New business The Crispy Cod in Gosport, Hampshire, is experiencing significant growth due to SwiftOrder’s online ordering system, which it won in a prize draw at The Fish Frying & Fast Food Show in June
The Crispy Cod in Gosport opened in August under new owner Laura Bucknall who, for the past seven and a half years, has worked at her parent’s shop The Crispy Cod in Portsmouth.
“Gosport is a very small shop, which is lovely because there’s so much potential in it,” says Laura. “That’s what I’m looking forward to – growing it in the same way as my parents have done with their shop.”
Laura is already on the right track, having won a year’s free online ordering from SwiftOrder, as well as marketing support, in a prize draw for visitors to The Fish Frying & Fast Food Show in June this year.
“We were at the show looking at the different online ordering options. SwiftOrder ticked everything that I needed for starting up, so when I found out I had won their competition I couldn’t believe it,” adds Laura.
Having the online ordering system from the start has boosted business in its opening weeks, increasing orders and average order value. In addition, it has allowed Laura to put her mark on the takeaway, adding: “It can be hard starting in any industry, but especially so when you’re taking over a business that is already well-established within the community. A lot of the people know the shop because they have been with their grandparents and their parents, and now their children are coming in with them. Having online ordering shows them that we’re moving with the times because it wasn’t an option under the previous owners.
“We’ve had lots of comments saying it’s so nice to see we are moving into the 21st century. People’s lives are so busy now, being able to order a click and collect or delivery makes life so much easier for people.”
With the full menu available online, customers are enjoying the speed and ease of placing orders, as is Laura. “If I’ve sold out of something I can update it myself, I can go on and see what sales are there, and the staff have found it really easy to use because they’ve never had to use online ordering. It is exactly what you want when you’re starting up, you don’t want a complicated system that takes up lots of time because you already have so much to do as a new business owner.”
As part of the prize, Laura has received marketing support too, which she has found invaluable in launching the new business. “SwiftOrder has helped build my Facebook page, set up Google Business, promote the new shop and engage with my customers. It has made a huge difference in getting the word out there that we are online now. The shop is going from strength to strength and generating more online orders each week.”
SwiftOrder 0117 325 9310 www.swiftorder.co.uk
