Start up costs for a sandwich shop?
Discussion
dreamz said:
how could you make yourself different from your standard butty shop??
Are you just take-away or eat-in too?What really gets on my tits is that the two nearest sarnie shops to me both have 'All Day Breakfast' emblazoned across their front window, but one stops serving hot food at 1pm, the other at 2pm, so it isn't 'All Day' at all... unless eating a bowl of cornflakes in the middle of the afternoon counts. An 'All Day Breakfast' that is actually available all day would be a good selling point from my perspective... but then I do have a near-fanatical love of bacon and eggs!
yeah that always grinds my gears too - when butty shops close early - i'm a late riser due to my night shift work and i'd love a butty at 3pm when i wake up.
i am planning to do the whole all day thing. maybe even as late as 10pm on certain days if i get a good property in a busy area.
I've got a few idea's on how to maintain a uniqueness - i wont for starters be a standard butty shop - more panini's, melts and bagettes and have a varied range of foods available
i am planning to do the whole all day thing. maybe even as late as 10pm on certain days if i get a good property in a busy area.
I've got a few idea's on how to maintain a uniqueness - i wont for starters be a standard butty shop - more panini's, melts and bagettes and have a varied range of foods available
I'm not sure now is a good time to start a sandwich shop, the ones around the centre of Bristol are definitely quieter these days, fewer people are buying sarnies - dumping a bought sandwich lunch is one of the quickest ways to save some pennies if times are harder.
Have you got a location in mind? I'd have a wander round some of the existing sandwich bars at 1pm and see what sort of trade they are doing, perhaps have a general chat with them about how business is going.
Have you got a location in mind? I'd have a wander round some of the existing sandwich bars at 1pm and see what sort of trade they are doing, perhaps have a general chat with them about how business is going.
MitchT said:
dreamz said:
how could you make yourself different from your standard butty shop??
Are you just take-away or eat-in too?What really gets on my tits is that the two nearest sarnie shops to me both have 'All Day Breakfast' emblazoned across their front window, but one stops serving hot food at 1pm, the other at 2pm, so it isn't 'All Day' at all... unless eating a bowl of cornflakes in the middle of the afternoon counts. An 'All Day Breakfast' that is actually available all day would be a good selling point from my perspective... but then I do have a near-fanatical love of bacon and eggs!
I'll have french toast during the rennaissance please.
Plotloss said:
MitchT said:
dreamz said:
how could you make yourself different from your standard butty shop??
Are you just take-away or eat-in too?What really gets on my tits is that the two nearest sarnie shops to me both have 'All Day Breakfast' emblazoned across their front window, but one stops serving hot food at 1pm, the other at 2pm, so it isn't 'All Day' at all... unless eating a bowl of cornflakes in the middle of the afternoon counts. An 'All Day Breakfast' that is actually available all day would be a good selling point from my perspective... but then I do have a near-fanatical love of bacon and eggs!
I'll have french toast during the rennaissance please.
I would say research your market. Are you trying to attract the office types (e.g. Philpotts) or a greasy spoon type place. One of the most successful shops near me manages to attract both office types and builders. Things I like about it are:
Choice
Clean
Plenty of staff
Efficient system - get sandwich then pay at till
Open before I start work
Choice
Clean
Plenty of staff
Efficient system - get sandwich then pay at till
Open before I start work
My mum and dad have owned all types of businesses in the Catering trade they currently have a smallish 20 cover Cafe in Derbyshire.
It is not all about being "unique", great quality, competitive prices and a clean shop is what attracts customers, knowing that their food is made to order also attacts customers.
Things to look at:
My mum and dad start work at 6.30 in the morning open up at 7.15 and close at 2.30 don't forget you have around an hours cleaning to do after that, it is very hard work, do you want to be on your feet all day, cleaning constantly?
Food is all about quality and word of mouth.
Doing an office delivery can pay but only if the food on your van is as good as the food in your shop!
