How Retailers and Restaurants Can Capitalize on Singles Ditching Dating Apps

In a surprising cultural shift, singles are starting to move away from dating apps and looking to make genuine connections in real life. This trend presents an exciting opportunity for retailers and restaurants to create spaces and experiences that foster these connections. Here are some innovative ways small businesses can take advantage of this movement:

1. Host Singles Events

Organize themed mixers, speed dating nights, or casual happy hours specifically for singles. A bookstore might host a "Blind Date with a Book" evening, where participants bring wrapped books to swap while mingling. Restaurants and bars could host wine tastings, trivia nights, or cooking classes targeted at singles looking to meet others with shared interests.

2. Create Conversation-Friendly Spaces

Consider your layout and ambiance. Does your space encourage interaction? Restaurants could add communal tables or cozy corners where strangers feel comfortable striking up conversations. Retailers might designate a "social zone" with coffee or refreshments where customers can linger and chat.

3. Collaborate with Local Businesses

Team up with other businesses to create multi-venue events. A coffee shop, for instance, could partner with a nearby art gallery to host a "Sip & Stroll" evening where singles explore exhibits together while enjoying drinks.

4. Leverage Social Media

Promote your events or singles-friendly environment on platforms like Instagram or TikTok. Share testimonials or videos of past events to build FOMO (fear of missing out) and establish your business as a hub for meaningful connections.

5. Offer Singles Discounts or Perks

Entice singles to visit your business by offering discounts for dining solo or deals like "Bring a Friend Friday" to encourage group outings. Highlight these offers in your marketing to show that your business is a welcoming space for singles.

6. Highlight Shared Experiences

Create events or opportunities that naturally bring people together. Restaurants could introduce communal dining nights featuring shared plates, while retailers might organize workshops, such as jewelry-making or wine-pairing, where participants work in pairs or groups.

7. Embrace the Holidays

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be just for couples. Host an anti-Valentine’s event or "Singles Celebration Night" that reframes the holiday as a chance to connect with others. Decorate your space, offer themed food or drink specials, and market it as a fun alternative to traditional Valentine’s plans.

8. Add Interactive Elements

Retailers can incorporate games or photo-worthy setups in their stores, encouraging customers to linger. Restaurants might include conversation-starter cards or trivia questions at tables to help break the ice.

9. Create Networking Nights

Blend business and pleasure by hosting networking nights tailored to singles. These events could cater to specific industries or interests, like young professionals, creatives, or entrepreneurs, giving people a chance to connect personally and professionally.

10. Encourage Local Communities

Foster a sense of belonging by inviting singles from nearby neighborhoods to meet at your establishment. Promote the event as a chance to connect with others who live close by, creating natural opportunities for relationships to grow.

Final Thoughts

As the trend away from dating apps continues, businesses that step up to offer meaningful, in-person connection opportunities will not only draw more customers but also create memorable experiences that build loyalty. By positioning your retail space or restaurant as a community hub, you can tap into this trend while strengthening your brand.

If you aren't maximizing outdoor dining, you are quite literally, thinking inside the box

I've heard a lot of talk about restaurant owners not wanting to offer outdoor dining offering excuses from it's too hot out or they'll just wait until local ordinances allow them to increase indoor dining capacity or simply, it's just too much trouble.

In my opinion, this is a BIG mistake. Here's the simple reason why.

There are a lot of folks out there who simply will not set foot inside a restaurant ...for a long time! They are uncomfortable with the idea of indoor dining and shopping and no amount of marketing or discounts will get them inside. That doesn't mean they don't crave the dining experience and wouldn't avail themselves of open-air dining, especially if you go the extra mile to help them feel safe.

Your knee jerk response might be that this cautious customer will continue to order curbside or delivery. Perhaps. However, the in-person experience offers a better opportunity to foster loyalty and increase check size through upselling and alcohol sales.

By offering an outdoor option, you not only increase seating capacity, you have a better chance to grab some new customers and gain market share. Plus, by fashioning a fun outdoor ambiance, you will create a lot of buzz in your community.

So broaden your view of what restaurant dining looks like. It doesn’t have to be indoors. The Europeans have been dining alfresco for years! You have a choice. You can throw a couple of tables outside and see what happens, or you can create a wonderful - even magical- outdoor dining experience. Even better, gather some of your neighbor restaurants and join together to make dining outside in your center something customers wish was available year ‘round!

Here are some tips and ideas for making outdoor dining appealing and efficient.

Space

Delineate your new “dining room” with planters, fencing, flower boxes, astro turf or plants to make it cozy and welcoming.  Tents, umbrellas, fans and misters are also options to keep guests cool and protected from the elements.

Create ambiance with hanging outdoor lighting and candles. Consider outdoor speakers for music or bringing in live entertainment.

Dress the tables so they are welcoming

Put  a sign at your entry that welcomes customers and outlines safety precautions your restaurant is taking.

Really important – be sure the chairs are comfortable! If you’re using metal chairs, provide pillows.

Menu

Adapt/simplify your menu to accommodate longer running times for orders.

To increase sales, offer 2-3 course menus, flights or other bundled options.

Service and safety

Use QR codes so customers can access menus online. This is more sanitary and saves money on disposable menus.

Put self-service water bottles on each table to eliminate need for additional contact and glass handling.

Instruct waitstaff to take entire order at one time. People will understand and this will make your kitchen more efficient.

Offer sanitizer gel at the hostess stand and on each individual table

Set out rolled utensils.

Offer serving utensils in dishes that are meant to be shared so customers won’t be tempted to use their own forks and spoons.

Put trash cans and sanitizer inside and right outside the restrooms.

Of course, make sure your staff and guests all abide by all social distancing and mask mandates.

Branding and Marketing

Look for opportunities to promote your brand. Logos on fencing or facemasks are fun. Encourage employees to bring extra shirts so they always look cool, crisp and clean. (If it’s really hot, give them extra breaks to cool down.)

Once you’ve gotten it all together, let the world know through every channel available to you, including letting your neighbors know. If your new space looks great, send a photo to the local newspaper for additional publicity.

When times are difficult, use the opportunity to take advantage of every resource you have. Right now, for restaurants, the path to increased revenue is right outside their doors!

Until next time remember,
You can do this!
Angel