App Business Idea - "We Are Open"

[simplyapped]

Hi all,

I'm a software developer and I'd love some advice on an app idea I have and whether it's worth following. Particularly from mobile caterers.

The idea is pretty simple - mobile caterers download an app a pay a subscription, say £10/month. The app lets them notify their registered customers that they have arrived at their location.

The idea came about when the coffee van at our work would turn up and we couldn't see it out of the window so we'd miss it. Seems to me they would have made their £10/month back and then some off me alone.

Questions are:
1. Would people pay £10/month for this?
2. What would be the best way to advertise it? Where do mobile caterers hang out?

Really appreciate any help with this.

 

[ecommerce84]

Hi,

Welcome to the forum.

The biggest obstacle you will have in my opinion isn’t getting mobile caterers on board but the actual customers of the caterers to register.

It’s a bit chicken and egg, as caterers will only want to sign up when they know you have customers in their area and customers aren’t going to sign up if you don’t have any caterers available to them.

Because of this, I don’t think you’ll be able to charge caterers from the offset - they are almost all going to want 12 months (at least) free unless you have a big database of customers for them to sell too.

I don’t think the value in your business comes from the caterers, it comes from how big your customer database is, and that will determine how much you can charge caterers to market to this database.

My other concern would be how likely it is that your app would be bypassed - I know where I used to work, the local Sandwich man would simply toot his horn as he went by to park up.

 

[simplyapped]

It’s a bit chicken and egg, as caterers will only want to sign up when they know you have customers in their area and customers aren’t going to sign up if you don’t have any caterers available to them.

I was thinking that the caterers would sign up and get something to print off, with a code? So the customer goes to their regular caterer, sees the sign, downloads a free app, enters the code, and now they can get a notification when their mobile caterer turns up.

I need to be able to verify that mobile caterers actually want this - because as you say, most might just say "I can just toot my horn, why pay £10/month?". But I know on the site where I work they're not allowed to toot their horn so people miss them.

 

[Mr D]

Perhaps needs to be very local? I've no interest in finding out a mobile catering van is now open an hour's drive (3 miles) away.
Or that its 2 streets away and open for business.

 

[JamesWW]

It sounds a good idea, but couldnt the caterers just set up a facebook page and log when they are at a location? or am I missing the mark?

 

[simplyapped]

I was thinking the caterers would advertise it themselves. Like with a poster or something saying, "download this app and I'll let you know when I've arrived!"

They could set up a facebook page, or toot their horn, or customers could just look out of the window I guess. There are definitely alternatives, but I think having a notification straight to the customers phone is best.

I really need to find out how many mobile caterers think it's good too, before I spend all that time making the app.

 

[JamesWW]

I was thinking the caterers would advertise it themselves. Like with a poster or something saying, "download this app and I'll let you know when I've arrived!"

They could set up a facebook page, or toot their horn, or customers could just look out of the window I guess. There are definitely alternatives, but I think having a notification straight to the customers phone is best.

I really need to find out how many mobile caterers think it's good too, before I spend all that time making the app.

I hope you didnt think I was disregarding your idea. I was just looking at the other options available to them. See being a Yorkshire man, I am very tight with my money lol. but it is definitly something you should explore.

 

[obscure]

I certain;y wouldn't install an app that just told me when the snack truck was here. Truck owner could just as easily put a sign on the side that reads "I have a whatsapp group. Give me your number and I will message when I arrive so you never miss out".

 

[Mark T Jones]

My thought is that you might get some caterers to sign up, though getting real traction would rely on some pretty good (expensive) marketing - to date your marketing strategy seems to lean heavily on hope.

Once they have signed, you would need to support them in getting customers to sign up, otherwise they would simply lapse the subscription

In terms of cashflow, you'd need to be really going some to make a living

 

[Paul Murray]

I certain;y wouldn't install an app that just told me when the snack truck was here.

This is the main barrier, requiring users to download and install an app just to be told when one caterer is outside feels like a big ask. I feel like you'd need to tailor the app to provide greater value to the majority user-base (the customers), then caterers would follow organically.

When you said 'mobile catering' I imagined that to also include street vendors, many of whom change location daily or pitch up at inconsistent times, especially in trendy locations. There's already apps like Samoza for finding street vendors but they seem to focus on user-generated content i.e. you telling other users about a vendor you found.

