Many food businesses have been forced to close due to COVID-19. Some are adapting quickly to help their employees, generate income and provide quality products and services to their customers. Although it may seem daunting to move your business model and operations online suddenly, WooCommerce makes this possible for any company.
Let's look at four small businesses that used WooCommerce to quickly and effectively adapt to changing markets.
First Choice's operations were changed in 24 hours
First Choice is a London-based company that provides fine food for the hotel and restaurant industries, including Michelin stars and fine-dining restaurants. They usually do.
Many of their restaurants were closed due to COVID-19 and they decided to order their food online and start delivering their food directly to their homes. They were able do this because of their agency, Incremental Marketing and WooCommerce in 24 hours.
Incremental Marketing asked, "How fast is this turnaround time?" They wrote that "in less than 24 hours we've set up our client with an online store! They are now able deliver fruit and vegetables boxes, as well as growing lists of other products, to help solve their problems and reduce the supermarket burden. WooCommerce and Themes Kingdom are huge thanks for this lightning-fast turnaround.
They now sell fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as meat, dairy, non-perishables, and deliver directly to customers' homes. This not only provides a revenue stream, but it also allows customers to stay at home and avoid grocery stores.
First Choice was so impressed with the online store that they had to upgrade their hosting in order to handle increased sales volume. They currently fulfill around 800 orders per days and are mentioned in a Marie Claire article on food delivery services.
Here are some keys to their success.
They make it easy to find products.
Online providers can provide basic pantry items that are difficult to find at the grocery store. First Choice lists product categories on both the sidebar menu and main menu. There is also a search bar. Anyone looking for eggs can find them within seconds.
You will also see related products at the bottom of every product page. Customers can view chicken eggs or goose eggs if duck eggs have been sold out without leaving the product page.
You can also use their fast checkout.
A person can quickly order a box without having to go through the lengthy process of adding the item into their cart and then checking out. First Choice uses stripe and GooglePay to enable purchase directly from the product pages.
You can add multiple items to your cart and make a traditional purchase. The one page checkout system makes it easy for customers to save time and keep them happy.
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These details include delivery details.
This is a completely new way to grocery shop -- customers will be asking questions. First Choice links to delivery information both in the header and footer, as well as shares.
- They deliver products quickly.
- What happens if the customer isn't home when delivery takes place?
- They deliver in what areas.
This provides customers with valuable transparency and answers to many questions, even before they are asked.
They advertise on Facebook.
First Choice decided to invest in advertising on Facebook, as they are now selling to an entirely different audience -- people, not restaurants. They were a major part of their rapid success thanks to their amazing ads.
Boka has switched to online ordering and curbside pick-up
Boka, a Balkan restaurant in Kuopio (Finland), offers simple food with deep Mediterranean roots. It also has rich flavors. They are loved by their community thanks to hundreds of 5-star reviews.
They were left with empty tables and losses due to social distancing. They were able to shift partners, processes and food options in less than a month and continue their business successfully.
Emir Dzafce, a restaurateur, said that Nets, Edenred and ePassi were our primary partners. "Now, our main partners are WordPress and WooCommerce, Paytrail and PayPal. Amazon Web Services is our main partner."
The two used WordPress and WooCommerce together to create an online ordering system with curbside pickup and meal delivery. Customers can now enjoy their favourite dishes in their own dining room, while new customers can fall in love and book a table.
Dzafce stated, "It opened up an opportunity for us." He also said that he had never used a delivery service before. The pandemic has not had a dramatic impact on sales and our customers remain satisfied.
These are just a few ways they have made this transition successful.
You can order online from their homepage.
The first thing that visitors see on their website is buttons to order online or by phone. It's easy to order food if a customer wants to know if they are currently serving it.
There are many ways to get food.
Customers can select delivery or curbside pickup when they check out. This is important. You might not be able to leave your home and want food delivered. Some people might be working and need to pick up the order. This serves all diners.
You have a variety of payment options.
Boka uses PayPal to take credit cards. Customers with PayPal accounts can log into their account and pay without the need to search for a credit card.
