5 Things Pizza Can Teach You
When looking around a college town one particular restaurant type that seems to be around is some style of pizza. But what people do not realize is that pizza can teach us about business. There are five things that pizza can teach us.
1. Location Location
Most successful pizza places are in close proximity to the campus. There at least four pizza places that are within a three block radius of campus, Pizza Casbah, Krazy Karl’s, Cosmo’s, and Panhandler’s. One of which is Pizza Casbah which is so close that a guest could possibly throw a pizza across the street and hit campus. The other three are from a half a block to three blocks from campus. But location and proximity to the attended audience is one of the five keys to possible success.
2. Claim to Fame
What usually separates one pizza place from another is, one particular menu item, unique ingredients, or daily deals that the residence on and off campus know about. In Fort Collins three of the four places have a real unique aspect to their business strategy. Pizza Casbah it is having New York style pizza (If you have never had it is a very large and thin pizza). Krazy Karl’s they are known for their very fun and unique daily deals. Cosmo’s is known for their Spicy Ranch Sause. Which I found out has its own Twitter page. So having a good marketing or specialty can lead to success.
3. Affordability
If any business wants to succeed in a college town the business needs to typically cater to the college budget. A quote that my godfather told me that has stuck ever since I heard it was, “There is a difference between cheap and inexpensive”. So that is why most of these pizza places have some daily deals and other promotional coupons to help curb the cost of getting something more than Ramon noodles to eat. Krazy Karl’s does this best with there out of the box thinking. On Mondays and Thursdays, a typical down business days Karl’s has “Beat the Clock” from 5–8 where at whatever time you call is the price you pay. This one deal I have been told jams up Karl’s phone lines and again helps add to the bottom line.
4. Beer or No Beer
Most college attendees minor in whatever they study and major in beer. That is especially true in Fort Collins, where the market is saturated with microbrews. With these four places, all but one serves beer. In a college town having what the people want can get people to do the first and most difficult thing of walking into the restaurant. If there are differing choices in beverage variety the more apt people are to come and enjoy a drink and a slice. But for those who are not of the legal consumption age not to fear all of them do have a soda dispenser. And of course the age old debate Coke or Pepsi still remains.
5. Atmosphere
If the restaurant is built right customers will flock to the establishment. Each pizza place around Colorado State University has a unique vibe and style. Panhandlers has that family friendly feel where the dining is truly elevated (no, really, some of the tables are up on platforms). Pizza Casbah has that New York feel with only a few tables and one sitting counter. Cosmo’s has the pizza counter feel with a display case and their slices inside. Krazy Karl’s has a college hangout feel with a bar to belly up to and varied seating choices. When building, think of what the customer wants. Do they want just a slice? Or do they want a pitcher of beer, a group of friends, and to watch the game? It all depends.
Pizza is not just a food staple in a college diet, but can also launch a business to success if it is done right. So has pizza truly taught society something?
