July 2012 Issue of Ideal Software's Niche Notes, our FoodService industry newsletter.

IdealSoftwareNicheNotesJuly2012

9 Tips for Choosing the Best Catering Staff

Whether you’re looking for a staff to prepare and serve food at a family function or an exquisite wedding reception, following some tips will help you to hire the best staff for your soiree.

1. Narrowing the Options:

If you live in a highly populated area, dozens of food service providers might exist. Ask for recommendations from family members and friends. You should also check out reviews via online websites / searches to see how the company fares in the grand scheme of things.

2. Menu Options:

When you’re hosting a braai/barbecue, you probably don’t want a company that only makes heavier foods best prepared in an oven, such as turkey and mashed potatoes. On the other hand, opting for a platter of sandwiches and potato salads is not the best idea for an elegant wedding reception. Make sure the style of the company matches your needs.

3. Cleanliness:

Visit the physical location of the food service staff and assess how clean the space is kept. If it’s dirty in there, chances are your food is not going to be of the cleanest and freshest variety.

4.Dietary Restrictions:

When members of your group have certain dietary restrictions, you must make sure the cooking staff can accommodate them. For example, if certain members of your party keep Kosher, see if special Kosher meals can be prepared for them. If some individuals are allergic to shellfish, make sure that none of the food is cooked near or with any shrimp, clams, crabs and so forth.

5. Cost of the Service:

One of the biggest concerns for many people when they are hiring individuals to staff their party is the cost. You want to know what the cost of the food is going to be. Be honest about your budget. In the event that you’re unable to afford the particular company, ask if they have packages that are more suitable to your budget.

6. Value of Customer Input:

Once you begin working with a company, you want them to value your input as opposed to just taking over the process. You may have a specific sauce recipe that you’d like them to follow. Ask how much input you’re allowed to have before booking the company.

7. Size of the Staff:

You also want to make sure that the staff can handle the party. Ask how many servers and cookers will be on staff the day of the party. If you’re having a 100 person function, one server is certainly not going to be enough.

8. Tastings:

Before booking with a food service company, find out if you can do a tasting. The only way to know if the food truly pleases your palate is to try it out!

9. Go With Your Gut:

It may be cliche to say “Go with your gut.” However, gut feelings are often right. As a human being, you can often pick up on people being dishonest or trying to swindle you. When you’re preparing for a party, you need to feel comfortable with all of the vendors, so choose a company about which you have a good feeling.

The food service staff is just one of the elements involved in planning that perfect party. Picking the best one in the area ensures that this area of the event will be a big hit that people talk about for years.

For more info on Ideal Software’s Inventory Management system follow the link IdealStockControl

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June 2012 Issue of Ideal Software's Niche Notes, our FoodService industry newsletter.

IdealSoftwareNicheNotesJune2012

The Importance of Social Media for Restaurant Profitability

It is uncommon now for a business person not to have heard of the importance of using social media in marketing their company. Since your customers are using social media to see what people are saying about your restaurant / food service establishment, if you don’t have a business development plan that includes social media marketing, then you losing out!

What is Social Media?

In a nutshell, social media are those social networking sites where individuals congregate to connect with friends and family; sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and the newest addition, Pinterest, to name just a few. With so many people with similar interests congregating in one place it is no wonder that the business world quickly caught on to the importance of having a presence on these websites in order to promote their businesses. Facebook alone has 900 million users worldwide. Twitter has 200 million users worldwide. Another social media avenue to consider is your own website with a blog.  Having your own blog allows you to gain more advertising foothold in the social media world.  Blogging is often free or has very little cost associated with it, although there is a real time commitment to blogging.

How Social Media can affect your FoodService Business

One way to utilize social media when it comes to the food service industry is to ensure that your business has a presence within the social media structure.  For example, by using YouTube and Twitter channels to broadcast your company’s latest updates you can drive more traffic to your website or to your business itself.   By having a Facebook page you can ensure that your presence will be felt on Facebook, and that when you purchase selective advertising blocks on Facebook, that your ads will be seen by those who are most likely to increase your sales. One of the primary benefits to using social media – especially when it comes to food service businesses – is as an interactive two-way conversation with your customers; a means of getting input directly from them with regards to your food, service, location, cleanliness and any other aspect of your business.  Being able to determine how your customers really feel about your food service establishment can help you learn from them and to strike the right balance in your business. Engagement is the biggest key behind social media strategy.

