If you own a restaurant, it is likely a very small business. In fact, nine out of ten restaurants have fewer than fifty employees working for them. Because of the small size of your business, you might not have considered working with a restaurant supply store for your restaurant’s needs. However, there are many benefits to doing so. If you haven’t yet, you should try out a restaurant supply company for the following reasons.
You Can Save Money
Most stores sell their products at a markup in order to make a profit. So if you’re buying your supplies from a regular store, you’ll pay extra each time you buy something. However, it is much cheaper to shop at a restaurant supply company. This is because the markup is lower and you’ll often be buying in bulk. Unlike standard retailers, they expect you to be cooking for many people and will generally sell their products in bulk packaging.
They Are Specifically for Restaurants
If you opened your restaurant fairly recently, there are going to be a lot of things you need to buy. By working with a restaurant supply store, you’ll be more likely to find them all in one place. This will save you time and gas money that you would have otherwise spent traveling around to different shops in order to get them from other retailers. However, even if you have had your restaurant for a long time, it is still worth getting your supplies from a restaurant supplier. There will always be things that need to be replaced and you’ll want to know how to easily find these replacements.
You Can Build Relationships
By shopping at the same restaurant supply store for most of your needs, you’ll get to know both the owners of that shop and the other customers. Since you’re all working in the restaurant industry, this is a great opportunity for you to make connections. Build relationships with the people you shop from. You never know when these connections will result in a new business or personal opportunity.
If you are a restaurant owner who doesn’t use restaurant supply shops, now is the time to do so. You’ll save money and have the benefits of working with a company that specifically caters to your industry.