Branding is not that important though is a way to attract customers in the first place.
You need to be better than all of your competition (which there is always a lot of) to make it pay.
Market the fact you only use local produce, that your meat is the best, that you food is made to order, market your tele order system so the customer will get their made to order food when it arrives, have a loyality scheme.
Finally don't make coffee too expensive keep it lovely fresh and cheap and you'll sell shedloads of it, it has massive profit at 60p a cup and you'll be the cheapest in town prompting people to come in and grab a cup, then look at your menu smell the lovely made to order food and there you have it another meal and another table taken up, they'll probably have two cups of coffee while they are at it - don't get greedy with coffee, tea and cans of pop!!
It is not all about being "unique", great quality, competitive prices and a clean shop is what attracts customers, knowing that their food is made to order also attacts customers.
Things to look at:
My mum and dad start work at 6.30 in the morning open up at 7.15 and close at 2.30 don't forget you have around an hours cleaning to do after that, it is very hard work, do you want to be on your feet all day, cleaning constantly?
Food is all about quality and word of mouth.
Doing an office delivery can pay but only if the food on your van is as good as the food in your shop!
Branding is not that important though is a way to attract customers in the first place.
You need to be better than all of your competition (which there is always a lot of) to make it pay.
Market the fact you only use local produce, that your meat is the best, that you food is made to order, market your tele order system so the customer will get their made to order food when it arrives, have a loyality scheme.
Finally don't make coffee too expensive keep it lovely fresh and cheap and you'll sell shedloads of it, it has massive profit at 60p a cup and you'll be the cheapest in town prompting people to come in and grab a cup, then look at your menu smell the lovely made to order food and there you have it another meal and another table taken up, they'll probably have two cups of coffee while they are at it - don't get greedy with coffee, tea and cans of pop!!
thanks for all the tips folks...
to the two rich's well i wasnt going to put up all my idea's on here! There's a place in manchester which is incredibly busy despite being in a pretty average location - its ran by a few friends of mine so i'm hoping to use that as a template.
howarth - some great tips there - i was plannin the newspaper thing - a guardian, independant and a mirror.
i think the whole office delievery is to be done once you've quite established a name and reputation for yourself.
to the two rich's well i wasnt going to put up all my idea's on here! There's a place in manchester which is incredibly busy despite being in a pretty average location - its ran by a few friends of mine so i'm hoping to use that as a template.
howarth - some great tips there - i was plannin the newspaper thing - a guardian, independant and a mirror.
i think the whole office delievery is to be done once you've quite established a name and reputation for yourself.
dreamz said:
thanks for all the tips folks...
to the two rich's well i wasnt going to put up all my idea's on here! There's a place in manchester which is incredibly busy despite being in a pretty average location - its ran by a few friends of mine so i'm hoping to use that as a template.
howarth - some great tips there - i was plannin the newspaper thing - a guardian, independant and a mirror.
i think the whole office delievery is to be done once you've quite established a name and reputation for yourself.
Not always can often be used as a way to create business, get there BEFORE the others do, promote your fresh food which will make a change believe you me! to the two rich's well i wasnt going to put up all my idea's on here! There's a place in manchester which is incredibly busy despite being in a pretty average location - its ran by a few friends of mine so i'm hoping to use that as a template.
howarth - some great tips there - i was plannin the newspaper thing - a guardian, independant and a mirror.
i think the whole office delievery is to be done once you've quite established a name and reputation for yourself.
In turn will promote your business.
Good fresh food and being very very clean is the key!
Can't offer any business advice but I can tell you what keeps me and many others going back to the sandwich shop near where I work. Manages to attract blokes in hard hats and suits with a huge baps or torpedoes and a wide range of fillings and decent prices with really friendly service. Drinks are cheap and the shop's always open. I'm not sure how it works but they buy their fillings in however they always look and taste fresh. Good luck.
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