Shiny Spec's and Artifacts

Special finishes, elegant lighting and sleek graphic design can support your business, but may still be replicable anywhere in the world. Your food and your service make your restaurant unique, but don't miss out on making the location itself a one-of-a-kind, and letting that uniqueness shine.  Maybe it is the old building you're in, or the view from the windows, patio, or courtyard that makes your place special.

Alternatively, and in addition to, you could enter the quest for an artifact. A unique object, that supports your story and vision. Don't limit yourself by scale. While small objects may be easier to display, large objects could be integrated to your counters, walls, lighting, or roof. Chances are, you've owned this object for many years, not quite knowing what to do with it, yet somehow emotionally attached to it.

But what if you're a hoarder, and your restaurant already competes with the local antique store? Pick your artifact, and possibly a few closely related supporting items, and give them a special role in your decor. A spot light can do wonders, and they will be appreciated so much more without the surrounding clutter. As for the rest of your cherished belongings, a special area of your restaurant could become a "store" or "museum", or it may be time to pack them up.

Spark Architecture created a Pinterest board with a variety of unique dining environments. What are your favorite restaurants, beer gardens, cafes, and bars?

Facebook in Rural Montana & Embracing picture posting.

To follow up the earlier post we investigated current Facebook user data alongside the 2010 census. Your customer base is "Face-booking", and waiting to hear from you.

http://sparkgf.blogspot.com/2012/09/community-data-census-or-facebook.html

While you get excited about Facebook, don't forget to set up your restaurant on Foursquare. At this point, Montana restaurant deals are mostly represented by chains. Take advantage of offering check-in deals, it's time to make it local!

Last but not least, remember that your customers will post pictures of your food and restaurant. Embrace it! Encourage your wait staff to offer taking pictures of dining groups, teach them how to make those pictures look as good as possible (freshly served food, no chewing, maybe take a quick series of them), and be amazed of how those pictures will work for your restaurant.

Picture taking should serve as a motivation to add some nice touches to your food presentation, table decor, and interiors. Customers love little details and surprises, whether it is a good joke on your menu, artwork on the wall, or Santa surfing on top of their Hawaiian Holiday Burger.