As the fabled day approaches again, many couples will be looking for ways in which they can take advantage of the festivities. For many across the UK, this romantic affair is a key date on the calendar to show the person you love how special they are to you. The Valentine’s Day preparations are already fully underway and it is time for a commercial bar or restaurant to begin putting up the decorations around the walls and ceilings and to also start making the adjustments to menus and proceedings. In this article we will be looking at the current trends for 2023 and the best approach an establishment can take to get customers through the door this Valentine’s Day.
Nostalgia
As is the case for most industries in 2023, nostalgia is playing a big part in what people are enjoying the most. In 2022, nostalgic presents and tastes skyrocketed. The overwhelming reason for this is due to the COVID-19 pandemic which effectively saw 2 years of everyone’s life put on pause leading to the general public wistfully remembering better days. This trend is expected to continue throughout 2023 as we slowly revert back to our pre-pandemic lifestyles. So, how can we infuse nostalgia into our commercial bar or restaurant? Whilst this may sound daunting, the actual implementation of this task is very manageable. One recommendation for this would be simply adding new crockery and glassware ranges that better reflect the nostalgic effect you are trying to create. One of the most appealing aspects of the nostalgic trend is the versatility, any commercial environment would work for nostalgia whether it be a contemporary aesthetic or a classic traditional setting.
An example of a crockery range that would be most suitable for a bar or restaurant looking to introduce a nostalgic collection would be the Dudson Harvest Mediterranean range. Displaying a beautiful hand-finished sponged rim that creates the dripping effect surrounding the edges of each piece, the Harvest Mediterranean collection delivers a magnificent flower pattern that can be found in each piece. Not just crockery though, Alliance Online also offers a varied collection of glassware offerings that would complement a nostalgic atmosphere excellently. One such range being the Utopia Tulipa Optic glassware collection is designed through hand-blown crystal and delivers a curvaceous construction perfect for a nostalgic bar or restaurant. Please refer to our website for more information regarding our glassware and crockery offerings at Alliance Online.
Flowers or Homemade Gifts
Historically flower displays have been the order of the day across the UK with the gift being seen as a symbol of love for centuries now. The belief for flowers being the perfect Valentine’s Day gift lies in the notion that the present has been a go-to for many throughout the years with flowers having a wide range of types. At Alliance Online we offer some magnificent vases for the upcoming day, whether it be a large bouquet for decorations or for a smaller selection of flowers. We have everything needed for flower decorations in a commercial setting.
Homemade gifts are a more personal touch than the traditional flower arrangement or buying something from a shop. The common belief is that creating a present yourself will provide not only a gift but lasting memories and a more sentimental touch to the day. To hop on this trend, a commercial establishment could potentially offer customers with an arts and crafts area where they can create a potential present themselves. To get customers through the door, the best approach would be this one, where not only would they get a meal or bar experience, but they could also create gifts by hand. To complement the arts and crafts aesthetic we at Alliance Online provide a range of equipment necessary for accomplishing this task. From stainless steel scissors to ballpoint pens and non-toxic glue sticks, here at Alliance Online, we pride ourselves on our ability to provide the most suitable equipment and tools to the commercial sector.
Couples Discount
A day designed just for celebrating your special someone, it only makes sense for a commercial establishment to make the most of this opportunity by offering a couples discount for the special occasion. A strong argument for this approach is a couple’s discount will improve returning customers by increasing customer flow because of the discount. An idea that is posited to a bar or restaurant that strongly prides themselves on their service skills and quality of product, a couples discount would only be something that lasts for the duration of Valentine’s Day. As mentioned previously the goal for offering a couples discount is to increase the customer flow through the door and for the exceptional service to entice the customers back converting them to repeat customers which is an essential part of any commercial establishment but especially for a bar or restaurant.
For a restaurant or bar looking to offer a couples discount we would suggest adding a more romantic touch to the commercial environment. This could be achieved through a wide range of measures whether it be the tasteful crockery you opt for all the way to the delightful tabletop treats designed for all varieties of settings. We at Alliance Online would argue that the three main areas that need addressing when looking to imprint a specific atmosphere on an establishment are as follows:
- Crockery
To create a romantic vibe, we would recommend both the Terra Seafoam and Murra Blush crockery. The reasoning for this is because of the warm and natural tones of each collection. A classic choice for crockery will always be the inviting and romantic hue of the colour pink. The Tablecraft Lunara Melamine Collection is the ideal range for Valentine’s Day this year.
- Tableware – Napkins and Table Covers
For the tableware, the choices for napkins and table covers are varied but the common belief is that the ideal colours for a romantic environment would be red and white. Although it is important to note that the new aesthetic has to match and blend with the established visual that your bar or restaurant has become synonymous with. The most beneficial aspect to using white tableware settings is that it has the ability to blend in with any atmosphere excellently.
- Commercial serveware
Serveware has the potential to set the tone for the service quality and expectations customers are expecting. To help with visualisation we can think of the entire dining experience from the front door to a customer leaving as a jigsaw where each section of the experience has to match to create a consistent atmosphere throughout. We currently stock an impressive array of serving platters and food boards that would be ideal for a bar or restaurant looking to deliver on a romantic atmosphere this Valentine’s Day. An example of this would be our range of wooden boards and platters. For more information regarding our offerings of wooden boards and platter, please refer here.
Here at Alliance Online, we appreciate that the commercial food catering sector would prioritise other areas of operations rather than focusing on adjusting for Valentine’s Day. However with the information provided in this article we at Alliance Online firmly believe that in our 23 years of expertise in this sector that we have provided the optimal suggestions for creating a romantic atmosphere for the upcoming Valentine’s Day celebrations. For more information regarding the potential options we have regarding tableware and crockery, please refer to our website.
