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Archive for September, 2009

When you open a new restaurant, there are so many choices to make which will affect how your business is perceived and run. Everything from the kitchen equipment to the color of the napkins that you choose for your tables makes a difference in how your restaurant is seen by customers. There is, however, one item that few restaurant owners consider when starting up – the point of sale system and supplies. After all, a cash register is a cash register is a cash register, right?

Wrong! Restaurant POS systems have come a very long way in the past couple of decades. Today’s point of sale system is far more than a cash drawer – even more than an inventory control system. In the restaurant business, the point of sale system that you choose can improve everything from prompt service and delivery of food to planning menus and ordering supplies. Some point of sale systems even communicate with a network to track your inventory and enter orders on supplies that need to be re-ordered.

Of course, not every restaurant needs a point of sale system that is that complex and sophisticated. Most restaurants, however, will operate more efficiently with a POS system that is designed especially for use in food service and hospitality rather than by retailers. These are some of the things you should consider when you’re shopping for the point of sale system for your new restaurant.

1. Educate yourself about the point of sale systems available and their capabilities.

The most important thing that you can do is get to know what is available on the market. Ask around among other restaurateurs to get recommendations, or ask if you can see the POS system that they use in operation. That will give you a feel for the kind of POS system that will be right for your business.

2. Evaluate your needs.

Once you have a good idea of what’s available, sit down and evaluate your needs. Is your business small enough to get buy with a basic guest check and receipt system? Do you need a credit card processing solution? Should you opt for a system that helps maintain inventory and tracks spending or do you just need a system that totals the day’s receipts? Will a system that allows waitstaff to enter their orders from the floor using hand-held mobile units benefit you or is it just icing on the cake?

3. Consult a professional.

POS systems for restaurants are an emerging technology. While they have been around for some time, there are frequent innovations. A company which specializes in point of sale systems for the hospitality industry will help you choose the right system for your operation.

4. Don’t let yourself be sold on a system that you don’t need.

If you’ve done your homework on what’s available and what you need, it will be much easier to spot it when a gung-ho sales rep tries to sell you on something that’s too complex for your business. Be realistic – allow for expansion, but don’t get sucked into buying a system with features that you’ll never use.

5. Consider training in the equation.

Many new restaurant owners overlook the value of training hours for your staff. When you’re negotiating a contract for your point of sale system, be sure to ask how much training time is included. An excellent training package can be more than worth paying a little extra for the system. Once you get a figure, says one business expert, push for five more hours. You’ll need it.

6. Look for a good support package.

What happens if your point of sale system goes down just as your customers are getting up from the table? Most point of sale vendors offer basic support for a limited period of time, but an extended support package can be vital to keeping your operation up and running. It may cost you about $50 a month, but it’s worth it. Just be sure that you understand all the terms and conditions so that you get a support package that will cover you when you need it most.

7. Think about all the factors when deciding whether to buy a used or reconditioned system.

While you can probably cut costs considerably by purchasing a used point of service system online or at auction, you may find that it costs you in the long run. One major advantage of buying through a dealer of point of sales systems is ongoing support and training. That’s seldom included with used systems.

A point of sale system can help you run your restaurant more efficiently and save you money. Choosing the best one for your business will help you maximize its benefit to your company. Take the time to educate yourself and research your options and you’ll be sure to get the best point of sale system for your business.

Toronto is gifted with a historical charm that may stand out in front of every visitor who is interested in visiting this city; this city is a veritable example when it comes to the entire country because it can also provide every visitor with a tasty experience. The Toronto Restaurant is famous for its excellent menu because people can actually find the best menus in Canada here. The Toronto Restaurant is marked with class and elegance and all the restaurants have exquisite interiors; delectable food will also be provided in order to tantalize the customer’s taste buds.

Every individual who is keen on visiting the Restaurants Toronto will also observe the amazing locations that are used in the case of these restaurants. The restaurants are usually located amid some beautiful surroundings and they are likely to offer the best when it comes to enjoying the culinary arts. But the visitor should also be aware that these restaurants are quite pricey and they are not likely to address all types of wallets.

But the positive aspect resides in the fact that you can actually adapt your dining experience to your current budget by visiting the restaurant websites; you can browse the internet in order to take a closer look to all the menus that are provide by each of the Restaurants Toronto. The websites have been designed in order to showcase the culinary delights and specialties but it is also advisable for you to check the availability of the seats in order not to waste your time planning to have a dinner in one of these restaurants.

The seat availability is always to be checked and you will have to make prior reservation is order to enjoy future dinners especially if the chosen restaurant is a famous one. The prior reservations are to be made in order to avoid waiting for available seats in these restaurants; you have to be perfectly aware that the Toronto Restaurant is one of the main attractions when it comes to the foreign visitors and you will have to make sure that you are going to dine in your favorite restaurant.

