We have very good news!

We have located a new space in Jerusalem (Talpiot) on Yad Harutzim. The contract has been signed and we hope to move in by December 1.

The new space will have two Basari kitchens and one Halavi kitchen as well as a classroom. With this central location, we will be able to attract more students, particularly for the shorter programs we hope to offer. In addition to the regular English classes, we have plans to offer six month programs (2 classes a week) for Hebrew speakers, French speakers and Haredi. We will also have slots available for 6 workshops a week. The new location will allow us to be open every evening thereby increasing the number of classes that we can offer!

We had believed that moving back to Jerusalem would open new doors for us and we are thrilled that is has already starting to happen, even before we relocated!

For more information on our upcoming February 2011 classes click here!

- More and more caterers are focusing on a specific niches to cater to. For example: business gatherings, small parties, etc..

- Catering companies are partnering up with marketers. The marketer helps generates clients and in retrun they get commissions for every closed deal. This allows the caterers to focus on what they do best….creating excellent food.

- More catering companies are going “the extra mile” and making it a priority to provide their clients great atmospheres around the food.

- Go Green! “Emphasis on the environment is no longer a novelty, but an integral part of today’s catering,” writes Linda Picone, From green decor influences, to products that are earth friendly or eco-disposable, and foods that are sustainable and organic.

- Caterers are having the chef more “involved” in the event thats taking place. Catering companies feel that when the chef interacts with the guests – this helps to increase more business and attracts more customers. For example: a new trend now is to have a ‘station’ at the event where the chef prepares food on the spot for the guests.

This is great inspiration. Every person at the beginning of a career should listen to this video:

Today we would like to share with you a four more marketing tips for your brand new catering business.

1) Creating a website: Why are websites so important? Because a website is where you can direct your prospects to and “capture them” there. Treat your website like it’s a brochure and the whole purpose of your website is to Pre-Sell you and your amazing catering services. Your website should have the following pages: ‘About You’, Pictures, Events, Contact Us, Pricing, Recommendations. Now If you really want to spice up your website – add a blog and start posting articles promoting your expertise. Make sure your URL is easy to remember for example: www.samscatering.com – Keep it simple.
Remember: the website must share what is unique about you and your services. Which this leads me to number 2.

2) You see in the early stages of your business you must focus on branding yourself. What area in catering are you really really good at? Is it baking cakes? Is it making a good soup? Is it your beautiful designed cupcakes? What ever it is – personal branding is critical because that’s how your name gets out there and thats how people remember. For example: Are you familiar with Holy Bagel? Well they do many Brit Milah events and other ‘simple’ events. Now why are they so popular? Because they have branded themselves as a company that will show up on time – do the work – serve excellent food – clean up and the event ends with zero problems. This is how people remember them and this is what people will tell their friends.

If you are not clear about your personal branding, we always recommend the following: Choose one specific area in catering and become really really good at it. Start with that specific area and brand yourself as the guy/gal who does the best job.

3) Facebook: Why is Facebook so powerful for marketing? Because the larger your personal network is – the more chances of your name getting out there and people hiring you or recommending your services to a friend.
Simple Case Study: In my network their is someone who creates really beautiful cakes. Almost every day she uploads pictures of her creations. Last week a friend of mine mentioned to me that she wants to surprise her husband for his birthday and that she was looking to create a customized cake for the event. She asked me “Do you know anyone who can create such a cake?” The first person that came to mind was the person in my Facebook network who creates the beautiful cakes…and guess what? She got the job!.

4) What’s the best marketing? Word of Mouth is the best marketing tool that exists today! This means that people are talking about you and your name is getting around. The best way to get started with your word of mouth is by telling all of your close family and friends, they will always be happy to help you get started.

But above anything else:

Excellent customer service is more precious then anything in the world. People like to do business with nice people. One of the reasons all of the great companies became great was because they had excellent customer service.

Always return a phone call
Always respond to emails
Make sure that you are easy to reach
Always be on time
Treat the customer with incredible respect (sometimes its not easy!:)

Remember this great quote:
The goal as a company is to have customer service that is not just the best, but legendary.

(First of all it’s important that you complete all of the legal stuff for your business before getting started and believe me it’s really not that hard:)

Today I would like to share with you three very important marketing tips:

But before we get started remember these two rules:

1) Consistent Promotion

2) Attraction Tools

Consistent Promotion – one of the main problems with small business owners is that they are not consistent promoters of their business. You must always be on the look out for new and unique ways to promote your business.

