Restaurant Overview:
Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu, a renowned Japanese dining concept specializing in crispy, tender gyukatsu beef cutlets, made its debut in Singapore with its first store. Known for its authentic Kyoto flavors, the restaurant entered a competitive and vibrant dining market with the goal of establishing a loyal customer base from day one.

Launch Challenges:
As a new entrant, Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu faced several critical challenges:

• Building brand awareness and attracting first-time diners in a highly competitive Japanese dining scene.

• Capturing data from every customer to ensure long-term engagement and retention.

• Encouraging first-time customers to return, with no existing base of repeat diners to rely on.

To overcome these challenges, Gyukatsu partnered with Oddle to implement a loyalty program that would serve as a cornerstone for building customer engagement and retention right from its launch.

Oddle Loyalty Implementation

Oddle Loyalty was deployed as an integral part of Gyukatsu’s launch strategy, helping the restaurant capture customer data, drive repeat visits, and establish a loyal following in the competitive Singapore market. Here’s how Oddle delivered on its promises:

Maximizing the Top of the Funnel

Promise Delivered: Oddle Loyalty helps restaurants identify as many customers as possible by capturing behavioral data and building a rich customer database.

• Solution: From day one, Gyukatsu implemented Oddle’s check-in loyalty system to capture data from all diners, not just the person paying. This ensured the restaurant collected insights on every customer who visited.

• Result: Within three months of its launch, Gyukatsu captured over 8,000 diner profiles, creating a solid foundation for long-term engagement.

• Incentive: First-time diners were incentivized to join the loyalty program with a complimentary drink, resulting in a 25% enrolment rate, significantly higher than the industry average of 5%.

Identifying and Engaging Happy Customers

Promise Delivered: Oddle Loyalty encourages satisfied customers to leave positive reviews, boosting online reputation.

• Solution: Gyukatsu automated a feedback survey for all customers after their first visit. Satisfied diners were encouraged to leave reviews on Google, helping build the restaurant’s online reputation rapidly.

• Result: This strategy led to an increase in positive reviews, with Gyukatsu quickly establishing a strong presence in search results, driving more foot traffic and first-time visits.

  
  

Defining Customer Dining Habits and Segmentation

Promise Delivered: Oddle Loyalty uses data to segment customers based on their behavior and preferences to improve retention rates and drive repeat visits.

• Solution: Leveraging Oddle’s data-driven insights, Gyukatsu launched targeted campaigns to convert first-time diners into repeat customers. These included:

  • Return Hooks:

    • Free Signature Side Dish with a minimum spend of $50.

    • 20% off premium menu items for repeat visits.

    • A 2-for-1 drink promotion, encouraging group visits and bringing in new diners.

• Result: The return rate for first-time customers increased to 20%, doubling the typical industry average of 10%.

  
  

Re-Engaging Lapsed Customers

Promise Delivered: Oddle Loyalty makes restaurants accessible to lapsed customers through targeted campaigns and offers.

• Solution: Gyukatsu used Oddle Loyalty to send personalized re-engagement campaigns to diners who had not returned within three months of their visit. These campaigns included offers like discounts on premium sets and seasonal menu items.

• Result:

  • 30% of lapsed customers returned through these targeted efforts, contributing to steady sales growth.

  • Delivery sales grew by 50%, driven by targeted promotions sent via EDMs to the loyalty database.

    
    

Tangible Outcomes

Customer Engagement:

• Over 8,000 diners were enrolled in the loyalty program within the first three months, creating a robust customer database from launch.

• 25% of first-time customers joined the loyalty program through the check-in system, far exceeding the industry norm of 5%.

  
  

Retention and Re-Engagement:

• First-time customer return rates rose to 20%, doubling the average return rate for new restaurants.

• 30% of lapsed customers returned through targeted re-engagement campaigns.

  
  

Impact on Revenue:

• Repeat diners now contribute 1.3x more to monthly revenue compared to one-time diners.

  
  

Delivery Cross-Channel Conversion:

• Delivery sales increased by 50%, leveraging the loyalty database for targeted promotions.

  
  

A Testimonial from Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu

"As a new restaurant entering a competitive market, we needed a strategy to build a loyal customer base from the start. Oddle Loyalty gave us the tools to not only capture diner data but also to engage and retain our customers effectively. The feedback automation and personalized campaigns have made a significant difference in establishing our presence and driving repeat visits."

— Markoto, Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu

Lessons from Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu’s Success with Oddle Loyalty

Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu’s success with Oddle Loyalty demonstrates how a restaurant can integrate a loyalty program into its launch strategy to deliver meaningful results. Key takeaways include:

• Building from Day One: The check-in system ensured data capture from all diners, leading to a 25% sign-up rate, compared to the industry average of 5%.

• Boosting Visibility: Automated feedback surveys encouraged positive reviews, helping Gyukatsu build an online reputation quickly and drive foot traffic.

• Converting First-Time Customers: Return hooks like free dishes and discounts on premium items doubled return rates compared to the typical industry average.

• Re-Engaging Lapsed Customers: Targeted campaigns brought back 30% of lapsed customers and boosted delivery sales by 50%.

  
  

Learning: By embedding a loyalty program into its launch strategy, Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu effectively built a strong customer base and drove sustainable growth from the outset.

Ready to Grow Like Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu?

Launching your restaurant and want to establish a loyal customer base like Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu? Let Oddle Loyalty help you grow your business from day one. Contact us today to get started!