This Havertown, PA Italian restaurant came to us mid Covid, barely making it through and asked us what to do to start building their business back up. The owner is also the chef, anything online is not where he wants to spend his time, but he does realize there’s a need to participate in the online conversation so he started looking for a 3rd party that could take the reins and move his brand in the right direction. Right away we dumped their current website and moved them to an elevated look and feelwith easy functionality for the consumer. We immediately did some SEO work on the backend and also built out SEO pages for cateringas this was a target for the owner. Next we worked with a member of their staff in house on how to get better photos. Their budget wasn’t quite enough to have us out every week, so we proposed a few training sessions where we would walk them through how to take great photos with an iPhone. All of the current photos you see on their Instagram are taken by them and then edited and posted by our team. Now equipped with some great photo taking skills they decided on a weekly photo shoot of their specials for that week. We then take those photos and work them into a marketing email to their subscribers. We’ve been sending this email with tremendous results. Because we add personal messaging at the top, their customers look forward to it each week. Overall, this has been an extremely rewarding project and we’re happy to have them as a long term client.
Cavanaugh’s is our longest standing client. Before Small Talk Media and long before Table Talk was a 23 year old guy in an apartment working sales jobs during the day and building a digital marketing company at night… that guy is me (Rob Wright, Owner Table Talk.) I can remember visiting Cavanaugh’s Riverdeck in my 20’s. In Philadelphia, The Riverdeck is almost a rite of passage. It brings in thousands of young people each weekend to dance, drink and hang out.
As the owner’s of the Riverdeck continued their growth they were looking for new more consistent revenue streams, enter Cavanaugh’s Rittenhouse. A laid back sports bar in center city Philadelphia. Now with two locations under their belts they started looking for another location, this is where Table Talk came in. Upon finding their Cavanaugh’s Headhouse location they were looking for “promoters” to help them open with a bang. Having amassed a large group of friends in the Philadelphia area and wanting to launch my fledgling digital marketing agency I decided to pitch the owners on letting me throw a party. They let me throw the party and guess what, it flopped.
Even Though that individual party wasn’t as advertised I still felt that I could help this new location grow, not by acting as a party promoter but by helping them in every area of their marketing. They signed on as one of my very first clients and I quickly went to work. I created their website, helped with the menu, managed all of their social media, helped them build out a new private party booking system and so much more. After a few months it was Riverdeck season. They called me in to see what I could help with there. We rebuilt the website, turned the private party and guestlist system completely digital, developed email marketing, started social media pages, took over graphic design and developed promotions.
Now almost 10 years later the team at Cavanaugh’s still has 6 locations throughout Philadelphia. We’re still their trusted marketing arm offering constant ideas to help build their reputation and drive sales.
It’s finally happening. If you’ve watched the recent Netflix series The Social Dilemma you’ve seen how social media platforms are tracking us using data and how they’re feeding that data to advertisers. I had a few conversations with friends and family who also watched the movie. They all seemed a little shook at how their data is being used. Most came to the revelation of “oh, so that’s why I keep seeing the same headphones from Amazon in my newsfeed.” Now as a marketer who is uploading customer data to Facebook, Google and other ad platforms almost daily I would respond with “if you liked those headphones, isn’t it nice to get a reminder? and isn’t it better then getting hit over and over with a bunch of ads for stuff you don’t want?” Think about TV commercials, if you’ve ever been sick in bed on a monday afternoon and forced to watch the Price is Right you’ve seen an ad for the Hover round, the Clapper or AARP. TV commercials became so invasive that people have pulled the plug in dramatic fashion and are now using paid services like Netflix to get around them. At least with retargeting ads (this is what the ads that target users based on their data are called) you’re seeing products and services that you were actually interested in at one point.
Here’s a few examples of how small businesses will be affected by Apple’s privacy update:
You book a reservation online with a new restaurant. You go to that restaurant, have an amazing dinner and say to your date “this place is great, we need to bring our friends here.” You leave the restaurant and completely forget that you were there. Your parents come into town and you take them to Applebees because you completely forgot about the great meal you had at your favorite new restaurant. Now, say that restaurant is using a company like ours to handle their marketing. We pull all of the names, email addresses and phone numbers from their online booking software and upload to Facebook ads. Facebook then matches people’s profile based on the data that we uploaded. We use that new audience to setup an ad that says “You’ve been to our restaurant before, we’d love to see you again! Here’s an offer for a Free Appetizer on your next visit” You see that ad, and now your family is sharing a memorable new restaurant instead of eatin good in the neighborhood.
