Pizza Pizza

[Snake Plissken]

I need a little help here guys

Heres the deal

I own a pizzeria here in New York and business is O. K but can be a lot better so....... I was wondering if you guys can help me out and let me know what your local Pizzerias are doing that is different or Interesting. I have a pretty large menu that consist of Pastas, Dinners, Wings, Gourmet Heroes, Wraps, Soups, Salads, Catering and probably over 200 different Gourmet pizzas.

What I would like to know is what are your local guys are doing as far as

* Coupons
* Package Deals
* Different kinds of toppings
* Pizza Specials
* Dinner Specials
* Catering Specials
* Service
* Giveaways
or whatever you can think of

I Would love to hear from you guys from around the country and around the world and hear what the local flavors are.

Thanks In Advance for any Info you can provide

 

[IX_Bender]

Ordered pizza tonight, so what the hell.


Pick your slowest night of the week and run a "Buy a pizza, get a dozen wings for $2 more."

Since you are already delivering / they are picking it up , then its easy. What you want to do is get ppl thinking next time they order out, what else is available. "Last time we ordered a pie and got two dozen wings for four bucks extra, yadda yadda."
IF you have decent sauce, its hard to screw up wings. Plus, they are cheap as hell so you should be covering your costs as well.

Of course if you could figure a way to deliver a six pack of Harp with the pie and wings, you could retire.

Hope that helps.

 

[USC Gamecock]

Snake,

I live in Columbia, SC. It's not exactly the pizza capital of the world, but I'd be happy to share some local flavor. I realize that a lot of the following may not sound very tasty, but I live down here in the "dirty south" and we definitely do pizza different sometimes. We have a variety of local joints in Columbia, as well as your typical chains. Oddly enough, the best pizza here by far comes from a local greek restaurant.

Coupons- I think the best coupons are the ones that offer something free (breadsticks, cheesesticks, salad) with a large pizza. You might also want to have a 2 for 1 pizza coupon, or something like a free pitcher of draft beer with a large pizza. The coupon I use most is from Pappa John's and is 1 large pizza with up to 5 toppings for $11.99. I also like the pizza hut 1 large your way for $9.99 and a second for an extra $6.99.

Package deals- One great package deal that is very popular at a brick oven pizza joint in town is a small pizza (personal size) with 2 toppings, a side salad, and a drink for $5.49 (or close to it). That lunch special always gets hammered hard.

Toppings- Meat ball, banana peppers, jalepeno peppers, BBQ chicken, cajun chicken, blackened shrimp, smoked salmon, boiled shrimp, smoked oysters, bacon, smoked turkey, ground beef, Prosciutto ham, Capicolla ham, honey baked ham, roast beef, roasted chicken, salami, keilbasa, artichoke hearts, sundried tomatoes, red potatoes, sauerkraut, mandarin oranges, pine nuts, eggplant, salsa, gyro, zucchini, corn.

Sauces- Sundried tomato pesto, mexican sauce, creole sauce, cocktail sauce, BBQ sauce, Basil Pesto, olive oil glaze, Tomato and garlic pesto, white sauce.

Cheeses- Blue cheese, fontina, soy cheese, goat cheese, swiss, smoked gouda, provolone, ricotta, smoked cheddar, romano, gorgonzola, muenster, gruyere, monterey jack.

Pizza Specials- As I said, the most popular pizza special is the personal pizza + side salad (or cup of soup) + drink. Also, the "coke and a slice" special is always a solid favorite.

Dinner Specials- Usually the "package pizza specials" get the most play. It's usually a large pizza your way and a second large with 1 or 2 toppings. I also think using the side salad + drink special would be good for dinner too.

Catering Specials- can't be too much help here, sorry.

Service- This may qualify for "atmosphere" more than service, but I think it's always cool when you can actually see the pizza being made (tossing the dough, etc.) from start to finish in the open. Other than that, I say hire lots of hot young girls to serve your customers.

