MARKETING: How Restaurants Are Using Email Marketing

Are bars & restaurants using email marketing efficiently? According to a recent poll -- not even close. Here are three ways restaurant owners are failing to take advantage of their email list.

DID YOU KNOWS…

Sweet Weed Drink, Bro

Constellation Brands is investing nearly $200 million into developing and marketing cannabis-infused drinks. Constellation Brands owns beverage companies like Robert Mondavi wine, Svedka vodka, and brews Corona for the US. They want to create non-alcoholic cannabis drinks but won’t sell in the US until marijuana is legal nationwide.

Is there an ESPN/NFL Breakup Coming?

ESPN’s rights to Monday Night Football ends in 2021, and media reporters are speculating on if ESPN might decide to dump the NFL. Media reporter Jim Miller offered five reasons for his thinking, including ESPN being disappointed in their Monday Night Football matchups.

Is Social Media Bad for Your Health?

Feeling exhausted all the time? You don’t need more caffeine. What you need is less social media. According to Dr. Patricia Bratt, a therapist & psychoanalyst, social media is taking a toll us – making frequent users feel anxious and “overwhelmed by what is happening in the world.”

Bucking the Trend

Why it matters to you: When are sales declines are a good sign?

It seems like it’s been all bad news this past year when it comes to sales and traffic in the full-service restaurant segment. A report by TDn2k doesn’t, at first glance, offer any hope that things can get better -- but that’s why we need to look a little deeper. It appears that if the impact of the two mainland US hurricanes is accounted for that a trend of deceleration in traffic and sales losses is underway. According to TDn2K, sales dropped by 2.8% in July, 1.8% in August, and 1.4% in September. If sales declines can bode well, it happens when they abate, as this trend portends.

Now, that doesn’t mean we don’t have some fundamental issues in our industry, but it does mean that you can overcome them. Chains like Texas Roadhouse continues to have both same store sales growth and is opening new locations rapidly. What’s the key? Other than locations, it has to be the value proposition of great quality food with a warm and engaging atmosphere. All things being equal, you have to do more these days than have great chicken wings and nachos, because your competitors have that as well. No, today’s market demands the best guest experience you can provide or they will go elsewhere.

Don't be a P.O.S., Go Mobile!

Why it matters to you: Are you ready for mobile payment?

Over the past four years, tableside POS and payment options have begun to slowly, but determinedly, invade the consciousness of both operators and guests. The road has been bumpy and the adoption uneven and suffering from our typical inertia -- but the progress is real. With EMV technology becoming the standard, now is the time to consider how you will respond to this trend in our operation. There are no shortage of options to choose from, but how do you make the right decision? In the end, only you know your business well enough to answer that question.

We suggest you first determine at which spot you want to make the change. There are three basic options.