Introduction example: The reservation system is a strong ally for customers with children, and it also supports the owner in balancing work and childcare (Mama to Ko Cafe).

A café for parents and children draws nearly 800 visitors in its first three months

— What inspired you to start your own business?

I originally worked as a nurse, but I was overwhelmed by the challenges of raising my 3-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter, and every day felt like a whirlwind. For example, even on days when I didn’t have the energy to cook dinner and we ate out, I ended up mentally exhausted from trying not to bother the people around us, and I was so focused on feeding the kids that I could hardly taste my own food. It felt like there was never a moment to catch my breath, and that state just went on and on.

At that time, I felt that although there are many restaurants, there are very few that are easy to visit with children. So I decided to create a child‑friendly place myself, and with everyone’s support, we opened in June 2023.

— Your clinic has only recently opened, but how many customers have used your services so far?

Our restaurant is quite small, with three four-person tables and four counter seats, but we’re grateful that we receive one or two reservations every day, and in total, including parents and children, about 200 to 250 people use our place each month.

— It looks like a lot of people are already using it!

Yes. However, there were times when we had to refuse use during busy periods, so from now on we will be limiting it to two hours at a time.

We’re thinking of introducing a shift system so that more people can make use of it.

Keep your startup costs down with a reservation ledger backed by a trusted representative

— You introduced the Respo reservation ledger at the same time you opened, but was there any particular reason or trigger that led you to consider it in the first place?

I’ve never been very good at managing schedules myself, so I was thinking of introducing a system that would allow us to manage restaurant reservations properly and without any oversights.

— Among the various reservation management systems available, could you tell us why you chose the Respo reservation ledger?

We had just opened our business and wanted to keep costs down, so the fact that it was free every month no matter how much we used it was a huge advantage.

Also, the support representative was someone I felt I could really trust and talk to, so I was confident that we couldn’t go wrong by leaving it in their hands, and decided to go ahead with the implementation.

Were you able to implement the Respo reservation ledger smoothly?

Yes, it was easier to implement than I had imagined. After the initial setup of things like business hours and the menu, I was able to use it intuitively, so I didn’t find it difficult at all.

Also, since you can check your reservation status on your iPhone, it’s convenient because you can confirm it even when you’re out.

Most customers with children visit by reservation, allowing for attentive, personalized service based on their visit history.

— Now that you’ve actually implemented the Respo reservation ledger, how is it working for you?

Almost all customers with children make a reservation online before coming to the store.

As I expected, for customers with children, it’s quite difficult to go to a restaurant only to find they can’t get in and then have to look for another place, so I think that’s why many people choose to make a reservation in advance before coming.

— How do you make your online reservations?

Currently, one-third of our online reservations come through AutoReserve, and two-thirds come through Instagram DMs.

However, once customers make a reservation through AutoReserve, they continue to use it every time after that.

For the store as well, being able to confirm in the Respo reservation ledger that a customer has visited before is very helpful for communicating with them, so we really appreciate that.

Thanks to being able to predict how many customers will visit, it’s easier to balance the job with raising children.

— After introducing the Respo reservation ledger, what benefits have you noticed?

Because we know the number of reservations in advance, we can prepare and get everything ready accordingly, so there is almost no food waste.

Also, when we have a bit more side dishes than usual, we sell them as prepared foods, and some customers buy them to take home for their dinner.

— Has this affected how you balance the business with your own family life?

Yes. Depending on the number of reservations for the day, there are many days when I bring my own child and have the staff look after them, but if I know in advance what time customers will be coming, I can plan things like my child’s mealtimes. Being able to work while also raising my child is a huge help.

— Finally, could you tell us about your goals for the shop going forward?

Our current shop is on a one-year lease, so we’ll have to move in six months to a year, but we want to keep running the business without changing our core concept of providing a relaxed space where parents and children can spend time together.

Also, we’re currently open four days a week, but I’d like to use the remaining three days as a shared kitchen and for hosting events for parents and children, so that we can turn this into a space that’s useful for even more people. When we do that, I’m hoping to make full use of the Respo reservation ledger as well.

Store Information

Mama and Child Cafe

Address: 2115-105 Nunokawa, Tone-machi, Kita-Sōma-gun, Ibaraki Prefecture
Phone number: 070-1304-4459
Store details:https://autoreserve.com/restaurants/EQeQ2BsicDG1wQkFvYo1