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Starting a catering business is about so much more than just your love of sharing the food you cook. Yes, that is definitely part of—and you really have to love cooking for people to run a catering company—but if you want to be successful, you have to market your company. This is true for every company, big and small, no matter what type of product or service you offer.
It cannot be stressed enough, the importance of investing in effective marketing so regardless of the size of your budget, here are three simple ways you can market your catering company in your neighborhood.
COMMUNITY TASTINGS
Whether your catering company has a big operational headquarters or you work out of your home kitchen, one really effective way that you can introduce the neighborhood to your business—your food—is through community tastings. As you meet people around town you can hand out your business card or get their contacts to send them information later. Contact people and schedule times where you can either visit their home or have them come to your kitchen for a sampling.
In fact, you can hold one or two big tasting events every year as you approach the big catering seasons like summer, when the majority of weddings, graduation parties, and family reunions happen. Make a small specialty tasting menu so your neighborhood can get a taste—literally and figuratively—of what you can offer.
LOCAL EVENTS
Similarly, if you know there is a local event coming up on the calendar you can simply fill out an application for a vendor booth in the fair marketplace. County fairs, for example, always need food vendors, but there are many other local events that could benefit from the addition of your company—and you could benefit too, even if you are just giving out free samples. Remember that word of mouth is always more effective than fliers or even a local television ad.
CLEVER MARKETING
And while you are out marketing for your company, consider smart marketing tools. When wrapping items for a wedding reception, for example, use logo-printed Double Face Satin Ribbon as it not only accomplishes the task at hand but reminds people who catered the party. It is both practical and creative—and can be far more effective (and a better expense of time and energy) than trying to network with every last person at the party.
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