Sandwich Bar marketing ideas

[mark1980]

Hi. I've just opened my first venture, a sandwich bar in a good location and near a university. Sales have been better than expected over the first couple of weeks but I'm looking to accelerate our growth as much as possible.
Has anyone got any ideas that have been successful for them or any initiatives that have worked to increase customer transcount.
I'd really appreciate anything that is offered here.
Thanks in advance. Mark

 

[ScotComp]

Have you tried these loyality schemes where you give the customer a card which is stamped with every purchase and once they've got 20 purchases they get a free sandwhich?

I've seen them being used in a lot of lunch bars.

 

[Inspiredtoact]

Go round with leaflets and sample trays to the local offices and offer them catering services is usally a good one, especially if you are doing something out of the norm or extra healthy.

 

[Inspiredtoact]

Know your market, if your customers are mainly students, put a student on package meal deal together along with a loyalty card as mentioned above

 

[vvaannmmaann]

As tempting as it may be,don't over extend yourself.Carry on doing what you are doing and see if you feel the same way in six months.

 

[mark1980]

Thanks for these replies.

I've considered all kinds of loyalty schemes but the pricing is already very value orientated to offer much more. I feel like I'm searching for a strong unique selling point but I have attempted to brand myself, which in itself seems like a reasonably strong attraction.

It's the first time I've been involved in business alone and I feel that urge to push harder and harder and I know we need to increase our sales that little bit more to achieve break even by the end of the year. My sales are fluctuating wildly with some days double that of others. I thought we were coming close to break even but then had a very low day today so I am naturally concerned. Out of the blue we had our best day last Wednesday! It's a real roller-coaster of feeling the ups and downs.

Is vouchering wise, just to get people through the door? Any experiences of this in a startup? I'm keen to throw some strong offers out there to build up a customer base...

 

[davidgilham]

What is your USP?

Price?
Quality?
Big Portions?
Heathly? (boring)
Free drink with food?
Big slice cut bread?

Point is you have to build your business around a USP as you have mentioned, then build up a marketing campaign on the back of this.

You've entered a market place with very small barriers of entry, meaning that there is a lot of competition out there, find your USP as soon as possible, get some leaflets and advertising out there then you will see some proper sustainable business growth.

Dave

 

[Draugen]

I've considered all kinds of loyalty schemes but the pricing is already very value orientated to offer much more. I feel like I'm searching for a strong unique selling point but I have attempted to brand myself, which in itself seems like a reasonably strong attraction.

If you sell coffee (and if you don't, perhaps consider getting a bean to cup machine) why not offer a loyalty scheme just for your hot drinks? Six stamps or so gets you a free drink. These cards most definitely increase loyalty, providing the coffee's good, and could help you build a sound morning drinks trade which can be turned into breakfast sandwiches and lunch. The cost of the freebie will also be relatively little.

As Inspiredtoact has already posted, also put together a catering offering if you haven't already, and get out into the local offices with samples and flyers. A tried and tested way of getting larger orders is to offer a free sandwich to the person ordering when ordering X sandwiches, or over a certain amount.

Make sure you have a fishbowl on the counter to collect business cards. Offer a prize (free sandwich platter etc) for a monthly winner as an incentive to drop a card in, then you're well on your way to building a mailing list of interested customers!

 

[Truemanbrown]

There are a number of things you could;-

If there are local offices in the area, why not offer special business platters for business meetings.

You could also use someone to deliver your sandwiches to offices.

A percentage off the sales price for students carrying a student card.

 

[Dave Kinnel]

Any "business" people here that can increase sales without giving discount or free product?

Any retailer needs customers to want to use his business, discounting and free product is the start of a slippery slope that can only go one way and true customer loyalty is not gained by stamps on a card.

And as someone else said, grow organically and don't push to fast to soon. You need at least a full year behind you before you know the trends and can act accordingly.

 

Ask your customers what they like about you and what they would liek to see improved - give them a card to complete and offer a prize in a draw for doing so , or perhaps 10% off .

You may be surprised by the results

 

[Mike tells it like it is]

Unique Selling Point is a terminology that became more mainstream and latched on to but is misunderstood.

Think of it in terms of benefits vs features.

The unique doe snot by default make it a selling point.

I could make sandwiches on blue bread they may be unique but...

Dos oem reserach ask teh offices what they want,a sk teh students what they want, what do they liek about your existing service, what don't they like about it.

Regarding pricing all I will say is you can come down but its harder to go up.

 

As far as pricing goes , I work with a chap who always says that "somebody else will always be cheaper" - there's a certain truth in it . Price is important but don't lose sight of the other things that matter to people . Perhaps not to you , but it does to them

 

[domains]

Just keep it fresh™

 

[marketingquotes]

Hi. I've just opened my first venture, a sandwich bar in a good location and near a university. Sales have been better than expected over the first couple of weeks but I'm looking to accelerate our growth as much as possible.
Has anyone got any ideas that have been successful for them or any initiatives that have worked to increase customer transcount.
I'd really appreciate anything that is offered here.
Thanks in advance. Mark

Hi There Mark,

It may be worth you talking to a marketing company that has experience in the sandwich/catering industry.

Have you spoken to any that are involved in the sector yet?

Regards,

Marketing Quotes Support

 

[jasongiddings]

Hi Mark

i have owned a sandwich bar for three years the main key is quality always use the best ingredients always use branded sauces etc as you can build the best sandwich out there and ruin it in a second by putting on cheap sauce that tastes of vinegar.Even your tea and coffee use branded and not cash & carry brands. Any tom ,dick,or harry can set up a sandwich shop/cafe and pretend to call themselves chefs but none of them know the true meaning and longevity of using quality branded goods.most of them want to turn a quick buck by going cheap but the customer will not go back if it tastes rubbish and is costing the same as your competitor. i have been a chef for 25 yrs so understand quality and consistency well.
dont forget your school/uni holidays your trade will drop dramatically i know we were a hundred yards from europes second biggest secondary school.Also just after xmas for a couple of months is tough when everyone is spent out especially students with very little to start with.