December 2009 Blog Posts (101)

Non-Operator Holiday Wishes for 2010

Having just seen (again) Steve Martin’s classic sketch regarding Christmas wishes from an old Saturday Night Live, I’m tempted to follow suit, but will try to resist. Still, if I were granted just one wish this Christmas, ...

I’d wish for confidence. There are hazards remaining between us and a robust recovery, including the still-unresolved issue of commercial real estate defaults across lenders’ (and investors’) portfolios. Still, most economists and analysts believe… Continue

Added by Rod Guinn on December 25, 2009 at 3:30am — 4 Comments

Operator Top Ten Food Trends for 2010

Experimentation nation, umami, and food with benefits are just three of the top 10 trends to watch in 2010, according to the experts at The Food Channel®. The website released its top 10 for ’10 today based on research conducted in conjunction with CultureWaves® and the International Food Futurists®. This year’s list identifies the significant food movements consumers, foodservice professionals and manufacturers should watch in the coming year.

“This year we are seeing a return to… Continue

Added by The Food Channel on December 24, 2009 at 8:42pm — 2 Comments

#custserv :: Customer Service Twitter Dialogue :: transcript from 12/22

#custserv

This is a transcript from The Customer Service Dialogue on Twitter: Tuesdays at 9pm EST on hashtag #custserv. This transcript is from 12/22 and the topic was Comment Cards. ~ Jeffrey

Co-hosted by Marsha Collier and Jeffrey J Kingman

The Customer Service dialogue on Twitter. Weekly at 9 pm Eastern; follow #custserv

#custserv is a weekly dialogue covering different aspects of the customer service experience, both on and… Continue

Added by Jeffrey J Kingman on December 24, 2009 at 1:04pm — No Comments

Non-Operator Resolutions and Revelations

Seizing market opportunities is something that all smart business people do to keep ahead of the game and stay competitive. When summer rolls around you roll out your new line of fruity iced cocktails, during the holiday season it’s all about corporate banquets and holiday parties. So what is on diners’ minds in the New Year? NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS!

Some interesting resolution facts:

• In 2010, about 45% of U.S. adults will make resolutions for the new year.

•… Continue

Added by Alyson Mar, RD on December 24, 2009 at 1:00am — No Comments

FROM MY WINDOW: Using Menu Psychology to Entice Diners -- Dynamite NY Times' article

Location. Location. Location. NOT.

Menu. Menu. Menu. WAY YES.

“If admen had souls, many would probably trade them for an opportunity every restaurateur already has: the ability to place an advertisement in every customer’s hand before they part with their money.”

"descriptive menu labels increased sales by as much as 27… Continue

Added by Michael Albert on December 23, 2009 at 4:19pm — No Comments

Holiday giving can last all year

Here are some resources for any restaurants and foodservice operators out there who'd like to get involved with a charity. I talked to several nonprofits that team up with restaurants - here is the info -

The Salvation Army accepts food service equipment, appliances and food prep supplies for their senior centers, adult day cares and other community programs. Just use the website directory to locate a… Continue

Added by Dani on December 23, 2009 at 8:59am — 1 Comment

Dining predictions for 2010 versus 2007

How far have we come from 2007 dining trends? What has remained the same, what has changed? This is the time of the year when we see numerous trends for the coming year in print and on-line. I thought I would go back a couple years, before the economic crisis to predictions on StarChefs.com and take a look at the future from the story from Restaurant News.

See the comparison chart and read the entire story at the… Continue

Added by Dara Bunjon on December 23, 2009 at 8:00am — No Comments

Non-Operator Are You Stuck Repeating the Same Marketing Mistakes?

There is a simple yet often ignored rule:

“If you are doing something that it's not working, it still won't work if you do more of the same.”

If you are investing in marketing and yet your restaurant is not getting the clients that you are expecting, obviously your marketing is not working for you.

Sometimes-marketing techniques that used to work, don't anymore. This could be because the marketplace is changing (more people are looking for restaurants online and… Continue

Added by Jose L Riesco on December 23, 2009 at 4:00am — 1 Comment

2000 – 2009 R.I.P.

A lot is being written about the decade we are about to leave behind. And they are not generally glowing reviews. If Yelp was hosting this, it would probably receive 3 ½ stars...but don’t most reviews on Yelp get 3 ½ stars?

The new millennium started off with fear. Remember that great hoodwink called “Y2K”? Then in March, a dotcom bust that forever changed millions of lives, including mine. That should have been a sign of the challenges we… Continue

Added by Michael L. Atkinson on December 23, 2009 at 12:16am — 11 Comments

Non-Operator Your Ready Made New Year’s Resolution for Your Bar

2009 is all but gone. It’s been a tough year for some, a hell for others and the end of the road for many a drinking establishment. But let’s face it, the year is almost over. We could lament and mourn the passing of the year, but instead I propose we celebrate.

Celebrate the end of the year, the start of a new year and the hope and potential this new year brings. Hopefully a lot has been learned from the past 12 months to ready you for the year… Continue

Added by Barry Chandler on December 22, 2009 at 7:06pm — No Comments

Non-Operator One Guaranteed Way to Annoy Your Bartenders

Happy bartenders equal happy customers and happy customers like to spend money. It makes a lot of sense to ensure that these very important staff are taken care of, but it’s easy to overlook one guaranteed thing that will annoy your customers.