Why Social Media Matters

No matter what marketing strategies you employ, the biggest advantage to social media marketing is in connecting and engaging with your customers; in making them feel as if they are a part of your business.  When your customers obtain instant updates in their email or on their Facebook page they feel as if they are involved in what is happening.  This is a feeling that does wonders for promoting customer and brand loyalty, even when it comes to an industry as volatile as that of the food service industry. But don’t take our word for it.  Look into what the leading social media sites have to offer in their corporate or business advertising sections and see if any of their options could potentially be used to promote your own business and to generate customer traffic.  You may find yourself pleasantly surprised at the results. Above all remember that social media requires patience, insight, some skill, and a clear understanding of your goals and of your audience.

What social media sites is your business using to connect and engage with your customers? 

For more info on Ideal Software’s Inventory Management system follow the link IdealStockControl

If you enjoyed this article, please click on the Social links below and “Share the Knowledge”. Thanks!

The Importance of Choosing the Right POS System for your Restaurant

This is a guest post from Ian Said, founder of idealsoftware.co.za, a software development company specializing in Inventory Control and POS reporting solutions. Follow Ian on Twitter @costofsale.

 The Importance of Choosing the Right POS System for your Restaurant

April 2012 Issue of Ideal Software's Niche Notes, our FoodService industry newsletter.

IdealSoftwareNicheNotesApril2012

5 Tips for Building Customer Loyalty

Owning and operating a restaurant in today’s economy can be a challenging proposition, which is why it is so important to build customer loyalty.  In truth repeat customers make up the bulk of any restaurant’s customer base and word-of-mouth advertising can do wonders for building up your clientele.  But how do you go about building customer loyalty in the restaurant industry?

While any one of the following five suggestions will help to increase your business, implementing all of them is highly recommended and definitely possible given a little time and planning.

Tip #1: Atmosphere is Everything

For dine-in customers the atmosphere of the establishment can rate right up there with the quality of service and nearly as high as the quality of your food.  But when you think of atmosphere, think more than the decorations and table linens; think also of an atmosphere of one-on-one recognition.  Customers like nothing better than visiting an establishment where they are recognized and called by name.  Encourage this kind of recognition in your staff.  Everyone from your bus boys to the chefs should be able to recognize repeat customers and make them feel comfortable.

Tip #2: Reward Your Repeat Customers

A customer rewards program for repeat customers is a must if you really want to establish your credibility with your repeat customers.  Perhaps a customer loyalty card (with a free meal after so many purchases) or coupons for a discount on their next meal purchased.  There are a number of options available when it comes to customer rewards, and each of them is worth the time and effort you will put into it.

Tip #3: Start a Newsletter

Believe it or not, many customers really do pay attention to what goes on in their local neighborhoods.  By starting a newsletter you can keep yourself firmly in their minds by their seeing your weekly or monthly newsletters in their email inbox.  This mailing list will also help to establish a list by which you can send out offers for discounts and special ‘group’ purchases or birthday discounts or other options, but the set up of a newsletter to address local concerns (and those specific to your restaurant) can be a viable option for asking for the emails.

Tip #4: Drawings and Giveaways

Having drawings and giveaways for repeat customers is a great way to keep them coming in.  Have a business card drawing for your lunchtime business clientele, or a random once a month door prize raffle where someone who came in during the course of an evening will receive a free meal for two, or free desert with their next purchase or something similar.

Tip #5: Reward Referrals

If a repeat customer refers a new customer to your restaurant, why not reward them?  Perhaps a coupon for free deserts the next time they come in, or even something as simple as a thank-you letter; something to let them know that you appreciate their support.

Truly, your repeat customers are the bread and butter of your business, so why not take the time to ensure that you do everything in your power to win their loyalty?  Not only will you be increasing the chances that they will keep on coming back, you’ll most likely gain new customers as well from their referrals, and that can be a very good thing.

Does your restaurant use any other strategies? Leave a comment below and let us know.

For more info on Ideal Software’s Inventory Management system follow the link IdealStockControl