Another thought.
I’ll confess, my favorite pizza is not my own.
My favorite pizza is a Chicago landmark. Even if I lived in Chicago, I would not eat it every time I want Pizza. Why?
Because 1, it is expensive. 2, it is more than I need. 3, too much of a good thing makes it ordinary or even bad.
I keep trying to hammer it home. The chains don’t have lousy pizza. It’s not gourmet, but it’s not lousy either.
What you need to decide is what is your niche? If your pizza is “high quality” is your place high quality? Does the atmosphere of your shop and your advertising project the image you want people to have of your pizza? If you have white walls, a counter, ovens and a couple of plastic booths, your image is “cheap” even if your pizza isn’t. If you have carpeting, dark wood, clean, and candles on every table, your image is cozy.
Think of it this way. When you walk into a Domino’s, it looks like an efficient pizza factory, and that’s what it is. They crank out thousands of pizzas, and don’t worry too much about atmosphere. If you changed your sign, could people mistake your store for a Domino’s or a Hut, or a PJ’s??? If what they SEE is no different, how do you expect them to make the leap that your pizza is different or worth more?
So maybe your place is different. Perhaps it has the atmosphere, and you command the higher price. Do you expect people to shell out higher $$$ every Friday? Then you are living in a fantasy world. If your pizza is a treat, then people are going to use you less frequently. Ruth’s Chris has great steaks, possibly the best. I eat there once every 2 years. Lone Star has good steaks. I eat there 4 or 5 times a YEAR. another place has O.K. steaks. I eat there every couple WEEKS! Price, location, service, appropriate dress, time, all factor in. One is food, another is a treat, the third is an EVENT.
Decide you niche, and go for it. Stop worrying about the chains unless that is your market. If it is, then prepare to dig in and fight on their turf.