1. How do you plan to make your business appealing to customers who may be unfamiliar with Indian cuisine or hesitant to try something new?
To attract new customers to Indian foods, we will teach them about the flavors and ingredients through social media posts, short videos, and customer reviews. We will also organize tasting events at local markets and community gatherings to give people a chance to try our food. To make the beginners comfortable with the food, we will offer them Food boxes with mild flavors and ingredients that are familiar to them. Additionally, happy customers will spread the word, and to make the customers feel welcome, we will offer discounts to first-time customers.
2. What specific factors make your food excellent quality in the eyes of your target demographic? How will you communicate this in your marketing?
Our food is special because our food is fresh, made with real ingredients, and follows traditional recipes for an authentic taste. We do not use preservatives to keep the food longer and focus on high-quality cooking. We also provide special offers with nut-free, less-oily, and mild spice choices. We will show how we make our food through videos, customer reviews, and posts on social media network that shows our fresh ingredients.
3. How will you ensure that your takeout and delivery options maintain the quality and taste of your food?
Keeping our food fresh and tasty for take-out and delivery is very important. We will use high-quality, Eco-friendly packaging that keeps the food warm and crispy. Crunchy snacks like samosas and pakoras will go in special containers that prevent sogginess, and dishes like chole bhatoore will include reheating instructions to maintain the taste. As our business expands, we will partner with delivery platforms like Uber Eats and DoorDash to make sure food arrives on time.
4. What specific steps are you taking to create flavorful food that appeals to customers who enjoy spicy food and sweet tastes? Will you offer customizable spice levels?
To make tasty food for those who enjoy spicy and sweet flavors, we will let customers choose their spice levels- mild, medium, or spicy for delicious dishes. We will also add more flavors with chutneys and sauces served separately. Our sweets will be made of high-quality Desi ghee, the best quality nuts, and the perfect amount of sweetness for a rich and authentic taste. We will also make sugar-free sweets by adding stevia in them for the customers restricted by sugar.
5. What incentives or customization can you offer customers looking for event catering? Will you cater for specific cultural or community events?
Customers who need catering for events will be offered menus that can be customized for birthdays, weddings, festivals, and business events. We will have special catering packages for Diwali, Holi, and Eid to give a true authentic taste. Discounts will be available for large bulk orders to make big events more budget-friendly, and we will present the food in a way that matches the event. We will also work with the event planners and community groups to reach out to more people.
6. What strategies will you use to attract customers who value both convenience and freshly prepared food, especially in a competitive market?
To attract customers who want both convenience and freshly made food, we will focus on making ordering easy and accessible. Customers can pre-order their meals for pick-up and delivery through Whats App, Instagram, and Facebook, ensuring they get their food on time. We will also offer budget-friendly meal combos to make ordering quick and simple. We will run social media ads on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to show that our food is fresh, quickly prepared, and affordable. This will help us attract more customers and stand out from the competition.
7. How will you encourage regular customers to return? Will you have loyalty programs or other incentives to keep them coming back?
We will keep customers coming back by offering rewards and special deals. Customers will earn points when they buy food, which they can use for discounts and free items. If they bring in new customers, they will get a discount too. We will provide exclusive birthday, anniversary, and festival deals and allow our loyal customers to taste new menu items before anyone else. We will stay connected with them on social media to share updates on deals and new foods.
8· How does this strategy guarantee that the company distinguishes itself from other Terrace, British Columbia, Indian food suppliers?
Our business is different from other Indian food places in Terrace because we focus on quick and authentic Indian street food instead of a full-service restaurant. Since we are a home-based business, we add a personal touch. We also offer a variety of Indian sweets that are hard to find in the area. Our prices are affordable, and we make it easy for customers to enjoy fresh Indian food with quick pick-up, delivery, and catering options.
9· Do the pricing strategies maintain the food’s affordability for the target market while ensuring long-term profitability?
We aim to keep our food prices affordable while ensuring the business remains profitable. We will offer value-packed combo deals and discounts for larger orders. Our prices are designed accordingly so that students, seniors, and first-time customers can afford them while still making some profits by managing the ingredients cost and portion sizes. During peak seasons and festivals, we will make small adjustments to our prices to boost revenue, while still keeping our offerings affordable for all.
10. How effective will the marketing techniques—such as social media, recommendations, and partnerships—be in attracting new customers and retaining existing ones, and what metrics will be used to evaluate their success and adjust strategies accordingly?
Social media, recommendations, and partnerships will help attract new customers and keep existing ones. Social media will spread awareness, word-of-mouth will help grow our reach, and partnerships will bring in new people. We will measure success by tracking sales, customer loyalty, social media likes, and how many people respond to ads. Customer reviews and repeat buying will also guide us to improve and adjust our strategies.
11· Does the distribution plan, including seasonal stalls, pickup, and delivery, meet customer needs and convenience, and how will the company handle increasing orders while maintaining consistent food quality, especially during holidays and peak times?
