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the same thing with menu items, not just copy, but are there certain strategies or focus on giving back to the community and
marketing. Try new menu items. Try new certain things that you can do differently? doing charity events for people.
specials. See what people like. And again, Or can you take something that they’re
ask your customers what they want, but doing and make it more valuable? Can you FIND WAYS TO IMPROVE
don’t keep doing the same things over and make it more fun? Can you make it a better EVERYTHING IN YOUR
over and over. People get bored with the experience? Can you market it differently BUSINESS
old; they want new. When they go up to so that it’s going to gain more traction? So
someone they haven’t seen in a while, they always watch your competition. Look around. I remember my dad taught
say, “Hey, what’s new?” Everybody wants me when I was very, very young – I
to know what’s new. That’s why people GO TO INDUSTRY couldn’t even drive – but I would go to
are watching the news; they want to know CONFERENCES work with him and he’d say, “One thing
what’s new, what’s going on. So keep that you do when you own a bar in the future is
in mind, and that will definitely make you a This is very, very important. Go to you need to play ‘Where’s Waldo?’” And I
better bar or restaurant owner as well. food shows, the National Restaurant was like, what the hell is ‘Where’s Waldo?’
Association that’s always in May in He said, “You walk around and you look at
GIVE FEEDBACK TO Chicago, the Nightclub and Bar Show. every wall and you look at every chair. You
EMPLOYEES, AND LISTEN TO You surround yourself with tons of other go in the bathrooms. You go in the freezer,
FEEDBACK bar and restaurant owners. You meet a and you find something that is wrong.
lot of new people. You find a lot of new There is always going to be something
How can you be better as an owner or products and services that can ultimately wrong.” I remember he would get so upset
even a manager? Ask your employees that. help you grow your business. But by going that there were little tacks in the walls from
Send them an email or a text message. Or to these conferences, that’s going to help signs that the waitresses would take down,
maybe they might be scared to answer, you become a better bar and restaurant and the tacks would still be in the wall. But
so put some sort of box out. Don’t make owner, because it’s going to start making just find ways to improve anything in your
them sign their name, but you should find you think more about how to grow your business. Is there a chair that’s ripped? Is
out really how your employees feel about business. What can you do differently? there tape on a wall? There are always
you and how they think that you could be What new systems are out there? What things you can do. And most importantly,
a better owner or manager. Are you not new marketing strategies are out there I think it’s the atmosphere. How can you
listening? Or how can you make their job that can help you grow your business? make the atmosphere better? How can
easier? And I’m sure you already make their you make the service better? Because
job as easy as possible, but maybe there GIVE BACK TO THE ultimately, that’s what your customers care
can be some confusion. So get feedback COMMUNITY about the most. I can guarantee it. Also the
from your employees and listen to them, presentation of your food and beverages –
and that can make you a better bar or That’s one that will definitely help you. Run how can you make things look better, taste
restaurant owner. some type of charity events. Help out other better, and be presented better? And that
people in need, and that’s ultimately going can also help you become a better bar and
WATCH YOUR COMPETITION to boost your credibility, authority, and restaurant owner.
relationships within your
This is a very important one. What are community. When people
they doing for promotions, their menu, see that you’re giving back, WRITTEN BY: NICK FOSBERG
their specials, their marketing? What are you’re going to get a hell
they doing? Are they successful? And if of a lot more back in return www.barrestaurantsuccess.com
they are, what are the things that they’re with more loyal customers President Bar & Restaurant
doing that you’re not doing that maybe you and everything over the Success
can. I’m not going to say that you have to long run. So definitely
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