The Experience Isn't the Food

I'm a huge Anthony Bourdain fan. His curiosity, candor, and interaction with the world inspire me. I was watching an episode of Parts Unknown this weekend, and his chef/friend was talking about how important the experience of a restaurant was.

Food isn't the only factor that makes a restaurant outstanding; the experience is.

If I visit a restaurant and the food is out of this world, but the experience is off, I MIGHT go back once or twice to see if it was a fluke or an "off day." But if the experience is still off... I won't go back again. Even the most heavenly food can't make up for a poor experience.

How do I define experience?

Environment + Service + Food = Experience.

Notice where food is on the list—the last piece. I first experience the environment. The smells. The vibe. The lighting. The decor. The uniqueness. The temperature. The location. The views. The layout. I then experience the service. The staff. The attitude. The speed. The detail. Finally, I will experience the food. The skill. The quality. The presentation. The creativity.

As business owners, we tend to be obsessed with the "food"—our products and services—but neglect the other pieces of the equation. The environment we create and how we deliver our services/products precede our "food."

Businesses that deliver an intentional experience are magical.

You must deliver a fantastic product, but neglecting your environment and the service will create a long list of "one-timers" who come and go without saying a word.

Ask yourself these questions:

• What environment do you create? (Not limited to physical space)
• How does this environment make people feel?
• How do you care for people before and after delivering your core offering?
• How do you serve people in other ways than receiving your core offering?
• Based on your answers above, how can you elevate your brand's environment and service?

Incremental increases deliver exponential results. Start small and build. Add only what you can consistently deliver.

Experience is the past, present, and future of your brand's growth.

Having Trouble?

If you’re struggling to get your brand and customer experience on the same page, we’re here to help. A simple intro call is the perfect chance for us to get up to speed on where you are and discuss how we can help create a brand experience that truly resonates.