Tarek Tay, co-owner and managing partner at Zaya Restaurant was quoted in the April 2009 issue of Entrepreneur Magazine:
If your food isn’t good, you can improve your quality
if service is the problem, you can train your staff.
BUT if the problem is that no one’s going out to eat because of the economy, what can you do?
I have been sitting on this quote for some months now, contemplating what it really meant. At first, I thought it was a wonderful quote and reasoning for businesses who have downsized, cut operating costs or been “forced” to shut their doors.
However, with no disrespect to Tay and taking back my original thought, I disagree.
What can you do? Many things…
Reinvent yourself and your company/establishment to handle the changing economy and purchasing power and control your customers have.
Take this time to fully understand and utilize proper mediums to connect with your customers.
Look at your business and customer relations model. Is it up to par with demands, desires, and experiences your [potential] customers want, seek, and desire?
Look (yes, I am going to say it) outside the box with regards to hiring an expert. Getting a fresh pair of eyes, brain, and thought process might be exactly the answer. If you are a restaurant, perhaps hiring somebody who is an expert in operations and social media who DOES NOT have restaurantexperience is the answer. This individual can give you the “why do you do this, what does this mean, and WTF” challenges to take your organization to the next level.
If you have been in business for some time now, look back at yourself when you first started. Fire up the person and drive from years ago who was ready to take on the world, build an empire (or at least, a wonderful company). Let that person take charge.
Solicit family and friends. Period. Opposite advice than most would give, but I think we can all agree that when it is time to roll up our sleeves and hear what we need to hear, perhaps family and friends will be able to give an outsider opinion and suggestions on what they think and how they would change. If it doesn’t work, at least it has given you a chance to connect, spend time with, and open your emotions to those closest to you.
Either way you look at the quote, I think it’s one for us to remember. Sit on it. Look at your professional life. Look at your personal life. Look at the life around you.
What do you see?
As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you need a sounding board, want to brainstorm with somebody far-removed from your business, or just need to plain talk. More than happy!