Here are some examples of local flavors that are served at our neighborhood brick oven pizza joint (Za's Brick Oven Pizza):

Mexican Za- Mexican sauce, red onions, roasted garlic, roma tomatoes, jalepenos, black olives, cheddar cheese, and jack cheese. Also served with a side of sour cream and homemade salsa.

BBQ Chicken Za- BBQ chicken, BBQ sauce, red onion, cilantro, mozz. & prov. cheese.

BLT ZA- bacon, lettuce & roma tomatoes with mayo and mozz. cheese.

Beaufort Za (as in Beaufort, SC)- Cocktail sauce, boiled shrimp, new potatoes, corn, keilbasa sausage and mozz. cheese.

Santa Fe Za- Grilled lime chicken, carmelized onions, jalepenos, salsa, sour cream, guacomole, cilantro and mozz. cheese, topped with tortilla strips.

Cheeseburger Za (my personal favorite)- Mustard sauce, roma tomatoes, red onions, lean ground beef, sliced mushrooms, cheddar & mozz. cheese.

Cajun Chicken Za- Creole sauce, cajun chicken, roma tomatoes, scallions, red onions, roasted red peppers and mozz. cheese.

Smoked Salmon Za- smoked salmon, white sauce, capers, roasted red peppers, red onions, roasted garlic, smoked gouda and mozz. cheese.

I'll also add that one of the best pizzas I ever ate in SC had whole wheat crust, which was different.

I hope this helps, and good luck with your business.

 

[ndnfan]

snake....does your place have "dessert" pizza or Glazed Cinnamon Pizza??

That is huge around this area. Seems like the ones that never had it ALL have it now.

BIG $$Maker around here.

 

[Jamaica1997]

Snake,

Where the hell is your place, in Little Italy, Soho?

Damn I was up there last week with the wife and would love to have stopped in.

We ate twice in Little Italy. Stayed at the Shelbourne Murray Hill at 37th and Lex!!

Geez, tell me where it is and next time we will stop in.

By the way, ndnfan has it right, dessert pizza is huge here in Oklahoma!!!

Leland

 

[SixFive]

we have a place here where u can carry out a large one topping for 3.99 every Monday.

Make sure u have the garlic butter dipping sauce available like Papa John's. I have ordered there several times before because they have it and nobody else does.

 

[djv]

Pizza I love Pizza have it once a week for sure. One thing my local guy does is. If you buy a special and pick it up no delivery. Pick up only. Thursday & Sunday his two slower nights. You get 3 bucks off. Seems like a high discount but. He does it on his special that has a higher price to start with because it has 7 ingredients.
He also has a card that he will punch for you. After you have 10 punches for Pizza only you can get a medium free. He is surprised how many do not turn in ther cards. But the selling point of a free medium pizza works. By the way you get one punch on that card per time even if you buy more then one pizza.
He also runs a all the time special of six breed sticks plan or cheese with a purchase of any two pizzas medium or more.
On Wednesday 11:30 am to 1:00 pm its all you can eat for 6 bucks. He uses that to get more folks to know about his pizza. He also said for what ever reason Wednesday Lunch was always slow. Said this was the answer.

 

[AR182]

Snake,

I just read an article(cut & paste below) in the NY Daily News in which they say many businesses in the city are suffering because of various reasons. So if I was you I would be cautious in spending your money to try to increase sales because your sales may not increase no matter what you try. The suggestions that i would make is to have a delivery service if you don't have one,buy one pie & get the 2nd for half price, or buy two slices & get a free cup of soda.If you are near a school, maybe advertising in the school newspaper would be something to look into.
There are some good suggestions in this thread, but after growing up & living in NY for most of my life, I don't think some of the toppings suggested here would be very popular with NY'ers.
Good luck with whatever you decide.


Where is everybody?

Lack of customers crippling city's economy

By OREN YANIV and DAVE GOLDINER
DAILY NEWS WRITERS


"People are going out less," observed Jaqui Smith, owner of Grange Hall in the West Village.

New Yorkers say these are the worst of all times for the city's economy.
Already reeling in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, businesses are taking more brutal hits from the war in Iraq, the hangover from a snowy winter and the city's budget crisis.

