Are You Giving Your Customers An Experience…?

So I got back from our family vacation in Orlando on Monday.

And let me tell you, I am exhausted!

Chasing after 3 kids at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure for 8 hours a day in the hot Florida sun can take it’s toll on you.

View of Island Of Adventure and a very scary roller coaster, “The Incredible Hulk!”

But we had a great time and if you have older kids (mine are 6,8 and 9 and past the Disney Princess stage) you’ll want to check these parks out sometime. The rides are just awesome, something that Disney just can’t offer in my opinion.

So we ate at the “Rain Forest Cafe” for lunch one day and it got me thinking.

You see if you’ve never eaten at the Rain Forest Cafe (This was my first time) it’s set up with a rain forest theme complete with mechanical elephants, gorillas, monkeys and cougars. There are also simulated thunderstorms that pop off every so often and the animals go nuts. It’s a pretty cool experience.

An Inside view of the Rain forest Cafe

We had to wait in line for our table and there continued to be a line after we left. It was just my girlfriend, Michelle, and I and two of our girls because the oldest was having lunch with her grandparents.

We ordered a fairly typical lunch, I had a burger and fries with a couple of beers, Michelle ordered a salad with iced tea. We had nachos for appetizers and the girls ordered chicken nuggets with fruit smoothies in a souvenir glass.

Now when we got the check I was a little shocked– the check totaled $135.00! ( By the way, those two smoothies the girls ordered in the souvenir glasses…$11.25… a piece!)

Now we’re on vacation so we’re not going to complain. Its not like we do this everyday but it got me thinking about other businesses and specifically your barbecue business.

You see, people were not necessarily coming in for the food. Nope, I’m pretty sure you can get burgers, fries, chicken nuggets and salads almost anywhere– and for much cheaper.

But you see, the reason people were standing in line to eat over priced and just so-so food was because of the EXPERIENCE!

Another view of the Rain forest Cafe

The thrill of eating in a rain forest while watching gorillas, elephants and cougars roar as a full fledged lighting storm roars above your head is what people are paying for.

When the hostess calls your name over the loud speaker it’s “Smith, Safari Party of 5, your adventure is about to begin” Not, “Smith party of 5 your table is ready.”

Do you see the difference? Good, lets keep going…

So what I’d like to ask you is, are you giving your customers an experience, or are you just hanging your hat on your food?

You know, I hear this a lot from Barbecue caterers and restaurant owners…my food speaks for itself.

We’ll I’m here to tell you–once someone cooks better barbecue then you ( and there are people out there, somewhere believe me) then what are you going to do?

So I’d like to ask you, how can you give your customers an experience?

How can you set yourself apart from every other Tom, Dick and Harry BBQ Cater or Restaurant already out there.

Why should someone hire you to cater their next party or come to your restaurant over any of your competition?

I’d love to hear your ideas and I’ll share some of mine in a few days.

Now go smoke something, Bill Parlaman

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