O’Dell Restaurant Consulting Blog

Marketing is maybe the most important function of running a restaurant. It is also the function that most restaurateurs have the least skill at. That’s why I consider having “no marketing skill” one of the biggest mistakes restaurants make. You can read about the others here: The biggest mistakes restaurants make, and why they have a [...]

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Listen to learn, not to defend!
by Andy Swingley
Regional Manager
Thomas & King
Applebees Restaurants
http://www.fohboh.com/profile/AndySwingley
 
 One of the skills we should all take time to be better at everyday is listening. Many opportunities pass us by each day when we don’t engage in “active” listening. There is a positive benefit to be gained from everyone you interact with on [...]

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This is one of my favorite quotes. Maybe because I’m the one who made it up.
It could also be that I love this quote because it deals with another major reason for failure in the restaurant world, and really, in every industry. Most managers don’t know how to delegate. That is a simple, but true, [...]

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Gift certificates are one of my favorite ways to build sales and market a restaurant. While lot’s of restaurants use gift certificates in-house to build sales during holidays, I would like to share with you a great way to use gift certificate all year round to build sales, and improve public relations.
 
Gift Certificates and Charities
This [...]

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As a consultant, and someone who talks to business owners on a daily basis, some who are clients and many more who are not, I’ve heard an incredible number of reasons why restaurant owner’s businesses are struggling or failing. 99 out of 100 times, that “reason” really isn’t a reason at all, it’s an “excuse”. There’s a big [...]

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