Potential customers are staying home in droves and anxiously keeping an eye on their wallets, which has led to empty stores - and even parking spots - from SoHo to the South Bronx.

"Look around - the business is dead," said salesclerk Goppe Doucouri in an empty clothing store in Brooklyn's Fulton Mall. "People check things out but they don't buy. They say they're saving because of the war."

Luther Bradley recalls when 80 cars would be parked on a spring weekend in the garage he manages on Bleecker St. in Greenwich Village. There were just 30 there last Saturday.

"People are afraid to spend money because they don't know what way the economy is going to go," said Bradley, 55, of the Bronx. "The Village is a tourist area. Now who comes to the Village?"

Even before coalition troops poured into Iraq last month, statistics were painting a stunning portrait of economic dislocation in New York.

The city has lost 223,000 jobs in the past two years in a deepening slump that has affected all economic levels.

Eating away at business

Local unemployment last month stood at a five-year high of 8.6%; Wall St. bonuses were slashed by nearly a third, and applications for food stamps jumped by 20% in the past year.

But the war has piled new worries on ailing businesses as customers focus on TV updates and jittery tourists stay home.

In the Theater District, Peter Chimos said crowds have been thin for weeks at his Frankie & Johnnie's steakhouse ever since snowstorms ruined weekends.

It's the same story downtown at the Grange Hall restaurant on a cobblestone street in the West Village, where the city's new smoking ban also has eaten away at bar business.

"People are going out less and saving their money," said owner Jaqui Smith, 48.

Even the hot dog business is bad. Just ask vendor Abdalla Ibrahim, 28, who is working extra hours to squeeze a few bucks out of the sparse streets.

"My mind is, like, crazy," Ibrahim said.

With its Greek cafes, family-owned furniture stores and a sprinkling of chain stores such as The Gap and Foot Locker, Steinway St. in Astoria, Queens, might seem like a candidate to weather the downturn.

But business is plunging from 20% to 50% - and even longtime business owners say they don't know how long they can keep on bleeding money.

"This is the worst it's ever been," said Mohamed el-Shenawi, 44, owner of Classic Design, an antique furniture store. "It's been a solid recession."

The Hub, the commercial heart of the South Bronx, is usually a bustling hive of double-parked cars and crowded sidewalks on weekends.

Spring should be especially busy as families shop for Easter outfits and young people think about proms and parties.

But yesterday, you could drive right up and park in front of the racks of marked-down hip-hugger jeans and two-for-one leather jackets at Younger Girl on E. 149th St.

Dip forces layoffs

"After Sept. 11, business dropped a little. And now, with the war, it got worse," said manager Ahmed Jesse, 25.

At the Fulton Mall, Amy Kaur let go one of two helpers at her hat and scarf kiosk.

"This is the worst," said Kaur, 22.

One business that is booming in bad times is the Bazaar Gold Mine pawnshop. A steady stream of customers pours in, looking to dump Rolex watches and gold chains.

"Since the war started, it's been better than usual," said the owner's son, who gave his name as Lenny. "Everybody wants to trade in their stuff for cash."

 

[dawgball]

The #1 way to get me to repeat at a business is make me feel like I am important to your business. I know every business owner says that they and their staff does this, but do you REALLY emphasize it. There is a sandwich shop/butcher/deli right down the street called The New Yorker here in Atlanta. Their prices are a little higher than your average sandwich shop and considerably higher than the likes of Subway. They get my business anytime I want a sandwich, order fresh cuts of meat/fish/seafood, and if I just need a quick lunch even when I'm not in the mood specifically for a sandwich. The only reason is because I feel like they love having my business. I'm no big wig, but I do eat out a lot. They didn't know this when I walked in the door in jeans and a t-shirt, but I think they probably experience a ton of repeat business for this reason.

Caring about your customers doesn't mean kissing their ass, either, or being overly-friendly. Just give them the feeling that they are important to you and every last person that works in your shop. If one of your employees doesn't buy in to this concept whole-heartedly, then they need to move on.

