Chapter 219 - 187: Chance Encounter

Chapter 219: Chapter 187: Chance Encounter

At 7:00 PM, Gu Heng, accompanied by General Manager Huang Xin, officially began his deep dive into the YunzuN High-altitude Restaurant and Bar.

Having conducted deep dives into five other restaurant brands, Gu Heng was no stranger to this kind of work.

"Chairman Gu, this is our first service of the evening, the business dinner slot. It runs from 5 PM to 8 PM, and during this time, we offer customers a wide selection of dishes."

"After the dinner service ends, Cloud Vase transforms into a cocktail bar, which runs from 8 PM to midnight. Starting then, we only offer simple small plates, and our sales focus shifts from restaurant to bar."

"Finally, from midnight until we close at 3 AM, Cloud Vase completely transforms into a DJ party. We remove all the small tables in front of the bar, and the cleared-out area becomes a dance floor, maximizing our use of the space."

From the moment the tour began, Huang Xin didn’t dare show Gu Heng the slightest bit of disrespect.

He wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination or a psychological effect, but he felt that Gu Heng was even more imposing than he had been two months prior. The powerful aura he gave off put Huang Xin under immense pressure.

"What’s the table turnover rate?"

Gu Heng asked, sitting in a booth by the 270-degree panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows and looking down on the brightly lit city below.

"According to last quarter’s data, we average 2.3 turnovers per night during dinner service and 3.2 during the late-night session."

Huang Xin didn’t dare hide or fudge any numbers, answering Gu Heng truthfully.

"What’s the average spend per customer?"

Gu Heng asked.

"On weekdays, it’s 540 yuan. On weekends, it’s 760 yuan."

Huang Xin explained to Gu Heng, "Following the principle of maximizing spatial value, the minimum spend for a window booth at Cloud Vase is 150% to 300% higher than for an interior booth."

"Even so, our window booths are still in high demand on weekends and holidays. Sometimes you need to book two or three days in advance to get one. On special occasions like Valentine’s Day or New Year’s Eve, we can be fully booked a week ahead."

As Gu Heng listened to Huang Xin’s explanation, he nodded slightly in understanding.

As the only establishment in Beichun, and even all of Ji Province, that could compare to the trendiest high-altitude restaurant-bars of top-tier cities, YunzuN High-altitude Restaurant and Bar had remained incredibly popular since opening in 2021. It attracted countless young people and affluent young professionals.

It served high-end imported spirits worth over ten thousand yuan a bottle, but also cocktails for just a few dozen yuan a glass. The barrier to entry at Cloud Vase wasn’t high; even college students could have a great time without breaking the bank, especially if they were splitting the bill.

According to Huang Xin, groups of university students from Beichun often organized gatherings at Cloud Vase. They would typically arrive for the dinner service and stay through all three phases—dinner, cocktails, and the party—leaving only just before closing time.

Because of this, there was always a steady stream of new, young faces at Cloud Vase, which kept the atmosphere vibrant and energetic. This had created the virtuous cycle it enjoyed today.

"How do you manage customer acquisition for Cloud Vase?"

Gu Heng’s eyes swept across the room. It wasn’t even a weekend or a holiday, yet the place was at nearly 100% occupancy, with every single window seat taken.

"Chairman Gu, our customer acquisition system has three main strategies: online lead generation, private community building, and brand partnerships."

Huang Xin answered fluently, "With our online lead generation strategy, we allocate 45% of our ad spend to local promotions on TikTok. A single viral video this past July brought Cloud Vase over 3,000 bookings."

"At the same time, we run targeted campaigns on online platforms like Uber Eats, Yelp, and Little Sweet Potato. Our reputation has always been excellent. According to our data, about seventy percent of new customers are drawn in through these online channels."

Listening to Huang Xin’s answer, Gu Heng nodded slightly in approval.

Zhen Cui Group had always placed a high value on online lead generation. The marketing strategies for its restaurant brands varied, each tailored to their specific positioning, style, and target clientele.

"As for private community building, Cloud Vase designated every Wednesday as ’Members’ Night.’ We use our WhatsApp membership mini-program to send out targeted high-value coupons or drink discounts based on member data, which increases loyalty and retention."

"For example, sometimes we’ll send member coupons specifically to our young female customers to attract male customers. Other times, we’ll send them to young male customers to attract female customers."

"After three years of consistent effort, our Wednesday ’Members’ Night’ revenue now rivals that of a typical weekend, and it has gradually become one of Cloud Vase’s signature features."

As he said this, a hint of pride crept onto Huang Xin’s face.

After all, Huang Xin had been the general manager of Cloud Vase since its inception.

For three years, he had been nothing but dedicated.

His contribution to Cloud Vase’s current success was undeniable.

"Finally, there are our brand partnerships. Using the resources provided by the Group, Cloud Vase periodically collaborates with well-known craft breweries for special events. We typically promote these about half a month in advance, and they’re usually run in a beer-festival style."