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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
February has ended and the consumer is still feeling the effects of the increase in the payroll tax and rising gasoline prices. the Commerce Department has reported that personal income plunged 3.6 percent in January, the biggest drop since January 1993. That’s a tough nut for any restaurant to handle. Now the government has signed into effect “Sequestration”. […]
When you look at everything that is going on in the restaurant business, it is easy to understand why restaurant owners are overwhelmed. Competitive challenges, human resource issues, technology changes and rising food cost are just some of the many issues that are faced every day. The list keeps growing and the ability to keep […]
Resolve To Be Better Happy New Year! 2013 is upon us and many of us have taken stock of the past year and are setting plans to make 2013 a better year for our restaurants. Sounds like a tall order, but much like anything you need to break it down to manageable chunks. Here are […]
It’s mid-October and the leaves are falling. Some parts of the country have already seen the first snowfall. You know what this means, your restaurant is entering into the busy season with the upcoming holidays. Great News… maybe. Are you prepared to do everything that needs to be done? This is the time of year […]