You visit a local hardware store website in the summer looking to rent a chainsaw. You don’t rent the chainsaw, but you like that hardware store and would rather support a local business than go to Home Depot or Lowes (who spend billions on TV ads.) That hardware store’s website has a Facebook pixel installed which essentially tracks users that come to their website so they can market to those users in the future. It’s now 8 months later in the middle of the winter and you’re desperately looking to buy a shovel and salt because there’s a foot of snow on your driveway. Home Depot and Lowes are completely sold out. You see an ad from your local hardware store pop up in your Facebook feed that says “We have shovels, salt and snow blowers in stock!” You shoot over to the hardware store, buy your shovel and salt and your problem has been solved.
Both of those examples show practical ways that using consumer data better connects consumers with the small businesses that matter most to them. Apple privacy settings update will not allow Facebook or other social apps to share the data. When this happens you’re essentially turning off the faucet for small businesses to connect with consumers and opening the floodgates for large corporations to drown you in ads.
For information about how we’re helping our clients combat this problem, please reach out through our website.
You can read more on Facebook’s stance on this new social dilemma HERE. There’s also a great article on CNBC that has more information including how the industry is adapting their advertising strategy.
Earlier this week I had a serious hankering for Chinese food. Sitting at my home in Fishtown I picked up the phone about a half hour before getting ready to eat and called my go-to bodega Chinese spot. Normally when I order from this place I’m generally astounded at how quickly they get to my house, however this time their phone just kept ringing. So I tried another place, and another and another until I had called every hole in the wall Chinese delivery spot within 3 miles of my house, none of them answered! I opened up my Uber Eats app and proceeded to order from a Thai place down the street that I really don’t like, but I needed to fill the hoisin sauce void in the pit of my stomach. Note that I only use Uber Eats as a last resort. They take roughly 30% from each restaurant order making it really hard for the restaurants to make money from delivery through their service. And don’t even get me started on Grubhub, I deleted that app from my phone.
So today, scrolling through my newsfeed I come across a post on Facebook from Philly restauranteur (and owner of a few of the places below) Kenny Poon. He compiled a list of some great restaurants open in Chinatown during the coronavirus pandemic along with their direct phone numbers and open hours! I’ve also added a link to their Google listings so you can check out reviews and food pics before ordering. Kenny encouraged his followers to share his post, I’d like to implore you to do the same as these restaurants could certainly use the business. As for the rest of the asian restaurants in Philly, stay strong… I’ll be your first order when you open back up!
WITH DOCTORS AND NURSES NOW WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK ON TESTING AT HOSPITALS, URGENT CARES AND NURSING HOMES THEY’RE GETTING LITTLE DOWN TIME AND LIMITED ACCESS TO MEALS. THEY’RE ALSO WORKING IN AN EXTREMELY STRESSFUL ENVIRONMENT, SHOWING THAT THE COMMUNITY IS LOOKING OUT FOR THEM HAS MEANT THE WORLD. IN AN EFFORT TO HELP MEDICAL WORKERS STAY NOURISHED AND POSITIVE WE’RE PARTNERING WITH LOCAL RESTAURANTS TO DELIVER QUALITY FOOD DIRECTLY TO THE TESTING AND TREATMENT SITES. HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Buy a meal! Partner restaurants are being paid around $6 per meal which barely covers their cost. CLICK HERE to make a donation through our partners at The Trauma Survivors Foundation.
Become a restaurant partner! We’re looking for more restaurants that can help fulfill orders and deliver to hospital staff. If you have a kitchen and you’re willing to prepare, pack and possibly deliver orders. CLICK HERE to signup on our restaurant request form. Donated meals take priority and we’re extremely grateful!
If your Covid-19 testing or treatment facility could use a little help getting food to staff please fill out our MEAL REQUEST FORM and a volunteer will try to get you on the schedule.
