Posted by Tim on August 22, 2014
For restaurants that do a lot of catering, online ordering can be a boon. NetWaiter can make the process easy for both restaurants and customers - allowing them to look through your menu and easily place large catering orders.
Here are some considerations for running a successful online catering operation:
1. Let people know you cater. Mention catering in all of your advertisements – you can even include the information in your on-hold message. Highlight your catering business on your website so customers can read about it and so it gets picked up by search engines.
2. Add a catering link to your website. A recent article in Restaurant Hospitality pointed out that this serves two purposes. First, those looking for catering can find it quickly. Second, the link serves as a reminder to regular visitors that you offer a catering option.
3. Offer a full catering menu. Some restaurateurs treat catering as an afterthought, offering the menu as a PDF. With NetWaiter, however, you can automatically turn your catering menu into an
interactive online ordering site. NetWaiter’s built-in controls let you set minimum ordering quantities for particular items, preset specific portions, and you can indicate the specific amount of advanced notice needed for each order.
4. Think about rewarding the person who orders. Selecting a restaurant for an office catering job isn’t often the boss’s decision, but somebody in a support position. Think about rewarding them with a discount (or tasty dessert) for choosing your restaurant.
5. Catering orders can be critical. Every order is important, but catering orders are often for special events or business meetings. It gives your restaurant the opportunity to impress a lot people. On the same note, it can be really bad if something goes wrong. Make sure you follow through to ensure everything is prepared properly.
Posted by Tim on November 7, 2013
The holidays are fast approaching, and with it, the chance to reap extra profits by offering customers catered holiday meals—either to their home or business—using your NetWaiter online ordering system.
For businesses, of course, you can offer full catering services for a holiday employee meal at the office. A discount on desserts might be a great incentive for larger orders and can be used to motivate them to order well in advance, giving your kitchen more time to prepare those large orders.
For individuals, you can focus on complete meals, or perhaps a special menu item that is popular with customers around the holidays. In California, and many other areas of the country with large Latino populations, Christmas tamales are a favorite. Perhaps you have special mashed potatoes that are a holiday favorite, or an unmatchable recipe for garlic cheese bread. Make sure your customers know they can order these items online in advance. Consider offering larger portions of your celebrated dish – it could make a great potluck item that everyone at the party will ask about.
HOLIDAY HOURS REMINDER: Please make sure your Holiday Hours are set in your NetWaiter Management Console. You can pre-configure your special Holiday Hours for Thanksgiving, including the days before/after Thanksgiving. To set your Holiday Hours within your Management Console, click ‘Location Information’ and then ‘Holiday Hours’. If you have any questions or needed assistance, contact NetWaiter and a Success Specialist will be happy to assist you.
Posted by Tim on December 12, 2012
There are many local businesses and offices - accounting agencies, real estate companies, non-profit groups, law firms, etc. - that bring in catered meals on a regular basis.
Whether it’s a board meeting, an extended client session, or employee luncheon – it’s often desirable for them to have it catered in.
The receptionist or administrative assistant is often responsible for placing these types of orders. Make sure these local businesses (and their office assistants) know your restaurant offers online ordering. Once they experience the ease and convenience of ordering online, they will return again and again.
Andrea Snyder of Urban Cookhouse, with multiple locations in Alabama, says that online ordering results in larger orders, especially at the catering level. "When these large orders come in via telephone, customers often try to negotiate, which cuts into our profit margin. Catering orders coming in online, however, obviously bypass that process. The customers are happy to trade saving a few dollars for the convenience NetWaiter provides them."
Make sure your local businesses know your restaurant is the best bet (and most convenient) for their catering needs!