The restaurants in Toronto are usually classified according to the specialties they provide to their clients; the restaurants can actually be specialized in national food or foreign cuisine and even seafood and fish may be served in these restaurants because they are regarded as a true delicacy when prepared in the proper manner in order to delight your taste buds. You may even enjoy the traditional restaurants that may provide you with home cooked food especially if you are interested in discovering the Canadian national cuisine. Usually, the traditional restaurants are family-run businesses and they are also likely to provide the visitor with traditional dishes besides the exotic meals that belong to a particular cuisine.

Toronto is quite an expensive place but it is worth the effort to come and visit it; still, you have to eat in the Restaurants Toronto because you are going to experience a tasty sensation when choosing one of the famous restaurants that are to be found here. Modern cuisine together with the more traditional one is to be found here and when you are planning your future vacation in Toronto, you should not forget about having a fine dining. Fine dining is actually a major part when it comes to spending your holiday in Toronto and if you do not know which restaurant is likely to satisfy your culinary needs, you may ask the locals in order to find out more information.

The best information can be provided by the locals or by the special websites that have been designed in order to warn you about some aspects such as the fact that you must be pretty careful when choosing a restaurant in Toronto; for instance, some of the locals may be paid in order to advertise some of the restaurants and you will have to make sure you are going to make the right decision. Therefore, you must go and look around whenever you are planning to dine at the restaurant.

Another aspect to be considered when planning to dine in the Restaurants Toronto is that you may actually need a special outfit in order to be allowed to enter some of these restaurants; for instance, if the chosen restaurant is in a tourist area, you have to be aware that casual dress is going to be needed. But if you are in the private clubs, restaurants or business areas, you may think about wearing some formal dress. If you are not totally sure about the dress you should wear at a particular restaurant, you may make a phone call in order to be sure about the conditions that are implied by the chosen restaurant.

How would you like to have an article about your restaurant appear in the newspaper instead of just being one of the many advertisments littering the pages?

The simplest way to make this happen is by sending a press release to your local media outlets (newspaper, radio, and tv).  Approx. 70% of the material in newspapers is the result of press releases.  Everyday, your local newspaper (or television station) must come up with new and worthwhile stories to fill their pages with. 

Benefits of Press Releases

Press Releases are an amazing way to promote and get free advertising for your restaurant.  A steady flow of news helps to make a small business more visible to the public and creates favorable interest in its activities.

A press release that results in a quarter page story about your restaurant can be worth thousands of dollars of free advertising.  When your business is the focus of an article in the newspaper, their inherent authority and established trust is transferred to your business.  After all, if the newspaper deemed your restaurant worthy of writing about then you must be important.  

However, an advertisement of the same size that must be repeated constantly for consumers to become familiar with it.  The price for a single 1/4 page advertisement can run anywhere from $300 in a local newspaper all the way up to $10,000 for one in the New York Times.  Then consider the fact that an ad must be viewed an average of 10 times before a consumer notices it.  

What is a press release?

Press releases-are brief, printed statements that outline the major facts of a news story in journalistic style…a small business may need to prepare press releases in order to disseminate new information about its products, services, operations, or other activities.

In general, a newsworthy story should be timely, of general or human interest, and somewhat unusual.

In his book Public Relations for the Entrepreneur and the Growing Business, Norman Soderberg lists several possible types of news stories that a small business could generate. For example, the promotion, transfer, or hiring of personnel, an upcoming event, the offering of a new product and joining an association are all newsworthy events that might occur in a small business.

In addition, human interest stories might arise from the unusual hobbies or avocations of employees, the success of company-sponsored sports teams or events, or the company’s participation in charity or community activities. If a small business received an award or a visit from a celebrity, these events might provide impetus for a news story as well. 

Formatting A Press Release

It is crucial that your press release be professionally written and in the correct format.  More than 80% of press release are thrown in the garbage can because they are not in the correct format or aren’t newsworthy.  

TaDa – the Travel and Dining Association, an association for independent restaurants, has eliminated this problem for its members by emailing them 4 different professionally prepared press releases each month that they just have to customize with the restaurant’s name and their contact information.  For more information about TaDa, go to www.mytada.biz.

For an example of a correctly formatted press release, click here.

Build A Relationship With Your Local Media Professionals

It can only help your business if you take the time to develop a relationship with your local media professionals.  It is a good idea to start by finding not only which department but also a specific person, if possible, to send your press releases to.  Then go one step further and invite them to dine at your restaurant.  Having a mutually beneficial relationship with members of your local press is truly priceless.

 

Press releases are one of the most cost-effective ways of attracting new customers and increasing visits by your existing customers because they’re essentially free advertising.  The hour or two it takes to write is more then worth the thousands of dollars of free advertising and new business, one can bring through your door.