Deliver Meals! We need volunteers to pickup meals from the restaurants and drop off at the healthcare facilities. CLICK HERE for more information or to signup.
We’re currently serving nurses and medical staff at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Crozer-Chester Medical Center, St. Francis Hospital, Einstein Medical Center, Christiana Hospital, Penn Medicine, Temple University and adding more each week. Rob Wright and his team at Small Talk Media will be helping with the coordination along with our volunteers at the Trauma Survivors Foundation.
The virus is here and it’s hitting our industry hard. While most “non-essential” businesses are closed, in most areas restaurants are allowed to offer takeout and delivery. If you have a bar or restaurant that is open for takeout and delivery NOW is the time to advertise! Grub Hub, Uber Eats, Door Dashed and Post Mates have a million restaurants listed in your area making it hard for you to stand out from the crowd. With social media advertising you can hone in on your local area and jump to the top of that list by controlling your own messaging and photos. Our partner Targetable is donating four free weeks of their services to advertise your restaurant’s takeout, delivery, and curbside services.
From their site
We are donating four free weeks of Targetable so you can:
Market your restaurant on Facebook & Instagram while only needing to commit 10 minutes per week.
Approve ads that are generated specifically to promote your delivery, takeout & curbside services.
Access pre-licensed images to make your ads still look good should you not have your own professional images.
Let the system iterate and improve your ads over time
For more information about how to claim this service please reach out to us directly on our Contact Page
Coronavirus (COVID-19) has already had a dramatic impact on restaurants. As of the end of the day on Monday, restaurant purchase transactions had slumped more than 42% across the Thanx network. In these difficult times, restaurants must take proactive measures to not only keep establishments safe, in accordance with CDC guidelines for businesses but also ensure they take steps to limit negative impacts on sales.
What can restaurants do right now?
1. Embrace off-premises dining options
On Sunday night, the mayor of New York City banned dining out, limiting restaurants, bars, and nightclubs to takeout and delivery only. Many others have followed suit and it’s likely additional cities and states will follow in short order. On March 16th, President Trump urged Americans to forgo dining out and may mandate the same in the very near future.
As such, we encourage restaurants, in regions where these changes have not yet been mandated, to consider proactively going off-premises-only taking a similar approach as Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, and others. Not only does this step reduce the potential spread of the virus, but it also engenders trust with customers and bolsters brand affinity.
Here is an example of messaging on Chick-fil-A’s website:
“Our highest priority continues to be the health and well-being of everyone who comes into our restaurants. As we navigate the evolving impact of coronavirus on our communities, we are temporarily closing our dining room seating to help limit person-to-person contact. Some of our restaurants may only offer service through our drive-thrus, while others may be able to offer takeout, delivery or mobile ordering options. Thanks for your patience as our restaurants begin transitioning their operations this week. We know these are challenging times, but we’ll continue to do our best to serve you.” – Chick-fil-A
2. Implement contactless delivery
For those restaurants who offer delivery to consumers directly through a website and/or mobile application, we recommend immediately implementing and promoting “contactless” delivery.
To support the implementation of contactless delivery, we suggest restaurants take the following steps:
Restaurants with their own delivery fleet should take measures as recommended by the WHO and the CDC to ensure packaging and delivery drivers follow safety guidelines.
Restaurants should also ensure that contactless delivery instructions can be entered by consumers directly through ordering channels whether online or through a mobile app. Here’s an example of how consumers can enter delivery instructions within Kolache Factory’s Thanx-powered web ordering experience.
Once implemented, restaurants should promote contactless delivery across all digital channels including restaurant websites, email, SMS, push notification, and in-app. Here are a few examples email from Jimmy John’s and Lyfe Kitchen:
And a few more social media and in-app promotions from Blaze Pizza and Starbird.
Major third-party delivery providers offer contactless delivery options as well. Postmates announced contactless delivery first on March 6th, with DoorDash, GrubHub, and UberEats quickly announcing similar capabilities. The implementation of these features varies across platforms, with some offering an option to enter delivery instructions at checkout and others offering “contactless delivery” dropdown menus.
