In many parts of the world, lockdowns and voluntary home confinement means that consumers are relying more and more on home delivery – especially when it comes to food. Research compiled by Upserve indicates that around 60% of consumers order delivery once a week in current times, with 70% ordering directly from restaurants themselves and avoiding third party services. If you own a vegan business and you are considering offering deliveries (be it of food items or vegan supplies and materials), then you might find the following tips useful.
Getting from A to B Safely
If you are thinking of adding a fleet of vehicles (or even investing in one or two vehicles) for delivery, investing in safe vehicles for your drivers is key. Top technologies that can boost driver safety include adaptive lights (which are excellent for night driving or for driving in inclement weather conditions), forward collision warnings, antilock brakes, traction control, and airbags. Drivers will also need to be given safety tips – including parking in well lit areas, not delivering to houses that look vacant, calling 911 immediately if something looks suspicious, carrying only small amounts of cash, and knowing what to say to customers who are displeased with what is delivered.
Marketing Your Services
It is important to let your customers and potential customers know that you are now offering delivery, making the process as easy as possible so customers stay with your business and don’t click on to a competitor’s page. Marketing strategies to adopt include prioritizing a well designed and branded website that is easy to order vegan items or food from, registering your business with Google Places/Yahoo! Local and Bing, and using your social media channels to let customers know of offers, sales, and other incentives. You should also aim to connect with your community by adopting measures that show your commitment. For instance, if you rely on suppliers, you make items yourself, or you normally sell your items in local stores, let your local customers know you are a ‘home-grown’ business. Let customers know about the steps you have taken to help the community via your website and social media channels.
Embracing Sustainable Practices
Around 77% of Americans say that sustainability is a key factor when it comes to purchasing food, while 93% value health and nutrition. If yours is a vegan food business, then you probably have the ‘health factor’ down pat but even if you deliver other vegan items that are not food-related, it is important to give sustainable practices due importance. One way to lower your carbon footprint is to use sustainable packaging (made from materials such as cornstarch, recycled cardboard, or compostable bowls) for delivered items. You can also demonstrate your eco-friendly nature by delivering food in electric vehicles or other types of zero-emission transportation, optimizing your delivery routes, and managing your resources efficiently. Finally, deliver items or food straight from your store or restaurant if you can. Did you know that the average package delivered to
American homes travels over 1,000 miles before arriving? You can reduce mileage by investing in the storage space and organization you need to whiz things out to your customers from one convenient place.
If you have a vegan business and you’d like to battle the current health crisis by offering home delivery services, standing out from your competition is vital. You can achieve your goals by opting for eco-friendly, safe delivery methods; marketing your services to your target audience; and embracing sustainable practices. Even when the crisis is over, many of these initiatives can be handy, bearing in mind the ever-increasing importance of sustainability when customers make purchasing decisions.
Additional resources for restaurants considering offering delivery services:
- JJSJ – Driver safety tips
- Learn about delivery statistics
- What you need to know about promoting your business online
- Read about trends in eco-friendly delivery
- Why more and more men are going vegan
