BASIC/DEPT®’s Post

How could I forget? Amidst a flurry of posts over the past week I forgot to re-introduce myself. I went a little quiet for a while on here. Not because I ran out of things to talk about as if I was on a bad date, but because I was behind the scenes furiously putting together a small team of people who are WAY better at branding than I am. Together we're Cool Kids Studio. We're focused on bringing awesome brands to life for food & beverage establishments. Our goal is to use design to bring success to your business, put butts in your seats and create unforgettable experiences for your customers. If you're a f&b brand (restaurants, bars, breweries, coffee roasters, CPG brands, I can't name them all but you get the idea) reach out to us! A great brand could be the missing ingredient for your success. Let's find out! #branding #restaurantbranding #foodandbeverage

Have you ever wondered what sets a restaurant apart from the rest? As an entrepreneur, I've learned that thinking outside the box is the key to success. Here at Mangosteen Cafe, we're all about pushing boundaries to create an exceptional dining experience. This could mean: 🔸 Trying out new menu items: Surprise your guests with seasonal specials, unique flavor combinations, or playful twists on traditional dishes. 🔸 Exploring innovative marketing strategies: Think beyond traditional methods! Social media challenges, interactive experiences, or collaborations with the community can make your restaurant stand out. 🔸 Staying updated with trends: Embrace new dietary preferences and trends to keep your restaurant fresh and exciting. Let's inspire each other! What innovative ideas have helped your business stand out? #restaurantmarketing #LinkedIn #Customersatisfaction #Branding #Success #growth #mindset

🌐 Leveraging the Power of Contrast in Decision-Making 🌐 Ever wondered why our choices often pivot on what's around us? Enter the Contrast Effect—a psychological phenomenon shaping our decisions. Let's explore its impact in a restaurant scenario. 🍲 Imagine perusing a fancy menu. There it is, the soup section—Rs.850, Rs.750, and Rs.450. The magic lies in the contrast. Your decision to choose the Rs.450 soup is influenced by the surrounding options, creating a perceived value. 🤔 How does this apply to marketing? Well, savvy marketers have been tapping into the Contrast Effect for ages. By strategically presenting products/services in a way that highlights the differences, they shape consumer choices. 🚀 Here's the takeaway: Whether it's restaurant menus or marketing strategies, understanding the Contrast Effect can empower professionals to make impactful decisions and enhance the perceived value of what they offer. #psychologie #marketingstrategie #decisionmaking #professionaldevelopment #communicationskills #personalbranding #linkedinforcreators #linkedingrowth #linkedinconnection

Values equation goes beyond pricing, prompting us to ponder how to foster a profound connection with our audience. Check out this insightful article from Nation's Restaurant News for more on the significance of a purpose-driven approach over mere pricing: #values #connection #purposefulengagement

So you want testimonials📌 Supercharge them🤩 Instead of: "This is the best product on the market." Request your client to add a comparative: "We weren't unhappy with the previous solution, but yours is a definite step up," Why – -People are more likely to trust a testimonial that acknowledges there may have been something good before, but highlights a clear improvement. -The comparative creates a sense of curiosity. "A definite step up" makes the reader wonder, "How much of a step up is it?" P.S. -Imagine you're looking for a new restaurant. Would you be more convinced by a sign that says "The Best Food Ever!" or by a review that says "This place is a definite step up from my usual go-to spot.” Shalini Arora, Shruti Thakral, Gireesha Nema, Pooja Mathur (she/her), Eram Qazi, Irani Srivastava Roy, Neelima Kataria, Michelle Lim Suet Mei, Amit Anand, Sunil Pal #CustomerTestimonials #ClientFeedback #TestimonialTips #SocialProof #CustomerExperience #MarketingStrategy #BrandTrust #CustomerSuccess