Here is an example showing the “Contactless Delivery” option on Postmates and the corresponding detail.
And an example of no-contact delivery instructions for consumers in DoorDash’s mobile app:
As a first priority, restaurants should promote contactless delivery on direct-channels where margins are highest. As noted in more detail below, we highly encourage the promotion of free or discounted delivery on this channel first. In addition to avoiding commission fees, this allows customer data to be captured which can, in turn, be used to re-engage customers during and after the crisis. As a secondary step, we recommend promoting Uber Eats where fees have been waived and Grubhub, where commissions have been suspended* for some businesses and other third-party channels** as a secondary priority, perhaps with less attractive incentives. With either approach, be sure to provide clear instructions to consumers who may not be familiar with the nuances of each platform. *3/18/20 Update: Grubhub has gotten some backlash on the relief program that’s worth reading about here. **3/19/20 Update: DoorDash just announced reduced or waived fees.
Here is an example of Modern Market’s email instructions, outlining how consumers can provide drivers with contactless delivery instructions on DoorDash:
3. Introduce curbside service
We also recommend offering curbside pickup, especially if contactless delivery is not an option, to give customers the option to place an order for pickup through digital channels and/or by calling the restaurant directly. Some governments have limited capacity inside of restaurants so, in addition to consulting local regulations, consider offering pick-up brought directly to the guest’s car. Adding more consumer touchpoints, like accepting orders via phone, is another way to widen reach and capture more sales.
Here is an example email communication from McNellie’s Restaurant Group:
And another example from Starbird:
We recommend restaurants promote safe delivery and curbside options, via in-store channels, if the business remains open or until bans go into effect. For those businesses limiting dine-in, we suggest posting notices at all entrances communicating off-premises dining options.
4. Go cashless
In supporting takeout and dine-in, it’s important restaurants limit direct contact between employees and guests. Restaurants should move to accepting credit cards and touchless mobile payment only, if possible. Regardless of whether or not mobile payments are available in-app, encourage guests to adopt Apple and/or Google Pay. Since many guests likely do not have and will not download the restaurant app, this ensures that anyone can pay via mobile and avoid direct contact with machines and employees.
Here is an example of messaging about going “cashless” from Modern Market:
5. Offer free or discounted delivery
To encourage delivery and takeout purchases, we recommend promoting those channels and offering discounts where appropriate. Here are a few examples:
Chipotle is offering free delivery on direct orders of more than $10.
“We’re committed to delivering a fast, fresh and personalized experience. That’s why we have a dedicated team and ingredient line to service delivery and pick up orders with care. Free Delivery now available for a limited time.” – Chipotle
Modern Market is offering Free Delivery on orders over $15, suggesting that customers stock up on items that store well.
“Place one order on our website for multiple meals. Our bowls are easy to reheat, our salads hold for days, our pizzas crisp up nicely in your oven at home.” – Modern Market
sweetgreen is offering free delivery via their mobile app and through Uber Eats stating that:
“Our mission has always been to build healthier communities, and right now, this means practicing social distancing. As we follow health guidelines and shift to a pickup + delivery only ordering experience, we’re providing free delivery* online + on the sg app and Uber Eats.” – sweetgreen
6. Promote gift cards
With restaurant sales expected to take a major hit over the next few months, restaurants should consider promoting and/or discounting gift cards. Many loyal guests are looking for opportunities to support local restaurants and gift cards provide a path for that support.
Honeygrow took the idea a step further encouraging their guests to buy gift cards for healthcare workers to show their appreciation:
Check out this genius ideas from Doc B’s to buy now, get a gift card later:
Here is an example email message from Garden Catering:
And another example from Big Red F Restaurant Group:
Restaurants should allow gift cards to be purchased on their websites and within mobile-apps, if applicable. For restaurants with strong followings, it may be advantageous to enable digital donations as well. Push notifications for mobile app customers should be enabled to promote stored value options.
