A soup warmer does more than just keep soup warm in your restaurant — when they look good, soup warmers can entice your customers into ordering some soup. They also make it easy to serve soup and, of course, thaw it and keep it at the right temperature. Also called a round countertop warmer, a soup warmer may be the perfect addition to your restaurant, whether you run a buffet-style eatery or a soup-and-salad lunch spot.

One of the units we carry is the APW Countertop Warmer RCW-7, which is Editor’s Choice-rated by ShortOrder editors. With 1000 watts, this soup warmer features heating elements that evenly distribute heat throughout the unit. APW is a trusted name in restaurant equipment, and this soup warmer is built to last — it’s constructed with heavy-duty stainless steel and has an interior liner made of stainless steel.

A Soup Warmer or Three

When buying a soup warmer for your restaurant, be sure you get what you need. How many soups do you serve daily at your restaurant? If the answer is more than one, or you think it eventually could be, consider purchasing more than one soup warmer. Giving a choice of soup is a great way to please customers and keep them coming back for more. And if they love the soup they get, they may just want to try your other soups.

Buy a Soup Warmer for the Lowest Price

At ShortOrder.com, we’re proud to offer a wide selection of restaurant equipment at the lowest prices. Thanks to our Low Price Guarantee on Restaurant Equipment, our customers have the assurance that they’re getting their order for the best price. We also offer flexible freight terms and ship to Dubai and Canada. If you need more than a soup warmer for your restaurant, don’t miss the Vulcan ranges, Manitowoc ice machines, Bunn coffee makers and more that we offer.

The secret has long been out about Vulcan restaurant equipment: It’s quality-made, durable and dependable. Countless restaurant owners count on Vulcan to get the job done. Whether it’s a Vulcan cheese melter, char broiler or the ever-popular Vulcan range, these impressive units have earned their reputation for being great buys. And you’ll find all the Vulcan restaurant equipment you need here at ShortOrder.com.

Vulcan Ranges

Sleek, sturdy, those red knobs — Vulcan ranges make the grade when it comes to serious food preparation. What’s more is that these units are becoming more and more popular in home kitchens. They’re reliable and easy to clean. An industry leader, Vulcan manufactures impressive commercial ranges that get the job done. The Vulcan V24-NAT Range, a great value, features a thermostat that’s adjustable from 150 to 500 degrees, along with individual pilots for each burner. Compact, this Vulcan range measures 24″ x 31 7/8″ x 59 1/2″, with a cooking height of 36 1/2″.

Vulcan Cheese Melters

Mmmm… that’s what your happy customers will say when you bring out a hot, tasty sandwich made with a Vulcan cheese melter. Don’t miss the Vulcan Cheese Melter 1024 C 208/1, an all-stainless steel unit perfect for light-duty. This Vulcan cheese melter can have legs or be wall-mounted. When you put a plate on the rack, the heating element activates.

Vulcan Char Broilers

Vulcan char broilers are yet another outstanding type of restaurant equipment manufactured by Vulcan. An Editor’s Choice-rated unit, the Vulcan Char Broiler VCCB47-1-NAT also has a five-star rating and features an under burner deflector to reflect lost heat back up.

More from Vulcan

These are just a few of the many Vulcan units we offer at the lowest prices at ShortOrder.com. Start shopping now to find Vulcan convection ovens, heated carts, fryers, warming drawers and more. We’re proud to carry such quality restaurant equipment.

Happy New Year! Here’s to a prosperous 2010 for all of us. With the new year comes new resolutions, goals and starting fresh.

We’re testing some new looks to our home page. If you get the new version, please, let us know what you think about ease of use and flow of information. We always love to hear from our customers! What are some things you’re doing at your restaurant to note the new year?

Have you purchased equipment from Shortorder.com? Do you love it? Do you hate it? Tell us and your peers why. Go to Shortorder.com and submit a product review! Remember, this blog is for you and if there is anything you’d like to know more about – give us a shout! We’d love to hear from you.

The beginning of the new year this year is especially big – a new decade! My goals are to eat healthier and take better care of myself (probably not too dissimilar from your goals). Have you heard any crazy resolutions? What’s your resolution? Share! I love to hear from you.

