INFOGRAPHIC: How Mobile is Reshaping the Restaurant Industry
The concept of mobile in the restaurant industry isn’t all that new. It’s been around for years but it always felt like it was the big players who were doing the most and getting the most out of mobile. And that’s not all too surprising. Big restaurant chains have the most capital to throw around. They can experiment and spearhead frontiers that the average restaurant owner just can’t do. The good news is that mobile tech and strategy for restaurants reaches far beyond just mobile apps. Here’s how restaurants can leverage mobile in their marketing efforts.
DID YOU KNOWS…
Snackin’ Bacon
Dunkin’ has mastered the fast-food breakfast concept. But that doesn’t mean they don’t keep being innovative. The latest idea they’ve unleashed is a super simple idea – to-go bacon. Called “Snackin’ Bacon,” it’s a to-go pouch full of eight bacon strips cooked with sweet black pepper seasoning. Sometimes simplicity is best.
Coronavirus Fears Wipe Out 2020 Stock Market Gains
The Dow Jones Industrial Index shed more than 1,030 points (-3.56 percent) on Monday, marking the third-largest single-day point drop in the index’ long history. The tech-heavy S&P 500 also dropped by 3.35 percent as the GAFAM group of tech companies collectively shed $237 billion in market capitalization. Both the Dow Jones and the S&P 500 are now in the red for 2020, as the losses of the past few days erased all gains from the previous six weeks. The Nasdaq Composite Index also dropped by 3.7 percent on Monday, but it’s still up 2.7 percent year-to-date.
This Doesn’t Look Like a Pot-O-Gold to Us…
McDonald’s is auctioning an 18-karat gold Shamrock Shake cup that’s been appraised at $90,000. It’s adorned with real diamonds and emeralds in honor the 50th anniversary of the drink. The eBay auction started Tuesday and will end March 6. All of the money the auction raises will benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
ARE YOU PRE-PARED?
Why it matters to you: The gig economy is coming to our industry too.
The gig economy is an intrinsic aspect of our lives in the 21st Century. Whether it’s catching an Uber or ordering from DoorDash, the people you are interacting with are not employees of any company but sub-contractors who are choosing to serve you. While it has revolutionized many services that the consumer access, there are serious questions as to whether it’s good for people who are delivering those services. The gig economy has thrived on what Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian indicted as “hustle porn.” The New Yorker stated it plainly in the headline of a viral essay: “The Gig Economy Celebrates Working Yourself to Death.”
If you aren’t familiar, there are several on demand work sites in our industry like Shiftgig and Pared. This article on The Washington Post follows one such employee, Zia Sheikh on his gig journey using Pared.
It’s a grim story of incredibly hard work done for catering gigs, special events, and the occasional restaurant that is having a staffing problem. It might seem attractive for both sides of the transaction to have access to employees on demand and work as you want it, but the article paints a story of someone who is struggling to stay afloat and to keep any time for themselves. While we can see a reason where you would occasionally need to access casual labor, it’s our opinion this isn’t good for either side. A trusting relationship between management and staff is a singular key to a successful operation. How can that be built when you aren’t even employing someone beyond today? We appreciate the value of a market that you can access when things get tough or for a big event, but we assert it will cost you more than you save and building your team is the only real path to a successful restaurant.
[Source: The Washington Post]
HAVE A PLAN FOR THAT
Why it matters to you: Events succeed when you plan well.
Have you ever thought of hosting an event as a method of gaining new guests and to increase awareness of your restaurant? You may have heard presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren say, “I have a plan for that!” Well that is especially important when it comes to hosting events. This infographic is an excellent primer on the steps necessary to plan and execute a high quality event at your location. Whether it’s live music, a conference, or a banquet, the initial planning is crucial and needs to be completed early. Start by setting a target. For example, are you raising money or hosting a celebration? Then choose your date wisely, so you don’t overlap with another program that might hurt your success.
Once you have chosen the date it’s time to determine a budget. You have to consider everything from cost of goods to equipment rentals, if necessary. The post also addresses things like setting a price, securing the necessary talent (musicians or a speaker), and getting the necessary technology you might need. Once those details are set you can plan your marketing and promotion of the event.
From branding to social media all these particulars need to be set long before your event occurs. Then the last issue is the last minute and post-event wrap up. The primer also includes an easy to use checklist to ensure you don’t miss any relevant details during your planning.
[Source: Modern Restaurant Management]
