MARKETING: No Sports? No Problem: How to Keep Business Booming on Off-Nights
Every sports bar experiences lulls, slow seasons, and dead nights. When your business model depends on basketball fans packing your bar, naturally your sales will be leaner on basketball-free nights. How do you occupy the building from July to October? How do football bars fill the till from Tuesday to Friday?
While live sports will always dominate the Nielsen ratings, there are a few other programs that can hang with them. Reality television and many premium dramas have proven to be DVR-proof in an age where streaming and watching on one’s own time dominate viewing habits. The best part about these shows, as it pertains to us in the restaurant industry, is how well they lend themselves to communal watching.
DID YOU KNOWS…
Impossible Foods Ends Bid to Woo McD’s
Impossible Foods is ending its bid to try to win over McDonald’s with it’s sweet meatless beef patties, according to a new report. The issue comes down to supply. Impossible Foods just doesn’t have the production capacity to meet McDonald’s supply needs. Impossible Foods is working on doubling their production capacity in the meantime.
Shocker: The US is Split on Trump’s Handling of Iran
The survey was conducted after top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike last week, but before the country retaliated with missile strikes on U.S. troops based in Iraq. Responses were mainly split along party lines. 86% of Democrats disapproved of Trump’s handling of Iran, while 79% of Republicans approved, bringing in the final count approximately to 50:40 against the president, with almost one in 10 Americans saying they did not have an opinion on the matter.
US Tech Companies Back Tariff on French Wine & Cheese
Everyone’s favorite mega-tech companies – Amazon, Facebook & Google – back Trump’s proposed 100% tariffs on French wine, cheese, and other imported goods. The Trump Admin announced it’s considering the staggering tariff after the USTR concluded that a French digital services tax discriminated against US tech companies. This comes on the heels of a report proving that almost 100% of Trump’s tariffs fell on the shoulders of US consumers.
PAYBACK IS A B!
Why it matters to you: NY State Attorney General announces investigation into Mario Batali’s former restaurant group.
Mario Batali has long since departed, but the company he and Joe Bastianich founded is under investigation by the New York State Attorney General’s Office. "As a result of our investigation, we have received credible information about his alleged actions, and separately, we are looking into him, his business partner, his management company, and his three restaurants,” the AG said during the conference. As if that’s not bad enough, Batali is also being investigated for his behavior at the Spotted Pig, where his partner just settled a significant sexual harassment suit. The whole thing is a mess and it’s following Batali even after his ouster.
You may or may not agree that he should own his karma, but you can’t deny his example is a powerful disincentive to tolerating sexual misconduct in your operation. We have often discussed the best practices needed to avoid these issues. It’s crucial you give your staff the structure and guidance that will help them manage more equitably and ensure the safety and success of every employee.
However, it’s even more important to show no tolerance for instances of behavior that can be perceived as harassing. We strongly encourage leverage training to ensure your management team is fully aware of the responsibility. This is a powerful way to demonstrate you’re serious and the first step to not sharing Batali’s experience.
[Source: Nation’s Restaurant News]
THIS IS THE END [Song]
Why it matters to you: Closing a restaurant is a reality you can survive.
Having survived closing a restaurant, I can assure you the experience sucks. However, you can make it a little less horrible if you take some proactive steps to make your fall less painful. The first step is to know when to call it quits. This isn’t something to take lightly, but knowing when to stop takes courage. By not waiting too long you can have more control over how things end. There has even been legislation proposed that would require you give 30 days of notice to your team before you close. But knowing your restaurant may not stay open, you can have some other options you can explore.
From trying to sell your business whole or valuing the parts and selling them separately, you may be able recoup some value or cover closing expenses. The key next step is to set an end date and notify everyone that will be affected by your closing. This is where you can plan the ending and make sure you leave your vendors and staff in the best position you can. Of course, the reality is that few of us are willing to face this in a way that won’t feel terrible. But by trying to behave in the most professional way possible, you will be able to keep your head high and remain in your community.
[Source: Eater]
