If you’re looking to start up a take-away food business in the UK, then you’ve probably already thought about starting up a chip shop. Not only is this a traditionally British thing to do, but it can be a great livelihood for anyone looking to strike off on their own.
This isn’t always the easiest business to get into, but with enough know-how and perseverance you can become a real success! Here are some of our best tips when it comes to starting a chip shop:
#1 Location
Before you think about anything else, you need to consider where you’re going to set up shops. Certain areas are much more likely to guarantee you more business than others. For example if you can get a prime location near a school or large housing estate then you’re likely to see a much higher number of customers than if you were to set up shop on a country lane or away from the hustle and bustle of a town centre.
#2 Competition
Do your research, what other shops are around and what’s the level of competition here? If there are only one or two other chippies about then this could be seen as healthy competition and as long as you don’t literally pitch up next door then you should do well. However, if every other shop in the area is a chip shop then you’d do well to look at a different area entirely.
#3 Building
Next you need to strongly consider the building you’re looking at leasing or buying, has it got enough room for all your equipment? Can you have a seating area if you want one? Is there parking on site or nearby? Make sure that the building is fit for your purpose before committing to it – this is vital so take your time when picking a location.
#4 Signage
You need to stand out from the crowd and make sure that you get people through the front door. One of the best ways of doing this is to have bright, clear signs on the outside of your shop as well as a clear window so that customers passing can see straight in. The more aesthetically appealing your sign, the more likely it is that people will want to purchase their fish and chips from you.
#5 Fish and Chip Packaging
Not only do you need to ensure that you’re using the right type of packaging materials for your products, you should also focus on having a good design. If you’re just starting off then having your own custom branded fish and chip packaging may seem like quite a stretch, why not look into off-the-shelf packaging designs? These can offer good visual appeal and excellent practicality without the larger price tags. Check out our Go EAT Range, designed to suit the industry.
#6 Quality
Regardless of whether you have stiff competition or not, you will want to ensure that your chippy provides the best quality food with high quality packaging from a great quality shop. Why? Because people will always go back to a place they think is great and, what’s more, they’re likely to pay more for what they deem to be better quality.
#7 Advertise
While word of mouth and walk-by custom will help to make up a significant portion of your business, you will have a lot to gain through local advertising. Try to get into the local newspaper, town crier and maybe even do leaflet canvassing of the local area. This will all help to raise awareness of your business within your target market and could drastically improve the amount of people you get through your door.
#8 Get the Right Staff
Ideally this should be higher up the list, but everything here is equally as important. Having happy, bubbly, helpful staff that engage with your customers can be the difference between success and failure. People always remember when they get good service, but they’ll tell everyone they know if they had a bad experience – making sure they feel welcomed and cared for is vital.
#9 Portion Size
Not everyone wants mammoth portions, but then again not everyone will enjoy smaller sizes. Why not offer several different potion sizes and make sure you have the fish and chip packaging to match so that it always looks well presented. Don’t forget to make sure that these are priced differently so that your customers always feel like they’re getting the best deal without you losing out on profits. There’s nothing worse than having a delicious dish with grease getting everywhere! Our fast food packaging – The Go EAT Range is the perfect packaging for your fish & chips.
#10 Be Willing to Change
Once everything is up and running, you may find that there are areas that you could improve, things you can do better and other products you could sell. Do not be afraid of changing, in fact this could be the one tip that ensures your business’s success. Be willing to make key adjustments in order to cater to your customer and ensure that your company continues to thrive.
Looking for the best fish and chip packaging? Talk to Charlotte Packaging today, with years of experience working within the food industry we’re able to provide you with the high quality packaging you need to ensure your fish and chips always look the best!