7. Communicate transparently and regularly
Perhaps it goes without saying but it’s important to share the specific precautions that the restaurant has undertaken in light of the coronavirus. Many restaurants have already shared such communications but it’s important to keep up a regular cadence. Take, for example, this series of touchpoints shared by sweetgreen:
Thursday, March 12th:
To our sweetgreen community, On behalf of our entire team, we want to personally thank you for trusting sweetgreen as your destination for real food. Our mission is to build healthier communities, and now more than ever, we look to our core values to create solutions that benefit our community, our customers, and our teams. We want to let you know that your health and safety is our top priority. Our dedicated response team is closely monitoring guidelines regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) and we are taking increased precautions by reinforcing the following health + hygiene protocols for all team members and restaurants:
Stringent hand-washing procedures for our team members
Rigorous food safety audits
Dedicated hospitality position responsible for cleaning communal surfaces
Installing hand sanitizer dispensers for our guests
It is our team members in our restaurants who bring our mission to life every day. Our paid wellness leave policy goes above and beyond industry standards. And now, we will be offering up to 14 days of Care Pay to employees who have been diagnosed with or exposed to COVID-19 so they can self-isolate at home. We never want a team member to put work before their health. We appreciate your understanding as we navigate this rapidly evolving situation alongside you, our loyal guests. While we are currently maintaining regular operations, our restaurants are fully prepared to swiftly adapt in order to continue serving real, delicious food. This means the sweetgreen experience may shift to better suit the needs of the community, including enabling pickup-only ordering scenarios and exclusively servicing orders via delivery through our sweetgreen app. Thank you for your ongoing confidence, care, and trust. We are committed to remaining transparent and keeping you informed of any changes to our approach. Thank you,
Sunday, March 15th:
To our sweetgreen family, As we continue to navigate COVID-19, our commitment to you remains to make transparent and thoughtful choices rooted in our mission of building healthier communities. That’s why, for the safety of our community and guidance from the CDC regarding social distancing, we’ve made the decision to move sweetgreen to a “digital ordering” experience in all of our 104 restaurants starting tomorrow Monday, March 16th. Here is what to expect:
We are moving to a pick up and delivery only model – you will not be able to order on our front line nor will you be able to sit in our restaurants to dine.
To place a pick up order, please download our app.
Due to social distancing and capacity reductions placed on all restaurants, you will not be allowed in the restaurant until pickup time.
Our dedicated team members will manage customer occupancy within CDC guidance and safely distribute meals.
You can still order sweetgreen for delivery via the sweetgreen app or UberEats.
We may start to reduce operating hours or temporarily close select stores. Please continually check our app and/or website for our latest hours.
The news around COVID-19 is constantly changing, as are the needs of each community. We are prepared to move quickly, reevaluate closures, and return to normal operations when it is safe to do so. As always, we’ll get through this moment together by leading through our values. Thank you,
Monday, March 16th:
Free Delivery Promotion Our mission has always been to build healthier communities, and right now, this means practicing social distancing. As we follow health guidelines and shift to a pickup + delivery only ordering experience, we’re providing free delivery* online + on the sg app and Uber Eats. But staying home doesn’t have to mean eating alone. Text a loved one. Share a virtual Kale Caesar date. Connect to one another while we do our best to keep connecting you to real food.
Monday, March 16th (afternoon):
Connecting Hospitals to Real Food We’re so grateful for the hospital workers + medical personnel who are putting others before themselves during this critical time. In the midst of the current crisis, we’re dedicating our Outpost operations and teams to support those on the front lines by delivering free, fresh sg salads + bowls to hospitals in the cities we serve. We’ve already implemented Outposts at a few hospitals, and we’ll continue to set them up as requests come in. Need an Outpost at your health facility? Click below to fill out the form, and someone from our team will reach out to you.
In addition to sharing updated practices the restaurant is undertaking to keep customers safe, it’s important to show how restaurants are caring for employees, for example, offering free meals or paid leave benefits to affected employees. Here’s an example from PINCHO:
Last but not least, while restaurant delivery is a viable alternative to visiting the grocery store or using a grocery delivery service, many customers may not be aware of restaurant offerings. As such, restaurants should promote the advantages of restaurant delivery over grocery and grocery delivery to ensure guests think broadly about their options.
