Incorporating Ecommerce Into Your Restaurant Business Model

Posted by Karen Erdelac on Apr 10, 2020

Incorporating Ecommerce Into Your Restaurant Business ModelMany small restaurants are trying to find ways to supplement their delivery and takeout sales right now, and a move into ecommerce may be the solution. Here we break down how to add retail ecommerce to your restaurant business model.

Setting Up Your Store:

Finding A Platform

There are hundreds of platforms and templates that can be found online, many of them at little to no cost. Shopify is an extremely popular platform and the choice of many looking to invest in ecommerce. You’ll want to find a template that fits what you want to do with your site and the volume of products you sell.

Product Descriptions

Product descriptions should be very detailed and include visuals that showcase the uses and functionality of your products. High-quality images and videos can go a long way toward moving more inventory. Giving a bit of history on the products you sell will help to build a connection between that product and your shoppers.

Pricing, Payment And Shipping

Your prices, shipping costs and shipping methods should be clearly outlined and contain no guess work. You should offer a variety of payment methods to ensure you’re not losing business simply because you don’t accept something like PayPal. Having a separate section that includes discounted items will help you to move overstocked inventory.

What To Sell:

Signature Sauces

Whether it’s a pasta sauce, hot sauce or steak sauce, many restaurants have a signature flavor.  Bottling your genius and selling it online is a great way to boost restaurant revenue and maintain your bottom line. Creative packaging and branding as well as heavy promotion through social channels will help you to move inventory and build awareness.

Branded Merchandise

T-shirts, shot glasses, beer mugs, bottle openers and nearly every household item can be branded and sold online. Many loyal customers will be more than willing to support your restaurant by purchasing company branded items. Another great idea is to offer gift cards that can be used at a later date, but infuses money into your company right now.

Meal Kits

Meal kit delivery has grown exponentially over the last couple of years and is a booming new industry. Leveraging your popular dishes and putting together kits that customers can use to recreate your dishes at home can add significant revenue to your business. Detailed instructions and everything they need to make the dishes should be included.

If you need funding to help set up your ecommerce store and stock inventory, click below to apply now.

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Topics: Restaurant