Don’t forget: you can follow us on twitter: @shortorder! We also have a Facebook page and a LinkedIn profile – so if you’re into the social media, join us, and keep an eye out for upcoming giveaways and specials for our fans and followers.

In the mean time…

Keep on Cookin’!

Tylee Van Waes, ShortOrder.com

Seven keys to customer experience

Bruce Temkin

* The author is vice president and principal analyst at Forrester Research, with a focus on customer experience.

Despite the economic difficulties in 2009, we’ve seen a significant uptick in real customer experience efforts. What do I mean by real? Efforts that address systemic issues like poorly designed interactions, broken processes, outdated business rules, insufficient customer insight and cultures that are far from customer-centric.

This will likely be an even more active year for customer experience. While many companies will make substantial progress, others will falter. Here is some advice for keeping your customer experience efforts on track in 2010 and beyond:

1. Drop the executive commitment facade. It’s very easy for executives to say “customer experience is important.” But it’s much more difficult for them to dedicate the time and energy required to make it a real priority. So in 2010, executives should either get actively involved in customer experience transformation or drop it from their agendas.

Start here: Develop a customer experience dashboard and manage the results with the same energy that you manage financial results.

2. Acknowledge that you don’t know your customers. When market research teams require long lead times and expensive projects to answer questions about customers, too many organizations go without this insight. But the path to customer experience success requires significantly deeper customer observations. So in 2010, companies need to develop voice-of-the-customer programs that provide ongoing and continuous access to customers’ desires.

Start here: Create a voice-of-the-customer program with a cross-functional team that focuses on four “LIRM” components: listening to customers, interpreting the feedback, reacting to the data and monitoring results from actions over time.

3. Keep from getting too distracted by social media. Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites may seem sexy, but they aren’t the only channels for customer feedback. Other channels like comments on surveys and call center feedback can often provide even richer hints. So in 2010, companies need to learn from social media feedback, but not overreact to it.

Start here: Treat social media as one of many listening posts in a comprehensive voice-of-the-customer program that examines both structured and unstructured feedback.
4. Stop squeezing the life out of customer service. My research shows that consumers care more about good customer service than they do low prices. It also turns out that many customer service interactions are critical “moments of truth” that drive customer loyalty. But companies often treat customer service as an unwanted stepchild, focusing almost exclusively on aggressive cost-cutting. So in 2010, companies need to start viewing customer service as a strategic asset.

Start here: Measure customer service organizations based on how effectively they help customers instead of efficiency metrics like average handle times.

5. Restore the purpose in your brand. True brands are more than just color palettes, logos and marketing slogans, they’re the fabric that aligns all employees with customers in the pursuit of a common cause. They represent a firm’s raison d’être. Unfortunately, many companies have lost this sense of purpose in their brands. So in 2010, companies need to redefine their brand and embed it in the hearts and minds of all employees.

Start here: Translate your brand into promises you will make (and keep) with customers across every key touch point.

6. Don’t assume employees will get on board. Employees are often the most critical element of any customer experience effort. But firms can’t just hope that everyone will participate in these change initiatives. So in 2010, companies need to actively focus on engaging employees at every level across the organization in their customer experience efforts.

Start here: Communicate (a lot) about “why” customer experience is important and allow employees to participate in defining “how” to make improvements.

7. Translate customer experience into business terms. My research uncovered a strong correlation between customer experience and loyalty. An average $10 billion company can generate $284 million of additional revenues from customer experience improvements. But most companies don’t fully understand the link between customer experience and business results. So in 2010, companies need to identify how customer experience impacts their financial results.

Start here: Engage the CFO to develop a model which shows the impact that customer experience has on customer loyalty.

story courtesy of fastcasual.com

At ShortOrder.com, we’re proud to offer Garland restaurant equipment at the lowest prices. If you’re in need of ranges, ovens, stock burners or char broilers for your restaurant, look no further. Garland boasts innovation in their products, and many who have cooked with Garland restaurant equipment can attest to its quality.

