Welcome to the Surrender News/Blog.  Get the latest news, trends, tips and information to help you succeed and thrive in the workplace.

Grow at your own pace. But GROW!

Growth. It is the impetus of capitalism. So how do you know you are growing at the right pace? Every restaurant company we work with has a growth plan and a growth strategy. There is no one out there standing still that we know of. That is a function of the mind of the entrepreneur … Continued

Want to know more about the industry? Ask the suppliers.

Growing sales? Growing units? Every entrepreneur I have ever known thinks about these things every day. And it turns out the people who sell to them are thinking about the same things on their behalf. In the B to B world, vendors and suppliers come to know a great deal about the people they serve. … Continued

Beware success on a shoestring

The good news?  There’s a low barrier to entry in the restaurant business. The bad news?  Well, you know. Most people think inferior locations, service, food or atmosphere are the factors that most often doom a restaurant.   While those are all important, having enough cash in the bank can enable a start-up to survive them … Continued

Good Basics Make Great Habits.

The keys to building revenue in every business are understanding the lifetime value of a customer and learning how to turn occasional users into habitual ones. So I was glad to contribute to a discussion of that kind of success for the cover story in the current issue of Restaurantville Monthly, Eat/Pay/Love – Creating Customer … Continued

The Sky is Falling? The Sky’s the Limit!

I recently read a great article in The New Yorker about declinism, the idea that things are getting worse and are about to get even more so and we are all going down the drain. It pointed out that the ability for this pattern of thinking to continue is completely dependent on the last person … Continued

What tasted good in Vegas doesn’t stay in Vegas.

You may have seen Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop in Vegas. Now, it’s coming to North Texas. The Dallas Business Journal recently wrote about their entry into the market. Staff Writer Steven Thompson asked me about its prospects. The sandwich restaurant segment is becoming focused on menu development, which gives a quality sandwich provider a good shot … Continued

To franchise? Or not to franchise?

Many of our clients have asked me about franchising the brands we are helping them to grow. Who wouldn’t think about that? The idea of plenty of mail-box money and growing a business through capital from franchisees is very attractive. My advice is clear. The only reason to franchise is if there is a realistic … Continued

Crazy? I call it conservative.

Red Mango to grow by up to 100 stores by Steven R. Thompson / Staff Writer Dallas Business Journal 8/26 – 9/1/2011 Last week, Steve Thompson at the Dallas Business Journal quoted me in his story about Red Mango‘s plans for expanding by 100 stores and the tart yogurt segment in general. If you are … Continued