Here is some example messaging from Modern Market:
“We don’t believe this “social distancing” experiment is going to be short-lived and eventually, we will all grow tired of eating pasta, rice, and beans – so help us stay afloat and we will make sure we keep you well-fed as we wait this pandemic out. Can’t get an Instacart driver? Order a few meals from us and we will deliver it for free in 15 minutes. Don’t stock up on veggies, we have plenty, and would love to sell them to you, conveniently made into a salad :-0.” – Modern Market
8. Urge customers to support local businesses
Many loyal guests want to support local businesses during the crisis. For those who do, restaurants need to make it seamless for guests to take part. Consider this messaging from Modern Market:
“Keeping our kitchens humming keeps our team members employed and keeps you well-fed with food that ensures you will end this crisis healthier than when it started!
Yell over the fence to your neighbor about how amazing and safe it was to order Modern Market and have it delivered to your front door, for no additional charge. They will be amazed and then likely order from us. This keeps our team members employed. They thank you in advance.
Take photos and videos showing the amazing food we brought right to you, post on social media with the hashtag #eatwellbehappy.” – Modern Market
9. Put safety front-and-center
Restaurant guests are more focused on safety than ever before. Consider putting safety front-and-center on your website, as Chick-fil-A has done here:
10. Extend reward redemption periods
For restaurants with outstanding discounts and/or incentives expiring in March or April, we suggest extending the redemption period to ensure that guests don’t lose out on hard-earned rewards. This is particularly true in the case of store closures or in-store only discounts where dine-in is restricted. Earned rewards, as well as date-specific rewards, such as birthday and anniversary rewards, in particular, should be considered for expiration date extensions. Worth considering is whether to, across-the-board, emplace a more relaxed restriction on expiring rewards. When making these changes, restaurants should be sure to notify guests of the extended redemption period to acknowledge the proactive accommodation made and earn trust.
11. Proactively refund event deposits
For restaurants offering event bookings, restaurants should take a proactive approach to managing event cancellations. For events occurring in the near-term that must be canceled, direct communication with the event coordinator is preferred. For events planned in the longer-term, it’s important to proactively communicate with the coordinators of those events.
Here is an example message from Bottleneck Management:
“At this point, we intend to keep as many events booked after March as possible and will be evaluating this daily as new information comes in. There’s a chance we won’t see interruptions to your events booked later this year. If we determine it prudent to cancel your event, we will reach out to you specifically. If that is the case, we won’t be charging any venue or cancelation fees. All money paid up to that point will be refunded. If you decide to proactively postpone your event, please reach out as soon as possible so we can secure a future date.” – Bottleneck Management
12. Ask your government to take action
As of early the morning of March 17th, President Trump has referenced potential stimulus plans for small businesses such as restaurants. Reach out to your local government officials asking for aggressive measures to help the restaurant industry.
Reach out to your local senator with just a few clicks here.
13. Keep tabs on what’s happening in the industry
Last but not least, stay on top of restaurants’ and delivery platforms’ new COVID-19 labor and operations policies. This resource tracks policy changes by major brands.
Follow this blog from Restaurant Business for the latest updates on the unprecedented impacts of COVID-19 on the restaurant industry.
Track restaurant-specific guidelines here. Bon Appétit put together stories from food industry workers on what they’re seeing in their communities and how their businesses are being affected.
Dig Food Group published helpful documentation on their website: everything from scenario planning to employee policies to sanitization log templates.
14. Prepare for the future
When the dust settles, it will be more important than ever to have a database of customers and a channel to re-engage them. In a future article, I’ll share tips and tricks for preparing for the future.
Look for plenty more content from Thanx coming soon and reach out anytime to advice@thanx.com to share ideas or to talk to an expert about additional recommendations!
