Hi,

I plan to start a South Indian Vegetarian Restaurant in Mississauga. I have several years of catering experience, and many years of sales/marketing experience. I am looking for suggestions, advice, investors, and even partners.

Any useful advice will be welcome, and gratefully acknowledged. Information on size, investment, and other related matters can be made available on an individual basis.

Hope to hear from you. .

Hi,
As a South Indian, I wish you all the very best in your venture.
How big are you planning the restaurant to be. Will it be like Saravana Bhavan or like Dosa Corner at Newin centre? If it is supposed to be like Dosa corner at Newin centre, I herewith give you tips to increase customer base and profits :
1. Dosa's -> Dosa's offer the greatest returns. The batter is made of motta idly rice and urdh dal (very cheap items in the market).Also Dosa's are very popular with North indians, Carribians, Indians of foreign origin etc.. Try new varities of Dosa like Egg Dosa (Put a egg), Masala Dosa (Put potatoes in it) etc.... Also add idly's , vivikam to your menu. Various Chutneys (e.g.-> Coconut, Tomato,pudina) is also a must.
2. Coffee -> South Indians coffee is one of the best coffee's in the world. Import coffee powder from south india and make filter coffee and sell it. It will be a great hit.
3. Free stuff -> In Canada, people always look for free stuff. You have to make a point to give something free when a customer buys an item.For eg. when the customer buys an egg dosa, you can give a mini dosa free. or when he buys a coffee , he should be given an option to make "by 2" without any extra cost etc...
4. Clean -> for Gora's to come to your restaurant, it should be very clean
5. Children -> You can also do something to encourage children to pester their parents into coming into your restaurant (like macdonalds). Try to give Indrajal comic, Amar chitra katha comic (Imported from India) at 50% discount for every kids dosa bought . Or hike up the kids dosa price to pay for the comic and give the comic free.
6. Location -> Location is very very important. You need to be in a location where asians and Gora's alike come regularly. Dundas -Hurontario is one such good location.
7. Borrow ideas -> In South India, String Hopper is considered a delicacy and is very costly too. In SI , it comes with a nice, spicy cauliflower ssouth indian subji. However for the Sri Lankan's it is a staple meal and they sell it for throwaway prices. They sell 25 nos. for $2.50. So each one is 10 cents. I propose that you buy from them and then resell 4 nos. with nice cauliflower subji for $2.99. IT is a new item on the market and you have max. profit too.
8. Sales and Marketing -> Try to reach areas by free delivery. Try unconventional customers (like seniors in retirement homes, people ready to buy your franchise ideas in USA etc...)
9. Contact -> Contact one Mr. Sankaracharya of this forum. He is a South indian and he has also observed south indian restaurants in Canada. He can give you a lot of constructive ideas in this field.
TK A

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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.

Cleaniness and price is the issue. Saravana bhavan is too expensive and qty small. Newin Centre food is good but not cheap and one has to put up with a stinky Korean diner opposite. Both suck. There is a big market sure nobody has been able to factor together or get the act together yet. U go

tamilkuravan
Senior Desi
Member since: Jun 05




Posts: 1162
Location: Limited job Country

Wishing you the best
Hi,
As a South Indian, I wish you all the very best in your venture.
How big are you planning the restaurant to be. Will it be like Saravana Bhavan or like Dosa Corner at Newin centre? If it is supposed to be like Dosa corner at Newin centre, I herewith give you tips to increase customer base and profits :
1. Dosa's -> Dosa's offer the greatest returns. The batter is made of motta idly rice and urdh dal (very cheap items in the market).Also Dosa's are very popular with North indians, Carribians, Indians of foreign origin etc.. Try new varities of Dosa like Egg Dosa (Put a egg), Masala Dosa (Put potatoes in it) etc.... Also add idly's , vivikam to your menu. Various Chutneys (e.g.-> Coconut, Tomato,pudina) is also a must.
2. Coffee -> South Indians coffee is one of the best coffee's in the world. Import coffee powder from south india and make filter coffee and sell it. It will be a great hit.
3. Free stuff -> In Canada, people always look for free stuff. You have to make a point to give something free when a customer buys an item.For eg. when the customer buys an egg dosa, you can give a mini dosa free. or when he buys a coffee , he should be given an option to make "by 2" without any extra cost etc...
4. Clean -> for Gora's to come to your restaurant, it should be very clean
5. Children -> You can also do something to encourage children to pester their parents into coming into your restaurant (like macdonalds). Try to give Indrajal comic, Amar chitra katha comic (Imported from India) at 50% discount for every kids dosa bought . Or hike up the kids dosa price to pay for the comic and give the comic free.
6. Location -> Location is very very important. You need to be in a location where asians and Gora's alike come regularly. Dundas -Hurontario is one such good location.
7. Borrow ideas -> In South India, String Hopper is considered a delicacy and is very costly too. In SI , it comes with a nice, spicy cauliflower ssouth indian subji. However for the Sri Lankan's it is a staple meal and they sell it for throwaway prices. They sell 25 nos. for $2.50. So each one is 10 cents. I propose that you buy from them and then resell 4 nos. with nice cauliflower subji for $2.99. IT is a new item on the market and you have max. profit too.
8. Sales and Marketing -> Try to reach areas by free delivery. Try unconventional customers (like seniors in retirement homes, people ready to buy your franchise ideas in USA etc...)
9. Contact -> Contact one Mr. Sankaracharya of this forum. He is a South indian and he has also observed south indian restaurants in Canada. He can give you a lot of constructive ideas in this field.
TK A
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TK Antony Saab from Tamil Nadu (A non-Hindi speaking conservative state in India)

Last edited by: tamilkuravan on 06-07-06 15:14:33
Post ID: 80609 06-07-06 15:00:30

ghar_ke_sapne
Junior Desi
Member since: Jun 06




Posts: 21
Location:


Cleaniness and price is the issue. Saravana bhavan is too expensive and qty small. Newin Centre food is good but not cheap and one has to put up with a stinky Korean diner opposite. Both suck. There is a big market sure nobody has been able to factor together or get the act together yet. U go

My heartfelt thanks to Tamilkuravan and Ghar ke sapne for their valuable inputs, and advice. I will certainly keep you posted about the developments in this regard.

In the meanwhile, if you come across anyone who might be interested in investing, or partnering, please contact me at


Thanks again for your advice and ideas.

Deleted for irrelevance!

Stick to the topic please!