Market Research - Drinks at a show

[67westy]

As I'm sure many of you are aware now my wife and I are starting a catering business which will mainly include VW shows. We are just getting ready for SkegVegas and I've realised what a massive pain soft drinks are. We have to cool them which takes considerable effort given we don't have massive fridges and transport them which is a lot of weight. Whilst we will have them at SkegVegas we wanted to know whether a food trailer without soft drinks would put you off buying from there? Assuming of course the food is good quality and something you want to eat.

So let us know your thoughts in the poll, all feedback much appreciated

Adam

 

[Pickles]

I dont go to VW shows but when I go to the footie I always get my burger and cup a tea from the same wagon :lol: If I had the choice of queuing at one where I could get both or two to buy each separately I think I would go to the one where I could get both at the same time

That said its not that simplistic as it will also depend upon the competition, the client profile, the exclusiveness of your offer and whether it is so good people will be happy to queue again etc for a drink somewhere else. How long the queues typically are etc ... put all that in a pot and give a good stir :lol:

I'm assuming you went to VW shows before so what did you and those around you do? The best advice i can give is put yourself in your customers (not yours) shoes and you can probably answer this yourself. Your first business trip out where you have drinks available should also help unless those going to SkegV are notably different from those who go to the other shows you trade at.

Oh and best of luck with it all hope it works out.

 

[busdiver]

pickles....... the man did say COLD drinks, i'm sure they'll do tea

 

[Pickles]

pickles....... the man did say COLD drinks, i'm sure they'll do tea

Read the rest of what I said rather than just the first line. Its about application of principles :roll: rather than whether I had a tea at the football. from 15 years experience in the hospitality industry I personally think Adam will be able to answer it himself when he gets back from SkegV either all the cold drinks he took with him will have gone or they will not.

 

[KevH]

I'm with Pickles on this. It doesn't matter whether its tea or coke, I hate queuing and when looking for a quick bite I would always want to get food and drink together rather than queue at several outlets.

The exception is when I want a drink...I don't always expect a bar to serve snacks.

Customers are all different though. You have got to test your market to know what they want.

Good luck for SkegVegas.

Kev

 

[busdiver]

don't get in a pickle pickles, my point was, i thought it was a simple question that required a simple answer not the "application of principles" it was a simple straw poll to mull over while he was there and add to his experince of the weekend.

Don't know Adam from eve but i wish him well and every success.

 

[Pickles]

don't get in a pickle pickles, my point was, i thought it was a simple question that required a simple answer not the "application of principles" it was a simple straw poll to mull over while he was there and add to his experince of the weekend.

Don't know Adam from eve but i wish him well and every success.

Life is too short to get in a pickle over this :lol: I dont know Adam either all I know is he is giving away five free breakfast sandwiches (see his other post) and not knowing his business experience either thought a bit more to think about might help him. A straw poll might be helpful but i prefer a bit of evidence.

Adam ignore my previous posts "I prefer to queue up once for both but that might depend on what I'm queuing up for" :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[67westy]

Thanks for all the feedback, it is genuinely helpful to get peoples opinions. For a bit of background this is our first solo venture into the mobile catering world although my wife is a catering tutor at a college and cooks for around 100 people a day.

I thought the opinion may be split, my thoughts are that when we have been at shows there are a number of places not serving drinks that seem really busy. The wood fired pizza place and chilli gone barmy are two that spring to mind and we have often eaten at these and got drinks from elsewhere.

It's a tricky one, obviously there is money to be made in drinks and I think it will put at least a few people off. We'll see how SkegVegas goes and reassess I guess. Keep the opinions coming though

Oh and thanks for all the good lucks We might need them yet :lol:

 

[Hadders]

Adam,

The only way to know for sure is to test I think - I spend my working life testing new stuff (nothing like what you're doing though,I'm afraid) and the tests hardly ever align with the research.

My 2p - I don't think not having drinks would put me off, if what you're selling is appealing enough, but I would have thought that drinks are a big mark up and easy money? What does bug me is paying through the nose for drinks when they're not chilled.

Hope the weekend goes well - I might even be a customer if I make it across.

Cheers

 

[aspro]

I personally think you need to be selling drinks too Adam. Queueing twice will most likely put some people off. You don't need a huge selection, just the popular ones, or whatever is cheap at Tescos. :lol:

You could always place a few warm ones on the counter for viewing and have 3 or 4 nice coolers full in the front of the service window that folks could reach into and pull out their own ice cold drink. Casual method of serving drinks might actually suit the business.

See how you go this weekend. I think you'll find most folks grab a drink with their food. Good luck with it buddy.

 

[mister]

Hi Adam.
I would sell them. Defo.
When you compare the margin on packaged softs to food, it makes sense to go to the effort and sell them, and have them chilled as well. As your selling what sounds like is going to be a real nice premium food product, I would choose a brand that matches that food in terms of quality and charge a bit of a premium for it. Then the customer can decided to pay a bit more for something different and that compliments the food and is convenient, or queue a second time somewhere else for the cheaper 7up.
There are loads of really nice and cool soft drinks brands now too choose from, keep it simple, two flavours and then mineral water.
You will probably find that softs end up making a 1/4 of your turnover with a better margin than food (and less effort really). Bingo.
That's my two pence worth.

 

[61 stu]

I'd sell both tbh, would it be easier to just sell water and a one type of fizzy drink, as for space to keep them cold could you not freeze the water before the show and then keep them in a decent cool box while at the show?

Good luck with it

 

[bigdaz]

Definitely go witb the drinks as said before good mark up especially with mineral water.
You could get some of those garden bucket things and throw in a load of ice. if in the shade will stay cold all day.

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[dave]

I'd sell both tbh, would it be easier to just sell water and a one type of fizzy drink, as for space to keep them cold could you not freeze the water before the show and then keep them in a decent cool box while at the show?

Good luck with it

I agree with this, if I buy drink at a show its normally water , or cider but you need a licence for that!!!!

 

[gninnam]

When I buy food at a stall it is because I want food. End of.
I would normally take a large plastic bottle of water to drink with me.

Hope that helps. :mrgreen:

 

[Lee C]

I always buy food & a drink at the shows!!

 

[dubscum]

it must be cold too

 

[67westy]

Right well after all the advice and opinions I thought I should feedback our findings after the first show!

We didn't sell as many drinks as I thought we might :lol: Saturday we sold very few I think in part due to the weather. Sunday was a bit better. Most people were on the beer, and of the food we sold only a small number bought a drink at the same time. Tea and Coffee were the most popular. So I think we will take smaller numbers with us which eases the cooling/weight/space problems and see how we go.

Thanks again!

 

[magoo]

You know it will be the opposite experience next year

Put it this way, the soft drink is the add on, stock up in local tescos to save carrying the stuff.

 

[67westy]

:lol: more than likely. Got a couple more shows this year to get a better idea. I like the local stock up idea though. Will still need a cool box and ice though. Probably an idea if we run short

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