According to Chainalysis Inc. statistics, the NFT marketplace grew at a breakneck pace, with figures for 2021 indicating the potential for even more massive future growth. Customers sent ‘at least $44.2 billion in cryptocurrency’ to Ethereum smart contracts related to NFT collections and marketplaces, they reported.
The recent decline in NFT trading has not deterred businesses from incorporating NFTs and innovating with blockchain technology in order to increase brand recognition and customer loyalty.
Unsurprisingly, many traditional businesses, including restaurants, have taken notice and see huge opportunities to capitalize on this exploding sector.
The NFTs: A Two-Way Superhighway
Many businesses have realized that NFTs can provide significant benefits to both themselves and their customers. NFTs are an excellent way to increase customer loyalty while also allowing businesses to learn about their customer base and tailor products and promotions accordingly.
NFTs are fundamentally digital assets stored on a blockchain that were initially used in the arts and entertainment industry to store digital art, music, and videos.
The appeal of NFTs stems from their scarcity, exclusivity, and one-of-a-kindness. This is perfectly applicable in the business world, where customers or consumers increasingly want to feel special and treated to a personalized experience. According to a Forbes Coaches Council expert panel, ‘genuine care is essential’ in order to establish companies as ‘customer first’ businesses and thus build customer loyalty in a world where profit is increasingly becoming the be-all and end-all. They provide 11 tips on how to do so, and it’s no surprise that the majority of them revolve around effective communication with businesses and customers. NFTs are an excellent way to accomplish this.
Introducing NFTs to the Table
Forward-thinking restaurant operators have been quick to adapt their business palettes to take on the new digital flavors of the digital world in the highly competitive and often cutthroat world of the restaurant business. Successful operators have long recognized the importance of maintaining open lines of communication with their customers.
They must inform them about special offers and promotions, exclusive events, and new menus, while also receiving open and prompt feedback from customers about their experiences, suggestions, and needs.
NFTs are being used by many restaurants to create personalized digital memberships.
Flyfish Club was the world’s first private dining club to offer NFT-purchased memberships that provided exclusive access to its restaurant and special events.
Some celebrity chefs are also involved with NFTs, providing a variety of food-related NFTs and rewards. Chef Christian Petroni’s Garlic Butter Sicilian Pizza NFT holders, for example, have access to special events, merchandise, secret recipes, and cooking classes.
Even trusted high-street fast-food chains are getting in on the NFT action; McDonald’s created its first-ever NFT to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the McRib, which they distributed to a limited number of their Twitter followers.
When it comes to gathering customer information, NFTs are an excellent choice. They could be offered as a perk for completing surveys and questionnaires. They can be used to track existing customers’ spending and product interest behavior to help further tailor the experience to their needs.
Not yet fully baked
While there are numerous examples of restaurants using NFTs, there is still a long way to go before this technology is fully utilized across the industry. One of the first issues is fear of the unknown, with some businesses misinterpreting this area and believing it to be more difficult to implement than it is.
Jennifer Faren, vice-president of marketing at Hopdoddy Burger Bar, stated in a recent interview with the Nation’s Restaurant News website: “When we start talking NFTs, it’s very confusing and it’s hard to know if they’re real or not.” If our front-of-house teams in the restaurant can’t explain things, I don’t trust us to do them. Before even considering going down that road, I would like to see it become more mainstream.”
“Our guests want to get that feeling of, ‘I come here all the time, so I get special perks and access to things that other people don’t,” Faren added. “They want that feeling of being so valuable to the brand,” Faren adds. NFTs could be the answer Hopdoddy and other restaurant businesses are looking for in order to help customers feel that bond.
So, while there is still some work to be done in getting the industry to adopt NFTs as a whole, there is no doubt that this sector will continue to grow rapidly. It will undoubtedly be one to watch in the near future and could be a goldmine for NFT companies looking to expand.
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