Attraction Tools – This means to developed “tools” that will attract people to your catering business.

Three Marketing Tips For Your Catering Business:

1) Free Tasting: This is a very powerful attraction tool. Let’s say you want to promote your beautiful delicious cakes. Open your home one evening to your friends and neighbors and offer a free tasting of your cakes. Two things can happen in this evening: 1) Each person that walks through your door receives your business card. This way if twenty people show up – and really enjoyed your cakes – twenty people will be leaving with your house with your business card ready to promote your business. 2) Collect recommendations from your guests! Recommendations are an extremely powerful attraction tool that will help you push your business forward.

2) Niche Your Marketing: Let’s just say you start promoting your services. Many catering companies usually post general postings..for example: “Sams Catering – The Best Catering in Town..” – this is a general posting. To niche your marketing simply means that you must focus on a specific group, for example: “Sams Catering – The Best Bar Mitzvah Catering in Town!” – Therefore you are “speaking directly” to someone who is planning a Bar Mitzvah and they will be more likely to read your advertisement.

3) Split Test Your Postings: Let’s say you want to post your advertisements on 5 different Shul bulletin boards. Its very important that you don’t post the same advertisement in all 5 places. Split Testing simply means that you should create 5 different advertisements for each bulletin board. You want to know what advertisement is working the best (this means that people are calling you:)

For example in Shul 1 you will post:

“Sams Catering – The Best Bar Mitzvah Catering in Town!

In Shul 2:

“Beautiful Designed Cakes for Your Bar Mitzvah Event by Sams Catering!”

In Shul 3:

“Looking for Affordable & Beautiful Designed Cakes For Your Bar Mitzvah Event?”

In Shul 4:

“Sams Catering – The Best Bar Mitzvah Cakes in Town!”

In Shul 5:

Sams Catering Bar Mitzvah Cakes – Buy Four Get One Free!”

———-

Never forget that all business started from somewhere. All businesses started because someone somewhere had an idea and they took action. Be creative, consistently promote and develop amazing attraction tools and you will be well on your way to running your own unique catering business.

We hope you enjoyed part 1 cause part 2 is coming very soon!

This kosher chocolate cake is a must have for chocolate lover!  Even though this cake is less versatile since it is a kosher dairy recipe this kosher chocolate cake is so yummy, everyone should have a copy of it in their recipe box.

The JCI a top Kosher Cooking School have placed students all over the world in a variety of institutions. Assignments generally last from 1 to 2 months.

Below are some of the places the Jerusalem Culinary Institute has sent people.

Six13
Londres, Angleterre

King David Hotel
Jerusalem, Israel

Sheraton Hotel
Jerusalem, Israel

Canela
Jerusalem, Israel

Bruno
Tel Aviv, Israel

RYU
Jerusalem, Israel

Max Brenner
Ra’anana , Israel

La Guta
Jerusalem, Israel

My Most Favorite Dessert
New York, NY – USA

Luciana
Jerusalem, Israel

Eight 25
Zurich, Suisse

Hotel Royal
Rimini, Italie

The Gam Gam
Venise, Italie

Le Telegraphe
Paris, France

Tayenna De La Ghetto
Rome, Italie

Chateaubriand
Paris, France

The Pasta Factory
Teaneck, NJ

Mike’s Bistro
New York, NY – USA

Programs In Israel: Jerusalem Culinary Institute

The growth in the kosher food industry requires specialized and trained industry personnel. JCI offers programs and courses to meet those needs. Registration is on well on its way for our next course starting in Febuary 2011! The Jerusalem Culinary Institute -JCI was founded in 2003 and is the first and only Mehadrin culinary institute of its kind. Located in the heart of Jerusalem,

Upon graduating the JCI program students receive a certificate of graduation from JCI. Graduating with a diploma in hand, students can gain employment as sous-chefs, caterers, small business proprietors or a host of other industry related positions. We are recognized by The Jewish Agency (MASA) and the Israel Chef Association.

After completing the 6 month intensive program at JCI, students are given the opportunity to be placed in a one month apprenticeship internationally.

*Olim can get financial assistance from Misrad HaKlita! (Ministry of Absorption)

*Scholarships available!

Click Here Contact us for more information!