Month: October 2018

POOR SIGNAGE

Thursday, October 25th, 2018

People will not know that your restaurant is there unless you tell them, so I see your Signage as one of the most important ways to tell the outside world who you are and what you are doing.

Consider these points:

  • Is the typeface easy to read? Your sign is not the time for cursive or strange typefaces.
  • Is it high contrast? Black on white is great; dark green on black, not so much.
  • Can you see the sign from the road?
  • Can you see it at night?
  • Is it well lit?
  • Can you read the sign from more than one direction? The sign boards should be readable no matter where you are coming from.
  • Is there a lit menu board outside the restaurant? The menu board is as important as any other sign. Without it, walk-by customers are likely to just keep walking.

 

What are your thoughts on the points above? Let me know in the comments!

MY RESTAURANT IS IN A BAD LOCATION

Thursday, October 11th, 2018

This is the one mistake that is almost impossible to fix.

You can fix terrible food, a badly thought out menu, awful decor, surly staff, incompetent chefs, missing signage or snail-like service. But after you sign the lease, you can’t do much about the location.

So this is one problem you have to prevent in advance.

  • Don’t believe what any landlord or real estate agent tells you. Verify everything yourself.
  • Check traffic patterns, both pedestrian and auto.
  • Check the noise levels of your neighbours.
  • Go by the venue at all times, mornings, afternoons evenings and late nights.
  • Some locations always see restaurant failures and for no logical reason. If more than one restaurant has failed in a location you’re considering, you might want to pass.
  • Consider neighborhood lighting and safety. Would you feel safe walking there at night by yourself?

 

Remember, this will be one mistake that may be impossible to fix so check, check and check!!

Let me know your thoughts on this blog post in the comments below! 

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