So, you’re trying to start your own concession business, or you’ve just started one and want to improve it. Well, looking for advice is a great way to start, and lucky for you, you’ve come to the right place. Today, we’re bringing you the top ways to make your concession stand more successful, so get ready to make some changes for the better.
Develop a Budget and Stick To It
The most crucial part of any business is creating a budget that you think will be effective for your company. Even though some people don’t think of concession stands as a business, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t run yours like one.
Once you have finalized your budget, inform all your employees who have any buying power and hold them to it. You don’t want unnecessary expenses to be the thing that brings your concession business down.
Create a Clear and Inclusive Menu
If you already have a menu, that’s great, but you’ll want to review it to make sure it’s clear what you’re selling. Confusion quickly leads to frustration, which is then usually followed up by a lost sale. If you think your menu is as straightforward as possible, show it to others and use their feedback to change things where needed.
Also, be sure to consider popular dietary trends when figuring out what you’re going to sell. You shouldn’t try to make every niche group happy, but you should attempt to appease more common ones, like vegetarians, in order to maximize your sales.
Make sure you have the proper equipment for your menu as well. For example, if slushies are one of your top sellers, you’ll want to ensure that you have a machine or two that has all the features you’re looking for.
Build a Strong Team
Most people who decide to work at a concession stand usually don’t have great outlooks on life. That’s why you need to put in extra effort to build them into a team. Even if you can’t get your team excited about the job itself, you should try to help them become friends outside of work by planning after-hours activities. People who are friendly with each other are more likely to work well together.
Also, be sure to keep an eye on who leads the group. That’s the person you’re going to want to make the team lead or possibly even a manager. You’ll also want to make sure that you trust the people you appoint to take care of the cash box when you’re not around. Of course, you can’t do it all, so you’ll need to find others who can help you out.
Work on Your Reputation
Once you’re open for business, you need to focus on the final way to make your concession stand more successful: consumer perception. A happy customer is likely to tell their friends, but an unhappy one is even more likely, so try to find ways to make things right when someone gets upset. Try not to do this at the expense of your own employees, either, because that will make finding new employees nearly impossible. Just make sure you establish a good balance between the two, and your reputation will skyrocket.