Opening a sandwich shop...help plz!

chickmug

I was thinking of adding my words of wisdom but the OP has not even got back since their first post so I guess I will not bother if they are not bothered

davelewis

Where I work in a office (out of town in an enterprise park) there is a sandwich van that calls at around 9am and 12pm. He has music playing like an ice cream van - when I first started I thought it was an ice cream van and all the office workers were rushing to buy an ice cream!!!!

Moonbeam

If you are looking for repeat business incentive schemes can work well ie: buy so many sandwiches and get one free. I also find that group deals work well - if you think about the meal deal options in boots, M&S etc. It encourages people to spend a bit more with you - they maybe only popped in for a sandwich but will buy a bottle of juice and a packet of crisps too.

You need to really focus on your target market though - I remember someone once saying to me that people don't buy products and services they buy solutions to their problems - you just need to work out what your target markets problems are!!

3WayFreedom

Thank you all for contributing, it has given me a lot to think about. X x

3WayFreedom

chickmug:
"I was thinking of adding my words of wisdom but the OP has not even got back since their first post so I guess I will not bother if they are not bothered"

I am very bothered, that is why I spend most of my time researching my business, working O/T to save for my business and looking after a family and three dogs...not being sat on the P.C 24/7.

chickmug

3WayFreedom wrote: »

chickmug:
"I was thinking of adding my words of wisdom but the OP has not even got back since their first post so I guess I will not bother if they are not bothered"

I am very bothered, that is why I spend most of my time researching my business, working O/T to save for my business and looking after a family and three dogs...not being sat on the P.C 24/7.

Some advice for you to maximise the help you get IS to post and then look back regularly to reply where needed to those giving there time to help you.

weeclick

as a way of promotion make sure you appeal to your biggest market ie the people in surrounding buildings who you could take advantage of.

Why not get a staff member to take lunch orders in the morning for anyone working in the surrounding buildings, allowing you then the whole morning to complete the order at your leisure. Then at an arranged time get someone to deliver the said sandwiches to the workers and take payments, that way they havent had to waste time on their lunch break getting food, youve got your profit for the day, you look great above competitors for going out of your way and everyone is happy!

Also because of the big R word at the minute why not introduce a reward scheme ie - buy your lunch with us Monday-Thursday receive a half price lunch Friday r start up a loyalty card. collect so many stamps with every meal bought and get yourself a free lunch!

lastly location will always be a major factor - people dont want to spend 10 minutes on their lunch break walking to a sandwich bar when they could have one right at their door step.

Debt_Free_Chick

weeclick wrote: »

Why not get a staff member to take lunch orders in the morning for anyone working in the surrounding buildings, allowing you then the whole morning to complete the order at your leisure. Then at an arranged time get someone to deliver the said sandwiches to the workers and take payments

It's a great plan, but that's one or two people who need paying just to deliver one sandwich.

You would need to be absolutely sure that you had a huge market ready to buy to commit to that.

milliemonster

One other thing, a lot of people are quite health conscious now and sandwiches on the whole you buy from shops are just loaded with fat, calories and crap, loads of mayo etc, there is very little choice for people who are trying to watch what they eat, also a lot of people don't like mayo so maybe provide a range without mayo and a good range of low fat/cal stuff too, gluten free bread sandwiches for instance and I think you have to get your pricing right as far too often sandwiches are wayyyy too expensive (esp in current climate)

Finally, I don't know what health and safety regs are but I hate sandwiches which have been in a fridge, bread should be at room temp rather than really cold and hard from being in a fridge

weeclick

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

It's a great plan, but that's one or two people who need paying just to deliver one sandwich.

You would need to be absolutely sure that you had a huge market ready to buy to commit to that.

True - maybe it could be a long term goal plan then, obviously better to learn to walk before you run! But even as a market research contact local businesses and offices nearby and get a rough idea of how many people would be interested - at least it would give you an idea whether it would be worth investing in from the start or not!