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What should be included on a door hanger design for a local pizza restaurant (with delivery service)?
We're debating using door hangers for some marketing, but haven't done this before. What should be included in our design of the door hangers (on both front and back)?
3 advice Category: Marketing

Carter Hoerr

Testing door hangers in your local area is a good idea.
(Testing lots of things in small ways is a good idea; then dump the things that don't work and double up on the ones that do.)
A few things that are important to include on a door hanger:

• A comp...

(more)

How can we increase sales in our catering business?
This is a casual dining restaurant. Customer can order food for dine-in or take out, usually with in 10 minutes or less. We also do outside catering business, however the volume of the catering busisness is very insignificant. We should be able to do more. From April to October we do outdoor fairs or festivals, particularly on the weekend, within 50 miles of the restaurant (Arlington, Virginia). Our website is: www.ilovethai2.com
7 advice Category: Expansion, Marketing, Startup operations

Brook Priest

Kyle has provided some very good ideas for marketing your catering services to local businesses. In addition to what he said, I would also recommend that you revise your catering menu online to be more specific as to what your price includes (will you dro... (more)

How can we use social media to market our Thai restaurant?
The restaurant has been in the business since April 2006. The restaurant is listed on the Supermedia.com and Yelp.com. I would like to use social media to entice new customers to the restaurant. I feel that the traditional marketing media (magazine, newspaper, coupon, etc.) is obsolete. Our website is www.ilovethai2.com
3 advice Category: Internet, Marketing

Brook Priest

This is a really broad topic, and there is a lot of information to share, enough to fill a short book. The bottom line with social media is you're trying to get customers who love your restaurant tell their network how great you are, so their network beco... (more)

I want to start an organic noodles business; how do I begin?
I want to start up an organic noodle business. I know I should start small...like, garage-small. Just production, sales and shipping...no restaurant. I have property, and a spare garage to renovate. What will I need for equipment? What are the first steps to take?
4 advice Category: Startup operations

David Kim

In Silicon Valley, there's this idea of rapid prototyping and bootstrapping. Basically, you want to make sure you have a product that customers want before you make heavy investments that may have zero return. For example, have you asked the question - "... (more)

How do I make businesses aware of our lunch catering options?
I’m opening a Philly cheesesteak shop in Charlottesville, Virginia in an area that has some light foot traffic and businesses nearby. We definitely need to be on the businesses’ mind as an option for when they order in lunch. Are free samples the best way to do this?
4 advice Category: Marketing, Startup operations

Eva Rykr

I would recommend working on building a relationship with the local businesses. Introduce yourself and make friends with the neighbors. First find out who they are, what they do, what needs they have (in general), and then later find out what their caterin... (more)

What should our restaurant marketing budget be?
I'm hesitating in how much to spend in the marketing budget in order to get the appropriate return. We have a Thai food restaurant in Arlington, Virginia. Restaurant marketing budgets benchmarks in terms of a percent of sales would be helpful.


2 advice Category: Financing, Marketing

Brook Priest

I would hesitate to use any kind of ""average benchmark" for setting a marketing budget, because the amount a restaurant owner spends on marketing is going to vary so greatly depending on location, price point, quality, your relationship with your customer... (more)

What are the standard valuation metrics for a high-end, gourmet restaurant?
Does the market typically value these business based on a multiple of revenues? Cash flow? If so, what is the typical multiple? Also, what would be an appropriate discount rate to apply to cash flow projections to evaluate the business on an NPV basis? If it matters, the business is located in a major East Coast metropolitan market and by high-end, gourmet I am referring to a restaurant that is run by a known (at least in food circles) chef.
1 advice

Jerry Nemorin

The industry seems to use cash flow multiples as a basis for valuation, typically based on comps and growth potential of the restaurant. Multiples are based on EBITDA, check out what similar restaurants have sold for in your area to get a range on the mul... (more)

It feels like our restaurant website is lacking, but I’m not sure what to improve.
We have a "take-and-bake" pizza and sub shop in Richmond, Virginia. We know our website (www.superstarspizza.com) could be improved, but we aren't sure where to start.
3 advice Category: Internet, Marketing

Shailesh Oke

A few things I feel you could do to improve your website are:

1. Explain what ‘TAKE-N-BAKE’ means and why I should care. It’s the first thing visitors read on your website. I’m guessing you do this because it results in a hotter, fresher final pro... (more)

What are the biggest problems facing restaurants and retailers that mobile apps could help solve? Alternatively, what are some of the best ways restaurants and retailers could use mobile to increase their customers, sales, customer service levels, etc?
I have developed a mobile app and I am trying to figure out how best it can be used by the restaurant and retail industries for version 2.0.
2 advice Category: Internet, Marketing, Production, Startup operations

Chris J Gallant

In my opinion, there are two sides to a restaurant, 1) the consumer, and 2) the inventory. Mobile applications solve many issues because of their portability and availability. The first thing I would consider is; what does the consumer require to be eating... (more)

Do door hangers really work for a local pizza restaurant?
I've seen other restaurants which offer delivery use door hangers as a marketing tactic but I've never been sure whether this really works. What are the typical response rates for door hangers? Are they worth the cost?
2 advice Category: Marketing

DeLong, Jordan

You won't be blown away by the response rate for door hangers: 3% would be a great haul. The value comes into play because you can print and place them for very little cost.

While repeatedly slamming the same area with hangers is a bit of a lost cause,... (more)