The Restaurant booth business!

[RnD Upholstery]

I'm trying to get some restaurant booth business. Like restaurant booth reupholstery business going! I don't want to go to a supply house - other then doing that what is the best way to approach a restaurant owner to get him to use us for his work he needs done? Is there a good place to advertise? It there a place where people who own restaurants go to find people in the business to have this work done? Any help I can get would be greatly appreciated! Thank you, Angela 

[Rodinsider]

Two things come to mind. First, When you're at a restaurant and you notice that they need your services, point it out to them and give them a card. Talk to the manager of course, the waitress could care less. Second is that there is one type of business that caters to all restaurants, and that's the restaurant supply shops. Maybe they have a board or something that you could post a flyer or business cards on. Oh, wait, I guess there are two places that cater to restaurants, the other being the ones that supply them with food.
If you really want to get aggressive on the advertising, either one of these businesses might sell you an address list of their customers that you could use to send targeted advertising.

[sofadoc]

Mom & Pop restaurants tend to be on a REALLY tight budget, PLUS they want them done "one-at-a-time". I've done a lot of restaurant booths, and other seating over the years. I always had to let the game come to me. My best luck has been with chains that are owned by a franchisee who is based nearby(someone who owns maybe 4 or 5 restaurants of a particular chain). If you can get your foot in the door at the office of a local franchisee owner, you might be able to parlay that into some steady work. Big chains tend to "gut the place", and totally remodel with all-new everything.

Good Luck, restaurant booth work is nice work if you can get it.

[seamsperfect]

I have turned down a number of smaller places that want their booths done.  They want it cheap and since they are open 7 days a week they usually want it done after they close for the evening, so you work 11 till you get them done.
Kevin

[scott_san_diego]

When I started my business 25 years ago, I  just did restaurants. Would go do cold calls to the restaurant and speak to the owner or manager and pass out cards.  Would also do 4" x 5 1/2" card stock mailers, advertisng my business.  Would mail them out about every  2 to 3 months.  I would go do follow ups to the restaurant I mailed to, I would see my mailing cards taped to their of wall.
Then I got some wild idea that I wanted to expand into to the residential market.  I wish I just stuck with restaurant side of the business.  Your profit margins are a lot larger and the work is a lot easier and faster to do.
Still do restaurants from time to time.

[RnD Upholstery]

I want to thank everyone for their input and advice. Some of the things suggested I was already doing - but there were some new ideas so for that I am extremely grateful. Everyone on this message board is so kind to offer your help and suggestions! Thank you, Angela

[Steve at Silverstone Fabrics]

Angela, One of the best things I did for my restaurant customers (and myself) was learning how to make booth seat frames.

I had a locally owned restaurant that had over 60 (identical 48") seats. They were open from 5:30am until 8:00pm and they had me to pick up damaged seats at 9:00pm and have them back before they opened.

After I did this several times, I knew there had to be a better way.

Here is what I did, I borrowed a booth seat over a holiday weekend, stripped it down and duplicated the frame (actually I made 2 frames). I installed matching no sag springs and I ordered 2 pieces of matching rubber (for the 2 new frames).

Here is what having 2 replacement seats meant to me: #1. Now I could upholster the 2 replacement seats when it was good for my schedule.....not the restaurants. No more having to stay up until midnight. #2. I could exchange the 2 good seats for 2 bad seats in the middle of the afternoon (it would take about 15 minutes to "pop" out 2 damaged seats and place the 2 newly upholstered seats back in their place) #3. I was able to charge more for this service (so the expense of making the 2 extra frames was covered in no time).

Here is what it meant for my customer: #1. He inspected his seats more often and would call me at least once a month with the order to bring the replacements by. #2. His restaurant looked "fresh" because it was no longer a hassle to have seats reupholstered.

I hope this has been a help.

[sofadoc]

sterry56> I discovered your method quite by accident when a restaurant that I service closed abruptly, leaving me with some of their booth seats.
They just happened to fit at another restaurant that I was doing. Just like you, now when they call, I already have 2 -4 seats ready to pop in. And you're right, it does give them incentive to call more often.
I used to do that 9:00 PM thing also. I usually had to wait around, because a late-staying diner was inevitably always sitting in the booth that I needed to take.

[socal]

if you dont mind me asking, what are you guys charging to do these booths?
i have pizza place i got oat least once a week and there booths are starting to look tor  up. i know the owner and if i ask her if she wants to get them redone the first thing she is gonna say is how much.

[ZanJay]

You might need a good effort to know what do customers like. Advertising your offer can have a various way to do it. You can talk to the customers, knowing their opinion or suggestion. Take an information to your restaurant so that customers know it too.

[baileyuph]

The idea of getting into this business building as well as upholstering and finishing the frames seems like a benefit, as most have pointed out.  So, it would require some degree of wood working.

Anyone know of a major manufacturer of booths or is this generally something smaller shops do?  Is this an import item one would have to compete against?   :(

Doyle

[rakesh1401]

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