Garland Ranges

For most restaurants, ranges are an essential. Consider one of the many durable, dependable Garland ranges available. One such product is the Garland Range G48-6G12LL/NAT a 48-inch range with two standard ovens and a 12-inch griddle. It also features six burners and has a natural gas connection. This Garland range has been recognized with an Editor’s Choice rating from ShortOrder.com.

Garland Char Broilers

We couldn’t make a blog post about Garland restaurant equipment and leave out Garland char broilers! Widely known and used, Garland char broilers are perfect for several applications in the kitchen. Check out the Garland Char Broiler RBA-30-NAT, a 30-inch char broiler that really means business. This has also received the Editor’s Choice rating from ShortOrder.com.

Garland Ovens

What’s a restaurant kitchen without an oven? Garland ranges like the Garland Range G36-6R-NAT come with a standard oven. This oven features an exceptionally heavy-duty door. It’s the most economical unit, and you can expect uniformed heat distribution.

Garland Stock Burners

Another useful kind of restaurant equipment to keep in the kitchen: Garland stock burners, also called stock pot ranges. A favorite is the Garland Stock Pot Range SP-1844 NAT, a single-section unit that runs on natural gas. ShortOrder.com editors have rated this unit four stars.

More Restaurant Equipment

ShortOrder.com doesn’t only carry Garland restaurant equipment. You’ll find a wide selection of Vulcan ranges, Manitowoc ice machines, Bunn coffee makers and more. Start shopping now — our prices are the lowest out there thanks to our Low Price Guarantee.

Get ‘em while you still can: Clearance Manitowoc ice machines currently available at ShortOrder.com offer huge savings. These units may be scratched and dented, but they are still in working condition — the price is just reduced to compensate for scratches and dents that happened from freight. Manitowoc produces quality restaurant equipment, and these ice machines are perfect for just about any bar, restaurant, diner or even at home. Having a large amount of ice on-hand ensures you’ll be able to deliver customers ice-cold beverages and keep cold food cold. Here are the clearance Manitowoc ice machines currently available. Just remember: At these prices, they won’t last long.

Manitowoc Ice Machine SD-0322A/115-1

The Manitowoc Ice Machine SD-0322A/115-1 is one of the clearance Manitowoc ice machines currently available here at ShortOrder.com. Its low price is because of a dent on the condenser. This ice machine is air-cooled and self-contained, and it produces 340 lbs of dice-size cubes in a 24-hour period. It also features a hinged front door for easy access; a food zone designed with soft, round cove corners; and a patented cleaning and sanitizing technology. Thanks to Manitowoc’s smart design, this ice machine is simple to clean, efficient and runs whisper-quiet. The typical dealer price is $2,359.85, but we’re offering it for $1,808.00 — delivered. Unbeatable.

There’s another clearance Manitowoc Ice Machine SD-0322A/115-1 available, too — this one just has minor cosmetic damage.

Manitowoc Ice Machine SD-0452A/B-400/115-1

Another clearance scratched and dented restaurant equipment available is the Manitowoc Ice Machine SD-0452A/B-400/115-1. There is a small scratch on the left side of head, and the bin has a small scratch on the right side near the bin door frame. This binless Manitowoc ice machine (head only) produces 450 lbs of ice per 24-hour period. Want a custom Manitowoc ice machine that makes dice-sized cubes? Buy this Editor’s Choice ice machine and then order an accompanying bin that matches your needs.

ShortOrder.com is proud to offer restaurant equipment at very low prices. Don’t miss our clearance restaurant equipment and our wide selection of new restaurant equipment.

We’re just a couple of days away from ringin’ in the new year. With a new year comes new goals and resolutions, and some like to think of it as a way to start fresh. For restaurant owners, this may mean getting some new restaurant equipment. At ShortOrder.com, you’ll be able to find exactly what you need to start off the new year right — and you’ll find everything at the lowest price possible.

Bunn Coffee Makers

It seems like restaurants that don’t have Bunn coffee makers are few and far between — these coffee machines are typically an essential in restaurants, bars and diners. Customers love hot, fresh coffee, and Bunn coffee makers reliably produce just that. We’re probably all familiar with the standard Bunn coffee makers you see at diners — the Bunn Single-Pot Coffee Maker 13300.0001 — but there are quite a few more models in the line-up. Caterers may find Bunn satellite brewers useful. Check out the Bunn Double Satellite Brewer 27900.0002. This impressive piece of equipment brews 16.3 to 18.9 gallons of perfect coffee per hour.

