**AVAILABLE NOW: COVID-19 E-Book: 7 Tips and 21-Point Checklist to Prepare For Reopening. Download Your Free Copy.**
———————————————————————————————————————–
As part of our Post-COVID-19 series where we have been gaining insights from industry leaders on navigating the industry as it transitions back to normal, this episode of “Give an Ovation” features Josh Goodman, the founder and CEO of PourMyBeer, a company that allows customers to serve themselves beverages rather than having to wait on someone else. He shared 4 tips with Ovation founder and CEO Zack Oates on how restaurants can be best prepared for re-opening, whenever that is for their state.
1. Prepare For A Grand Re-Opening
Josh noted that this a chance for restaurants to start anew with a clean slate in some aspects. Make it special! It will be different from a regular grand opening in that some people will be more sensitive to social distancing others. Rather than everyone slamming your dine-in on your first day open again, it will most likely happen in phases, with those with the least health risk coming back first.
2. Be Safe, But Also Don’t Be A Hospital Cafeteria
There’s an important balance to strike between taking precautions to help customers feel safe, and still creating an environment that leads to a good time. When people go out, they want to feel like they’re out and enjoying themselves, forgetting about COVID-19 as much as they can. How do you strike that balance? Provide options.
3. Provide Options
As mentioned, there’s going to a a wide spectrum of COVID-sensitivity. Some people will be very aware of social distancing, will want hand sanitizer, gloves, and probably hazmat suits. Others won’t care at all and it will be like nothing ever happened. So Josh suggests providing customers with information as they enter the store on how they can stay safe, and then letting them do their own thing. Those who are more concerned will keep themselves aloof as long as restaurants have made it possible for them to do so.
4. Be A Positive Influence
“You don’t want to have commission breath with your customers coming in the door. You just want to be genuinely happy to see them”, Josh explained. He went on to emphasize the importance of expressing gratitude for customers returning. Restaurants can play a fun, positive role in the community! Get excited!
———————————————————————————————————————–
Thanks for reading! Make sure to check out the whole podcast, as well as other interviews with restaurant/business gurus by checking out “Give an Ovation” on YouTube, podcast.ovationup.com, or your favorite place to listen to podcasts.
Thanks again to Josh Goodman! Visit pourmybeer.com and @pourmybeer on social media to learn more. We’d specifically recommend their article on 49 tips for post-COVID-19 strategy.
