Do you have everything in place for COVID-19 closures and stay-at-home orders?
Due to information overload, we have taken a few days of time to slow down some communications! We could bombard you with multiple emails and many posts about the following topics, but hope that consolidating the information into a concise reference list will be most beneficial to your business in this confusing time.
Below, please find all of our best recommendations for different areas of your business, but as always, remember our expert restaurant consultants are just a phone call away if you need additional assistance.
Web sites: Don’t just post on your Facebook or Instagram: get your website a quick home page update with menu updates, pricing, and even online ordering options. Pricing is crucial as the competitive market is adjusting to the circumstances.
Bulk sales of products from your food service operations has been approved in many states. Check with your respective state restaurant association—and a shout out to Sonia Riggs, CEO of the Colorado Restaurant Association for her ongoing and informative and timely updates.
- Selling these bulk items must be unopened and sealed in their original packaging.
- In some cases alcohol can be sold by the bottle not just a mixed drink.
- Selling commercial items such as cleaning supplies, gloves etc. are now allowed; but gloves are so desperately needed by the health care community, strongly consider donating these items.
Drive-Thru Mock Up: Can you convert your business to a “mock drive-thru” by thinking out of the box? This free on line order system can set you up for take-out, delivery or drive-thru orders. Stay-in-place orders allow restaurants to operate, so take advantage of this tactic to keep some revenue coming in.
Boxed lunches: Create a box lunch alternative with people who are still working in offices. Deliver boxes with single service napkins, forks, knives and spoons. (See what Wild Flower Bread Company in the Phoenix areas is doing.)
Cash Management Seminar: Tomorrow, Deborah Robinson from Centennial Revenue Management has a cash management seminar. This will offer some extremely useful tips to all business owners. Register here.
Real Estate: We have had many phone calls in the past few days about leases and a clause known as Force Majeure within most leases. While there is great debate about what this may mean to agreements and in particular relating to your respective leases, many of the experts and legal teams are weighing in on this. Again, legal counsel should be sought after when considering this position for your business. Because this real estate issue if so complex, we will be following up with an additional post including information from SRS Real Estate Partners. Please look for that information in the coming days.
Stay safe and healthy—and a little prayer and resolve can’t hurt right now for everyone. Again, please contact a restaurant consultant if you have any questions or concerns.
Photo by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash