By: Chris Barr
Learn How to Increase Your Annual Sales and Make Your Customers Love You…In One Simple Step!
I hear it almost every day from pizza shop owners: “Chris, I don’t want to keep lowering my pizza prices but these $5 pizza guys are stealing too many customers.” One way I have helped pizza shops generate more sales while lowering the price of each pizza, is by upselling and creating “value added” products for each order. If you lower the price of your pizza but increase your profits through side items, combo deals, and beverages – then you won’t lose a penny. You’ll increase your sales and average ticket size.
Increasing your average sale is easy, and you can start today!
Most of us become so bogged down in “daily processes” and our “to-do lists” that we neglect the true value of each customer or phone call.
The next time your phone rings you have a 50% or better chance of upselling the customer in one or more easy ways! This means more money in your pocket! Read the example below and ask yourself – “Does this sound familiar?”
Scenario 1: The Typical Phone Call:
“Thanks for calling Pizza House, is this for pickup or delivery?”
“Delivery”
“Ok what can I help you with today?”
“I want a Lrg Cheese for $4.99, I have a coupon”
“Ok, that comes to $5.xx we’ll be there in about 45 minutes. Is this cash or charge?”
“Cash”
“Alright, thanks – bye”
“Thanks”
Summary: You make a sale (good) but you didn’t provide yourself with an opportunity to increase your profits (both now and long-term). The customer gets what he/she wants, however, the customer has no incentive to order again.
Scenario 2: The Upselling Phone Call:
“Thanks for calling Pizza House, is this for pickup or delivery?”
“Delivery”
“How can I help you today, have you heard about our latest specials?”
“No, I just want a Lrg Cheese for $4.99, I have a coupon”
“Ok great. Would you like extra cheese and breadsticks for just $1.99? It’s our best selling combination.”
“Sure”
“Ok, that comes to $7.xx – we’ll be there in about 30 minutes. Is this cash or charge?”
“Cash”
“Thank you, next time you order you receive a free side item of your choice. Your delivery driver will give you the coupon.”
“Cool, thanks for that”
“Thank you – we’ll be there as quickly as possible, goodbye”
Summary: You make a sale (good), you provide yourself with an opportunity to increase your profits (both now and long-term), and you sound like a great person for helping the customer to a better deal. The customer gets what he/she wants and has an incentive to order from you again.
An Interesting Fact…
If you have 1,000 customers, each customer orders once per month, and their average ticket is $10.00 – you would generate $120,000 per year. If you add a $2 upsell to those same customers – you’d have an extra $24K in the bank at the end of the year…maybe even more.
Other “Sales Increasing Ideas”
There are many ways to increase your pizza sales each week. Start increasing your sales today by using pizza menus, magnets, box toppers, doorhangers, email campaigns, local fundraisers, local school programs, lunch specials for local businesses, and accepting competitor coupons.
About the Author:
Chris Barr is an experienced marketing professional and graduate of Christopher Newport University. His areas of expertise cover virtually all aspects of print advertising and internet marketing. Chris currently serves as Marketing Director for Taradel.com and may be contacted directly regarding your advertising needs.
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