What about tailoring the app to focus on letting the vendor tell customers where they are or will be, or what deals or discounts they have on for that day only, as well as letting them view a menu? It could still work for catering vans and such like, sending a push notification when they're heading to your location or have arrived, but if there's more value to use the app as a customer then it's easier to encourage people to install it.

 

[fisicx]

The snack truck just leans on his horn when he gets to the car park.

The pizza delivery sends me a text.

Why do I need an app?

 

[simplyapped]

I was thinking that there could be more features in time, such as:
- geolocation: customers can find out where you are at the moment
- deals: tell customers what deals you have that day
- "spot" deals: "half price coffee for the next 15 minutes", etc.
- surveys: "would you recommend my food/coffee to a friend", etc.
- customer checks: if 10 or more people say they want me to turn up I will.
...and so on. There's actually lots you could do with this once the MVP is written.

The problem is still, though, how do I find out if mobile caterers care? Where do I find them to ask them?

As someone said, "to date your marketing strategy seems to lean heavily on hope." This is exactly the issue.

The mobile caterers may not see this as a problem that needs solving (for reasons others have said in this thread.)

 

[Alan]

Finding mobile caterers should be hard, first I'd google for an association of mobile caterers.

Doing the research is a bit harder, I'm no expert, but I think you have to ask questions that don't state your proposed solution, but more to identify the gaps.

e.g. if you ask - is an app like this a good idea - they probably will say yes
If you ask what would you pay for an app like this, they probably will say maybe.

What I think you need to ask, is about the problems (if any ) that they have in letting customer know they are on site, the methods they use to solve that problem and what are the gaps / issues in those solutions and how much will they benefit if they could solve those gaps.

 

[fisicx]

I was thinking that there could be more features in time, such as:
- geolocation: customers can find out where you are at the moment
- deals: tell customers what deals you have that day
- "spot" deals: "half price coffee for the next 15 minutes", etc.
- surveys: "would you recommend my food/coffee to a friend", etc.
- customer checks: if 10 or more people say they want me to turn up I will.
...and so on. There's actually lots you could do with this once the MVP is written.

All great ideas. But imagine this scenario:
You: tea and bacon buttie please
Van man: Here you go, and I have an app
You: what does it do?
Van man: tells you what time I'll be here
You: but you always get here about 9.30 and honk your horn?
Van man: It also tells you about special offers
You: are bacon butties on special offer?
Van man: No
You: Ok are donuts on special offer?
Van man: Yes!
You: Great can I have one
Van man: Sorry sold out at the last place. Do you want the app?
You: ....
You: not really a lot of use is it.

If it's free for everybody you might get a tiny bit of traction. But I can't see it being a lot of use for most people.

 

[GlennMiddleton]

Mobile apps might be more apt for bricks and mortar food outlets. I have seen tech that tells you how busy the place is.

 

[BusterBloodvessel]

Hi,

My opinion might not be particularly valid as I'm not a mobile caterer - however I am in the catering trade, am in the process of setting up a catering trailer (fixed site not mobile) and have researched extensively over the past few months into the mobile coffee/sandwich van you're targeting. So I have a little idea I guess

My honest opinion is that I wouldn't sign up for that for many of the reasons listed above. If you came armed with a database of customers in an area, then yes, I would almost certainly be all over it. But if I had to do the donkey work of getting people to download an app, when I'm going to be there at the same time give or take 10 minutes every day anyway then I don't see a benefit.

If I wanted to make sure customers didn't miss me I would be more likely to have a dedicated mobile with text or whatsapp and/or a facebook page and would encourage them to pre-order then they don't miss me. So a quick message in the morning from them "I'll have a cappuccino and bacon roll when you get here", I'll start making it as soon as I pull up then they just come out and collect. So they'd be waiting and looking for me and if they didn't see me I'd drop them a quick text or call.

I think the problem is that...there isn't really a problem! The scenario you're describing is, at worst, a minor inconvenience should it happen. The chances of it happening are slim, and the number of people in the country using these mobile vans I would imagine are relatively small. Small no. of people x slim chance of a problem = tiny potential customer base.

Sorry if this sounds negative but I just don't think there's a viable market for it.