Marketing

My wife and I are starting out small and working on a few "get our names out there" ideas. I would like to ask for opinions and advice on our ideas. First, we have made a deal with a local wrecker service (we a rural community and wrecker services are big here) owner. He has a local music band that is very popular and connected. He's going to hook us up with everyone of his functions, whether the wrecker service or band functions that require food. Second, we are speaking with two restaurants in our county, one in the county seat and the other in a smaller community, to provide service to their restaurants a couple times a month. One of the restaurants is also a bar and he is up and coming and very popular. The other also has a catering business, both at his restaurant and off site if requested. The restaurants won't provide a lot of measurable profits due to the low volume, but our thought is that it will lead to larger functions from the small sales we make at each location. Our last idea is that we're connecting with two large non-profits from our home town and are in talks of doing a cook for each too also get our names going. We already have a large following in our county, but we want a little bigger kickoff. The non-profits would provide all the materials (we will store the meat and food items until day of for health reason and also go with them to purchase the food for quality) and we would be out the charcoal and wood, oh and of course manpower hours for the cook.

Our goal is to get the name out there, starting small, and then hopefully start getting larger jobs. We are starting small and not going fast so we arent overcome. Any thoughts or suggestions??

early mornin' smokin' said:

I just want to ask some basic questions. Are you setup as a business officially? incorporated, insured, licensed to serve food? Serv safe? or local food managers certificate on hand?

I'm only asking because your plan seems kind of vague. What do you do already?

Helping "spread the word" is great and all, but if people can't readily access your products, it's a hard sell.

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We will be official before any of our selling and HD approved. Insurance: have been going through all the message boards and checking local for best coverage and price. Safe Serv is covered and have access to two certified kitchens. Also, have taxes for the business covered along with a silent business partner. My question was vague. I'm looking for any other advice on marketing in a simple way, is the easiest way of saying it. Our main business will be nonprofits groups and nooked parties. Our county is big on profits using others to cook meat for them to sell. BBQis not even been touched around here. I am not wanting to go gang busters. We both still work full time and are building up our business for future endeavors when we are finished working our regular jobs. We know going in that it will be slow, but we enjoy the smoking and know we will be happy.

early mornin' smokin' said:

I just want to ask some basic questions. Are you setup as a business officially? incorporated, insured, licensed to serve food? Serv safe? or local food managers certificate on hand?

I'm only asking because your plan seems kind of vague. What do you do already?

Helping "spread the word" is great and all, but if people can't readily access your products, it's a hard sell.

Click to expand...

My first response seemed to have been lost. Yes, we will be completely legal and licensed before selling. We have been researching for the best insurance for us. We are good to go to for Safe Serv and have access to 2 certified kitchens. We arent giving up our day jobs any time soon and is wanting to start out small and slow at first. Building for when we do finally move on. Just looking for some ideas on help to get things moving.