The distribution plan offers convenience with seasonal stalls, pickup, and delivery options, making it easy for customers to access our food. During busy times, we will manage more orders by improving kitchen processes, hiring extra staff, and keeping track of our ingredients to avoid delays. We will also change our delivery schedules and focus on quality control to keep food consistent and meet high demand, especially during holidays and busy times.
12. Do you have any proof that the high volume of sales forecast can be realized?
I understand 1000 orders per month sounds big. I made this estimate based on the growing Indian and multicultural population in Terrace, BC, and also because there is very little competition for Indian snacks & sweets here. Many people have already shown interest in fresh, homemade Indian food. I am planning to reach not only the Indian community but also people from other backgrounds who enjoy exploring different flavors. By partnering with the delivery of Apps like Uber Eats and DoorDash, the customer reach becomes much bigger, not just depending on walk-ins.
13. What is your supply chain like? Where will you get your supplies?
For my supplies, I will buy most of the ingredients like flour, vegetables, spices, lentils, and dairy from local stores such as Save-On-Foods, Walmart, and other grocery stores in Terrace. For special Indian spices and ingredients needed for sweets, I will either buy them from Inder Karyana Store( Indian Store) in Terrace or order in bulk from trusted suppliers in Vancouver who deliver to Terrace. This way, I can always keep good-quality ingredients ready to make fresh, authentic food for my customers.
14. Did you include vehicle expense for delivery? If not, how will you handle deliveries?
Right now, I will not be doing the deliveries myself. Customers who want delivery can order through Uber Eats and DoorDash. These apps already have their drivers, so I don’t need to buy a vehicle or spend extra money for delivery at this time. That’s why there is no vehicle cost added in my startup expenses. In the future, If I start getting a lot of direct orders through my phone or website, then I will think about hiring a delivery person or maybe getting a small car for deliveries. But for now, everything will be handled through the apps only.
15. What marketing efforts are planned to keep the growth steady?
To keep my business growing steadily, I have a few simple plans. I will keep running promotions on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, and also on Uber Eats and DoorDash. I will give special discounts to new customers and loyalty rewards to repeat customers. I will also join local events and festivals to make more people know about my food. Happy customers will be asked to leave good reviews online to bring more customers.
16. How will you manage operating costs if order volume increases?
If orders increase, I will slowly hire part-time helpers to assist with cooking and packing. I will also manage supplies carefully by buying in bulk to save money and control food waste. if I am ordering bigger quantities, I will also talk to suppliers to get better pricing deals. This way, even if the business gets bigger, I can keep my operating costs under control.
17. How will you handle slow sales periods?
If there is a time when sales slow down, I have plans for that, too. I will offer special discounts and combo deals to attract more customers. I will also create seasonal menu items, like Holi sweets and Diwali special dishes, to bring excitement. I will run more targeted ads online to promote during slow months. If needed, I am also ready to reduce working hours for a little while to manage costs better until things pick up again.
18. Any big plans after the first year like opening a physical shop?
If my business goes well and more people start buying regularly, my dream is to open a small takeaway shop or a cozy cafe-style dine-in place in Terrace. If I do well in the first year, I can build enough customer support and save some money to move to the next step.
19. Did you include additional rent expenses for a home-based business?
Since I am starting from my home kitchen, there is no extra rent added right now. Only very small adjustments like kitchen supplies and permits have been added to my start up costs. If business grows and I need commercial kitchen space later, I will then adjust and plan for rent expense properly.
20. Do you have plans to add variations in your menu?
Right now, I already have a good base menu with items like samosas, golgappe, chaat, and sweets. But over time, I will add seasonal specials like mango butter milk in summer, and masala tea in winter. I will also introduce new items based on what customers ask for, like paneer pakoras or masala dosa. I will also allow customers to choose how spicy or mild they want their food.
21. How will you compete with other established Indian restaurants in Terrace?
I will compete with big Indian restaurants by focusing on quick and affordable street food and sweets, which is a little different from what they offer. I will keep my prices low, offer fast delivery, and create special combo deals. Also, my food will have a true homemade taste made with love, which sometimes big restaurants miss. My discounts for students and seniors will also help bring more loyal customers.
22. How much discount will you offer for first-time and repeat customers?
For first-time customers, I will give a 10% discount on their first order. Repeat customers will be part of a loyalty program- Customers will earn points when they buy food, which they can use for discounts and free items, and after every 15 orders, they will get a small sweet box or a snack item. If they bring in new customers, they will get a discount too. Additionally, students and seniors will always get 5% off on all regular orders.
23. How long does food delivery usually take? Which areas will you deliver to?
Delivery time will usually be about 30-45 minutes, depending on Uber Eats or DoorDash. I will deliver within Terrace and nearby areas that the delivery apps cover.
24. Will ingredients/allergy info be shared with customers?
All my food items will clearly show the main ingredients. I will also mention allergy information like if the item has nuts, dairy, or gluten, both on the online menu and on the packaging, so customers can order safely.
25. What happens if something goes wrong with an order?
If something goes wrong with the order, customers can call or message me directly- I will share my phone number and email. If they ordered through an app, they can also ask for help there. I will either replace the order or give a refund, whatever the customer prefers. Keeping customers happy is very important to me.