How to Become a Family Friendly Coffee Shop
When it comes to dining out, families often don't have a lot of options. Many restaurants, coffee shops, and other establishments don't have child-friendly policies in place. You can create a niche by being a child and family-friendly cafe.
Yes, sometimes children can be disastrous when having a nice night out, and not just for parents -- the presence of kids can be detrimental to nearby patrons, as well.
This is why many places are not more family-friendly. But there are many things that you can do in order to make your restaurant or coffee shop more accessible to families.
Kid's Menu
When running a cafe it can be a good idea to have a separate children's menu in your restaurant or cafe. This will make sure that families feel that they have plenty of options, and will give them an incentive to come to your establishment when it comes to family dining.
The kid's menu should include plenty of healthy options, as parents are now becoming more health-conscious and are concerned about what caf© food feed their children. So the kid's menu should include plenty of options, such as fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains.
Also, make sure that you include plenty of drink options for children, instead of just soft drinks. The inclusion of fruit juice and low-fat milk will appeal to the more health-conscious patrons.
A lot of establishments offer a free dessert or toy with a kid's meal. This practice appeals to the child and the parent, as it's a great deal and makes the kid happy.
Consider adding a special surprise for children if you want to establish yourself as a family-friendly cafe.
Running a cafe can mean you are often flat out and can become stuck for ideas, scout around and see what other restaurants or cafes are offering for children.
Training
You may need to train your staff as to how to interact with children. Kids should be treated delicately, and your staff should be instructed on how to talk with children in your establishment: no vulgar language, soft tones, and plenty of things to offer them, such as colouring crayons, puzzles, or other toys.
It's a good idea to provide children with some kind of entertainment -- it will keep them busy, and let the adults enjoy their dining experience, while feeling like their children aren't being ignored or neglected.
Even if a child is grumpy, rude, or ill-behaved, make sure that you and your staff behave with patience in order to promote yourself as a family-friendly business.
It doesn't take much -- some complimentary colouring crayons, a free dessert or toy included with a kid's meal, or simply a smile and good service -- any small gesture can go a long way in branding your establishment as a family-friendly cafe.
Niceness
Last of all, be polite! Families are often overloaded with chores and responsibilities, and their lunch or dinner out is a treat for them. Make their occasion special. For you, it may be just another day, but acknowledge that for them it may be a special event. So be polite and kind, even if the child is misbehaving or grumpy.
Be sure that your staff is trained to make sure that families feel at home in your cafe. You can create a loyal customer base by providing a stress-free and comfortable place for families to eat and spend time with each other.
Treat every one of your customers with respect and anticipate your needs, and your restaurant will be successful, with plenty of loyal customers.
Yes, sometimes children can be disastrous when having a nice night out, and not just for parents -- the presence of kids can be detrimental to nearby patrons, as well.
This is why many places are not more family-friendly. But there are many things that you can do in order to make your restaurant or coffee shop more accessible to families.
Kid's Menu
When running a cafe it can be a good idea to have a separate children's menu in your restaurant or cafe. This will make sure that families feel that they have plenty of options, and will give them an incentive to come to your establishment when it comes to family dining.
The kid's menu should include plenty of healthy options, as parents are now becoming more health-conscious and are concerned about what caf© food feed their children. So the kid's menu should include plenty of options, such as fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains.
Also, make sure that you include plenty of drink options for children, instead of just soft drinks. The inclusion of fruit juice and low-fat milk will appeal to the more health-conscious patrons.
A lot of establishments offer a free dessert or toy with a kid's meal. This practice appeals to the child and the parent, as it's a great deal and makes the kid happy.
Consider adding a special surprise for children if you want to establish yourself as a family-friendly cafe.
Running a cafe can mean you are often flat out and can become stuck for ideas, scout around and see what other restaurants or cafes are offering for children.
Training
You may need to train your staff as to how to interact with children. Kids should be treated delicately, and your staff should be instructed on how to talk with children in your establishment: no vulgar language, soft tones, and plenty of things to offer them, such as colouring crayons, puzzles, or other toys.
It's a good idea to provide children with some kind of entertainment -- it will keep them busy, and let the adults enjoy their dining experience, while feeling like their children aren't being ignored or neglected.
Even if a child is grumpy, rude, or ill-behaved, make sure that you and your staff behave with patience in order to promote yourself as a family-friendly business.
It doesn't take much -- some complimentary colouring crayons, a free dessert or toy included with a kid's meal, or simply a smile and good service -- any small gesture can go a long way in branding your establishment as a family-friendly cafe.
Niceness
Last of all, be polite! Families are often overloaded with chores and responsibilities, and their lunch or dinner out is a treat for them. Make their occasion special. For you, it may be just another day, but acknowledge that for them it may be a special event. So be polite and kind, even if the child is misbehaving or grumpy.
Be sure that your staff is trained to make sure that families feel at home in your cafe. You can create a loyal customer base by providing a stress-free and comfortable place for families to eat and spend time with each other.
Treat every one of your customers with respect and anticipate your needs, and your restaurant will be successful, with plenty of loyal customers.