Lowering prices is not always the best way to improve business. It also helps to get involved in charity events. The community people seeing the owner of a business out helping will definitely increase interest.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[Blitz]

Local Pizza joint runs daily specials...

Mon - Order 1 large pizza and get 2nd of equal or lesser value 1/2 price 4 to 10 pm.

Tues - Beat the clock, from 5 - 8 pm. Order a large cheese pizza and the price equals the time you pick it up. add $1 each topping, pick up only.

Weds - Order 2 subs and receive a 3rd of equal or lesser value for 1/2 price, from 4 to 10 pm.


Plus it always seems to me the places that do the best are generous on their portions.

 

[Blazer]

Snake,

In my line of work, I do many promotions for all types of companies.

If you do Print: I don't usually believe in coupons. I don't ever use them myself and I feel that they attract the wrong type of customers (ones who just want something cheap). If you do coupon, track them. Assign a small code to the bottom so you will know where the coupon came from. Track! Track! Track! Everything you do as advertising ! This is the only true way you will know if it works.

If you do Radio: feed the disk jockeys. Work out a promotion that every (Tues, Thurs) you have a (insert radio station here) Pizza night where you feed the on air staff and they promote your store. If they call with the answer to a (not too hard) trivia question they get a free (insert random giveaway here). This way you get bonus mentions on the air and you can track who is really listening to the station. If you get alot of calls keep the promo, if not move on.

If you use signage: Use details. Use Apartment Complexes. Feed the staff every (Tues, Thurs) and hang a banner outside that reads: (random Apt complex) PIZZA NIGHT-Delieveries every 30 min. Track how many orders you get from the complex.

Put a homeless guy (he said he would work for food) holding a sign on the street, throw him an extra $20 if he is still there 2 hours later. Get the local paper to write a story about how you help out those who are down on thier luck. Your a local hero and free advertising.

Dawg is right the cheapest form of marketing is word of mouth. It cost much more to get new customers than it does to keep the old ones.


Good Luck, my e-mail is on my homepage if you need any new ideas.

 

[Blazer]

P.S- Track Track Track

If you don't Track what works you are pissing in the wind.

 

[Snake Plissken]

Thank You so much guys for the replies. Some of you really took the time to write so really good info. I see a few things that I Really like. I'm going to give them a shot and see how it goes.
I will keep you guys posted and let you know how it works.

Jamaica1997 actually my place is about 20 minutes north of the city.

Thanks again you guys are the best:yup


Any more ideas you guys have I am all :bigear:

 

[djv]

One other thing my guy does is a Birthday Party Special. If you have the seating room. But for Parties from 6 up to 16 he has a package deals that gets alittle lower price. However he said it helps bring back the customer for two reasons. One. they have good time and get alittle break in price. Two. kids love pizza and will remind parents they would like to come back for more. Next he said it grows the business because those parents tell other parents.

 

[spits]

Become partners with an existing pizzeria in the Windsor, Ontario area and bring it to New York. Windsor is known as the pizza capital of North America.

SPITS

 

[Hoops]

Snake- Is your place in Rockland County?

 

[Snake Plissken]

Yes Hoops it is in Congers

 

[ferdville]

Lunch specials and dessert pizzas are pretty big in So Cal. I'd try to find every bowling alley, miniature golf course and like facility within a 10 mile radius. Give the GM or manager on duty a free pizza with the promise of more and he will work for you. Try to be their source for birthday party pizzas. Do the same with schools. Clubs and athletic teams meet frequently at lunch and a good tasting, well priced pizza will go over well. Hit the larger corporations, businesses in area and try to get their lunch business. I must admit that when I was GM of a couple of businesses, I responded well to those that offered me a bribe of sorts - whether product or cash or free tickets to a ball game, etc. You just need to find that one person in each location. Downside is that you may end up with too much lunchtime business, for example, and if you can't offer good service at a good price you are history. Great service is a must because almost everybody else gives poor service. Make sure they can count on you and you will be rewarded.