Following on from the thread about the struggling pub, I would like to add my tuppence worth from a different angle.
I recently moved to a new position (the company in turn has very recently moved premises)
Was given the task of introducing ourselves to local businesses.
It is a (Dublin) suburban area that could do with the business, especially mid week.
Somebody from our company had already visited (in person) some of the local businesses early November, introduced our company and asked if the businesses were interested in our custom and could offer any incentives or wished to be put on a list sent out to staff.
The idea behind it was to send out a collective e-mail to staff in the vein of,say, Smyths Pub 10% discount on carvery lunches Monday - Wednesday, etc. Or - Free desert with every meal. Or whatever.
The businesses (mostly food outlets) majority of which were franchises, were approached in person (spoke to the Manager) and the majority said they would see the owner/come up with proposals and revert back.
Ok, it is now January and out of approx. 20 premesis - 2 have actually had the courtesy to even lodge a return phone call. The two who came back were local owner/managed businesses who were very appreciate of the opportunity to market themselves and had some great ideas to put forward.
Numberwise, you are talking a new premises with approximately 140 people with a reasonably high income level. So there is a potential for 700 covers per week! Even if you got an additional 20 covers per day at €10 per day - you are looking at an additional €50K per year, surely worth a return courtesy phone call at the very least?
If I owned a franchise and found out my management did not as much as return a call to a possible 140 head count per day business opportunity, I would be spitting mad. Ironically, one food franchise has shut down recently (due to lack of business). This was one of the ones originally approached in early November, who never responded.
This has recently been passed to me and am going to have a different approach (speak to the organ grinder) but I cant believe in all this talk about the recession that people do not want to generate new business.
I personally believe that any owner who is not actively involved in the day to day running of their business is heading for disaster. And then they wonder why they fail?
I recently moved to a new position (the company in turn has very recently moved premises)
Was given the task of introducing ourselves to local businesses.
It is a (Dublin) suburban area that could do with the business, especially mid week.
Somebody from our company had already visited (in person) some of the local businesses early November, introduced our company and asked if the businesses were interested in our custom and could offer any incentives or wished to be put on a list sent out to staff.
The idea behind it was to send out a collective e-mail to staff in the vein of,say, Smyths Pub 10% discount on carvery lunches Monday - Wednesday, etc. Or - Free desert with every meal. Or whatever.
The businesses (mostly food outlets) majority of which were franchises, were approached in person (spoke to the Manager) and the majority said they would see the owner/come up with proposals and revert back.
Ok, it is now January and out of approx. 20 premesis - 2 have actually had the courtesy to even lodge a return phone call. The two who came back were local owner/managed businesses who were very appreciate of the opportunity to market themselves and had some great ideas to put forward.
Numberwise, you are talking a new premises with approximately 140 people with a reasonably high income level. So there is a potential for 700 covers per week! Even if you got an additional 20 covers per day at €10 per day - you are looking at an additional €50K per year, surely worth a return courtesy phone call at the very least?
If I owned a franchise and found out my management did not as much as return a call to a possible 140 head count per day business opportunity, I would be spitting mad. Ironically, one food franchise has shut down recently (due to lack of business). This was one of the ones originally approached in early November, who never responded.
This has recently been passed to me and am going to have a different approach (speak to the organ grinder) but I cant believe in all this talk about the recession that people do not want to generate new business.
I personally believe that any owner who is not actively involved in the day to day running of their business is heading for disaster. And then they wonder why they fail?
).