Are you having trouble growing your food truck business? You’ve come to the right place! Whether you’re a current or future food truck owner, we think these tips will help jumpstart your strategy for food truck success.

Market like a Maniac 

Marketing is one of the most important aspects of your business. This is how you get your name out there to the people. After all, if no one has heard of your food truck, how are you going to grow your business?

Make sure your truck has a branded identity that is easily recognizable and pairs well with the food you serve. It doesn’t make sense to brand yourself like a 50s diner when the only dishes on the menu are Japanese noodles. 

This doesn’t mean that you can’t be creative with your styling; just make sure your creativity flows in the same vein as your food theme.

Up Your Social Media Game

Does your truck have a strong presence on social media? Or would potential customers wonder if you are even still in business judging by the lack of recent posts?

Keeping up with your engagement on social media can be tough, but your mobile food truck will thank you when lines are gathered outside of it.

Post your daily or weekly specials on Facebook. Share photos of your most enticing dishes on Instagram. Advertise your current location on your Snapchat story.

Be Frugal

Sometimes it’s tempting to look at the success you’ve had in the past and take it for granted, but don’t forget that a lot of what helped you get there was careful planning, patient saving, and judicious spending.

It’s very easy to go all out when you feel you’ve finally “made it,” but continuing to wisely steward your business resources is the best way to go. This way, if hard times unexpectedly befall you, you will have greater potential to bounce back.

Keep following your business plan. Don’t stop looking for even the small ways you can save on spending. And don’t forget to always seek wise business counsel for any major financial decisions you may find on your horizon.

Run with the Seasons

It is important to continue making the food that has gotten you so much success in the first place, but it is never a bad idea to change up the menu every now and then.

One of the key ways you can do this is by introducing seasonal specials or limited time offerings. Customers often enjoy products that are relevant to the time of year, like specialty frozen treats during summer, fall-inspired flavors in autumn, or warm comfort foods for winter. 

Having certain dishes that only return to the menu at specific times of year adds to your food truck’s nostalgia. These specials allow you to build anticipation among your clientele when a favorite seasonal item is about to come back on the menu.

Offering temporary specials also gives you the advantage of testing new recipes or ideas before adding them to your regular menu. It allows you to gauge how popular a food will be before committing to it as a permanent offering year round.

Remember To Be You

While change is a good way to add some spice to your food truck offerings, remember to stay true to your food truck’s core identity. You have made it this far with your mobile kitchen, so you’ve been doing something right along the way.

Don’t throw everything out the window or change too much at once. If you are known for specific quirks, then by all means stick to them. After all, they are probably the very things that keep returning customers coming back again and again. 

Do you serve certain specials every Wednesday? Is there a secret sauce you add to signature dishes? No matter what you are known for, keep doing you.

Start Catering

Branch out and offer catering for weddings, special events, festivals or whatever else you can find. This is not only a great way to make some serious dough (perhaps literally and figuratively), but it is also a great way to get your food truck’s name out there.

Try displaying a sign announcing your new catering service wherever you set up shop to generate awareness among your regular customers. Be sure to announce your new catering services on your social media channels. 

You could even consider contacting local print media, like food magazines, newspapers, or community newsletters, to see if they would be interested in running a story on this new service in the local food scene.

Set Goals for Growth

Finally, don’t forget to set goals for your business growth. Like any other restaurant venture, running a successful food truck comes down to implementing essential business practices. Setting goals is an important way to make sure you get where you want to be. 

Don’t let temporary slumps or unexpected bumps in the road throw off your mobile kitchen mojo. No great achievement is gained without hard work and determination, successful food trucks included. 

So get out there and keep chasing that food truck dream!

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 Seeking Success: Strategies To Grow Your Food Truck Business appeared first on Custom Concessions.

Photo: Freepik

If you serve it from a truck, they’ll eat it!

It’s true and the numbers prove it. In 2017, food trucks in U.S. cities brought in an estimated $2 billion-plus in revenue. And that market is only going to continue expanding—the industry projects significant growth well into 2020.

If you’ve thought about adding a food truck to your restaurant business, this year could be your year. Still need convincing?

If you’re already in the restaurant business, adding one more element is relatively easy and it’s a way you can increase revenue for your overall business investment.

Here’s how you do it.

The Food Truck of Your Dreams

Beyond a beautiful truck with your logo plastered all over it, your truck must do the job of serving customers quickly.

Efficiency equals success in the mobile food industry. Unlike the customers in your restaurant, food truck customers don’t have time for a full-service sit-down dining experience.

Determine your needs and don’t waffle when it comes to your final purchase. You’ll find a wide range of options but go for the truck that gives you solid performance and doesn’t cut corners.

Your food truck is the backbone of your mobile food venture. Don’t skimp on it.

Don’t be shocked when you take delivery of your truck in a plain vanilla wrapper. You’ll trick it out with the elements of your brand: paint, lighting, and your logo.

