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The Hospitality Industry Fights Back

The Hospitality Industry Fights Back

The Hospitality industry fights back against Covid-19 through takeaway and delivery. While much of the country is in lockdown, some relief is being brought to people through the efforts of restaurateurs up and down the country.

Maybe you are one of these restauranteurs leading the fight back?

Perhaps, a café, public house or restaurant who has reinvented themselves, for now, into a takeaway.

For many this has made the difference and avoided permanent closure.

How has Covid-19 affected your business?

Are you one of the Restaurants, Cafes or Public Houses that has managed to keep trading by operating as a takeaway?

Many in the restaurant and wider hospitality industry are having to face the very real risk of going out of business. With their front doors being closed, tables sitting empty, their business is hanging on for dear life, many I’m sure will never reopen their doors.

The need to adapt their business model and offer alternative services has been key to safeguarding their survival. Moving to the takeaway model has seen many survive this difficult time.

Right now, the takeaway industry is booming. Just Eat Takeaway’s orders jumped 50% in the first quarter as food deliveries boomed during the Covid-19 crisis after an initial drop
For restaurants who have had to shut their dine-in operation to observe social distancing measures laid out by the government, this meant increasing their takeaway and delivery services or for many, offering this for the first time. The alternative was permanent closure.

It was made easy in a way. Relaxation of planning measures required for businesses to carry out take away trading was made by the Government. Thankfully for those who have not offered a takeaway service before, UK government have waived any planning permission requirements for this as part of the coronavirus response, giving restaurants the green light to offer takeaway with immediate effect. If you need to register your business do this online at www.gov.uk/food-business-registration.

So, It makes sense to open up as a takeaway. I have a suspicion we are along way from being able to open our doors to sit in customers. So if you’ve waited till now, wait no longer.
People still have to eat.

You need to be trading.

People couldn’t go to restaurants, so restaurants and pubs must now go to people.

Takeaway is one of the few escapes people have from the coronavirus lockdown. Takeaway is the only option to eat “out” during the coronavirus lockdown, with all restaurants currently shut for business. So make sure you’re giving people this choice.

Offering a takeaway is a no brainer and I’m sure most of you already have implemented this.

Yet even though most of you have seen a boom in trade, you have more than likely been hit by the costs of doing this business.

The price of your raw materials have increased. That’s when you can get them. Bookers shelves have been missing many of their normal products throughout this period. Everyone can tell stories of being at supermarkets and seeing almost all shelves empty and queues to get in a mile long.

Many of you are reliant on the likes of Just Eat, and that means a lot of your profitability is considerably eaten into.

Your card payments over the phone have increased, and by using your chip and pin machine you have incurred heavy penalties.

Worse still you really don’t have the best systems in place, especially where it comes to getting customers or taking payments.

This is where I can help you.

I am Larry Lewis, co-founder and director of SmeeHee and an expert in all things merchant services. I am the go-to a Merchant Services Broker for the Hospitality Industry.

For those of you Restaurant, Cafe, Hotel and Public House owners I bring an array of experience that will make sure you get the best package for your business.

This is an area I’ve managed to help many of my clients.

First I’ve helped them to set up a website, crafting a fully optimised, responsive online ordering website that matches their restaurant/pubs branding. This includes an ecommerce menu where people can order their food.

With this comes a dashboard which allows them to manage the entire process available through their tablet, smartphone, laptop or computer. They can view new orders, search through the order history, and update their menu. They can even change prices, set opening/closing times, delivery areas and much more. You are in full control.

Their customers can order food from any device within a few clicks. They handle the exciting part which is of course the cooking and taking the money, while we’ve sorted out the boring technical stuff!

Then there’s taking money.

We have matched our clients to the right payment provider and merchant bank, set up their application and got it approved, so they are able to take money from their website directly into their bank account. They also get a virtual terminal so they can take money over the phone safely and at a reasonable cost.

This is far cheaper than doing it through the likes of PayPal and certainly a massive savings against the cost of a just eat type of app. And if you can find a delivery driver, or recruit a taxi company to support you, you can also reduce the business dependency on Just Eat or one of the other Apps who do charge high commissions. The only costs then being the merchant accounts and online running charges which we ensure you get the best prices out there.

In the UK 7.5 billion food deliveries were made in 2019, an increase in UK food deliveries of 39% in three years. Growth most business sectors would relish and this was before Covid-19. Imagine what the figures will be for 2020. Make sure you join this exclusive club but with the right tools in your armoury.

If you need help to get your takeaway business running in the best possible way, get in touch and lets talk. Whether your business is looking to start credit and debit card payments or you are looking to switch to a new provider – talk to me, let me help you find hassle-free card payment solutions saving you money whilst maximising your sales!

Thank you for reading this, or listening to my podcast.

Stay safe and happy trading.

This is Larry Lewis.