Article originally written by Thanx.com. Thanx is the CRM and digital engagement platform helping restaurants modernize and personalize guest interactions to drive incremental revenue. To request a demo Click Here
It has officially hit the fan and restaurant owners are rightfully panicking. The general public has an unfair perception of restaurant owners: they think you’re printing cash. The reality is, with the increase in credit card usage, the increase in 3rd party online ordering and delivery platforms, restaurant owners are dealing with rapidly shrinking margins. Now factor in an unknown variable such as the Coronavirus, and, sadly, many of our favorite restaurants are not going to survive. Here are 10 Things Restaurant Owners Can do to Survive this Virus Storm: 1. Shut Your Doors: even if it hasn’t been mandated by your local or regional government, shut your doors anyway. It’s going to be hard enough to survive, the last thing you want is anybody attributing catching the virus from your establishment. That would close you for good. 2. Serve Bulk Only: Families aren’t worrying about their next meal, they’re worrying about their meals for the next 3-5 days, and probably longer. The desire for fancy entrees and quinoa specials are over. What they do want is good meals and in bulk; think army rations with your special touch. Get completely away from small orders. Ditch the 10 wing orders; you’re selling trays of 30 or more. People will order it because they want wings for today, tomorrow, and the next day out. 3. Serve Delivery Only: here’s why you don’t want people coming to your door for food, despite the temptation– you can’t control who’s coming to your door. Put a system in place where your deliver-only option is as safe as possible. You need to focus on cranking orders out. 4. Hammer Social Media: focus on overloading your social media with images and videos of your kitchen. Show the steps you are taking to keep it clean. Put your staff in hairnets, gowns, gloves, and if you can find them- masks. As the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words…well guess what, images of aggressively sanitized kitchens are worth a million. 5. Your Delivery Drivers: if possible, put them in gowns as well. Have them place the delivered food on the doorsteps of homes and then call the customer before leaving, making sure the meal is retrieved. 6. Don’t Just “Write” Posts: Customers are getting hammered with written posts & emails from every business on the planet that has their email. They are rightfully tuning out. Again, hammer social media with images…but take it one step farther: speak to your guests. Video you and your staff in the kitchen, talk to your guests. Put the face and the emotions of the small business owner front and center. 7. Offer Something, ANYTHING, for Free: it doesn’t have to be a meal, it could be easy recipes that family’s can make together. Share cooking tips & tricks. If possible, offer fresh baked bread with orders (for example). 8. Go BIG on Gift Card Offers: offer half the value of the order in gift cards to be used in 6 months time. For example, somebody orders $50 in food, give them a $25 dollar gift card to be used no earlier than 6 months from date of their order. 9. Incentive Social Media Sharing: tell your customers, “anybody that shares an image of their family enjoying one of our bulk meals gets 10% off their next order.” You need as much visibility of your products in the hands of consumers as possible. 10. Lastly, SURVIVE TOGETHER: Your customers do not want to see their favorite establishments go out of business and they do want to support you…here’s the problem– they want to support all of you. Make it easy on them, talk to the restaurant owner to your left and to your right, put together a bundled order of all your products for a special price and hammer your community. ‘Wings from Joe’s, Burgers from Bob’s, & Soup from Cindy’s…all for the one-time price of X.’ Put a restaurant community bundle order together. Your peers are no longer your competition, everybody is now in the same boat and you all better start rowing.
Article written by Keith Christy | Keith.christy@fiserv.com
Keith is a life long restaurant consultant and active sales representative for Clover Point of Sale Systems and First Data Credit Card Processing. Keith’s background is in insurance, casino food & beverage management and restaurant consultation.
We’ve been working with the amazing people at ICONA resorts on a fun new beach bar concept that we’re happy to say will be launching on Memorial Day Weekend!