Manitowoc Ice Machines

Another kind of restaurant equipment that’s often essential to have on-hand: Manitowoc ice machines. Manitowoc is an industry leader, and these are the number-one selling ice machines in America. If you’d like one of these for your own home, that’s okay, too — Manitowoc ice machines are perfect for entertaining at home. Customers have their pick of many quality units that produce different kinds and amounts of ice and vary in size. For large restaurants, don’t miss the Manitowoc Ice Machine SY-1404A-208-1.

More Restaurant Equipment at ShortOrder.com

There’s so much more at ShortOrder.com. Our restaurant equipment inventory is expansive and includes Vulcan ranges, Hobart slicers, Vita-Mix blenders and more. We offer flexible freight terms, and we have a Low Price Guarantee on restaurant equipment so that you have the assurance that you’re getting your order at the lowest price out there.

Why cook with a convection oven? Convection ovens circulate hot air throughout the oven to cook more evenly, at a lower temperature, with delicious results! You can cook just about anything in a convection oven, resulting in perfectly cooked cookies, turkeys and crisp pastries. The main reason for this is the way a convection oven works. They have a fan that continuously circulates air throughout the oven, thus transferring the heat more quickly and evenly.

Overall, food cooked in a convection oven is usually done about 25% faster than it is in a conventional oven. Consider baking 3 racks of cookies in a standard oven. The bottom rack will cook fastest because it is closest to the heating elements, the top rack as well, because heat rises, but the middle rack will cook slower. In a convection oven, all three racks would cook at the same rate, and you would run a more efficient kitchen!

Remember, not all convection ovens are created equal. The best, most efficient ovens blow heated air into the oven cavity. They will have a third heating element located near the fan so that it blows heated air. Convection ovens without this third element will generally cook less evenly. Countertop convection ovens are commonly built without the third element, so if you are looking to get the true benefit of a convection oven, you are better off upgrading your range or purchasing a full size convection oven. Gas ovens are also generally built without the third element as well.

What should you cook in a convection oven?

Almost anything! Some suggestions:

• Baked goods – the butter produces steam and loses moisture faster, becoming flakier and crispier
• Poultry – fat renders quickly and produces a well-browned skin while sealing the juices in
• Red Meat – browns quickly, seals in juices

ShortOrder offers a broad array of convection ovens for you. Choose from the basic, stand-alone convection oven or a range with a convection oven base — you’re sure to find the restaurant equipment you need at the best price.

We don’t blame you if you asked Santa to bring you a Vita-Mix blender — for Christmas or any other occasion, it’s an incredible blender! Whether it’s for your home, restaurant or bar, you really can’t go wrong with this outstanding piece of restaurant equipment that’s earned a solid reputation.

While most people use blenders for smoothie-making, a common problem with a lot of blenders is that they just can’t handle chopping up all that ice. Such is not the case with a Vita-Mix blender — it pulverizes ice so your smoothies are actually smooth. Don’t stop at smoothies, though: The Vita-Mix blender is made to be able to handle much more. It’s capable of chopping vegetables and nuts, making soup and more.

Vita-Mix Blender 1005

We’re proud to offer the Vita-Mix Blender 1005, a commercial variable speed blender that is not short on features. With a 3+ peak horsepower motor, the Vita-Mix Blender 1005 can handle ingredients that are tough and thick. Need to grind meats for pate? No problem. What about veggies for salsa? Again, no problem. Making soups, sauces and purees are a breeze with this blender — and it won’t overheat like inferior blenders do.

This Vita-Mix blender has a sleek look, too, so you’ll want to proudly display it on your kitchen counter between what will inevitably be frequent uses. It has a black base and a 64-ounce / 2.0 liter container with a wet blade. A three-year warranty is included.

Other models available from ShortOrder.com include the Vita-Mix Blender 748, Vita-Mix Bar Blender and Vita-Mix Blender 5004.

