The business lunch is not exactly a new idea, but neither has it become “old hat” or defunct. Business lunches remain a powerful tool in your enterprise’s development arsenal, and it’s true in just about every major city in the world. Business lunches in Melbourne CBD, for example, continue to drive sales and opportunities forward for companies large and small.

But why meet and have lunch rather than just meeting in the office? Isn’t it easier and cheaper to do business that way? Here’s why business lunch still matters.

A Chance to Create the Perfect Impression

One of the biggest differences between a business lunch and a conventional office meeting is that the office environment essentially offers no opportunity for the company to “wow” the client with a great and enjoyable memory. If you combine a business meeting or a pitch with a delicious lunch, then the whole thing becomes both more enjoyable and more memorable for all concerned.

What better way to leave a good impression on prospective clients and partners than to treat them to local delicacies in a fun atmosphere? It relieves the tension on both sides and allows discussion to move forward on a more equal footing. When a prospective client is in your office, it’s as though you have a home-turf advantage, which isn’t always enjoyable for that visitor.

Helps Retain Business as Well as Garner It

Business lunches aren’t just about building new relationships, but about maintaining and strengthening existing ones. Taking time to have lunch with your clients is a great way to show appreciation for their business, and to help prove that you greatly value that business. They spend a lot of money on your goods and services, and while one meal in return pales in comparison to that (typically), the gesture of goodwill is priceless.

Neutral Ground is Good for You, Too

In the first point, it mentioned that many clients will feel more comfortable meeting in “neutral territory” but that also goes for you. The meeting isn’t happening in your office, nor is it happening in theirs. That’s another way to take the pressure off when what you’re doing is an important pitch. The neutral setting, relaxed atmosphere and tasty eats make it all a little less intimidating.

Business Lunches Give You More Time with the Client

Even if you know you’re heading into a lunch that’s also an important meeting, you are still likely to schedule between 60-90 minutes for that meeting. In a conventional office setting, there’s almost no way that such a large amount of time would be dedicated to a single meeting like that. What works to your advantage is that people need to eat anyway, and they assume the lunch part makes things longer, so naturally they set aside more time for it. At the same time, however, they don’t feel as though that’s a problem, and that’s the important part.

The result is that you get a lot more face time with the client or prospective client. You can typically do the business part in about the 20 minutes that you might get normally and before the food comes. The rest of the time you get to enjoy more socially with your guests. In essence, you can cram the equivalent of 2-4 conventional meetings into one enjoyable lunch.

Therefore, let it never be said by anyone that the business lunch has had its day. It should remain your go-to strategy when you need that additional edge in a meeting. Melbourne is pretty well blessed with great eateries, too!