In today's food service industry, everybody loves a good story. Shaping and sharing our brand story is not just a trend; it's essential for success. It sets us apart in a crowded marketplace. The heart of our brand story? Humanizing our brand, especially for millennials and Generation Z. These younger generations crave transparency, authenticity, and genuine connections. They see dining as more than just a meal—it's a form of self-expression. Our journey, our passion, our origins—these elements make our story compelling and unique. When we share this honestly, we generate buzz and foster loyalty. So, why did we open our doors? What's the story behind our restaurant? For many independents, it's a deeply personal and engaging tale. Sharing this builds an emotional bridge to our consumers. Once we've crafted our brand story, it's time to take it to market. From menu language and signage to training, marketing materials, and media relations, everything should reflect our story. Always ask: What is the guest gaining from this? #restaurant #story #brand

Before we took this client on, we had to come up with a plan. Step one was to find a creative direction for the brand, which was to let people know they could enjoy the cheapest food while still receiving the highest quality. Step two was to develop a unique content strategy that hadn't been executed in the restaurant scene before—and we did just that. Laziza Biryani takes pride in serving and showcasing how delicious Asian cuisine can be at affordable prices. We asked ourselves, "How can we promote this while maintaining a premium brand image?" That’s when we came up with the first video for Laziza Biryani that instantly went viral and incorporated all of these elements. In the first video, we achieved over half a million views, which led to a huge spike in brand awareness and brought customers from across the local community. Don’t believe us? Just take a look! At UTD Media, if you're a business looking for similar results, get in touch now, and let’s discuss how we can help you succeed!

Food for Thought — Let’s Cultivate Your Culinary Brand! Remember, strong brands are built on consistency. Regularly assess your concept, refine your brand identity, and embrace continuous improvement. Together, let’s leverage the power of food psychology to transform your restaurant into a brand that becomes an irresistible craving for your target audience. #BernardKoh #foodpsychology #restaurantbranding #neuromarketing #psychologyofeating #restaurantconsultant #foodbusiness #restaurantgrowth #customersatisfaction #restaurantsuccess #sensorybranding #emotionalconnection #menuengineering #restaurantdesign #restaurantatmosphere #foodpresentation #restaurantloyalty #brandingstrategy #restaurantoperation #restaurantowners #restaurateur #entrepreneurlife #hospitalityindustry #culinaryexpertise #foodtrends #restaurantindustry #eatertainment #foodpsychology #restaurantconcept #restaurantopening #restaurantoperations #restaurantmarketing #brainhacking

"Endless" wasn't so much.... at least not for Red Lobster, as they made their speculated bankruptcy filing this morning. But this story CAN have a positive 'ending' AND a new beginning. Here's how: 1) The next $ - or the next several $$ - should be spent on research. Yes, really. This is a brand with wellsprings of affection - namechecked by no less than Beyonce' AND featured on Young Sheldon. They need to get crystal clear on the associations (positive and negative) of the brand, where they fit in seafood, casual dining and with today's consumer landscape. Making it all about product and price point isn't going to turn things around - and it will take REAL insights about the customer 2) Mine for the DNA of the brand & build your blueprint from there. Seriously - Beyonce! Red Lobster, you could be Popeye's right now. That's the other restaurant brand she's namechecked. And it's a lesson for you. In their turnaround, they leaned into their heritage and their DNA and used it to infuse their food innovation and menu pipeline, their store locations, their positioning and their activations - from marketing to social to service. Even the infamous 'Endless Shrimp' really wasn't a mistake. The mistake was making it 'every day' for 'everyone' without a clear aim outside traffic growth. If it had been tied to joining a text list, a loyalty program, an additional purchase that tried cross-menu sampling or another way to make this about the NEXT transaction vs just the current one, it might have worked. Turnarounds take time (at least 2 years), but digging into the DNA of the brand, armed with an understanding of the consumer and competitive landscape, is a good start. And hey, Jonathan Tibus let this Darden alum know if I can help you and the team! 😉

As Adam Lamb wisely states: When it comes to restaurant local marketing, authenticity is the secret ingredient! 👩🍳 Consumers crave genuine connections and interactions from brands. They want to know the real personalities behind the Instagram feed or polished website. So don't be afraid to showcase who you are, flaws and all. Let your passion, quirks and purpose shine through creatively across your platforms. Listen to the full episode here: https://hubs.ly/Q02rVmSJ0 What's one way you could inject more authenticity into your restaurant's marketing right now? Share your ideas below! 👇 #authenticity #restaurantmarketing #supportlocal #communitybuilding #adamlamb