Restaurants Articles

Are Your Restaurant Marketing Programs an Expense or Revenue Generator?

How do restaurant operators look at the cost of marketing? The NRA’s guidelines for restaurant marketing says that restaurants should allocate anywhere between two and four percent on restaurant marketing.  Do restaurant owners follow this model when budgeting for their business?  Like many families, the budget sometimes goes out the window when juggling expenses.  The […]

Are First Time Guest Part of Your Restaurant Marketing Strategy?

Understanding the lifetime value of your customer is important part of restaurant marketing. What is a customer worth to you? 2014 is off to a crazy start. A recent article on Fox Business News cited that the winter weather has impacted small business by as much as 13% in the first two months of the […]

Can Yelp Restaurant Reviews Be Accurate?

Is reputation management part of your restaurant marketing strategy? Recently, I was on an extensive road trip for the better part of the past month. Many nights in hotels and most of my meals in restaurants. Ah the glamour of business travel! One thing I have seen in most markets that I visit is that […]

Top 5 Concerns for Your Restaurant Business Plan in 2014

As we go into a new year, restaurant owners should be developing their restaurant business plan for operational efficiency and marketing strategies to increase sales. A recent study of restaurant owners in Columbus Ohio cited the top five concerns to be dealt with in 2014. Outlined below are their thoughts. How will I increase sales and […]

5 Steps to Consider In Your Restaurant Business Plan For 2014

2013 is done! 2014 is here…. Now what will you do? At the beginning of every year it’s always good to take a step back and see what worked and what did not work over the past year in your restaurant. Here are four quick easy categories to help you figure out your restaurant business […]

Restaurant Traffic Growing or Declining in 2013?

Recently, several casual dining restaurant chains have announced that they are “exploring options” or slowing their growth pattern for additional stores.  The reasons they site are declining customer restaurant traffic and the resulting impact on quarterly profits. What’s going on with this trend and how does the restaurant owner react so that he does not […]

Restaurant Marketing Plans 2014 –Your Menu

As you move forward into 2014, there are many ways to improve the profitability of your restaurant. One of them is with your menu. It is your highway to profitability.Every one of your customers and potential customers looks at it. If you keep that thought in mind, you will understand why you need to stay […]

Restaurant Marketing Plans for 2014.

I know, I know…. You are just preparing for the busy holiday season and planning for 2014 is the last thing on your mind. Unfortunately we all know that time goes so fast and January of 2014 will be here in no time. Do you want to come out of the gate fast, or start […]

Is Cause Related Marketing Good For Your Restaurant?

Veterans Day has come and gone for 2013. Many restaurants have taken that day to honor our veterans for their service to our country. That is great way to show your appreciation for their service to us as a nation. I happened to visit a local restaurant on Veterans Day that had been saying their […]

Is Your Restaurant Part of Your Local Community

Think about it…. How many times a week does somebody knock on your door and ask for donations from your restaurant? One…Three….Ten times a week? Restaurant owners I have spoken to about this topic seemed annoyed with all of these people asking for donations. Yes, it can be a hassle, yes it can cost you […]

Are Your Restaurant Profits Walking Out The Door?

I find it truly amazing how large the portion sizes are at most restaurants! For some restaurant owners this may be a strategy to help your restaurant get know. Large portions…. cheap prices. But to those restaurants have they ever considered the impact on the profitability of the restaurant? This past week, my wife and […]

Does Your Restaurant Marketing Have A Rainy Day Fund?

Last night I went out for dinner to a local restaurant and had my meal on their outdoor deck. It was a great night, about 70 degrees, no wind and just a great night to sit out and enjoy a meal. During the course of the night, the owner “Dutch” stopped by our table to […]

CORE Restaurant Marketing Outlines Five Strategies For Mid-Year Restaurant Business Reviews.

With the end of the month of June approaching, it’s time for restaurants to evaluate six months of business performance and implement strategies to reach year-end goals for 2013. January through June has been a challenging time in the restaurant industry. The first quarter was impacted by payroll tax increases and rising gasoline prices that […]

The Power of Madness on Restaurant Marketing

Last week my travels took me to Nashville Tennessee to work with one of my clients. It was a good trip but one thing struck me clearly, the power of NCAA Basketball on the local economy. The NRA reports that business in the restaurant industry was off dramatically during January and February. My clients have expressed […]

Do Restaurant Owners Trust Food Distributors

An interesting week it has been! Several of my conversations this week centered on whether restaurant owners trust their food distributor. Surprisingly, each distributor I spoke with said….. No they don’t and with good reason. Do food distributors create this sense of mistrust? Broken promises, missed deliveries, and questionable billing issues are some of the […]