I was asked a very good question by a bar owner during the week. He wanted to know what the best way was to handle the fact that customers were arriving at his bar, having a drink or two at the bar before… Continue

Added by Barry Chandler on December 22, 2009 at 6:59pm — 1 Comment

What do you have to lose but the illusion that you are in control of your customers?

An excellent question posed by John Sviokla in the Harvard Business Review today.

http://blogs.hbr.org/sviokla/2009/12/better_customer_service_throug.html

Transparency with the consumer is one of the biggest fears that our business has to overcome with the restaurant industry during the sales process. Not once have I heard a potential customer tell me that our process is wrong or that our software isn't right for the consumer or that it won't make the establishment a… Continue

Added by Terri Hitchcock on December 22, 2009 at 9:30am — 1 Comment

Non-Operator I'll Get Back To Ya Babe!

It never ceases to amaze me how some people just don’t get it. The latest service gaff in a continuing saga has to do with one of our local health clubs. I have excluded the name to protect the innocent. I promise you I’m sharing the facts, nothing but the facts - none of this has been fabricated or exaggerated.

It began on Monday, December 7th (almost a week ago). I called this health club, which is conveniently located near my house, to inquire about… Continue

Added by Bill Campion on December 22, 2009 at 7:00am — 6 Comments

Call me the poster girl for "cooking at home hazardous to your health"

A recent open letter from the National Restaurant Association in Nation's Restaurant News seeks to rally the industry around a proposed campaign to "debate the notions currently going unchallenged in the public forum" - notions suggesting consumers can save significant sums by eating at home.

While it's true that the mass media - TV, talk show hosts, etc. - has promoted this theory, it's not clear how well their message has resonated with consumers. According to NRA, research shows… Continue

Added by susan holaday on December 21, 2009 at 2:32pm — 7 Comments

The Future of GPS Navigation and Customers Finding Your Restaurant

The Future of GPS Navigation

More Connected Consumers, More Features

Greater Accessibility of Navigation Technology on Various Platforms

The market for traditional navigation devices continues to grow but even greater growth is expected in smart phones -- handheld devices with navigation features. This is a trend that restaurant and other retail business owners need to understand and address. In 2007, the introduction of the iPhone… Continue

Added by BizMappers on December 21, 2009 at 10:00am — 2 Comments

Phillips Seafood Restaurant - New Chef - New Menu

I don’t think I’m wrong in stating that a good number of us Baltimoreans think of Phillips Seafood Restaurant in Harborplace as a tourist destination – we forget to think of it as a go-to-place for local dining. It really didn’t cross my mind to go there for dinner. When you are part of a restaurant family that has been around for over 50 years and Phillips Seafood Restaurant at Harborplace since back in the 80’s, there is a basis for your longevity. I have recently re-evaluated Phillips as a… Continue

Added by Dara Bunjon on December 21, 2009 at 7:35am — No Comments

Non-Operator "If not me then who"?

I remember as a young assistant manager watching with dismay as employees, hourly and salaried alike, would walk by obvious issues/problems large or small and pass by without stopping to lift a finger to fix or help with anything. It was as if the issue/problem were invisible to them. I'm not talking about the earth-shattering "there's a bar fight in the lounge" type of issues. I'm talking about the operationally important and yet mundane kinds of problems/issues issues. For example the bev-nap… Continue

Added by Jerry A. Heilpern, CFBE, FMP on December 21, 2009 at 6:40am — 5 Comments

Unsure what to give this holiday season? Give them a RAK!!!

Gang, a story like this makes my heart swell with pride. Taken from the Toronto Star newspaper this morning.

Happy Holidays. Join us in the Group "Random Acts of Kindness" for other stories: http://www.fohboh.com/group/randomactsofkindness

http://www.thestar.com/actsofkindness/article/741064--24-hours-of-kindness?bn=1

Added by Terri Hitchcock on December 21, 2009 at 6:29am — No Comments

Sears Killed My Dog :: Case Study in Social Media Nightmare Averted

A PR Pro friend of mine just shared this with me this morning. I have not received permission to cross-post the blogpost here. It is a must-read.

SearsKilledMyDog.com: The Anatomy of a Social Media Nightmare Averted – A Case Study

Toot -… Continue

Added by Jeffrey J Kingman on December 20, 2009 at 1:48pm — No Comments

Coffee: Do Your Servers Know Latte Art?

Do you train and encourage your servers to do Latte Art?

This past month we entered a relationship to strategize and execute the social media for Coffee Fest. If you don't know, Coffee Fest is the oldest, most successful trade show for the specialty coffee and tea industry. They've done 45+ tradeshows across the US and in Asia over the last 17 years; with 100% attendee/exhibitor satisfaction.

As a foodie, former chef and entrepreneur, I believe in speaking… Continue

Added by Jeffrey J Kingman on December 20, 2009 at 10:43am — 2 Comments