How to help your local survive the downturn with virtual vouchers
A growing list of Brisbane eateries suffering massive losses are asking customers to buy virtual vouchers for meals to enjoy after virus restrictions end to help “keep the doors open”. SEE IF YOUR LOCAL IS ON THE LIST.
South West
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HOSPITALITY businesses hurting from debilitating downturns are asking customers to make an investment in hope by purchasing a meal to have after pandemic restrictions lift.
More than 28 businesses in greater Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast have signed up to the Save Hospitality movement, where customers buy virtual vouchers for future meals.
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The Australia-wide initiative is a non-profit partnership between Brisbane-founded hospitality equipment finance company Silverchef and U.S. start-up app inKind.
Across the country 250 venues have applied since it launched two weeks ago and one Melbourne business has already raised $15,000 through vouchers.
Petrichor & Co owner Paula Moreno said sales at her Racecourse Rd, Hamilton, cafe were down after bans on dine-in.
She said they signed up to Save Hospitality and inKind as another way of encouraging revenue — they also have physical vouchers, pre-made meals and an expanded retail offering.
“For people who are buying our vouchers, this is another reason to keep going. I’m committed to reopen for them. It’s a nice motivation,” she said.
“We never lose faith, but we’re trying to do a lot of things together, just to survive.
“We haven’t had any purchased yet, but it’s OK, it’s there.
“We’re shooting everywhere, to different things, and this is another shot. So, let’s see.”
La Zucca owner Emily Laverie said she wanted to keep the doors of her Bald Hills cafe and pizzeria open and make it to the other side of the pandemic crisis.
She said pre-purchasing meals online was “a great idea”.
“People want to support us, they want to help local businesses, local cafes and restaurants but may not want to order delivery,” she said.
“But they still want to know that on the other side their favourite restaurant will still be open.
“It gives the restaurants and cafes a bit of cashflow now to pay the bills that keep coming in.”
In Fortitude Valley the shutdown of bars, pubs and clubs has sent foot traffic in Brunswick Street Mall into free fall.
5 Dogs founder Rob Hueston said it was down from 45,000 passers-by on a weekend to a few locals, forcing him to cut staff hours to 47 from 240 as revenue dropped 70 per cent.
He has decided to make food from his “virtual brands” Parmy House and Bernard’s Stacked Burgers, only available on Uber Eats, at Fortitude Valley to give staff more hours.
Mr Hueston who has stores in Toowong, Loganlea and Mt Gravatt said he signed up to the
Save Hospitality movement in the hope it might improve the businesses’ cash flow and keep his staff on.
“We’re the shop that feeds the bands and the bands were the first to go. We’ve felt it right from when they stopped all the gigs,” he said.
“Bands, if they love our food and live in Melbourne or wherever, they can have a House Account, they can have a credit, and when they come up to play they can use it.
“They’ve already paid for their food, they’ve helped us to survive. That’s the main thing, it’s about surviving and change things as best as possible to make it through.”
Silverchef business leader Jeremy Mangan said the business had a partnership with U.S. start-up inKind, and saw the app’s potential to help during the crisis.
“As this coronavirus spread and we saw the impact and pain hospitality is facing, we had this app sitting there with contactless payment, great for delivery and payment, gift functionality,” he said.
So, they decided to use it to anchor their non-profit Save Hospitality initiative.
“It’s a way of the community saying thank you and to support that hospitality venue, it could help keep them alive, help pay the staff,” he said.
He said Save Hospitality was upfront that if customers decide to purchase a voucher, there was the risk that the business might fold, and the payment should be considered a donation.
“The real why behind it is understanding that hospitality venues have been serving us forever — they work tirelessly to provide us with coffee and food and genuine hospitality experiences,” he said.
“It’s kind of asking the community to support and serve them.”
The vouchers also come with a small bonus value on top of the money customers pay for them.
WHERE YOU CAN BUY A VOUCHER
To nominate your favourite cafe, bar, pub, restaurant or other venue, visit savehospitality.org
GOLD COAST:
Coffee At The Gardens
BRISBANE:
Bare Bones Society
Crafty Fox Ale House
Crepe & Co.
Dancing Bean Coffee
5 Dogs
Great British Fryer
Hawthorne Cellars
honto
Kamikaze Teppanyaki
Kitchen 8
La Dolce Vita
Little Valley
Lucha Kitchen & Bar
Only Specialty Coffee
Pourboy
Rogue Bistro
Royal Rajputana
Shishou Sake Bar & Eats
Streets Ahead Cafe
Superbowl Chinese
Tapworks Chermside
The Grove Kitchen
X Cargo
Yum Cha Cuisine (Garden City)
TOOWOOMBA/WARWICK
4 Brothers Brewing
Cherry Tree Coffee & Dining
SUNSHINE COAST
Bao Down
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