Is the Future of Mobile Businesses in the Hands of the Coronavirus?

Hard times for mobile businesses - or is there a boom on the horizon?

The last month and a half has shown some serious negative side effects for small businesses due to the Coronavirus pandemic, but mobile businesses are showing they can thrive even as the virus sweeps the nation. As brick and mortars close, city/county codes loosen up, and landlords allow mobile units to park long term in areas they wouldn’t normally be allowed to.

Mobile businesses are known for their ability to travel and conduct business. Whether it be in a food truck or a mobile retail pop up shop (both of which were allowed to stay open with restrictions during this epidemic), can shift gears quickly to accommodate their business. The food truck industry saw a climb in sales due to restaurant closures (with the exception to take out/delivery orders). Where many brick and mortar locations closed -whether it be restaurants or retail, due to the cost to operate business during this time -inventory, rent/mortgage, employee payroll, insurance, and the list goes on, was/is difficult, the mobile business industry benefited. 

Mobile business units are notorious for having low overhead, for the most part can be operated by oneself or an additional employee, little inventory, and may even have the ability to accommodate online business or deliver/curbside pickup -making mobile vessels an obvious choice for patrons, especially in the midst of a pandemic.

As mobile industry workers in the service field, we have heard all sorts of great news from our client base. The biggest complaint from our food truck customers is trying to keep food stocked since people have been stockpiling and clearing out the stores! Otherwise, they have been able to sustain or have even been busier than before the Coronavirus quarantine.

One thing we can learn from this small business shut down is that mobile businesses are flexible and have the ability to adapt to unorthodox situations, making them a great choice for starting/sustaining a business during the good times and the hardships. Projections show this industry to boom, especially once the quarantine is lifted as businesses will need an affordable business model, and going mobile offers that and more.

To learn more about getting your business mobile, check out  8 Ways A Custom Mobile Vessel Works For Your Business or give us a call today at 541.728.3511!

7 Ways To Keep A Food Truck Afloat During Cold Weather

Many food truck owners cringe at the thought of winter. Why? Business tends to slow down, their truck may not be fit for cold weather, or their menu offerings are geared towards warmer months. But no worries, we’ve got a pretty handy list of 7 ways to keep your truck thriving during cold weather to help bring peace of mind. 

1. Caterings
   This is a great way to keep things thriving in cold weather or even during wedding season. Many food trucks make big bucks offering catering services!
   

2. Park at a location with indoor seating
   Would you want to sit out in the rain or snow and eat a delicious meal? In most cases no, we typically will opt for indoor seating during the colder months, and you should expect that from your customers as well. If you are parked in a location with no indoor seating or draw to warmth and it effects your business, it may be time to look at finding a spot that does.
   

3. Prepare your truck for the cold
   One of the biggest issues we run into in the winter/early spring months is food trucks/trailers not being set up for the cold. We’ve fixed countless frozen pipes and busted sinks/faucets due to poor winterization and lack of heat in a truck, Instanthot water heaters crack and break in cold climates leaving business owners no hot water and nonoperational -you get the picture, set your truck up for success during all months of the year.
   

4. Switch up the menu
   Changing up the menu offers a refreshing take, and gives customers a chance to experience seasonal foods.
   

5. Offer delivery through local delivery services or platforms like grubhub, ubereats, etc.
   We’ve seen many of our customers utilize these apps to keep their food truck business prospering and growing during the winter months. In places where snow is prevalent, many potential customers aren’t willing to make the drive to their favorite local food truck for a delicious hot meal, but with takeout businesses, and the apps listed above it makes it possible to keep businesses thriving and customers satisfied.
   

6. Focus on marketing
   It is a great time during this slow season to focus on marketing efforts like social media, print advertising, revamping menus and dropping them off/uploading them, etc. Create a strategy and continuously run tests to see what outlets work for your food truck.
   

7. Nurture customers and relationships to build loyalty
   When business slows down it’s important to pay special attention to your patrons turning them into continuous customers, so they continue to support you -even during those cold months. 
   

These 7 ways to keep your truck thriving is surely a great place to start when those cold weather months approach. These are things that we have either seen out in the field first hand or our customers have shared what keeps them going during these colder days with us. If you are interested in learning more about opening a food truck -rain, sun, or snow check out 5 Tips For Building a Mobile Food Truck or to learn more about renovating your existing food truck to keep up with these cold times then give us a call today at 541.728.3511!