How Much Would You Pay For Hummus?
I am going to start today’s blog post by asking a really random question - would you spend £24 on a standard bowl of hummus? While I let you think about that let me introduce myself:
Hello, my name is Holly and I am a Video Editor and Motion Graphics Designer, I love working to fast turnarounds and thrive under pressure.
Where I live, there are a lot of villages nearby and one of them is reasonably big that you could actually / technically call it a town. It is a place that can be slightly busier in the summer as it is a location where a lot of the walks into the rural areas takes place so it attracts tourism. On a normal day though it is an area that is full of a population predominantly made up of elderly and young families that tend to go to the local coffee shops and restaurants that are reasonably priced and any budget could afford something in them
So why is it that in the last month a cafe which classifies itself as a restaurant has decided to open where you get a normal size plate of hummus and it is £24 for the privilege? Even for something like poached eggs and asparagus it is £24.
This has been on my mind a lot in the last few weeks - before this place opened there was a lovely deli in its spot, family run homemade produce, amazing coffee all for your normal prices and the portions were fantastic. It was so popular you had to book in advance for lunch and it was part of the community. Before this new place was even open they posted the menu and local people queried the prices and the owner was very rude to anyone that did. Even now, if there are any comments about it being too expensive the owner is rude to the person who has stated something online.
It is important to state that this place is not near Edinburgh, where you would potentially expect something like this, but looking at the prices of restaurants in this city and even London there are still none that are this overpriced. It is a very strange situation and I don’t understand it.
The only positive thing that has come out of this is that it has inspired me to write an article. It has made me sit back, think deeply about my own brand and key points such as:
Understanding your target audience is vital
Being accessible to all can make your branding / self more engaging
Believing In Your Product
Before anything can fall into place, the one thing that is incredibly important is to believe in yourself and your product. Your skill set is what makes you unique and it is what is your Unique Selling Point. The only one who is going to prove your worth is yourself - so make that work.
Target Audience
One thing I have learned that is incredibly important is understanding your clients needs. Even if you initially have no understanding of it in the first place, go out of your way to gain the knowledge and get to know everything about it. It won’t just benefit the client, it will also help you in the long run - both to see what they stand for and how you can build on that brand to produce creativity and engagement.
Be accessible
As a freelancer or even as a limited company, you need to decide how accessible you want to be for your clients. Do you want to be flexible with your pricing so you can accommodate a range of people or do you want to be rigid and have set pricing? I personally feel it depends on the job - due to the fact I am a Video Editor and a Motion Graphics Designer - my pricing for jobs always varies depending on the clients needs. More in depth solutions will cost more whereas simpler briefs that need less intense work I will always be flexible with.
The one thing that really irritates me about ‘Hummusgate’ is the prices and the portions. It is not a viable option and you can tell as the reviews are mainly about the coffee and when people do order they are having ‘half portions’ (I saw a photo of a half portion the other day of one of their pastas they charge £28 for. The half portion is £18 and it is like a starter - you get bigger portions in London for that price). I don’t know how long this place will stay open, especially since they have just announced they are closing all summer for other commitments…
It is funny to be inspired by a plate of food but that’s the one thing about creativity, you never know where you will get inspiration from.