Get a Vita-Mix Blender for the Lowest Price

At ShortOrder.com, you’ll get  your Vita-Mix blender for the lowest price — that’s our Low Price Guarantee on restaurant equipment. Our impressive selection includes Vulcan ranges, Manitowoc ice machines, Bunn coffee makes and more. Start shopping at ShortOrder.com today to find everything you need to get cookin’ in your restaurant, bar or home kitchen.

To anyone who’s owned Manitowoc ice machines, it should come as no surprise to learn that they’re the number-one selling ice machine in America. When it comes to energy-efficiency, durability, ease of serviceability, noise levels and sanitation, there’s just no beating Manitowoc ice machines. They’ve even recently been named Best in Class by Food Service Equipment and Supplies Magazine for the ninth consecutive year. With so many different models, it’s easy to find one that best suits your restaurant’s needs.

Manitowoc Ice Machine SY-1404A-208-1

Manitowoc Ice Machine SY-1404A-208-1 couldn’t be better for large restaurants, hotels or convention centers, or really anywhere that could use a machine that produces large amounts of ice quickly. Specifically, this unit makes 1,160 pounds of dice-sized ice cubes in a 24-hour period. One of the things Manitowoc ice machines are known for is being energy-efficient, and this unit is no exception. It uses ice harvest technology to reduce energy requirements and the refrigerant is CFC-free. Thanks to a water distribution tube that can be removed without any tools, this machine is easily serviceable.

Manitowoc Ice Machine QD-0212A

If you’re looking for a unit to fit underneath your countertops, it’s worth considering the Manitowoc Ice Machine QD-0212A. At 38 1/2 inches tall, this unit has an easy-access door, a generous self-contained storage bin and a stainless steel exterior. In terms of ice production, you can expect 155 to 215 pounds of full dice-size ice cubes per 24-hour period.

Buy Manitowoc Ice Machines

People buy Manitowoc ice machines for restaurants, bars and even their own home, where having lots of ice on-hand can be perfect for entertaining. But no matter what you’ll be using them for, Manitowoc ice machines are outstanding restaurant equipment that you can count on. Here at ShortOrder, we’re proud to carry a wide selection of Manitowoc ice machines, and our Low Price Guarantee means that you have the assurance that you’re getting them for the lowest price out there. Additionally, we carry restaurant equipment like Bunn coffee makers, Vulcan ranges, Beverage-Air refrigerators and more.

Every restaurant needs storage — chefs and staff have a much easier time navigating a well-organized commercial kitchen. Whether it’s flour, mixes, cups or to-go containers, look to Eagle Storage Shelving Kits to help keep things organized so you can focus on serving customers. We’re proud to announce that these quality units are now a part of our restaurant equipment line-up at ShortOrder.

Your restaurant storage system has got to be able to stand up to heavy-duty use. And Eagle Storage Shelving Kits do just that, providing reliable, strong shelving on which to store items. These kits feature Patented Quad-Truss shelves, which means increased strength and durability. Another bonus that comes along with these shelves: special interlocking corners that make it easy to add or remove a shelf without having to disassemble the whole unit.

Eagle Storage Shelving Kits: Weight Capabilities

So just how much can Eagle Storage Shelving Kits hold? For shelves up to 48″ in length, an evenly distributed static load of 800 pounds can be supported. And for shelves 60″ in length and 72″ in length, an evenly distributed static load of 600 pounds can be supported. Eagle notes that stationary units should not exceed 2,400 pounds per set of four posts, and the maximum load for mobile units should be one of the following (whichever is less): 3 times the weight rating for one caster, or 1,000 pounds per set of four posts.

Eagle Storage Shelving Kits: Accessories

If you’re buying Eagle Storage Shelving Kits, don’t forget about accessories. Options include: casters, rods and tabs, “S” hooks, ledges, dividers, foot plates, aluminum split sleeves and shelf markers.

Buy Eagle Storage Shelving Kits

Ready to get organized and buy Eagle Storage Shelving Kits? Choose from the wide selection of restaurant equipment at ShortOrder, where you’ll have the assurance you’re getting your order for the lowest price thanks to our Low Price Guarantee. Start shopping now!