​Sign up some subscribers in the new year

For restaurants trying to generate some income stability in less-than-stable times, subscription services can provide important benefits for restaurant and guest alike. They can offer restaurants some guaranteed income when guest traffic can be down, as well as appeal to guests who are looking for a good value, a little help with weekday meals, or simply a pick-me-up to look forward to at the start of the year. (And while subscriptions aren’t necessarily designed to be offered for purchase and left unused, we all have those subscriptions we sign up for and forget – and the business reaps some extra benefit as a result. Why not restaurants?) Is there room on your menu for some new subscription offers in 2023? If your weekday lunch business has been down, help your guests enjoy a weekly lunch entrée at home or at the office. Offer a warming winter soup and fresh bread combo, an easy-prep meal kit for busy weeknights, or a specialty cocktail or coffee subscription. Your subscriptions need not be for just people dining off-premises, either. You can offer a dine-in subscription that allows guests to plan ahead and look forward to a regular night out, or a monthly event for guests interested in trying the chef’s newest experimental dishes. Finally, at a time when customization is king, take the opportunity to make each subscription more personal – by tapping into your data to account for food preferences or allergies in each order, or by simply including a hand-written note of thanks.

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