First-time food truck owners are likely worried about many different things when trying to step foot in the food truck industry. It’s only natural. As a result, some key ingredients tend to go under the radar.
First and foremost, many mobile kitchen owners are worried about getting a good deal on a food truck, as they should be. They are also likely thinking about their recipes, menus, business plans, where they will actually set up shop (the location) and permits and regulations. Those are all very, very important when it comes to making it in the lunch truck industry. You can’t run your business without a truck and the food. Plus, a food truck business owner would be lost without a business plan.
However, while new food truck owners are worrying about those crucial ingredients, some things tend to go under the radar. We are here to point those things out, and to tell you to make them a priority (or at least add them to your priority list) when it comes to your food truck business.
Don’t Let These Ingredients Go Under The Radar If You Are New To The Food Truck Industry
- Your Brand (Social Media Plays A Major Role)
- Customer Service
Your Brand (Social Media Plays A Major Role)
Before you even have your grand opening at your food truck business, you need to make your brand and business known. After all, if you don’t have any brand awareness, then how are people going to know you exist? Likewise, if you don’t have social media networks to tell people you are about to be open, then how are people going to know you are in business?
Social media is a very important part of the food truck process. In fact, it is crucial for any business in this day and age. Not only does it help an owner get his/her brand out there, but it also allows the owner to get into contact with his/her customers.
Social media allows food truck owners to not only tell their customers where they will be on a daily basis, but it also gives them a platform to engage with their customers. This is crucial if you are trying to take your customer service game to the next level, and that’s what the next step is all about.
The bottom line: People need to become aware of your brand, your food truck and your food items/menu. You need to get your name out there and you also have to give people a reason to come to your truck. If they don’t even know you exist, then you are going to struggle to make it in this fine industry. Of course, that’s also why you need to set up shop in a place with high foot traffic, because that is where all of the people are going to be, especially during the summer.
Customer Service
Simply put, customer service can make or break a mobile kitchen business. If you are great with people and know how to relate to them (or if you have worked in a field where customer service is a big part of the job), then you should have nothing to worry about. However, if you have trouble relating/communicating with people, then you might have an uphill battle.
Nowadays, a bad review can sink a food truck business. If bad reviews start to pile up, no one is going to venture to your food truck. Even if the food is otherworldly. That is why customer service has to be a top priority.
Yes, your food is probably the most important thing once you actually get started. That is your product/service, after all. But if you don’t treat your customers right, then don’t expect to retain many. If your food truck show always runs smoothly, with your lines going smoothly with consistently amazing meals, you should be good to go.
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Some good customer service practices:
- Respond to your followers on social media, and ask them questions and/or for feedback while you’re at it.
- Give things away for free (giveaways are great ways to attract more customers), such as a meal, shirt, dessert, etc.
- Ask your customers how their days are going when you take their orders. In other words, don’t just take their orders, be friendly and make them feel welcome.
- Make your food truck business a community. Yes, your #1 job is to sell people great food. That said, people should still feel like they are part of a community every time they venture to your truck.
Like we said before, there are so many things food truck owners have to worry about. That’s life of a food truck owner. They have to be business savvy and have the ability to cook up a storm in the kitchen. Simply put, don’t let customer service and your brand go under the radar. They are crucial ingredients when it comes to growing and thriving in the food truck industry.
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