Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes Site Redesign Embraces Social Media
Red Door Interactive, a premier strategic Internet Presence Management firm, launched the newest website for Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp’s Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes brands that fully embraces social media.
The popular restaurant chain aims to enhance its online guest engagement capabilities into its primary Internet property while furthering the reach and interactivity of its Facebook and Twitter pages.
“We’ve seen great success by being an active participant in social media in terms of increased brand loyalty, customer feedback and store traffic,” said Jill Trecker, Manager of Guest Experience Loyalty for Garden Fresh Corporation. “Embracing it even more by making it a key component of our main website not only puts us in greater immediate touch with our customers, but also places us in a forward-looking position when compared to other restaurant chains.”
Among the new social media features of the main site are:
- Facebook Fan Box – Visitors to the Souplantation/Sweet Tomatoes site can see the latest postings by Garden Fresh on this renowned social media site about the activities at their stores without leaving the main Web page.
- Twitter Stream – Guests can also check out the comments, feedback and ideas by followers of the restaurant chain’s Twitter account in real time without logging on to the micro-blogging service.
- “Share This” Content Function – Visitors can share various content on their MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Digg, StumbleUpon and other social sites in one click, making the Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes site truly a grass-roots communication tool for guests.
- “Fresh Ideas” Blog – Visitors can read and comment on weekly postings by the restaurant chain on all things Souplantation &Sweet Tomatoes related, as well as non-brand content that guests expressed an interest in hearing – such as healthy eating habits, fun family activities and favorite recipes.
“The old adage is true; people buy from people they know and like. Social media is an online vehicle that offers organizations the opportunity to engage with customers on a one-on-one level,” said Crosby Noricks, Social Media Strategist for Red Door Interactive. “Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes has been in the forefront of this trend, and as a result has seen direct and significant awareness and revenue benefits from it. Integrating these components in their main site is the logical next step.”
Other new features of the website include the ability for guests to customize the website to display content relevant to the location they visit most frequently; a Sprouts Only page, giving kids the opportunity to play games and download activity and coloring sheets; as well as purchase multiple gift cards to send to different locations in one online transaction.
About Red Door Interactive, Inc.
Based in San Diego and Denver, Red Door Interactive, Inc. manages clients’ online presence by analyzing their unique challenges, advising them on ways to improve, fix and optimize all aspects of their online business, and implementing strategies to help them profit from their Web initiatives. Clients include Overstock.com, Cricket Communications, Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill and Souplantation. Find out more about Red Door Interactive at http://www.reddoor.biz.
I think its great what you’ve been doing with regards to embracing social media. I follow your twitterfeed and Facebook page often, and really enjoy the updates, contests, and giveaways. Keep up the great work!
You lost Addison as a city location for Texas in the new “Choose Your Location” section on the top left corner of the home site. When the new site first came up, I picked Addison but then it disappeared. After that, I got an error message that “Oops the page is missing” until I cleared all my Cache – naturally, since for some reason Addison disappeared from the drop down selection. Otherwise, the new site design seems an improvement.
quite interesting read. I would love to follow you on twitter.
Enjoy your restaurants near West Palm, Florida and near Las Vegas. Any plans for openings in Northern Virginia. We sure could use a great soup/salad bar here in Alexandria, Va.
Hello.
Just a brief message of a situation I had on the Orange Park, Florida location on Wells Road; Today May 21st 2014.
I visited the store at 8:35 pm. As soon as I opened the door, a line employee, Pam, told me that for my information, they will be closing at 9:00 pm.
I replied telling her was only 8:35 pm. Then asked Pam, what will happen at 9:00 pm, If they will lift everything off the steamers and she answerd that “yes they will lift everything”. Jason, the closing manager , was closed and I guess doing inventory with a notebook, entered into the arguing and tried to inquire what happened. He said , that they will not take everything out at once, that they will let me return to do one more trip to the bar.
It was very obvious for me, taking in consideration Pam’s face, that she does not like customers past 8:30. I find it very rude when you hush customer like that. I will understand that been a buffet, walking in at 8:50/55 will upset some employees who wants to close an leave ( I have been restaurant manager). But still you have to show empaty and extend a welcoming smile to guest.
Pam, not only wanted me to leave, but challenge me that food will be taken out at 9:00 pm.
Enough for me.
Jason followed me to the car, apologizing for the situation. Leting me know that he appreciates my business. A very professional approach and asked me to please remain as a customer. I replied to him that I am regular and told him in previous visits, everything has been perfect and mentioned the excellent service I have received from Wilson, line guy. (Prep).
Basically my feedback is that, employees should be trained on “pretending” they care for business. That a customer still a customer even at 8:35 pm. And finally, to outlined, that Jason, used the manager protocol correctly and tried to make me feel “appreciated”.
And I do appreciate he trying.
Finally, I ended in Ruby Tuesday. Love their salad bar. You will understand having dinner after the arguing doesn’t feel right.
Thank You for reading my feedback and best of luck.
Antonio
We are so sorry for your experience, Antonio. We have passed along your note to our Management Team and are sure that the manager at the location has already addressed the situation. We hope we are able to impress you again on your next visit.