Sorak's Restaurant Equipment & Supplies is the webs best resource for all your restaurant supplies and equipment all at wholesale prices. If you are in the restaurant business, you probably already know just how crucial it is to find a restaurant equipment supplier who can take care of your individual needs. For those who are considering opening a restaurant, finding a reliable equipment supplier should be one of your first priorities.
So many people assume control of an already existing establishment assuming that they have a grasp on the fundamental aspects of proper restaurant management, when very few actually do. Of course, food distributors are a very integral piece of the puzzle that is seldom overlooked. Most new restaurant owners then move on to equally vital matters such as evaluating the current staff, streamlining or changing the menu and advertising the change of ownership locally. What they rarely consider is that at some point, one or more pieces of kitchen equipment will probably fail. Unfortunately, events like these tend to happen on a busy night with the front of the house packed full of customers. This is just one of the reasons to find a competent, reliable restaurant equipment supply dealer.
A good restaurant supply dealer can not only give you proper maintenance tips on your existing equipment, but also give you an idea of how much use you can expect from various kitchen essentials, such as ice machines, ovens, broilers, refrigeration units and freezers. Additionally, some restaurant suppliers offer services to help streamline your kitchen for maximum efficiency and ease during food preparation. They can give you cost estimates on replacing worn or improperly functioning equipment so that you can be prepared for doing so in the event of a failure. They can even make recommendations for cost cutting measures that will help decrease your expenditures.
Successful restaurant owners know that an equipment supplier should be more than just someone you call when something breaks. Find an equipment dealer who can offer you more. If you aren't able to find someone who will take an active interest in helping you succeed by providing the products, service and advice you need, look elsewhere. As with all businesses, cultivating the right relationships can make all the difference.
Restaurant Supply Can Help With Effective Time Management:
The restaurant business is quite unlike any other. Many people who fantasize about owning or running a restaurant have no idea what an incredibly painstaking and time consuming endeavor it can be. Those who do take the plunge into restaurant ownership quickly learn what it means to take on multiple responsibilities. Of course, hiring good help can make a world of difference, especially to owners who perform double duty as head chef or to those who have outside obligations (and let's face it...who doesn't?). Still, the most important quality that successful restaurant owners share is the ability to effectively manage their time.
One of the best resources for helping owners effectively manage their time is often the business' restaurant supply dealer. While many view restaurant supplier companies as nothing more than a place to get commercial quality restaurant supplies, which they certainly are, the reality is that many restaurant supply companies offer so much more. Looking at the typical "back of the house", there are three things that are necessary for producing quality food that customers will enjoy: the food itself, the kitchen staff and the appliances the food is kept in and prepared on. Getting quality foods and finding (and keeping) a quality staff is a job unto itself. Restaurant owners do not want to have to worry about appliances breaking down, whether it's an ice machine or an oven. If an appliance goes down, it's not unlike when an employee doesn't show up for work. Certainly, then, restaurant supply distributors are part of the overall equation for a successful kitchen. But how can they help with time management?
Many restaurant supply companies can not only recommend and supply appliances, they can also help design the work flow of the kitchen area, so that everything runs as smoothly as possible. By helping restaurant owners know where to place appliances in the correct order and proximity to each other, suppliers can make food preparation faster and much more efficient. This, in turn, can save the restaurant owner a great deal of time. By making a kitchen more ergonomic, restaurant owners will know that their BOH operations are set up for success, which will allow them to focus on other areas of the business.
The Right Restaurant Supplier Can Make All the Difference:
Last month, I opened my third restaurant in twelve years. Anyone who knows anything about the restaurant business will tell you that success of that nature isn't easy to come by. I started out with a small diner on a not so busy intersection. By offering impeccable service, great food and a friendly decor, I have been able to expand my business to include additional eateries in higher traffic locations while maintaining a healthy profit margin. The truth of the matter is, however, that I certainly couldn't have done it alone. I have a great staff at all of my locations, some of the best food distributors in the area and loyal customers that recognize the value of a well cooked, well priced, timely meal. One other valuable asset I have that so many overlook is a good business relationship with my full service restaurant equipment supplier.
Good equipment suppliers understand the equipment needs of their customers and can help ensure that you receive the best units for your particular circumstances. The better equipment suppliers out there will also offer design services for streamlining your kitchen, which will help you with efficiency and make life easier on your kitchen staff. The company I use has been a lifesaver in this respect. Anyone can sell you a product, but so few are willing to tell you where to place it, how to maintain it and ways that you can save money by getting the best product for your individual space. Restaurant owners shouldn't have to wonder if they are using the right equipment and using it correctly. Because of my business relationship with an excellent supply house, I know everything there is to know about my equipment and how to keep it in excellent condition. I have my kitchen set up in such an ergonomic and efficient way that it allows my staff to do their work without having to worry about traversing the entire room and running into one another.
I don't take any business relationship for granted, but especially not this one. I know that if I have a failure, need advice on a new station or just want repair information, one phone call can solve it. The value of that is something I can count on to help me succeed.
Tips for Entrepreneurs Opening a Restaurant:
As entrepreneurial enterprises are concerned, opening a restaurant is by far one of the hardest endeavors to undertake. While the rate of restaurant failure isn't nearly as bad as it's purported to be, restaurants do fail at a much higher rate than many other types of self starter business. For that matter, even franchised restaurants (usually the smaller "fast food" variety) have a failure rate just a few percentage points below self starters.
So what, you may ask, can entrepreneurs do to increase their chances for success?
Here are three tips to succeeding in the restaurant business that successful owners adhere to. The first of these is location. Yes, there are some restaurants located in out of the way areas that do succeed on word of mouth, but those instances compared to the instances of restaurants failing because they are in bad locations are miniscule by percentage. The safest bet is to always make sure there is plenty of traffic where you want to open up. Established areas are best, but consequently, most expensive. Don't get in over your head with a lease that will bury your chances for success from the get-go, but don't choose an out of the way location because it is cheap. Try to find some middle ground.
The next tip is to concentrate on solely on the things that will make people want to come in, and more importantly, want to come back. I know this sounds a little too simple, but it involves a lot more than just good food and a nice atmosphere. The key is to turn out great food, provide a great atmosphere and to have exceptional customer service, day in and day out. Whether you run a sandwich shop or a high end bistro, getting these three elements together and doing so consistently is paramount to success.
The third tip is to find and culminate good business relationships with your suppliers. Having a supply chain you can count on will allow you to concentrate on what's important, which is running your business while at your business. You'll need to find food distributors and a restaurant supply distributor you can count on. Food distributors that are able to deliver on time and are committed to bringing you quality products every time will help you to produce consistently good food that your customers want and eventually come to expect. A good restaurant supply company can make all the difference between having a smooth operation that allows you to run you’re back of house effectively and having to deal with subparts equipment.
Of course, there is a lot more to the restaurant business than these basics, but in the end, the basics are what separate successful restaurants from failed restaurants.
