Tearoom in winter

[tearoom123]

Hello. I own a tearoom in a small seaside town. I am really busy during April - October as the town has a lot of tourists at these times. However the rest of the year is a lot quieter. I have tried numerous things e.g loyalty cards, special offers, writing to clubs/societies, plus offering cakes to order and outside catering. I'd be really interested in any ideas people may have as to what I can do to generate more business in the winter months or other things I could try. If there are any other people in a similar position would be great to hear from you. Thanks

 

[estwig]

Friend of mine had a similar problem, owns a lovely little tearoom in Birchington, very quaint. He got an alcohol licence and opened up in the evenings as a restaurant, made a roaring trade as a small bistro/steak house.

Last time I spoke to him he had a husband and wife team running it in the evenings, on a profit share basis with him, so he doesn't have to work the evenings.

 

[papverpoppies]

Hello. I own a tearoom in a small seaside town. I am really busy during April - October as the town has a lot of tourists at these times. However the rest of the year is a lot quieter. I have tried numerous things e.g loyalty cards, special offers, writing to clubs/societies, plus offering cakes to order and outside catering. I'd be really interested in any ideas people may have as to what I can do to generate more business in the winter months or other things I could try. If there are any other people in a similar position would be great to hear from you. Thanks

Cooking evening, learn to cook and then sample with wine, the delights that have been lovingly prepared - most people would learn to be able to have a bash at cooking in a large kitchen.

Pasta evening, curry evening bring own wine.

Country western evening, (whatever music evening)

Bridge parties, etc etc etc..........

Could you let the room to party bookings, you do the catering.

Try and organise a weekly winter event, painting, crafting serve tea and cakes and charge a fee to each person.

Murder mystery evening - with a look a like Agatha Christie at one of tables.

The list is endless.

Poppy xx

 

[Joyce Asante]

Hello,

Perhaps, during this time, you could use mobile marketing to find customers.

What do you think about that?

 

[ShortCouture]

you could open and serve breakfasts. all sorts of people will come out for a good english breakfast.

 

[tearoom123]

Thanks to all for your suggestions. I have made a list and will start putting some plans into action.

 

[Bskope]

Hi There,

How about using your space as a business meeting place - I have lots of meeting with clients at coffee shops, hotels and so on. A tea room would be a great place.

You could also offer the space for networking groups, if they have breakfast or lunch you would increase your revenue and people that attend the groups would spread the word.

Good Luck

Chris

 

[Bri]

There has been threads about this before, I'm sure?

 

[laguna]

We once had a lovely holiday home in sunny Mablethorpe, lincs. It was quite busy in the warmer months but a ghost town in winter, so I do understand where your coming from!

Most businesses there shut up shop for the winter and those that did stay open where the likes of amusement arcades which incidentally included cosy cafe's inside. Obviously anyone going to seaside towns in winter have nothing much to do during the day except to go into those amusements using the slots, and maybe buy cake and drink tea to keep warm!

Hell... even the donkeys are stabled up!

If you have the room, can you not lease any slot machines?

Also...

Seaside towns are full of elderly retired folk ain't they?
If you have the resources, you could offer a valuable community service such as meals on wheels/home delivery service?

Why not start knocking on a few doors and ask if they would like a Sunday Dinner delivered to their door as a test?

Bet they haven't seen the likes of that before!


Good luck
Chris

 

[Rhodes100]

There are a lot of owners would love to be in the enviable position of being able to take a long break and avoid the British winter, so if you think about it like that, you have a great business.

A lot of business owners with seasonal products or services have the same issue, but most dont care if they make enough money during the summer. Perhaps the real issue is that you are not making enough during the summer and therefore need to carry on working during the winter?

Spanish resort bars suffer the same fate, either they make hay whilst the sun shines, or alternatively they try and stay open off season and market their bar to the local population.

If you do not get winter visitors in great numbers and you still want to work the winter period then the local residents is your only market.

 

[laguna]

Perhaps the real issue is that you are not making enough during the summer and therefore need to carry on working during the winter?

Yes, I think that is the real issue!

Mablethorpe for example, whilst not a particularly affluent town, addressed the situation of low sales in summer, whereby they hold a few 1-2 day trials and quad bike events on the sand in Autumn/winter. Which it seemed to me to bring in many hundreds of people in need of refreshments/accommodation.

East Lindsey Council at least got that bit right.

 

[GGGSurrey]

Hello. I own a tearoom in a small seaside town. I am really busy during April - October as the town has a lot of tourists at these times. However the rest of the year is a lot quieter. I have tried numerous things e.g loyalty cards, special offers, writing to clubs/societies, plus offering cakes to order and outside catering. I'd be really interested in any ideas people may have as to what I can do to generate more business in the winter months or other things I could try. If there are any other people in a similar position would be great to hear from you. Thanks

How about looking for other local entrepreneurs who might want to pay you to use your premises for the low season? I guess that the rent would be low but there are always people (as we see from posts on here) who have a business idea and want to put it in practice.

 

[MichaelP]

Seasonal businesses definately suffer from a drop in trade.

Like some of the ideas already mentioned your local residents will become your clients - so perhaps run things more focussed to them. This will require heavy marketing as they will see your business as a tourist attraction.

Start off with a open day/evening, run themed nights, alcohol license would be good buty ou could do a "bring your own" offering? Music nights - r.e open mic nights could also work. Other than that you could look at offering your premises out to groups to hold nights there?

Some ideas - good luck

 

[Cathy Duncan]

MichaelP: You seem to be into the same business. Good to see your post and I agree with your comment. Thanks!

 

[tearoom123]

More ideas - thanks for those. The meals on wheels is a great idea but already done by someone else across the road. The business market/offices etc is a tricky one, being a seside town no large businesses or offices, only the odd estate agents and solicitors. Can't lease out the place as not allowed to sub-let.

Just to say, the issue is not that I don't make enough in the summer, I make more than enough to see me through the winter without working, it's just I find it very boring and would like to give the business more continuity.

 

[laguna]

Just to say, the issue is not that I don't make enough in the summer, I make more than enough to see me through the winter without working, it's just I find it very boring and would like to give the business more continuity.

Maybe diversify!
Something you can do via the internet from home perhaps?

This doesn't have to be related to your existing business and being internet related (distance selling for example) location needn't be a problem.