The COVID-19 pandemic and official advisories to avoid social contact have spurred the growth of more online business in Yellowknife.
Advisories from the chief public health officer to avoid social gatherings saw almost all dine-in restaurants close down about two weeks ago.
But restaurateurs with innovation on their minds have found new opportunities in this challenging business environment.
Touchless online orders
Copperhouse Eatery began offering "touchless" takeout just over a week ago.
SA国际影视传媒淲e're pushing all phone orders online to avoid any contaminated objects,SA国际影视传媒� owner Mark Henry told SA国际影视传媒.
The process starts with customers buying their meals online, arranging a pick-up time and then driving to Copperhouse and pulling up to a service window.
SA国际影视传媒淭he building was a Dairy Queen previously so we're set up to adapt fairly well to that quick service model,SA国际影视传媒� Henry said.
Customers give their name at the drive-through window and the order is passed through by a staff member wearing gloves.
Henry said the touchless model is proving popular and the restaurant has doubled its regular takeout sales.
SA国际影视传媒淚t was really nice to see the ticket machine printing more online ordering than we've experienced before. On one level it didnSA国际影视传媒檛 surprise me because the Yellowknife community rallies when they need to. The public has responded to this new market.SA国际影视传媒�
The Woodyard Brewhouse and Eatery also offers online ordering after the pub closed down two weeks ago.
The online side SA国际影视传媒渋s keeping us afloat,SA国际影视传媒� said marketing manager Thomas Bentham.
SA国际影视传媒淲e do food takeaway. Obviously our sales arenSA国际影视传媒檛 much compared to what we had before and we've had a reduced menu. We'll be starting beer delivery it in a few weeks. And also with the whole COVID part we have to be as touchless as possible. Our staff all wear gloves and all of our beer vessels are sanitized,SA国际影视传媒� Bentham said.
Business lending a hand
But Copperhouse isnSA国际影视传媒檛 just keeping its success for itself.
MarkSA国际影视传媒檚 brother and co-owner Paul explained to SA国际影视传媒 that he is offering his services to other restaurants in helping them set up online ordering systems during the pandemic-related business doldrums.
SA国际影视传媒�WeSA国际影视传媒檙e really fortunate to have a functional platform to operate. Most restaurants don't have that luxury. Mark and I have talked about this and being able to lend support to other restaurants in town really opens up their capacity to have a fighting chance to get through this,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Copperhouse uses a restaurant ordering platform called ueat.io, developed by a company based in Quebec City. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 fully integrated with its point of sale ordering system.
Paul said most SA国际影视传媒渕om and pop operationsSA国际影视传媒� would be surprised at how easy it is to set the system up and he is offering the technical direction to help them.
SA国际影视传媒淔or me itSA国际影视传媒檚 just allowing people to learn about this. If youSA国际影视传媒檙e a traditional restaurant and your phone is ringing youSA国际影视传媒檙e limited to the number of people calling. YouSA国际影视传媒檙e losing business if youSA国际影视传媒檙e doing it just by phone. But online ordering you can catch the market, and catch a lot more customers.SA国际影视传媒�
He wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 identify its name, but said he has been talking with one restaurant in Yellowknife about helping getting an ordering platform up and running.
Paul noted that last weekend Copperhouse was doing brisk business, and passersby said that cars were lined up around the parking lot.
But Paul said even that represented just half the revenues they were earning before the pandemic hit and CopperhouseSA国际影视传媒檚 success with the online ordering system has been a kind of lifeline.
SA国际影视传媒淭his is a crucial time to be doing this. Today this is our competitive advantage. Online ordering has given us a fighting chance. This isn't a platform for success but this is a platform to get through this (pandemic),SA国际影视传媒� he said.
While online ordering isnSA国际影视传媒檛 suitable for BullockSA国际影视传媒檚 Bistro, which chooses to serve its fish freshly cooked on site, co-owner Jo-ann Martin said the offer of help by the Henry brothers is very generous in this tough economic time.
