Since the COVID-19 pandemic hits Malaysia, the task of increasing sales (let alone increasing average sales) in a cafe is almost an everyday struggle for business owners. Over the months, we had seen numerous cafe owners shutting down their businesses. But, on the bright side, this event also allows new cafe business owners to emerge to fill in the gap. In this article, we will discuss effective yet simple strategies that can increase average sales in a cafe in Malaysia.
Table of Contents
Change Your Cafe Pricing Strategy
- Focus on affordability (with profit in mind)
- Avoid going into price war
If you have been in the business for quite some time, chances are that you are using the same pricing strategy since day one. In this case, it is time for a change.
The most effective strategy is to make changes to your pricing strategy.
No, you are not going into a price war but you want to price your food and beverages within the range of ‘affordability’ of your potential clients.
Take a look at your competitors and find out how they price their products. You might be surprised to find out that some of them are actually cheaper than you.
Come Up With New Promotions For Your Cafe Business
- Creating promotions that your customers WANT
- Don't copy and paste your competitors exactly
Another great way to increase sales is by coming up with new promotions.
Cafe owners usually do this by introducing a new food or beverage item and giving it out for free (or at a discounted price) to customers.
This is a great way to generate buzz and interest among potential customers.
Important: You don’t need to come up with 10+ promotions in a month. Instead, put yourself in the shoes of your customers and ask yourself what you want when you visit a cafe. Could it be set menus, healthy food choices, vegan-type of food, or discounts on takeaways and food delivery?
Give Out Freebies For Your Cafe Customers
- The gesture of appreciation is MORE important that the gift itself
- Avoid giving out freebies with no plans of leveraging them for your cafe business
Another way to generate buzz and interest is by giving out freebies.
Freebies can be in the form of samples, coupons, or even small gifts.
Giving out freebies is a great way to attract new customers and at the same time, increase sales.
For example, when your customers share a quick TikTok video of their food, check-in location on social media, or like your business page, you could offer them complimentary drinks.
Attend And Participate In Local Events
- Use this as a networking and brand sharing opportunity
- Avoid being too salesy and focus only on your cafe business opportunity
Participating in local events is a great way to promote your cafe and at the same time, increase sales.
Local events usually have a good turnout and this will give you an opportunity to showcase your products and services to potential customers.
You can participate in local food fairs, charity events, or even community events.
Make Use Of The Latest Technology
- Keep an open mind on the latest technology advancement
- Integrating technology into your cafe business doesn't need to be expensive
In this day and age, making use of technology is a no-brainer. There are many ways you can use technology to increase sales in your cafe.
Here at Marketing Lancers Consultancy Sdn Bhd, we can’t help but encourage all our F&B clients to use the omnichannel tool to manage their customer support and responses.
In easier terms, it is extremely time-consuming if you want to manage Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram chat at the same time. Using an omnichannel tool such as the ones our clients are using, will increase your productivity by cutting short the time needed to manage these responses.
Want to know more? Click here to ask us for more information!
Increase Sales for Your Cafe Using Loyalty Program
- Aim for a loyalty program that is easy to use and with high usability (for your customers)
- Integrating technology into your cafe business doesn't need to be expensive
Loyalty programs are a great way to increase sales and at the same time, retain customers.
People love free stuff and by offering loyalty programs, you are essentially giving them a reason to come back to your cafe.
There are many ways you can offer loyalty programs if you are running a cafe in Malaysia. For example, you can offer a discount for every 10th cup of coffee purchased or give a freebie for every 20th visit.
Note: Running a loyalty program looks simple on the outside but it can be very complicated as there are many moving parts. Make sure you engage with the right agency or tool to ensure smooth processes along the way.
Use Social Media For Branding And Customer Engagement
- Focus on creating content, photos and stories that create value to your cafe business
- Avoid using repeated content and photos that are not high-resolution (to avoid distortion)
This is a no-brainer. Social media is a powerful tool that you can use to increase sales in your cafe in Malaysia.
By making use of social media, you are essentially increasing your reach and at the same time, promoting your products and services to a wider audience.
Make sure you are active on social media and that you are regularly posting updates about your cafe. You can also use social media advertising to run promotions and giveaways.
Collaborate With Other Businesses
- Always keep an open heart with new collaboration
- Collaborations are not just about you but 'us'
Collaborating with other businesses is a great way to promote your cafe and at the same time, increase sales.
For example, you can collaborate with a local bakery and offer their products in your cafe. This will not only give you an opportunity to promote your cafe to their customers but it will also give you a chance to increase sales.
Launch A Website With Menu for Your Cafe
- Menus with real images are always a win
- You don't need a sophisticated website
Another way to increase sales in your cafe in Malaysia is by having an online website to showcase your menu selection.
As we are in the recovery stage of COVID-19 pandemic, the public had been educated to use more of the Internet. There are many customers who will now search for the food they like online before making a choice.
By having an online presence, you are essentially increasing your reach and at the same time, promoting your products and services to a wider audience.
Note: Make sure you regularly update your website with fresh content.
Leverage Google My Business For Cafe Visibility
- Google My Business is free to use!
- Don't overcomplicate or stress out about it
Google My Business is a great way to increase your reach and at the same time, promote your cafe to potential customers.
By making use of Google My Business, you are essentially increasing your chances of being found online. Make sure you complete all the information required such as your opening hours, contact details, and address.
At the same time, ensure that you post at least two public posts (short content of around 100 words and one high-resolution photo) using Google My Business to ensure that your listing stands a higher chance to display when people are searching for food and beverages.
Organize Interactive Events For Your Cafe
- This allows you to stand out from the crowd
- Avoid stressful situation by planning ahead
Organizing interactive events is a great way to increase sales in your cafe in Malaysia.
By organizing events such as cooking classes or coffee appreciation sessions, you are essentially giving people a reason to visit your cafe.
Not only will this help increase sales but it will also help promote your cafe to potential customers.
Are you running a cafe that allows pets? Consider creating a gated pet corner where the pets can also have some fun while their owners are sipping perfectly brewed coffee or simply having a comfort meal! Happy pet = Happy owners (this is your customer!)
Summary
There are many ways you can increase sales in your cafe in Malaysia. Some of the most effective ways include making use of technology, collaborating with other businesses, and making use of social media.
If you want to learn more about how you can increase sales in your cafe, feel free to contact us today! We would be more than happy to share our knowledge and expertise with you.
