Marketing Your New Catering Company - Building Clientele

Yeah... Getting the same problem here...

It just so difficult if we're really new in this area, unless we got someone that can bring it in.

Partner    For real?

Join every meeting planners group. Network. Smuze, spend a little to make a little.                                                                                        When someone tells you or seems to have a reliable source they are usually telling

you they don't have to worry about your part. Make sure you pitch them that your highest

priority is to emiminate their catering worries and make them look good.

pan

You need to be patient when it comes to business.Initially you may face problems but don't worry everything will be fine.Try searching for more advertising opportunities may be that will help you............

What type of catering are you looking to do, ie corporate, social, wedding, small dinner parties, non-profit, low-end mass feeding, high end formal?

What's your specialty? ie do you bake, do you buy locally raised food, do you have nose to tail menus, do you decorate tables well, do you have a set menu or are you flexible?

My mother had an advertising marketing company for years in Memphis, she had several national accounts....so what I gleaned from her is:

Define yourself, then you know who your profiled clients would be....ie you'd not market your high end services at a VFW hall or blue collar church dinner, nor would you try to sell 2 meats 3 sides for $8 in chafers to wealthy customers....

If you've not done it send out comprehensive press releases to media<print, bloggers in your area, television, radio>

Join professional culinary groups, make sure they know who you are and what you do......volunteer to cater one of the meetings ie ACF have monthly dinners or events, dames escoffier, culinary society, slow food, etc....whatever is applicable to your business...in other words if you open cans you'd not join SLOW FOOD.....it could be as simple as serving aps, or desserts or whatever...most times they've got a nominal budget for food at meetings that cover the cost.  

Make sure family and friends know what you are doing.....ask for their help.....kinda funny how that little bit really can make a huge difference.

Pictures, oodles of pictures of your work.....

Open House when you feel it's time.

Many many long time caterers have a "bread and butter" thing.....where they sell cookies or pastries to small grocery stores or coffee shops, personal chef for a couple clients, sell at farmers' markets, teach cooking classes, food style...EVERYONE I've known has slow times, even large long time caterers....so think about what could be your bread n butter.

NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK  And read what Mushroom girl has said in her answer to you. Good Luck