We’re excited to introduce our latest series where we dive into the challenges and opportunities within architectural projects. In this edition, we explore "3 Ways Garden Centres Can Enhance Their Catering Services for Customers."
Queuing
This is increasingly a frustration by customers, especially the elderly or physically challenged or family members taking out older less mobile parents or young children. Many have experienced the scenario where you take your elderly parents or young children through the counters so that they can choose their items, then having to park them at a table whilst going back to get the items. You can push a wheelchair or a buggy and carry trays very well. Maybe table service is a considered way forward. This could be with front of house staff or an app based solution. Garden centre food is rarely inexpensive, so why not offer customers a better and more personal service to create a more memorable experience?
Accessible Toilets
A common customer complaint is the lack of accessible toilets, most garden centres opt for the minimal requirement to fulfill regulations, which is understandable but elderly customers (a core client demographic) often require these facilities and to only have one can lead to queuing and customer discomfort, which is the last thing that an operator wants for their clients to remember them by. Often the WC provision in older garden centres is minimal, but in newer garden centres, maybe this should be considered more?
Cakes
Yes we all love them, but I did a recent straw poll and this came up as an interesting complaint. No one disputed quality but the most common issue was quantity and cost.
Most wanted a smaller piece of lovely cake but also wanted to pay less for it. Food for thought....
- Alex Urquhart, Director