I had the best fajita wrap for lunch yesterday, but thanks to their branding, I might never order it again.
After a long hike through the local nature preserve with our pups, my daughter suggested a lunch option that was totally new to me although it is apparently a chain restaurant in our area.
It was “salad something or other” and although I wasn’t in the mood for a salad, I went anyway because that’s what we do when our friends and family are raving about something.
I had zero expectations, but the service was excellent and the food was delicious!
As a brand specialist, I noted that my fajita was wrapped in plain foil and handed to me in a clear plastic bag with plain napkins.
No logo.
No restaurant name.
Just plain packaging.
Later, I told Trina how good my lunch was and that it would be a great place to grab a healthy meal on the go.
Only one problem.
I couldn’t remember the name of the restaurant.
I knew the place had “salad” in the title.
Searching for “Salad Restaurants” in the Dallas-Fort Worth area produced literally hundreds of results.
None of them rang a bell.
Then I remembered…
I don’t usually buy drinks because I carry my own water bottle, but since I emptied it on the hike, I had ordered a mango green tea (also delicious!) and finished it on my way home.
Maybe I left the cup in my Jeep.
A quick trip outside and there it was…
“Salad And Go”
Had I not ordered a drink, I would have had zero connections back to their brand.
Of course, I would have texted my daughter to ask, but what if I had gone on my own without a recommendation?
It was a great reminder that everything in a business should reflect the brand.
Right down to the napkins and the bag you deliver them in.
What parts of your business might be a blank slate at the moment?
Don’t miss out on a repeat customer (or two) because they can’t remember your name.