Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Effective Ways To Invest Your Restaurant Marketing Budget

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

a number of ways to market your business though your options may be limited by your budget, don’t go into hiding, there are ways to reach your prospects and clients on a smaller budget.

Rethink your business plan; it is the overall plan for budgeting and growth that you set in the first place when opening the restaurant. Revisit the plan, making sure that you asses each and every detail to find out how you will have your strategy changed for the betterment of the business. This involves putting growth on hold, anticipating inflation and minimizing all the investment in overhead expenses.

Examine your profit and loss statement:- before you decide to cut on the cost, go through your profit and loss statement line by line to see where you can possibly be able to trim down the expenses. Cut out the costs of things that are not going to affect your normal running or interfere with your work. Start by accessing the smaller costs then move on to the bigger expenses later on to see what you can save. Every profit and loss statement is different on its own, knowing your income and expenses will put you in a better position to make decision regarding your business.

Inspect your food cost:- in every restaurant food cost and labour are the most important things to watch out for. Have your food cost inspected very often. Look at how much is spent on every single item, are you paying too much, is the food going to waste, these are just but some of the few things you need to know. Reduce the waste by preparing food in small quantities but good quality. Store the foods in a way that they will stay fresh for long. Always clear the last stock first before going for the newly delivered foods. This way you will ensure that the items do not expire on the shelves, consider the first in first out rotation.

Get the best deal:- every time you are taking a new stock, ensure that you get the best deal. Communicate frequently with the supplies to compare prices of food and beverages.

Analyze your menu items-are you serving the right proportion to your customers? Go through the gross profit on each item, how many are sold and are you making any profits. Do away with any item that does not make profit.

Promote your value proposition:- with the high competition from within; always make sure that your restaurant stand tall among the competition. Every one wants attention, guests and revenue. Have a smart effective marketing strategy, be unique and environmentally friendly. Provide an exceptional experience let customer service and quality be your top most priorities. Train your people to put customers first.

Be willing to adjust at all time:- go through the menu and see where you can adjust to suit the current customer market trends. If you find that more healthful foods will sell in your place then you can choose to change the menu. Remember some changes may benefit your restaurant and attract more customers. Invest in your people; value your workforce by giving them a slight raise in their wages, reward them it will motivate them to even work harder and stay focused to the future.

Restaurant Business Plan Software Considerations

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

Whether you are an entrepreneur looking to start your first restaurant, or you have been working in the service industry for a long time, restaurant business plan software can help you create a streamlined business plan that will improve your chances of funding. Here are few things to keep in mind when comparing various packages.

Your needs – Various business plan software packages are geared toward different sizes of restaurant business and different levels of funding needs. Make sure the software does what you need it to do. Don’t go overboard on a program that offers more than you need.

Feedback – Make sure to get in touch with other people who have used the software before and get their feedback. The more reputable restaurant business plan software vendors will provide testimonials and contact information of previous customers. Make sure to compare. Keep an eye out for positive comments about ease of use.

If you have been in the restaurant business already, you probably have a number of contacts you can network with for information. Ask other restaurant owners you trust if there was a software program they used or have heard good things about. Word of mouth recommendations can often provide valuable leads.

Support – Make certain your software vendor offers full support for their programs. Many top vendors offer 24/7 online and toll free support for their programs. When weighing benefits, this is an important factor to take into consideration. You want to be assured you can get the software to work.

Cost – Once you’ve narrowed your choices down by the above benefits, it is time to consider costs. Check different vendors, as there can often be a large difference in prices between vendors for the same title. Make certain to factor in shipping and handling costs and delivery time of your restaurant business plan software when comparing prices.

Once you’ve chosen and installed your software, it’s time to get to work creating the business plan for your restaurant. If you have any trouble, be sure to get in touch with the vendor’s support as soon as possible. Good luck with your new business venture

Peaberry Coffee: What It Is and Why to Try It

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

Typically, the coffee cherry, or fruit, that forms on a coffee plant contains a bean that forms two halves.  These typical beans are flat on one side.  Sometimes only one of the two seeds becomes fertilized.  In that case, the coffee cherry contains a single bean.   This single bean is round or oval in shape, similar to a pea.    Hence, such individually formed coffee bean is known as a “peaberry,” or less often as a “caracol.”  Roughly five percent of all coffee beans are reported to be peaberries, so there is no question that peaberry coffee is rare.

In high grade Arabica coffees, peaberries are generally separated from regular “flat” coffee beans.   A coffee labeled as a “peaberry” should contain only peaberry beans.   Peaberry coffees — in contrast  to regular coffee beans — are claimed to provide a superior taste.   One school of throught argues that peaberry beans are superior to regular beans due to the roasting process.   Since the peaberries are oval in shape, they roll easily in the roasting chamber, thereby providing a more evenly roasted bean.

Another argument for the superiority of peaberry coffee is the flavor of the bean itself.   The single peaberry bean is smaller and more dense than the two typical beans.  As only one bean is formed, the sole bean is frequently reported to be more robust in flavor and more acidic (generally good for taste) than regular Arabica coffee beans.   Still others argue that the superiority of peaberry coffee beans comes from the rigorous selection process whereby regular beans are separated out from the peaberries.

Peaberry coffee is also designated by their geographic origin.   For example, one of the most popular peaberry coffees is Tanzanian Peaberry.   Even the most expensive coffees such as Kona and Jamaica Blue Mountain come in Peaberry varities.  So the next time you purchase a single origin coffee you may want to try a peaberry variety to see if you can taste the difference.  Though still hard to find at traditional retail establishments, premium peaberry coffees are now readily available through online stores.