These include descriptions and photos of the menu items.
Visual food is the best. We eat first with our eyes. Boka uses high-quality photographs to show each item on their menu. Customers can also find clear descriptions of each dish as well as the primary ingredients and key flavors.
They also sell gift cards.
What if someone doesn't feel like eating out but still wants support their favorite restaurant? Boka also offers gift cards of varying amounts that diners will be able to redeem in the future.
Eden East offers customers a contact-free pick up
Eden East in East Austin, Texas is a true farm to table restaurant. Chefs create a new seasonal menu each month using ingredients from their farm as well as other local farms and ranches. It's a truly unique experience to have your diners served al fresco at community tables beneath an elm tree.
It's not possible to eat out or have community dining. They decided to offer vegetable bags online, which include a variety of seasonal herbs and vegetables. The bags come in two sizes: a small bag can hold four to six items, while a large bag can hold seven to nine. Customers choose produce from a website-provided list.
Let's look closer at some of their other steps:
They also offer gift cards and add-on products.
Eden East, like Boka, offers gift cards through their website. Customers can either support their business with a digital or physical card. They sell gift cards with standard amounts, such as $50 and $100. However, they also offer "Dinner for Two", "Dinner for Two with Gratuity" cards which take the guesswork out gift giving.
Customers are presented with a selection of add-on products when they check out. These include pickles, hot sauces, and preserves. This is a great way for customers to be reminded of the many options available, increase their order totals, and help them fill their pantries.
They keep customers updated on social media.
They not only announce new products on Instagram but also feature products in stories with happy customers, who are excited to receive fresh produce. This is a great way for them to encourage sales and social proof.
They offer no-contact pickup, making scheduling simple.
Customers can choose a pickup time and date when they check out. This allows Eden East to prepare orders on time and makes shopping easy.
Pickup is free of contact to ensure safety and health for both employees and customers. A sign will be posted at the farm directing shoppers to a pavilion, where they will find a bag bearing their name.
J.W. Lopes went from wholesale to direct-to consumer
J.W. Lopes supplies high-quality produce from all over the globe to restaurants and grocers. Lopes has been serving the Massachusetts area for almost 100 years. They are passionate about their customers' needs and are available 24/7.
They needed to find a way to support their community and generate revenue as the industry was changing. New England Country Mart is a WooCommerce website that sells produce, meat, and dairy directly to customers in the Boston area.
Jeff Kotzen explained that the pandemic affected every sector of the industry. It was day to day survival. It took us a few weeks to get this idea to work, but it finally clicked. We have approximately 1000 clients now and currently have 4500 clients who are on a waiting list. We are getting great feedback. We also partner with local businesses, which is crucial to our mission of supporting local businesses in the same situation.
What are some of the things they do well?
They notify shoppers immediately about the waitlist.
A popup welcomes visitors to their website and informs them about the waiting list. Customers have two options: log in with an existing account, or join the waitlist without needing to search for it.
They are there to support their clients as well as the community.
New England Country Mart purchases their products from local businesses and donates to the Restaurant Strong Fund which assists restaurant workers who are facing closures due to COVID-19. Many of these restaurants are their clients.
They create helpful blog posts.
New England Country Mart does more than just sell products. They also teach customers how to use them. They share information on the history of each ingredient, as well as tips and recipes via social media and their blog. For example, a delicious caprese recipe using sweet heirloom tomatoes, and a family strawberry rhubarb crispy recipe that can be made with fresh fruit. It allows people to make the most out of their food and shows that they care about their customers.
You can customize the checkout process.
Every order starts with a produce container, which is the heart of their products and provides vital immunity support for shoppers. Customers can then add eggs, chicken, artisan breads, and prepared meals to their order. Customers can choose a delivery date to have their items delivered free of charge. They can choose a delivery date and have their items delivered (for free!) right to their doorstep. It is simple and allows customers to buy exactly what they want. To sync all customers and orders, they integrate WooCommerce with HubSpot. This allows them to engage with and delight their customers with helpful resources and email updates.
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