In our latest Catermind webinar, industry experts and community leaders, including Kelly Grogan from Crumbs and Nader Samadyan from Omnicart, shared actionable strategies to help catering businesses grow and thrive in today’s competitive market. The session, packed with valuable insights, focused on improving customer outreach, leveraging digital tools, and making operational adjustments for better catering results.
Here’s a sneak peek of the top strategies discussed:
- Tip #1: Reach Out to Past Customers
Build relationships by contacting previous clients through personal phone calls, handwritten notes, or thoughtful emails. Kelly Grogan emphasized the importance of consistent follow-up to keep your catering services top-of-mind. Mondays are great for following up on last week’s orders, Wednesdays for last month’s, and Thursdays for last year’s customers. The key is to surprise and delight customers to maintain long-term loyalty.
- Tip #2: Check Your Online Ordering and Marketplace Settings
Make sure that your store is easy to find online, and that your ordering process is seamless. Kelly Grogan highlighted how crucial it is to have clear, attractive photos and an intuitive ordering system with modifiers and upsell options. Additionally, she recommended expanding your service hours beyond your regular operating hours to accommodate last-minute orders, which can turn into repeat customers.
- Tip #3: Optimize Your Menu for Catering
Review your menu to ensure it’s catering-friendly. Include serving size recommendations, offer package deals, and highlight allergy-friendly and vegetarian options. Offering both individual meals and boxed lunches for various cuisine types allows you to cater to diverse preferences. Don’t forget to upsell items like sauces, drinks, and utensils to enhance the customer experience.
- Tip #4: Convert Third-Party Orders to First-Party
Use every catering order as an opportunity to convert customers from third-party platforms to direct orders. Strategies include including a handwritten note with each delivery, partnering with reliable delivery companies, and using branded packaging. Every to-go or delivery order should also include educational materials (like bag stuffers) about your catering services to encourage future orders.
- Tip #5: Enhance Your Digital Presence
Boost your visibility by utilizing tools like Google Food Ordering. It can significantly expand your reach and bring in new customers by offering easy access to your catering menu and services.
- Tip #6: Leverage Omnicart’s Latest Product Updates
Nader Samadyan introduced new features designed to streamline catering operations, such as the Map View for managing multiple restaurant locations and a Direct Call-In Order Entry system, making it easier for restaurants to handle orders efficiently.
Community Leadership Updates:
We also introduced new community leaders: Mo Asgari from MSI and Preet Saini from Catering Rewards. These leaders will be actively involved in fostering community support and sharing knowledge on best practices in the catering industry.
Don’t Forget to Sign Up for the Next Catermind!
Missed the live session or want to revisit these tips in more detail? You can watch the video and dive deeper into the insights shared by our experts here. Stay tuned for our next Catermind session, where we’ll continue to provide innovative strategies and trends to help you succeed in the catering industry. More details coming soon!