Kulture Konnect Blog

So, you've made the leap into the food truck business and you have your brand-spanking-new-shiny food truck and you are ready to hit the road and sell your amazing food to the public. According to IBIS World data, the food truck industry had 870 million dollars in revenue in 2016. So, kudos to you for making the leap!

As successful as it has become, it is also very stressful. Trucks break down, regulations get tougher and people are unpredictable. This is why you must have some solid marketing strategies to pull out when the going gets tough. Below, you will find 5 marketing strategies that can get you through a pinch for your food truck start up. The common thread through all of these is basic... Be Creative.

Whether you are working on branding your new restaurant or rebranding an existing one, restaurant branding is about more than creating a strong visual identity or a memorable dining experience for your customers. It’s about understanding exactly who you are as a company and why people are coming to your restaurant, rather than with your competitor.

Here's everything you need to know about building your restaurant branding.

For many restaurants, the holiday period, spanning from November to New Years day, is not exactly the most profitable time during the year. A decline in business is noticed by 61 percent of restaurants during the holidays (Chron).

With a little advice on getting your email marketing right can give you the holiday boost your restaurant desperately needs. 

Because who wants to lose money, right?

Let's begin.

So, you are at a place where you think you might need some restaurant marketing but you are not quite sure? Check out these 10 tips to help you decide if your restaurant is ready to be launched into marketing orbit! If you answer yes to 3 or more of the below then it is a sure sign that its time to make an investment for your restaurant's future. 

1. You have no plan.  This is the single hardest thing to do because it requires management to stop and actually THINK about what they are doing.  Action without planning means running in place.  You need a plan and a sounding board for that plan.  Hire a restaurant marketing company to view your business objectively and get ready to make some changes that will bring you to the next level.

In the restaurant industry, it can be a difficult task to create a new concept for your restaurant when there is already so much competition.

You want your restaurant to be memorable, to standout, to offer a quality menu and of course, top notch customer service. The goal is to leave a lasting impression so much that people want to come back for more.

Here are 6 unique restaurants and bars that are successful at creating trends and buzz among the California dining scene and hospitality industry. So, if you are a restaurant looking to rebrand or a new restaurant in search of a theme or concept, take note.

Oh no! Your restaurant isn't filling up tables like it used to. But why?

It's certainly not your customers, it's your restaurant.

A decline in sales is a sure sign that your restaurant is in need of a change! A restaurant makeover is just what you need to strike excitement back into your team members and customers.

Although change can be intimidating, it can also be the answer to your lack luster sales. Here are some areas where you can begin making necessary changes.

Good news! Your restaurant is everyone's favorite place to stop by and enjoy dinner every Saturday night. The bad news? This has resulted in longer wait times for guests.

Though wait times are a factor that can be out of your control, there are different ways you can try out to reduce wait times for your guests. Let's go through 5 ideas you'll want to consider.

Online Food Ordering is a Trend

Your customers will no longer have to wait for a seat. Instead, customers will be able to stay in the comfort of their own home. For this reason, more restaurants are turning to mobile food delivery services for help, not to mention, it's growing quickly.

A Statista survey showed 20 percent of its participants claim to use a food delivery service at least one time every week. Numbers also show that within one year, the food delivery service went from contributing 30 billion dollars to the overall sales of the restaurant industry to an increased amount of 206 billion dollars (Statista). What a difference a year can make.

Restaurant owners from the Palm Springs and Coachella Valley had plenty to look forward to last Wednesday at the Dine GPS Restaurant Bootcamp presentation at the Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa. The panel consisted of food produce giant Sysco, who revealed food trends and the latest restaurant concepts. Popular reservation system Open Table shared trends among diners from the Palm Springs area. Last but not least, our very own restaurant marketing expert, Jorge Pacheco, discussed the benefits and the most essential parts of social media. Let's recap some of the most important points of Jorge's presentation.

The holiday season is among us and you know what that means for your restaurant... less and less seats are filled due to the fact that people are focusing their money on gifts and decorations rather than dining out. Blue Sky Local reports that 61 percent of restaurants notice about a 20 percent drop in their business during the holidays.

But what customers don't realize is how many holiday deals restaurants have to offer! They need to know they can still indulge in great food without breaking their bank.

The game-changer? SMS text message marketing. Everyone will know about the delicious turkey dinner you are bringing to the table. 

You already own a restaurant and it turned out to be a success. Your next goal is to expand and you're considering different locations. Do you want to expand locally? Or do you want to take it up a notch and open in a different state? And if so, which locations should you consider? New studies show there are 10 U.S. cities you'll want to explore. Let's take a look.