New Year, New Ideas

Simple Ways to Generate More Income

Starting a new year is always a good time to take a step back and evaluate your revenue. The restaurant industry tends to fluctuate up and down. In a recent blog on etundra, Riding the Waves: 5 Ways to Boost Your Revenue, Andrew Call highlights some simple changes you can make to help build your business.

First, cut food costs. Establish a report to narrow down the ten foods that you spend the most on each month. Talk to your distributors, or shop around for a new one that can save you money on those products. Remember, that buying in bulk can often save money in the long run as well.

Second, give your employees the power to make you money. They are the face of your restaurant, and have the ability to make, or break a customer’s experience. Continually have ongoing trainings, to update and review procedures with them, and to set goals. Provide your employees with incentives to perform well. Happy customers usually buy more, and return in the future.

Third, educate yourself on your restaurant equipment. It will save you unnecessary expenses if you can service and maintain the equipment yourself. Labor and repair costs can add up quickly. Use your resources including the manufacturer’s customer service line to attempt to fix something on your own, before calling a technician.

Fourth, be sure that you are utilizing today’s technology. It is now 2013! Customers are more often going to the world wide web to look up information such as menu’s, deals, reviews, etc… before even stepping out of the house. You don’t want to miss out on business from being behind the times. Be sure to get involved in the conversation, including social media outlets, digital newsletters, and even text messages sharing daily specials.

Lastly, diversify your income. Your revenue can become monotonous, and when you least expect it, it could drop. Be prepared by changing things up a bit. You can add retail items such as hats and t-shirts. You can offer take-out or delivery, if you don’t already do so. You can also start catering special events. It is necessary to be aware of the changing ways of the industry. Be flexible with your ideas and business practice. It might not hurt to re-evaluate the way you have always done something, and to try something new, after all, it is a new year!

Featured Recipe

Whip up this quick recipe from tasteofhome.com in honor of National Oatmeal Month

Yield: 9 Servings

Ingredients:

• 3 Cups quick-cooking oats
• I Cup packed brown sugar
• 2 Teaspoons baking powder
• 1 Teaspoon salt
• 1 Teaspoon ground cinammon
• 2 Eggs
• 1 Cup milk
• 1/2 Cup butter, melted
• Additional Milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven 350 degrees. Lightly grease an 9×9 pan
2. In large bowl combine oats, brown sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.
3. In separate bowl whisk eggs, milk and butter together
4. Stir into oat mixture until blended
5. Spoon into pan, bake for 40-45 min or until set. Serve warm with milk

Going Back to Work

Beat the Post-Holiday Blues with these tips

Everyone has their opinions on the holiday season, some people love it, some people hate it. One thing that I think we all have in common is that it is never fun when they are over, and you have to return to work. In an article Getting Over the Fear of Sunday Night, Barry Moltz points out a handful of ways to approach a Monday to make it a little smoother. These can also apply to whatever day the holiday ends, and work begins for you this year.

First, write down tasks to accomplish on your first day back. Take some time to look at your goals for the week. Eliminate anything that is unnecessary. Make a simple list and hang it where it is visible throughout the week.

Second, make plans to do at least one activity that you enjoy on your first day back. It doesn’t have to be anything major, maybe just lunch with a friend. It will give you something to look forward to and make the transition a little bit easier.

Third, use your first day back to gain some perspective. Take some time to sit back and assess where you and your business are headed. Do you still enjoy it? Do you need to make some changes? Is there a more efficient or cost-effective way to do something?

Fourth, quit whining. If you are not happy and continually complaining about your job and dread it, then it is time to take action and make a change. Use the energy it takes to whine and complain to create change instead.

Lastly, always be looking at your long-term objectives. According to Moltz’ article, if you are satisfied with your long-term goals and where you are headed, then it makes any day at work more bearable, because you know that you are headed in the right direction. You might even look forward to going back after the holidays. After all, at least going back to work gets you out of the house and gives you a break from the family.

Featured Recipe

Try this recipe from allrecipes.com for a tasty way to start your day.

Yield: 8 Servings

Ingredients:

• 5 Cups bread cubes
• 4 Eggs
• 1 1/2 Cups milk
• 1/4 Cup white sugar
• 1/4 Teaspoon salt
• 1 Teaspoon salt
• 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 Tablespoon margarine, softened
• 1 Teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

1. Preheat oven 350 degrees. Lightly butter an 8×8 pan, and fill with bread cubes
2. Mix eggs, milk, 2 Tbsp sugar, salt and vanilla
3. Pour mixture over bread, dot with margarine and let stand for 10 min
4. Sprinkle remaining sugar and cinnamon and bake 45 min

Take Advantage of the Holidays

10 Marketing Ideas to Bring in More Business

Now that we are into the fall, and rapidly approaching the holiday season, it is time to look at what you can do with your marketing to bring more customers in this year. According to Eleanor Frisch’s article: Top 10 Restaurant Marketing Tips for Holidays and Special Occasions, these tips are not only good for the holidays that are coming up; they can be applied to birthdays, anniversaries, and many other special occasions.

