The Howard Company's Blog

What Do I Need To Know About Receiving My Shipment?

April 6, 2023 / by Sara Sina posted in Drive-Thru, Indoor Menu Boards, Installation, Expert Insights, Sara Sina, Delivery

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At The Howard Company, we do our best to package all our products and ship them in a way that they arrive to you in perfect condition, ready to use or install. Here’s what you need to know about receiving small items (UPS) or larger items (Freight) that you have ordered from The Howard Company.

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Non-Traditional Drive-Thrus Popping Up Everywhere

November 3, 2021 / by Jean Jones posted in Drive-Thru, Convenience Stores, Restaurants, Expert Insights, Jean Jones

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Imagine the typical drive-thru restaurant layout - a box on a busy street, perhaps on a corner, an entry and exit driveway, a marked out drive-thru lane wrapping around the building, with the menu board towards the back and the payment and pick-up windows on the side. Next, imagine the typical drive-thru restaurant type - a QSR or a coffee shop. Now imagine that these descriptions do not fit your business. Drive-thrus are popping up in more and more places, in what a few years ago would have been considered very unconventional. Here are some examples:

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Jim Reeder: The Benefits of Adding Presell Boards

August 5, 2021 / by Jim Reeder posted in Drive-Thru, Jim Reeder, Drive-Thru Accessories, Expert Insights

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The Howard Company did a social media survey that asked the question, 'Before entering a restaurant's drive-thru, how often do you know your exact order?' The answer options were 'Always, Sometimes, Rarely, and Never.' With 51 total participants, 37 individuals (73%) voted 'Sometimes, Rarely, or Never,' and only 14 individuals (27%) voted 'Always.'

In our small sample, nearly three-quarters of drive-thru customers say they do not know their exact order beforehand. At the same time, they choose the drive-thru for convenience and speed of service. This indecision hints at how important it is to present items before customers reach the main menu board—giving guests time to make a decision, upselling, and cross-selling with special, limited-time offers. The Howard Company designs presell boards for these scenarios.

Jim Reeder talks more in-depth about the top three reasons businesses should include a presell board in their drive-thru(s) in the video titled 'The Benefits of Adding Presell Boards.'

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Why Are So Many Brands Showcasing Future Drive-Thru Designs?

March 9, 2021 / by Gary Kurtz posted in Drive-Thru, Restaurants, Gary Kurtz, Expert Insights

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An intriguing public relations trend that many major restaurant chains have jumped on in the last few months is publishing images of their "drive-thru of the future." The renderings are sometimes flashy and futuristic, and the headlines tell the tale of 2020. But there is a lot more going on than what is indicated by the headlines. 

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Jean Jones: Omnichannel Strategy

February 25, 2021 / by Jean Jones posted in Digital, Restaurants, Expert Insights, Jean Jones

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Imagine businesses combining their kiosk content, mobile content, and website content all into one software. Interacting with guests would seem much more simple.

Well, it is possible and it is a reality!

The Howard Company is now offering branded omnichannel ecosystems. Jean Jones, Marketing Director at The Howard Company, lists out some of the top benefits of omnichannel solutions. 

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