ANSWER: Food truck.
My wife and I are celebrating a milestone anniversary this summer and have decided to throw a party for our large family and close friends in our back yard.
We like the idea of hiring a food truck to cater the event so we can relax and enjoy this special time while our guests are well served.
We found a gateway website listing hundreds of food trucks in our metro area. We’ve screened them for menu and for reviews, and contacted 34 of them via phone and/or email to check availability and pricing.
It’s been over two weeks since those 34 inquiries were made. So far…
• only 2 of the food truck owner/operators have responded indicating availability and asking for additional information.
• 7 have returned our emails/texts to decline with curt, one-sentence replies ranging from “Sorry we don’t have that date available” to a very blunt “Already booked.”
• One food truck owner returned my query with an email saying: “Thank you so much for reaching out and inquiring about our services. Unfortunately, we are already double booked for the date you have requested. We are so sorry that we will be unable to accommodate your request! We send our best wishes for a fun and successful event and we hope you can keep us in mind for future events.”
DO THE MATH…
• Subtract the 10 replies from 34 and that leaves 24 food truck owner/operators that have not responded to our inquiry.
Granted, with the labor shortage and the covid restrictions in Colorado being lifted, they are all slammed with requests now. But do you think the demand for their services will remain this high in the future?
Me either.
In my 33+ years of presenting keynotes and training seminars to schools, colleges, trade associations, and businesses of every kind and size imaginable, there has never been one inquiry that was left unanswered for more than a few hours.
Often the dates requested were unavailable on my calendar. However, even those inquiries were returned promptly and personally to a) thank the prospect for their interest in my services, and b) to offer my assistance in introducing the prospect to one or more highly qualified speakers who I felt confident would do an exceptional job in my place.
FACT: As the economy reopens, many businesses—especially those in hospitality and the service sector—find themselves overwhelmed with opportunity.
FACT: Blindsided by this crushing labor shortage, most businesses are understaffed and are having to turn away the customers they were trying to attract before the pandemic.
FACT: This too shall pass and the balance of power will again shift. In short order, many businesses will, once again, go to great lengths to attract the customers they are now swatting away like pesky mosquitos.
FACT: It doesn’t take but a minute or two to stand out from your competitors and remain top-of-mind with customers. And it costs you nothing.
Remember: How you treat the customers you cannot serve when business is booming will ultimately determine whether you will survive the impending downturn in business when you, once again, desperately need every single customer you can get.
When vendors begin to believe that they are doing their customers a favor by responding, instead the customers giving vendors their business (and income to support their families), it is the beginning of an inevitable decline. Eric, your experience is not unique and we all shake our collective heads with you. At some point they will not be so busy and will be looking for our business. We, as consumers, have long memories, and will gravitate toward those who did not take us for granted.