It's a big step, but we have finally taken it! Yes, Cafe Getaway now accepts THE BIG FOUR: Visa, Mastercard, AmEx and Discover!
Although customers at the weekend special events and farmers' markets usually come ready with cash, customers on our weekday routes working in shops and offices or watching their kids at soccer practice quite simply don't. On our very first day with the machine, 20% of our business came from credit card use!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
New! A Weekday Route
In mid January we at Cafe Getaway launched a whole new phase of our business: a weekday route to service businesses in northern Pinellas County! We got a great start with several companies and small businesses along the picturesque highway Alternate 19 between Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs. And we are now expanding our range to service "Big 19" from Dunedin to New Port Richey in southern Pasco county.
It's been a big mental leap to switch from the full-day or multi-day set-up of most of the special events we have been doing, to the more lean and efficient arrangement required to maximize the in-and-out nature of the truly mobile service. For example, for the route we dispense with the easels and the big display menus, the condiment tray set-up, the awning as well as the trash can (since customers take their purchases indoors with them!)
Additionally, trying to build and balance the schedule is a challenge. For example, one customer has a company-wide break time, so we need to be on site promptly for that 15 minute window. The employees of another take staggered breaks, so the receptionist sends out an email blast to the employees when we arrive out front, and we stay for a half hour to accommodate them. In a third we pick up (or receive by phone) a pre-assembled order, whereupon we deliver the drinks to the reception area, while in small storefronts, we rely mostly on the the businesses seeing us drive in.
Additionally, while some clients would like to see us once or even twice daily, others prefer that our visit be a once-a-week special event. And of course everyone would like us to there at the same peak times, during the mid-morning and mid-afternoon slumps! Almost makes you wish you had more than one truck! almost...
We could not do this without the participation of Don's daughter Tiffany Eberhart, whose organizing skills and years of restaurant experience have really whipped us into shape. Between the three of us, we are able to divide up the week's work so that we each get some time off. It's an ideal situation, especially for Tiffany whose demands as a mom require a flexible schedule.
Anyone reading this who might like to add their business to our route as it takes shape should call Don on the mobile number 727-366-5261.
It's been a big mental leap to switch from the full-day or multi-day set-up of most of the special events we have been doing, to the more lean and efficient arrangement required to maximize the in-and-out nature of the truly mobile service. For example, for the route we dispense with the easels and the big display menus, the condiment tray set-up, the awning as well as the trash can (since customers take their purchases indoors with them!)
Additionally, trying to build and balance the schedule is a challenge. For example, one customer has a company-wide break time, so we need to be on site promptly for that 15 minute window. The employees of another take staggered breaks, so the receptionist sends out an email blast to the employees when we arrive out front, and we stay for a half hour to accommodate them. In a third we pick up (or receive by phone) a pre-assembled order, whereupon we deliver the drinks to the reception area, while in small storefronts, we rely mostly on the the businesses seeing us drive in.
Additionally, while some clients would like to see us once or even twice daily, others prefer that our visit be a once-a-week special event. And of course everyone would like us to there at the same peak times, during the mid-morning and mid-afternoon slumps! Almost makes you wish you had more than one truck! almost...
We could not do this without the participation of Don's daughter Tiffany Eberhart, whose organizing skills and years of restaurant experience have really whipped us into shape. Between the three of us, we are able to divide up the week's work so that we each get some time off. It's an ideal situation, especially for Tiffany whose demands as a mom require a flexible schedule.
Anyone reading this who might like to add their business to our route as it takes shape should call Don on the mobile number 727-366-5261.
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