Spring marks the beginning of wedding season and it will be here before you know it! Now is the time for your catering company to take a good hard look at how well prepared you are for this busy season. You have to keep the right amount of staff on hand which may require hiring new people and incurring additional training expenses. The cuisine which you offer must be delicious and customer service has to be your number one priority. Customer service includes the look of your store, the equipment that you possess, and your marketing efforts.
There is a lot of competition in the catering industry and one way to give your business an advantage is to review this checklist from theknot.com. These questions may be asked by your prospective clients and you want to be ready with a great response. Every year an average of 2.4 million weddings are performed in the United States. This represents a lot of revenue to capture and a large opportunity to establish your catering company as a huge success.
Here are a few ways to grow your business, attract new customers today and make sure that you are well prepared for wedding season.
Excel in Your Interior Decorating Skills
The interior of your catering company can be a make or break factor when your clients are deciding to give you their business. New customers will be looking for a way to compare you to the other quotes that they receive. So, your reputation will be very important as well as the feeling they get when they walk in to your catering company. Ambience is a very important selling tool. What kind of designs do you have on your walls? Does the color and pattern convey your business message? If you have a glass case which encompasses samples of your tasty selections, make sure that it is clean and looks new. This will add to the appeal of what you have to offer. New flooring can be a major expense but will also add to the allure of your interior. All of these items together create a picture of what you are selling and give customers an expectation of what they will receive. Many catering companies experience intense competition from others who do not have an actual storefront location. Use this to your advantage! Spruce up your signage out front and add nice customer displays on the windows. Make sure that your paint and trim are in excellent condition and have a complimentary design aesthetic. Hire someone who is excellent in these fields. This way you can show everyone who passes by that you excel in attention to detail and creativity.
Don’t Waste Money on Inefficient Equipment
There are so many intricate details which go into supplying your catering services on that special day. It is critical that you are able to compete not only price wise but also with unique equipment that is in pristine condition. Do you offer your customers an assortment of dishware options? Customers will undoubtedly have differing tastes so you need to have a wide variety at your disposal. How do your glassware and flatware options look? These items must be taken into consideration along with serving trays, bowls, pans, and utensils. Is your oven and dishwasher state of the art? Time is money and you must ensure that you are not wasting it either with outdated or inefficient options.
Get Out There and Meet New Clients
How do you tell the world about your catering company and what you have to offer? These days digital marketing is everywhere and it pays to be on trend in your efforts. Purchase lists of customers who have signed up to receive bridal magazines. This is usually a great indicator that they are ready to start their wedding planning. Attend bridal shows and introduce yourself as a go-to caterer who can accommodate a variety of wedding styles and themes. Hire an advertising guru who will create unique, eye catching designs that you can mail or email to put the name of your catering company on the top of their lists. How would you describe the look of your menu? This is usually the first item that people request from you. Make sure that it is worthy of being passed around. Update the look and have shorter versions on hand so that you can pass them out on the go. Repetition is definitely a good thing when it comes to marketing so don’t be shy to let people know why they should choose you.
Securing the Financial Help You Need
A merchant cash advance can help you take your catering company to the next level. Could you use extra cash on hand? A company such as Quikstone Capital Solutions can process your merchant cash advance quickly and easily. The repayment terms are flexible with payments being made from your future debit and credit card sales. This simple solution can help you take advantage of multiplying sales this wedding season.
