Restaurant Marketing Blog

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Whining about the recession and you don’t have enough money to grow your restaurant’s sales?

Last time I heard, it doesn’t cost a cent to smile and actually sit down and talk to a guest.

Last time I heard, it doesn’t cost a cent to go out and greet your neighbors with a hand-shake, your business card and some good conversation.

Last time I heard, it doesn’t cost a cent to speak in front of a group of 100 potential guests at a networking function.

Last time I heard, it doesn’t cost a cent to call a company on the phone and invite their staff to a special after-hours event.

Last time I heard, the only major cost of growing your business ... is when you do nothing.

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Sunday, February 01, 2009

Starbucks decided recently not to brew decaffeinated coffee during the afternoon—a tactic that was believed to save the company $400 million a year. What they forgot to think about was the huge number of customers who prefer decaffeinated coffee in the afternoon. Guess they’ll go to Caribou, McDonald’s, Dunkin.

Posted by jcohen in • Restaurant Marketing
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Saturday, January 31, 2009

Restaurant Marketing harmful to your computer? Did a number of searches on Google this morning, including Restaurant Marketing and Restaurant advertising and every search included the phrase, “This site may be harmful to your computer.” Apparently, this was a massive glitch that Google had that lasted for about 20 minutes.

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Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Restaurant Marketing: I’m not talking about myself, Bill Marvin or Jim Laube, but about those marketing people who work for the restaurants themselves—holding corporate type positions? Now’s the time for them to shine. Now’s the time for them to really show off what they’re worth. Now’s the time to risk; not hunker down and hope you’re still alive when the dust settles.

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Friday, January 16, 2009

Mr. & Mrs. Cleaver, Congratulations On The Success Of Your Restaurant

I’m hearing that your sales have increased over last month and last year; your traffic counts are up and all of your dayparts are thriving. More importantly, your profits are up dramatically.

I’m hearing that your staff is extremely motivated and rave about working for you. You restaurant is the “cool” place to work at. Great benefits. Great tips. Your servers engage in conversations with your guests.

I’m hearing that you wake up in the morning and say, “It’s great to be an active participant in the community and have a restaurant that brings home a nice profit ... one that allows me and my family to have a good lifestyle and take vacations.”

I’m hearing that, as you open your restaurant doors each morning, you have a great vision of what you want to achieve, what you want your restaurant to be ... and you know exactly where to go to achieve that vision.

I’m hearing that you realize that an advertising budget is not considered as an expense, but an investment used to market and grow your restaurant ... and is the last thing that will ever, ever get cut if the economy takes a tailspin.

I’m hearing that you have an email list of 3,000 people who have been to your restaurant ... who are only too eager to return ... when you send them your latest and greatest discount coupon.

I’m hearing from those in your neighborhood that you’ve got an interesting story to tell.

I’m hearing that you’re unique; you take risks and that mediocrity and similarity is not part of your vocabulary. And, like any great football team, you’ve got a number of coaches to help you maintain your business and keep you going when you get stopped by the dreadful disease of minutia.
I’m hearing that there are no restaurant woes.

And as I had lunch today at a once-busy Panera Bread that was totally empty at 12 noon, I said to myself, “Gee Beav, what a wonderful world.”

Posted by jcohen in • Restaurant Marketing
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