Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Secondary Research


Secondary research has many major advantages in conducting research and creating a public relations plan. One such advantage is simply that it is economic: using secondary data is less costly and time-consuming than collecting primary data.

Its disadvantages relate not only to the availability of sufficient secondary data but also to the quality of the data that is available.

Doing secondary research for mobile food eateries and mobile food trailer parks proved beneficial in discovering the history behind the mobile food trailer trend, and how the more successful vendors in the trade become profitable and continue to grow in this booming industry.

The sources I looked to during secondary research spanned from the general to the more specific.  General articles I read were So You Want to Start a Food Truck?, Food Truck 101, Before you start a food truck, slow your roll, Restaurant management: 5 tips for success, Do you have what it takes to run a successful restaurant?, and How to open a successful Food Truck. These articles gave me insight on what it takes to be successful in both the food service industry as a whole, and also what it takes to be successful as a food truck operator.

More specific articles I read was Research on Food Truck Trend Rising, as well as articles regarding mobile food trailers in comparable cities such as Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin. I also read articles regarding local food trailer news, such as an Austin Food Trailer Listing, a San Marcos Food trailer listing, and the City of San Marcos’ Food Trailer Permit Info.

I have found through secondary research that 2008 was the year that the food trailer trend really started to boom, and between 2009 and 2011, food trailer eateries have taken root in Austin, TX, and show no signs of slowing. The start-up hurdles most vendors have experienced is proper licensing, funding, getting a truck with a kitchen inside of it, proper clean looking design and signage on the trailer itself, social networking, and developing a plan for poor weather. The food trailer vendors find success when they utilize social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter to promote their menus, location and specials.

Through doing secondary research, I was able to pin down what exactly I wanted to know from The Hitch in San Marcos, and what needs to be done to ensure their success as the first and most exciting food trailer park in the area. I was able to read the environment and have discovered food trailers and food trailer parks have become more than just a temporary craze, but these trailers are here to stay.






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