ICONA Resort Diamond Beach (a small area between Wildwood Crest and Cape May) kicks off the summer in style with the Grand Opening of the BRIGHTEST new spot in South Jersey, “The Star Beach Bar”! Friday night, 5.25.18 The Star Beach Bar and its extended family say ALOHA by welcoming summer travelers and locals for a soft opening for regular business. Patrons will get a sampling of the magnificent beach view, succulent food offerings and interactive family fun that ICONA’s newest beach concept has to offer. Live entertainment starts at 4PM with an acoustic Duo! The fun continues on Saturday5.26.18 for the official Grand Opening of The Star Beach Bar. DJ Mark Anthony will be hosting “ICONA Olympics” starting at 11AM, keeping families entertained all day long with your favorite beach games. A sand castle artist will be dropping by in the afternoon to bring to life some of the most amazing beach creations on the East Coast. The Passing Paradise Duo will be performing great live music starting at 4pm. As day turns to dusk, don’t miss out on the first of many annual lighting of the STAR ceremonies which will include a champagne toast at 9PM, an authentic Polynesian Dance Show courtesy of Paradise Island Entertainment, a red carpet photo experience and a Silent Headphone Dance Party after dark that the entire family can enjoy! The weekend’s festivities continue on Sunday 5.27.18 with ICONA Olympics at 11AM and live reggae music at 3PM as The Star Beach Bar unveils its summer long Reggae Sunday program! General Information about the Star Beach Bar The iconic Star Beach Bar will “light the way” for beach goers from Cape May to the Wildwoods to enjoy family fun, food, drinks and live entertainment right on Diamond Beach. While the sun is shining, reserve one of our Miami Lifeguard Cabanas, fit with dedicated food and drink service. Menu offerings will be casual with an emphasis on summer favorites including; salads, wraps, handmade burgers and wood-fired pizzas. Once the sun sets, gather at one of our beachside fire pits to enjoy s’mores under the stars. The Star Beach Bar is open to the public and welcomes revelers of all ages. We can’t wait to welcome you to NJ’s newest beach bar! Star Beach Bar seasonal hours of operation are as follows: Friday – Saturday – 11:00AM – 12:00 AM (Kitchen 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM) Sunday – Thursday: 11AM – 11PM (Kitchen: 11AM – 9PM)
Yo, Philly! Mad Rex, a post-apocalyptic themed bar where Mad Max meets modern day dining elegance, is opening its rusted doors this Friday, Sept. 29th! Rising from the secret depths of Revolutions Bowl and The Fillmore Philly, Mad Rex features an eccentric food menu, completely immersive design, and Philadelphia’s first VR-concept bar and lounge. Small Talk Media was on scene to check out Family & Friends night and, after our experience, it’s fair to say that this new restaurant offers an experience like no other.
Influenced by ingredients and flavors that would be present in the case of an actual apocalypse scenario, Mad Rex’s menu features some exciting dishes like their Sea Green Salad made with kale, roasted carrots, seaweed, and buttermilk vinaigrette; or their wild mushroom flatbread adorned with arugula, parmesan, wild mushrooms, and a mushroom puree. However, the real “meat” of the menu involves cooking your own food on a blazing-hot rock! These rock entrees emulate the feeling of being a survivor and actually cooking your choice between cobia, salmon, and filet mignon on a rock. They even give you some choice seasonings and sauces to dress your food as you cook it. The restaurant’s design is jaw-dropping and features a range of apocalypse-style decorations like cocktail glasses pierced by bullets, a glassed-in kitchen featuring a live butcher, and even a plane that periodically spurts out smoke and is set up to look like it had crashed through the ceiling. Even most of the employees will be dressed in rugged, wasteland chic outfits that really encapsulate the George Miller apocalypse vibe. The thread that binds this wild restaurant together has got to be the mysterious V-REX lounge. As the first restaurant to fully infuse VR technology into their concept, patrons will get the chance to experience augmented realities. There will also be a VIP option available for reservation that includes a lounge throne, table service, and drinks served in an IV bag! Even the server will be dressed in a nurse’s outfit (not that you’ll be seeing them too much). Between the impressive menus, striking decorations, and VR lounge, Mad Rex is certain to grab people’s attention as a fresh and forward-thinking new restaurant on the Philly scene that proves the world of the apocalypse can be more than just fire and blood.
From their site
The restaurant’s design is jaw-dropping and features a range of apocalypse-style decorations like cocktail glasses pierced by bullets, a glassed-in kitchen featuring a live butcher, and even a plane that periodically spurts out smoke and is set up to look like it had crashed through the ceiling. Even most of the employees will be dressed in rugged, wasteland chic outfits that really encapsulate the George Miller apocalypse vibe.
The thread that binds this wild restaurant together has got to be the mysterious V-REX lounge. As the first restaurant to fully infuse VR technology into their concept, patrons will get the chance to experience augmented realities. There will also be a VIP option available for reservation that includes a lounge throne, table service, and drinks served in an IV bag! Even the server will be dressed in a nurse’s outfit (not that you’ll be seeing them too much).