Go for Brand Recognition

One reason restaurant owners branch out into the mobile retail food market is that it’s another marketing strategy for the brick and mortar restaurant.

Your truck is a rolling advertisement for your restaurant. It’s also a great marketing tool if you offer catering as another extension of your restaurant business.

Take that plain white truck and make it yours by having it professionally wrapped with a design to complement your brand and showcase your logo. If you plan on serving food at night, install lights on the outside. Make the truck customer-friendly and make it stand out in the crowd.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking the truck itself is the only advertising you need. Use social media to let your customers know where you’ll be each day. Post photos of your signature menu items and your daily special.

You may start out on this adventure with the sole purpose of marketing your restaurant and converting mobile food customers to restaurant visitors. Don’t be surprised when you find out how profitable a food truck can be.

And just like with your restaurant customers, it’s about building relationships.

It’s All About the Customers

Foodies want the next best thing in cuisine but aren’t interested in going the distance to find it. You bring your food to the foodies and you’ve just shortened the distance between you and your next loyal customer.

That said, they still want an experience. Of course, you can’t give them the candlelight or the sizzling fajita plate delivered to their table by a waiter in a mariachi suit. 

Instead of using the same gimmicky methods as restauranteurs have used for years, you can provide your customers with something even better—building meaningful relationships with local business. Adding a food truck to your restaurant business means you can engage with your customers in ways you can’t in your restaurant.

For one thing, you’re face-to-face with them for the entire transaction from order placement to handing them their meal.

Because customers can watch while you prepare their meal, they feel like the experience is more personalized than what they get while eating in your restaurant. They get to know first-hand the ingredients you use and how you cook with them.

They get to know you!

A lot of customers enjoy the personal side of these types of interactions. Who knows, you may even win over some lifelong fans who will keep coming back again and again.

Ready for Opening Day?

Growing your brand is one excellent reason for adding a mobile piece to your restaurant business. Adding revenue is another good one.

While this is not a comprehensive how-to for adding a food truck to your restaurant business, hopefully we’ve sparked your interest.

If you’re ready for the next step, building the food truck of your dreams, contact us today for a mobile kitchen quote request. We’d love to help you jumpstart your next adventure.

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 Supplemental Income: How to Expand Your Restaurant With a Food Truck (And Why You Should) appeared first on Custom Concessions.

Did you know that the restaurant industry in the United States reached $745 billion in 2015? In other words, it’s a giant industry with lots of potential.

But to really do well, you need to be different. And one great way to do this is through starting a pop up restaurant. This is the perfect way to generate a lucrative additional revenue stream.

Not sure where to start? Don’t worry! Check out our guide on how to start a pop up restaurant below.

How to Start a Pop Up Restaurant: Get Your Paperwork

First of all, it’s important to get your paperwork figured out. This includes insurance, licenses, and permits. Make sure you begin the process by getting these documents.

Some pop up restaurant owners think they can move ahead without these documents, but that’s simply not the case. You should make sure that what you’re doing is completely legal.

The necessary paperwork is different throughout the country, so double-check with your local government offices to know what you need.

Decide on Your Location

Next, it’s time to pick your spot. Where do you want to host your pop up restaurant? There are tons of options out there.

However, there are some important questions you should ask yourself when finding a location. These include:

• Is there electricity readily available?
• Is there easily accessible running water?
• Is there enough room to fit your customers?

One great way to host a pop up restaurant is by utilizing a restaurant space that already exists. This infrastructure can make your job much easier.

Perhaps there’s a restaurant that’s recently closed or that’s only open on weekends. You could use the space when it’s available, which is a win-win for both you and the restaurant owner!

However, hosting your pop up restaurant inside a food truck is possibly the best option of all; it gives you the freedom to choose different locations at different times based on foot traffic, and to move when you find a better one.

Create Your Menu

Now it’s time to make your pop up restaurant menu. Because you’re doing a pop up restaurant, it’s best to keep your menu simple.

Go with things that you know people like and that have a wide appeal. It’s okay to also throw in one or two unique items, but for the most part keeps things simple.

This will also benefit you because you can simplify the amount of ingredients and kitchen space you need to make your items.

Want more restaurant tips and tricks? Discover more on our blog.

Set Up Your Kitchen

Last but not least, it’s time to set up your kitchen. Obviously, if you use an existing restaurant, this will be simple. It’s just a matter of getting things set up just right.

However, for most people, this isn’t the case. If you’re setting up a mobile kitchen, you’ll need to think about the grills, utensils, burners, and preparation space you’ll need.

Closing Thoughts

Now that you’ve read all about how to start a pop up restaurant, it’s time to begin. Think about how these steps apply to your situation and start the process.

Have some questions or want to learn more? Contact our team today.

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 Brick and Mobile: How to Start a Pop Up Restaurant to Grow Your Restaurant Business appeared first on Custom Concessions.