If you’re anything like us, we grew up going to chain restaurants as our “fancy, fun, once in a while” nights out with the family. So chain restaurants are near and dear to us here at Mango which is why we wanted to go back to our roots and visit Outback Steakhouse. Not only for the fun trendy promotions but also the research. It may not seem like it, but running a successful small business is similar to a chain restaurant like Outback Steakhouse, here’s how:
Consistency
Outback Steakhouse has consistency locked down. No matter which location you visit, you can expect the same quality of food and service. They know their product and niche focus on it.
Small Biz Lesson #1: The importance of standardizing processes to ensure a consistent customer experience. This can involve creating detailed operating procedures, regular staff training, and maintaining quality control standards.
Understanding Target Audience
Outback Steakhouse knows its target audience WELL—people looking for a casual dining experience with a touch of Australian flair. They truly understand their placement of restaurants are in family driven suburban areas and tourist spots.
Small Biz Lesson #2: Identify and understand your target market. Conduct market research, gathering current customer feedback, and tailoring your products or services to meet the specific needs and preferences of your clientele.
Pricing Strategy
Price points are crucial for any business. Outback Steakhouse strikes a balance between offering value and maintaining profitability. They focus on family needs and affordability.
Small Biz Lesson #3: Set competitive prices that reflect the quality of what you offer while making sure you cover costs and make a profit. Regularly review and adjust your pricing strategies in response to market changes.
Creating the Right Atmosphere
The atmosphere at Outback Steakhouse is casual and inviting, designed to make customers feel comfortable enough to order something for the kids and a cocktail for yourself.
Small Biz Lesson #4: Creating an inviting and unique atmosphere is key to attracting and retaining customers. This includes thoughtful interior design, lighting, and a welcoming ambiance that aligns with your brand's identity.
Enhancing Customer Experience
Customer experience is at the heart of Outback Steakhouse's success. From friendly staff to timely service, every aspect is geared towards making the customer feel valued.
Small Biz Lesson #5: Prioritize customer service, training staff to be attentive and responsive, and creating systems to handle customer feedback and complaints effectively.
Adaptability
Finally, adaptability is important. Outback Steakhouse regularly updates its menu and services based on customer preferences and market trends. They are great at adding promotions that are on trend and are social media friendly. They lean heavy into promotion to invite those in and upsell their menu. (ex. Croc-tails promotion was fun and “post-worthy” - pictured below)
Small Biz Lesson #6: Small businesses should stay flexible, continuously seeking feedback and being willing to make changes to meet evolving customer needs, market conditions and trends.
Who would’ve thought you could learn so much from Outback Steakhouse. By focusing on consistency, understanding your target audience, setting appropriate price points, creating the right atmosphere, prioritizing customer experience, and maintaining adaptability, you can set your biz up for long-term growth.
Comments