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Did you know that the average American spends $1200 on fast food annually? 

If you’re looking to get into the fast-food game, why not consider the world of food trucks? This is a great way to showcase your business to customers on the go!

To help sway your decision, we’re sharing five reasons why today’s consumers love food trucks. From their efficiency and accessibility to their overall diversity, it’s easy to see why food trucks are continuing to grow in popularity. 

1. Fast and Easy

First things first, food trucks are fast! 

Customers know that they can place and receive their order in a relatively quick time span. This helps to create a sense of ease in purchasing your food and drink from a food truck. When you’re on the clock, it’s safe to say that every minute counts! 

For your own food truck, this means you’re going to want to be prepared as possible. Be sure to prep your most difficult dishes beforehand so that you can operate quickly and serve as many customers as possible. 

2. Not Your Typical Chain

At the end of the day, it’s easy to get sick and tired of America’s most common food chains. 

Let’s consider that McDonald’s has over 13,486 locations throughout America. With such a large number, it’s easy to see why consumers crave something different when it comes to fast food. 

This is a significant draw to food trucks. As compared to all of the usual chains, food trucks offer something entirely different! With this, customers count on experiencing a more niche food market and more carefully crafted products overall. 

3. An Introduction to New Cuisines  

One of the most exciting aspects of food trucks is that they introduce new foods to their customers.  

This is a great way for consumers to get to know an entirely new cuisine of food. For example, a food truck is where many people will try a series of ethnic foods for the first time. Because the food truck experience feels so personal, the customers are able to establish a greater sense of trust in both the food and the chef. 

4. Food Trucks Are Everywhere 

Short and simple, food trucks are easy to access! 

In choosing a food truck, there’s no need to trek to the local mall or the restaurant around the corner. Instead, the best food trucks are parked and waiting for you on the road. Here, you’ll be greeted by a friendly face and all of the usual customers happily lined up and waiting for their food. 

5. Personalization 

When customers purchase food from a food truck, they have the rare opportunity to interact with the chef. This is because on a food truck, the orders are often taken and prepared by one person—the chef!  

This is as compared to a traditional joint where the customer solely interacts with the cashier or server. This helps to deliver a more personal and trusting experience for the customer overall. When customers are able to see the face behind their food, they naturally feel more connected to the experience.

The Rise in Food Trucks 

In recent years, it’s safe to say that food trucks have exploded in popularity! 

Not only are food trucks fast and easy, but they also offer a number of alternate perks to customers. A local Mexican food truck may encourage residents to try ceviche verde and enchiladas for the first time. The personal one-on-one experience may appeal to customers that seek a more personalized experience. 

So, how would having a food truck suit your industry? Contact us today to find out! 

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The post Why Customers Love Food Trucks and What That Means for You appeared first on Custom Concessions.

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Upset customers are inevitable no matter what part of the foodservice industry you work in, including if you own a food truck. How you deal with them is key to your success as a business owner.

Do you own a food truck? Are you thinking of buying one or entering the service industry in another capacity? You will need to know how to handle these situations.

Remember, word of mouth is key to growing a new business. If you are rude to unhappy customers, you will garner a business-damaging reputation.

Read on for five ways to deal with angry customers.

1. The Customer Is Never Wrong, Right?

Customer service is as important as any other aspect of the food service business.

The common phrase is that the customer is always right. A better way to think about this when dealing with upset customers in foodservice is that rather than always being right, the customer is never wrong.

Every customer has different tastes and expectations. If they think your food is salty, under or overcooked, they are not wrong. It’s how they feel or what they think.

Understanding this key difference will give you the right mindset to succeed in customer satisfaction.

2. Drop Your Defenses

You may have spent hard hours planning your menu, prepping, and preparing the food you serve on any given day. Because of this, you may take a customer complaint personally.

Don’t fall into this trap. While you should be proud of the food you serve, you need to drop your defensiveness when dealing with an angry customer.

These interactions, like interactions you have with happy customers, are business transactions.

3. Really Listen

Food truck customer service is like any other form of customer service. When people have a complaint, they want to be heard.

To effectively deal with angry or upset customers, brush up on your listening skills.  Diffuse an antagonistic situation by looking someone in the eyes to let them know what they say is important to you.

4. Own the Complaint

Whether you feel you are actually responsible for a customer complaint doesn’t matter. The customer has come and complained to you.

As the owner of a food truck business, the buck stops with you no matter the nature of the complaint.

The best way to own a complaint is to offer a sincere apology. Apologizing is a huge step toward resolving any issue.

5. Offer a Solution

In foodservice, the de-escalation of an upset customer comes down to a solution. After you’ve listened and apologized, you need to be willing to offer a solution to the problem, and quickly.

Sometimes this means preparing a new dish. This may not be possible in the tight confines of a food truck where many dishes have been prepped and batched for service.

In this case, if an alternative is available, offer it at no additional cost.

Sometimes neither of these solutions will appease an angry customer. If so, you must give a refund.

Upset Customers

Upset customers are inevitable in the foodservice business. How you deal with them plays an important role in the success of your food truck.

There are plenty of food truck businesses that offer great food. To set yourself apart, make sure you treat your customers with respect.

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The post 5 Ways for Food Truck Owners to Deal With Upset Customers appeared first on Custom Concessions.

Food trucks have experienced a revival, especially as a safe and delicious option for getting takeout food in the age of coronavirus. However, due to their changing locations or lack of permanent space, sometimes it can be difficult to build a loyal customer base. 

One of the best ways to get the word out about your food truck is to generate customer feedback. The more customer reviews your business receives, the more exposure and buyers you will get. Here are a few ways that you will get many more reviews and boost your business profile in no time. 

1. Post Regularly on Social Media

A good social media presence is essential for your business. You should set up social media accounts for posting business updates, new menu additions, and promotions or specials your food truck may run. Some of the best social media sites for restaurants include Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and even TikTok.

When your customers follow you on social media, you’re giving them the opportunity to engage with your business. When they leave feedback on your photos in the form of comments, your social media algorithm will boost your online presence and expose your business to more potential customers.

2. Remind Your Customers to Leave Reviews

Online reviews can be a huge advantage for your business, and they are also a completely organic way to generate customer comments. If your business has an online presence on review sites like Yelp and Google, then your customers can easily give you a star rating and leave their comments.

Reviewing a business through a third-party site is one of the easiest feedback methods. Your customers will be prompted to rate the business, leave their review, and usually have the option to upload photos. You can also easily respond to customer comments through these sites. 

3. Have Unforgettable Menu Items

For positive feedback, a foolproof way to generate more customer comments, along with interest in your food truck business, is to be unique. Make sure if you have a signature dish, promote it, and if you don’t, you should think about adding dishes to your menu that will make your business stand out. 

If customers see there is something unique about your food truck, then they are much more likely to leave a positive review or give you firsthand feedback about what they enjoyed about their experience. Be sure to remind them to give their feedback when their order is complete. 

Customer Feedback is Key to Expanding Your Business

When you run a food truck, you rely on your customers to keep you in business, which is one of the many reasons why customer feedback can be so important. For even more customer comments, you should consider letting customers fill out a survey in change for coupons or freebies. 

Want to know more about the best way to run your food truck business? Visit our blog for more details.  

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The post 3 Ways to Get Customer Feedback About Your Food Truck appeared first on Custom Concessions.