Time and time again we see the tell-tale signs of pending restaurant failure: coupons, daily deals, large banners offering discounts. During this time, operators (and their employees) pretty much give up on saving the restaurant. Often they dismiss assistance, thinking they just want to salvage as much as they can and then “go down with the ship.” Big egos often prohibit accepting or seeking any expert assistance.
Before creating a plan to ditch your business, take some time to think outside the box to save all that hard work by you and your staff.
First, realize that YOU don’t have all the answers. You can’t be chef, business manager and world class marketer. You just can’t, and shouldn’t do it all.
Take the little you have remaining in cash (this assumes you aren’t just trying to write off a big loss for tax purposes) and do two things:
- Hire a local restaurant consulting group to help trim costs, create menu excitement, and ratchet up your marketing
- Create some incentive for your staff to bring in new business
When mapping out a plan to not only save, but grow (yes, grow sales and maybe even another location) your brand, ALWAYS keep an open mind. Again, you obviously don’t have all the answers to have already reversed slumping sales or controlling costs. LISTEN to your turnaround expert. Do things differently – as this is the only way you’ll save your restaurant. Running a restaurant should be fun after all.
