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How to Navigate Through This Current Crisis.
23 Apr 2020 (Thu)
Right now many in the hospitality industry have had their livelihoods put on hold.
We’ve been encouraged and inspired to watch great teamwork and leadership across the industry that has enabled the bricks and mortar premises to pivot and use their kitchens to deliver food to customers, feed the NHS and valuable key workers or deliver to those most vulnerable in our communities.
Here at We Dine we’ve been reviewing what we can do as our services aren’t suitable in this current situation.
How quickly life will revert back to normal, remains to be seen. The public may not want to venture out to crowded restaurants again very soon and maybe prefer more intimate nights in. We look forward to welcoming our customers again with open arms and are working behind the scenes preparing to ensure an even better service.
Meanwhile we have not forgotten you, our valued chef and cook community. We have asked how we can best support you during this time and if there is anything we can do. Our door is always open and hopefully you’ve joined our new WhatsApp Group for speedier alerts.
We’ve put together some tips on what can be done during this time.
Don’t Forget Your Content & Marketing
Right now your potential clients might be looking for food inspiration, particularly tips on ingredients (especially those unusual tins at the back of the cupboard) so be sure to showcase some of your home cooking expertise.
Just because your services are on hold, doesn’t mean your marketing needs to be. Share some of the previous testimonials you’ve received, some of the dishes and experiences you’ve created for dinner parties.
Can you share recipes, tips, or want to showcase your own home cooking? We’ve been loving and sharing content from our chefs and other accounts that have caught our eye include @lily_vanili_cake, @sozaicookingschool and @easy.thaifood on Instagram.
Remember to tag in @ehochef and we’ll share across our channels too.
Need to brush up on your marketing skills or use this time to learn how to promote yourselves more effectively? Let us know where you need help and we’ll share some expert tips.
Alternatively check out this great offer from Skill Share https://www.skillshare.com/ with its mini workshops and courses. They’re offering 2 months free!
Pivot Your Service
Whilst we may not be able to cater for dinner parties for a little while yet, can you provide dishes for delivery?
Fellow We Dine Marco Cioffi can not provide private chef services or set up his Italian street food market, but he’s switched to offering classic Italian family dishes in his area. Just the ticket for some of us bored with our own cooking.
If you’re looking for help and guidance with delivery services check out recently launched Delivery Insider http://www.deliveryinsider.com/
It’s been incredible watching the food and drink industry rally together to help their local communities.
Take this time to get to know your local business community, perhaps your local residents association or local Covid-19 volunteer group.
Don’t forget to let them know if you’re offering any services to the community (particularly any discounts for NHS/key workers or those who are vulnerable or in isolation), so they can promote through their channels. Don’t forget to introduce yourself to local suppliers and see if you can work in partnership. There is a wealth of gold on your doorstep.
Keep these groups updated (if that’s what they’d appreciate) and also remember to tag them in to your social media posts.
Remember You’re Not Alone
It’s important to know you’re not alone. Get talking and communicating. Join Facebook groups (we’ve seen a couple of London chef communities for example).
Remember that the hospitality industry is working hard to ensure that businesses and staff are getting the support that is needed. Be sure to follow them and keep updated with news and developments and get involved in the conversation. They need your input and support too to get heard.
They have been broadcasting valuable talks and also ways to help navigate your way through this unprecedented situation from business and sector news to health and wellbeing tips.
And Finally,
Our goal was always to help chefs and cooks who wanted to showcase their talents and connect them to new clients.
We look forward to a day when this is over and we can start again but in the meantime let us know if we can help you in anyway going forwards.
If you could spare a few minutes, we would appreciate it if you could answer some questions to help us understand your situation more. CLICK HERE to jump to survey.
