How Restaurants are Helping Consumers Stretch Their Budget Without Sacrificing Quality

At first glance, it seems disingenuous to suggest that a restaurant could help customers stretch their budgets without sacrificing quality. This is especially true during inflationary times. Most of us are witnessing a phenomenon known as ‘Shrinkflation’ where the size of food portions decreases amid inflationary pressures.

How Restaurants are Helping Consumers Stretch Their Budget Without Sacrificing Quality

More correctly, Shrinkflation is known as package downsizing. It occurs when the quantity or the size of product offerings decreases while prices remain the same. Essentially, you’re getting less bang for your buck to help restaurants keep prices constant. But this doesn’t help customers at all. It’s a business’s way of passing inflationary pressures onto consumers by making them think that prices are constant while actually paying more per unit of food than before.

This begs the question: Are there any effective ways restaurants can help customers stretch their budget without sacrificing quality?

Barring a few myopic businesses, most SMEs are in it for the long haul. The restaurant industry is particularly volatile, given the fierce competition, low margins, and the same pool of customers shared by many other competitors. Success is only possible through quality product offerings. Customers appreciate quality above all else, particularly regarding value-added benefits. But this mindset applies to restaurateurs and patrons alike. Value-added benefits are the driving force behind all successful rewards programs.

 

Case in Point: A Successful Restaurants Discount App

 A restaurants discount app is an ingenious innovation that adds value for stakeholders on both sides of the equation. From a business point of view, it makes financial sense to develop deep roots within the local community. There is no better way to do this than ongoing customer patronage. Worldwide studies confirm that it is much more cost-effective, beneficial, and economically feasible for a business to invest in existing customers than to spend exorbitant amounts of money, time, and effort acquiring new ones. To this end, a customer rewards program is the way to go.

 

From a business POV, a successful restaurant discount app provides the following benefits: 

  • Repeat Business and all the attendant benefits that come from it, including word-of-mouth referrals, ongoing revenue streams, higher cash flow, and predictability of business operations.
  • Cost-effective marketing results in improved cost/benefit ratios for restaurants, as restaurants generate high levels of repeat business from existing customers vs. expensive acquisition costs for new customers.
  • Community Engagement is possible through a well-designed restaurant discount app within a community of local foodies, connoisseurs, and aficionados. This creates a loyal base of customers who feel highly appreciated.
  • Transparency and Trust are generated through clear and consistent value propositions. Thanks to discounts, rewards, and cash back programs, building customer trust is possible. This ensures patrons perceive the restaurant as reliable, fair, and trusted during tough times.

 

From a customer’s POV, a successful restaurant discount app provides the following benefits: 

  • Loyalty Rewards routinely seal the deal with the best apps. Customers with the right restaurant app can choose from their favorite in-network restaurants (often with thousands of options available), with rewards accruing on every purchase. These loyalty rewards programs may be twofold: from using the app and using your credit card to pay for meals.
  • Value for money is assured through various generous discounts, cashback rewards, and promotional offers. This allows patrons to enjoy high-quality meals without overspending.
  • Exclusive Offers are readily available to customers vis-a-vis exclusive promotions and discounts. This makes dining out at restaurants much more affordable.
  • Customized Deals may be available from time to time based on personal preferences, dining habits, budgetary requirements, etc. Value-added apps are tremendously helpful because they focus on precisely what customers want.
  • Connecting to the local community makes community engagement possible. This builds a loyal customer base and facilitates word-of-mouth referrals.
  • Greater Flexibility is possible since customers have more dining choices to choose from.

It’s all about adding value to all stakeholders in the equation. The symbiotic relationship between restaurateurs and customers is ironclad. One hand washes the other. The more benefits customers derive from loyalty programs, rewards programs, and cashback programs, the better for everyone. It’s a win-win situation!