1. Send holiday greetings – send your customers a warm greeting for an upcoming holiday to make them feel appreciated. You can include a small promotion at the bottom to entice them in, ie: free glass of champagne for couples on New Year’s Eve, etc…
2. Offer a birthday gift – the National Restaurant Association says that more than half of Americans eat out on their birthday. Encourage them to choose you over another location, by sending them a free gift of sorts, such as a free dessert in advance.
3. Sell gift certificates – take advantage of different holidays all year long by displaying them in a visible location near the point of sale or at the entrance. A lot of certificates are never actually used, which turns into direct profit.
4. Put on a special holiday promotion – don’t lower your prices but add something extra to add value, such as a free taxi ride on New Year’s Eve, or a special meal/menu on Valentine’s Day for two
5. Throw a holiday party – focus your food and drink menu around the theme, ie: Mardi Gras, New Year’s, Halloween, etc.., provide special entertainment and advertise through flyers and direct marketing
6. Use seasonal decorating – this one is simple: roses and candles for Valentine’s Day, for New Year’s Eve use sparkly things, Christmas lights during December, etc… keep up with the seasons but don’t conflict with your overall design
7. Host a holiday fundraiser – put together a food drive, or pick a day to give a certain percentage of sales to a local charity, and then advertise wherever you can, to bring in the customers
8. Be politically correct – you do not want to lose customers due to ignorance. Make sure to train your staff and appropriately decorate and word menus and signage to say “Happy Holidays” versus “Merry Christmas”, unless you are certain that your main customer demographics are from a specific religion
9. Put on a unique holiday stunt – ideas would be to turn your establishment into a haunted house for Halloween, or dress all your wait-staff as elves for Christmas, or hide eggs during Easter. Dress someone as a giant turkey on the street to bring in clients around Thanksgiving. Your options are endless.
10. Advertise for the holidays – think about events occurring around each specific holiday, there are a lot of local Christmas programs at schools, ballets, etc… put an ad in their bulletins. Thanksgiving would be a good time to advertise in the “food” section of your local newspapers and magazines.

Featured Recipe

This easy recipe from allrecipes.com will spice up any holiday party.

Yield: 8 Servings

Ingredients:

• 1 (64 oz.) bottle apple cider
• 3 Cinnamon Sticks
• 1 Teaspoon whole allspice
• 1 Teaspoon whole cloves
• 1/3 Cup brown sugar

Directions:

1. In a slow cooker combine apple cider and cinnamon sticks
2. Wrap allspice and cloves in cheesecloth and add to pot
3. Stir in brown sugar
4. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and serve warm

Don’t Underestimate the Power of Positivity

5 Steps to Raising the Morale of your Business

I recently came across an article by Jacob Harper, about the necessity of encouragement in the work place. I connected to this concept on a personal level, as I thrive in a positive work atmosphere, but who doesn’t? Your staff will be more willing to do a superior job for you and your business, when the company morale is high. His article “5 Easy Ways to Brighten Your Employee’s Day” breaks down five quick things you can do to boost the morale around your company.

1. Appreciate your personnel – According to Harper, the top complaint of employees is that they are under-appreciated. They are probably doing a lot of small daily tasks that you might be taking for granted. Let them know, from time-to-time, that you see those small tasks and that they are valued.

2. Get your hands dirty with them – Your employees will respect you more, if you get on their level and work alongside them every now and then. A supervisor should not ask their staff to do anything that they would not do. You can always relate to people better, if you have been where they have been.

3. Ask them what they need – Your employees will be more content and willing to do an excellent job, when they feel that their voices are heard. It is not realistic to apply all of their ideas, but they might have some good ones for your business that you have not yet thought of.

4. Give a small gift – When you acknowledge your employees with a small token of appreciation, they will feel valued. Listen to their needs; it could be something as small as a new pen, if their favorite pen ran out of ink, or something bigger, such as a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant.

5. Raises! – Money is power, but make sure that it is used appropriately. Do not use a bonus as a bribe. Look at implementing raises as a gift, expecting nothing in return. This will show your employees that you are grateful for their hard work, and they in turn, will want to do a superior job.

I understand that depending on the size of your business, implementing all five of these ideas at once, might be too much. I would recommend starting with a simple, “Thank you for all of your hard work” and watch how far that spreads. Positivity in the workplace can only better your business and in turn, create more satisfied customers.

Featured Recipe

Creepy Mummy Dogs

This fun Halloween themed snack from divinedinnerparty.com will be a great side at any party.

Yield: 8 Servings

Ingredients:

• 1 (11 oz.) can refrigerated breadstick dough
• 2 slices cheddar cheese (quartered)
• 8 Hot Dogs
• Black Mustard Seeds
• Ketchup & Mustard (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
2. Place one slice cheddar cheese on each hot dog
3. Wrap each dog with dough to look like a mummy, leaving an open area for the eyes
4. Cut two tiny slits in the exposed hot dog and insert the mustard seeds for “eyes”
5. Place on ungreased baking sheet and bake for 15 min, until golden
6. (optional) Serve with ketchup and mustard