By Clyde Mooney – editor Australian Hotelier
A Perth group has created a food and drink specials app that is proving very successful in the local pub scene.
Schoolmates and devoted pub patrons Donny McDermid, Dylan McEvoy and Tyson Stolarski spent a year researching and creating Cheersy, which allows users to find specials and promotions at venues by type, location or day of the week.
Cheersy contains over 135 menus and 600 deals and has already made the national Top 10 for Food & Drink apps, with the creators already flagging expansion into other states and overseas.
Nick Arrigoni, head chef at the Mullaloo Beach Hotel, says the instant nature of the technology means they can tailor usage to their weekly requirements.
”It’s all about getting new faces through the door,” says Arrigoni. ”It gets your deal out there – it’s direct to the customer.”
The increasing percentage of the population with smart phones is increasing the significance of digital marketing, particularly in the crowded hospitality market.
Owner of the Varsity Bar, Fabian Butcher, says Cheersy has hit the mark with the demographic his venue is trying to attract.
"Mobile technology is the best way for us to communicate with potential customers,” says Butcher.
“We’ve already seen a direct response from promoting our $8 Buffalo Wings special on the app."