My clients’ activity over the next two weeks varies from taking time off with friends and family at home (or traveling), to going to a mostly empty office for some time to think – to spending mealtimes at their restaurants to greet and appreciate guests and staff. However you decide to spend special time, my … Continued
For the best operators and smartest people, 2022 looks like a back-to-operating like a normal person year. Sure, the noise of the next variant, inflation, labor, and supply chain issues – still audible. But we have evolved in handling once-unusual and once-unthinkable scenarios. I tell my clients “Prepare to have a planful and successful year” … Continued
Stop looking at PPA. Start focusing on recovering the lost guest and guest count. If you know me well, you may be shocked that I would suggest you ever stop talking about PPA – even for one minute (or one shift). Right now, though, top operators realize 2021’s industry gains have all come from increased menu prices … Continued
With today’s decreased labor pool and increased wages, most operators think the way to manage labor is to concentrate on the cost of that labor. They are wrong. Today’s top operators forget all about labor cost (for a while) and instead examine hours and productivity. With escalating rates of pay (and the corresponding menu price … Continued
When things run smoothly and predictably (remember that?), it’s easy to focus on doing things the right way. During a crisis, though – even as things become better toward the end – not so much. But, while my clients are focusing on different areas in 2022, they all have one thing in common: the goal … Continued
2021 sets up to be the ultimate “Gift Card Christmas.” Why? Supply chain issues, container ships sitting in the Pacific Ocean, and a shortage of computer chips, and truck drivers. If you do not already have a robust gift card program in place for the holiday season, put down whatever device you’re using to read … Continued
If you missed the workshop I conducted last week, “Beat the Labor Shortage – How to Attract and Retain Talent Without Breaking the Bank,” I’m sharing six key takeaways discovered by the diverse group of owners, operators, educators, and corporate team members who collaborated with me there. You’ve Got This: Every crisis seems insurmountable (think … Continued
During the empty-dining-room days of the pandemic, many owners of successful multi-unit restaurant companies got in the habit of dealing only with the new things directly in front of them. Those who fall into that trap now, though, are missing out on the fundamentals that make a restaurant business excel. I recently pointed out that training falls … Continued
Many of my clients operate more than one brand. These operators of multi-unit, multi-concept organizations have challenges that never even show up on the radar for single-concept operators. Still, few yearn for a simpler life. That’s just how the personalities of these owners work. These multi-concept companies evolve with a high level of creativity and … Continued
Car dealers don’t have cars to sell; we’re waiting until October for the furniture and equipment we ordered back in April. And your trainers can’t find time to train. Welcome to 2021. Training and education are one of the many unanticipated down-line issues associated with the current labor shortage. It’s making it a lot harder … Continued