What to do when a catering quote goes quiet

You send a detailed quote and hear nothing. It's easy to assume the answer is no. Often the client is comparing options, waiting on a partner or simply busy. A calm, well-timed follow-up can be the difference between a booked event and a lost one.

Why quotes go quiet

• The client is collecting several quotes.
• They need to talk to someone else before deciding.
• Your email was buried, or they meant to reply and forgot.

A three-step follow-up

Day 2 or 3: Check that the quote arrived and offer to answer questions. Make it easy: "Happy to adjust the menu or headcount if that helps."

Day 7: Add something useful, such as a menu suggestion for their type of event or a note on your availability for their date.

Day 14: A polite close. Let them know you'll keep the date open a little longer if they'd like, if that's true, and thank them either way.

Only claim a date is limited if it genuinely is.

Make follow-up automatic

The hardest part is remembering while you're cooking for another event. Put every quote in a list with a "follow up on" date. When the date comes, send the message.

After the event

Ask the host for a Google review a couple of days later, and ask if they'd recommend you to a friend planning something similar.

Where iSmartBiz fits

The CRM keeps every quote in a pipeline with reminders, and review request campaigns go out after events. AI drafts the messages and you approve them.