With the return to in-house dining following the pandemic, one of the difficulties facing restaurants is how to configure their floor plan in a way that makes customers feel safe. One of the key details when it comes to floor plan creation is flexibility and making sure that any changes to the floor plan can be properly executed. To help with that execution, FLAT Tech has created table bases that are self-stabilizing and easily maneuverable to adapt to a restaurant’s changing needs.
“Pre COVID when customers went to a restaurant, they were thinking about what they would order off the menu, not where would they sit,” said FLAT Tech’s Global Marketing Director, Andy O’Donnell. “In the same night a restaurant can have families and groups that want to sit in a booth, people who will only sit outside, as well as smaller groups who would like to stay to themselves. It is very difficult for an operator to know, what the needs of the restaurant will be for that night. It is now more important than ever for an operator to have the flexibility to move a table outside or move two tables together, without having to take time to stabilize and align tables.”
As for the importance of floor plan design, FLAT Tech’s Executive Vice President of Sales – America, Nils Hughes has the answer. “Multiple big brand chain operators are reducing their footprint indoors, which ensures maximum utility of that space,” said Hughes. “The focus is no longer on just filling seats but making sure that you can adapt your restaurant to the needs of the environment. Flexibility is the key to all of this, to meeting the new clean and safe expectations of a restaurant’s customer.”
In addition to being able to adapt the floor plan of the main dining room Hughes says that flexible seating is important across all aspects of the restaurant. “You are seeing some of the successful brands that have survived COVID so well has done so by converting areas into spaces that serve drinks including cocktails-to-go, and snacks during the time while people are waiting for their food,” said Hughes. “The trend of creating a walk-in area where people can sit down to eat or drink while they wait is going to stay.”
Hughes continued, “I also think 2022 is going to be the year of outdoor dining, obviously everybody moved outside quickly during lockdowns and restrictions. Restaurants have begun moving dining back inside, but there is still a strong desire for outdoor dining options. Restaurants are now investing heavily in their terrace areas buying new planters, floors and most importantly tables for these spaces. Our aluminum tables are most popular outdoors as they are lightweight and more weather resistant than alternative materials. We also have stackable, flip-top bases that can be utilized outdoors and then neatly stored indoors after service. FLAT Tech offers a range of extra protection coatings on our aluminum bases so that they can stand up to extreme weathering in outdoor environments.”
For those questioning the importance of investing in new tables and table bases, Hughes has the answer. “It’s all based on ROI now; CEO’s and brands are recognizing that investing millions of dollars into a restaurant from the structure of the building to the miniscule details of menu covers can all be sabotaged in seconds by a wobbly table,” he explained. “If a customer is having their expensive steak delivered to them and their table is wobbly, that is a frustration. People are taking much more notice of the small details. Our products allow waiters to focus on customer service and the guest’s dining experience without having to waste time fixing wobbly tables. The alignment feature of our product is also saving operators time and improving guest experiences by helping eliminate the ‘lip’ found where tables join. So, the ROI when you work it out really does payoff quickly, by allowing your staff to stay focused on the customer and eliminating the costs associated with constantly fixing tables, comping drinks and meals and dealing with unhappy customers who invariably vent their frustration on social media. Given the challenges of attracting and keeping the very best staff, an investment in our tables sends a message that we care about both our employees and customers.”
For those interested in how FLAT Tech’s table base stabilizing technology can benefit their business more information can be found online at their website.
