Marketing For A Small Business (Bakery and Resturant)

[kelthereth]

Hello readers,

I am hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and I am seeking legitimate advice to starting and supporting my dreams…
I am a chef (specializing in ethnic cuisine and fancy baking), but I am not a business woman. I consider myself a visionary and somewhat of an artist. Two of my colleagues and I have decided that it’s time to put our talents to use. We wish to open up a bakery and small restaurant with a certain medieval fantasy ambiance (with medieval/Celtic furnishings, art work, and music). Our menu will be custom made (featuring European and Middle Eastern styled dishes). The bakery extension will most likely be under my artistic direction (making things such as dragon shaped cookies, unique cakes and pies, etc…). My mates and I already have culinary specialists, and designers who happened to be our friends in college.

What I need to know is how should I proceed to market my business? How should I advertise for it to gain the highest amount of legitimate interest?

[PayPoint.net]

- Start giving away some samples in the lead up to launch near where your bakery will be located
- Have a launch party with more samples (Get someone to take photos) - send invitations to all local businesses to come so they can try it
- Advertise on local boards newspapers
- launch your restaurant with a lunch deal to help incentise people to come to eat your food
- Depending on your budget, sponsor a local team pr something
- Get yourself a really nice website
- Set up a Pinterest page and take lots of photos of you pictures and link each image to your main site also a Facebook page
- Guest blog on compliemntary websites with links back to your website

Just a few ideas to kick off the rest!

Best of luck

[rebecca4]

You can use local advertisement like for the few customers who come,give them brochures showing what you offer.They will spread word to others.

[writer811]

I've observed the opening of several restaurants and I have a few ideas on how to generate interest. I've noticed that contests seem to be hugely popular. Humans are naturally competitive and something about a contest draws them in. You could make an elaborate dish, using highly spicy sauces or something else that may make eating it a challenge.
Another thing to try is free samples. People are wary about new things but they can't resist free samples. If they like what they try at your restaurant, they'll come back for more and spread the word.
As for advertisment, a well placed commercial would work best, especially on local television. But there are loads of other oppertunities out there; flyers, radio advertisments, business cards, newspaper ads... Be on guard for free advertisment, as well. My theatre group offers free advertisment to businesses for the good PR. There are always groups like that.

[MyDigitalpoint]

In most cities there are radio and TV shows that tour around to find new business and present them to their audience. Try to find if there is any in Philadelphia that could be interested in featuring yours.

If you get into the media, even with a featured article or press release in a local newspaper or magazine, you will have a good material to conduct many other advertising strategies around this.

[Victor Leigh]

As promotion, go to the schools and offer to host lunches for the PTA meetings at specially-discounted prices. Many people on the PTA committee are also influential people around town. They may help you to spread the word around.

[Adornalee]

Marketing is the main reason for the growth of a business. For small business online marketing is one of the best way as many people go online these days. Social media marketing & digital marketing are the two different parts of a internet marketing. When people go for selling a business then also it helps a lot as it gives a better output in a shorter period of time.

[kateprint]

It's kind of not good for you to think that you are not a business woman. You should consider yourself one even if you are not really into it. It takes managerial and innovative skills to excel. What you can do for now is to confer on the goals and structure of your business. Also have an experienced business person to guide you.

[dconklin]

Hand out your menu to local businesses that may have employees who would like to have lunch at your restaurant. Local hair salons, businesses you shop at and any other small businesses would be a great idea to hand a menu to. These people quite often look for new and good places to have lunch and may become regular customers. Also if they are happy with the service and food, they are likely to recommend you to friends and their customers. Hair salons are great because stylists often talk with their clients while doing their hair and if they are really impressed, you will probably gain new customers.

You can ask businesses if you can hang a flier about a grand opening special. Talk about it on Facebook and create an awesome fanpage with some of your best looking plates. This is where I would start, but don't stop there!

[chonda]

Good