Restaurants
Show your patrons that you want their take-out business by handling their orders with ease.
- Place copies of your menu next to your cash register.
- Consider adding a special phone line for take-out orders.
- Make sure that all employees who answer calls are knowledgeable about your menu.
- Include essential items (napkins, utensils, seasonings) with every order. It's a great way to increase your sales and service.
Lodging
Sightseers pack a lot into their day. So how about packing their lunches for them?
- Offer box lunches that can be ordered in advance through room service and delivered in the morning.
- Promote a "break-FAST" program in the lobby. Provide coffee, juice and baked goods along with napkins and take-out bags so hurried travelers can eat on the run.
Hospitals
- Offer pre-packed sandwiches, salads and cookies that hospital visitors can take back to patients' rooms.
- To make patients' important days extra special. Offer take-out cakes that visitors can order in advance. For hospital employees, that means easy-order birthday, graduation, or "any day" cakes right at work.
Long Term Healthcare
Residents love getting out on nice days. Make it simple for them.
- Offer picnic lunches that visitors can order in advance with several choices to meet the dietary needs of residents.
- Set up an outside picnic area with tables that are wheelchair accessible.
- Promote your picnic program through signs or mailings. This is sure to be a hit with both visitors and residents.
Colleges & Universities
Students are notorious for eating on the run, so why not make it easy for them, and keep them on campus?
- Weather permitting, feature outside carts where students can grab a muffin, a bagel, or pizza by the slice.
- Before finals, offer prepared take-out meals that students can heat up and eat during late night study sessions.
Business & Industry
- Promote a "dinner in a flash" program. Customers can call or fax in their dinner orders in the afternoon and pick them up before they leave work.
- Each day, feature two or three different entrees with side dishes and dessert.
- Post or distribute your weekly menus in advance so patrons can plan for their favorite meals. They'll love the convenience and you'll love the sales.