE’S DECOR        

Table Decorations and Centerpiece

This website have a number of different beautiful centerpiece. I chose this one cause black and white always appealed to me. Coupled with some red and white decorative items and you will have a romantic and elegant table setting.

The website to go is Valentine’s Day Tablescape

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Restaurant Promotion Ideas #30 – Valentine’s Day Picnic Baskets

This year other than the usual Candle Light Dinner in the Coffeehouse, I will also be selling Romantic Picnic Baskets. One reason as mentioned in my previous post is that the hotel that I am attached to has a pool in every room. Therefore the idea of having a romantic picnic “Just the Two of You” by your very own pool will surely catch people’s attention. Thus giving us another avenue to increase our revenue.

 To know more please go to my article Restaurant Promotion Ideas #30 – Valentine’s Day Picnic Baskets