How to Sell Out: Lessons from Successful Hotplate Businesses

The beautiful thing about a preorder food business model is that you can sell out your inventory before you’ve even stepped in the kitchen. Our most successful chefs on Hotplate regularly sell out their menus every week, creating buzz and FOMO amongst their customers 

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Why sell out? 

Remember the Cronut? As it was gaining popularity, customers were lining up before dawn just for the chance to buy one before they sold out. Or think of any popular food you’ve heard about recently. Chances are, you also heard stories about how tough it is to get your hands on it - long lines, waitlists, and often the phrase “get it before it sells out”. The accompanying buzz around a food being hard to get your hands is often a more powerful marketing tool than the food itself. 

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The key here is to create a little bit of FOMO amongst your customers: 

1. Have a limited menu 

2. Set your Inventory Low 

3. Take good pictures 

4. Drop on a consistent cadence

5. Promote SMS list signups

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