Friday, May 28, 2010
Memorial Day
The Dadson Diaries hopes that you and yours have a relaxing, fun-filled Memorial Day weekend. Our team will be out enjoying the 3 consecutive days off, so there won't be a new post on Monday. But we'll be back on Thursday with some refreshing new material for your reading pleasure.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
I Survived My First Trip to NRA Show
This is the first year I attended the National Restaurant Association's NRA Show, in which some 50,000 other food and restaurant professionals also gathered to learn about the latest and greatest trends and innovations within the restaurant and hospitality industry. As you may already know, the NRA Show is the largest restaurant and hospitality trade show in the Western Hemisphere and it's the Restaurant Association's goal to create a 4-day, super-sized industry event.
A major component of the industry just happens to be food and, let me tell you, there was no shortage of it here! When I first stepped foot onto the show floor, the buzz I heard was more about the fabulous food samples served on toothpicks that made a person wonder how these exhibitors could get so much flavor packed into just one bite. There was everything from oysters in the shell to deep fried cheese hot dogs. I know that my manager will be really happy when he sees my expense report for the show because there weren't a lot of charges racked up in the meal column!
In addition to the weird and wonderful food, I was also grateful for the opportunity to speak at an educational session about expanding brands into non-traditional locations. The session focused on educating the audience on some of the do's and don'ts of going into non-traditional markets like airports, universities, office buildings and more. I was incredibly lucky to recruit a panel of seasoned industry professionals that represented all areas of expertise. They included Greg Powell, VP of Concept Innovation for Denny's; Lynette McKee, Chief Development Officer for Checker's Drive-In; Marie Gill, Director of Business Development & Brand Strategy for Seattle's Best Coffee; and, finally, Steve Brush, Principal of Brush Enterprises, a non-traditional development consultancy.
I was so proud of our panel and the energy and enthusiasm everyone put forth to make this session a success. We had around 100 attendees from all over the globe -especially impressive considering our session was one of the first ones on Sunday morning. There was plenty of banter between the panelists and the attendees and a good time was had by all (or at least I hope!). In fact, it was so successful, we're thinking about taking the presentation on the road and see what other trade shows would be interested in having us present. (I'll keep you posted on where and when our next engagement will be.)
With the show's size, it was hard to get around to meeting everyone that I wanted to, but I still had the opportunity to meet quite a few amazing people and I'm really looking forward to my future conversations with them. All in all, I enjoyed my first time at NRA Show and felt that I accomplished quite a bit. Now let the follow-up fun begin!
--Marie VanDrisse (Catch up with me on LinkedIn.)
A major component of the industry just happens to be food and, let me tell you, there was no shortage of it here! When I first stepped foot onto the show floor, the buzz I heard was more about the fabulous food samples served on toothpicks that made a person wonder how these exhibitors could get so much flavor packed into just one bite. There was everything from oysters in the shell to deep fried cheese hot dogs. I know that my manager will be really happy when he sees my expense report for the show because there weren't a lot of charges racked up in the meal column!
In addition to the weird and wonderful food, I was also grateful for the opportunity to speak at an educational session about expanding brands into non-traditional locations. The session focused on educating the audience on some of the do's and don'ts of going into non-traditional markets like airports, universities, office buildings and more. I was incredibly lucky to recruit a panel of seasoned industry professionals that represented all areas of expertise. They included Greg Powell, VP of Concept Innovation for Denny's; Lynette McKee, Chief Development Officer for Checker's Drive-In; Marie Gill, Director of Business Development & Brand Strategy for Seattle's Best Coffee; and, finally, Steve Brush, Principal of Brush Enterprises, a non-traditional development consultancy.
I was so proud of our panel and the energy and enthusiasm everyone put forth to make this session a success. We had around 100 attendees from all over the globe -especially impressive considering our session was one of the first ones on Sunday morning. There was plenty of banter between the panelists and the attendees and a good time was had by all (or at least I hope!). In fact, it was so successful, we're thinking about taking the presentation on the road and see what other trade shows would be interested in having us present. (I'll keep you posted on where and when our next engagement will be.)
With the show's size, it was hard to get around to meeting everyone that I wanted to, but I still had the opportunity to meet quite a few amazing people and I'm really looking forward to my future conversations with them. All in all, I enjoyed my first time at NRA Show and felt that I accomplished quite a bit. Now let the follow-up fun begin!
--Marie VanDrisse (Catch up with me on LinkedIn.)
Monday, May 24, 2010
Store Remodels and Your Employees
There have been many signs of returning retailer optimism in recent months. One that we're particularly excited to see is increased spending on FF&E (fixtures, furniture and equipment).
A few of these FF&E purchases are for new locations, but we're finding that many retailers are instead choosing to focus on improving their current stores and turn them into smooth, revenue-generating machines.
Some of these remodels are small-scale while others have been more intensive. Whichever it ends up being, it's incredibly important to keep your store employees in the loop. After all, they are the ones who not only have to deal with a change in their working environment, but they also have to help your customers cope with the changes as well. The more information they have, the better equipped they'll be to get through the process.
On the VMSD.com website, Steve Kaufman offers commentary on two different trips taken to two recently-remodeled stores. The interesting thing about it is that he doesn't focus on the updates themselves so much as he does the employees' reactions to the changes. At the first store, he overhears employees griping to customers, while at the second, the employee he chatted with had a very positive response to the updates.
Now, Mr. Kaufman does note that the first store remained open during the remodel and that might have played into the employees' complaints. (The second store closed during the transformation.) Still, I can't help but wonder that if these employees have been kept informed on the project's progress and trained on how to address customer complaints/comments, would the interaction have been more positive?
It's certainly something to consider if you're planning any store updates of your own.
--Liz Blohm
A few of these FF&E purchases are for new locations, but we're finding that many retailers are instead choosing to focus on improving their current stores and turn them into smooth, revenue-generating machines.
Some of these remodels are small-scale while others have been more intensive. Whichever it ends up being, it's incredibly important to keep your store employees in the loop. After all, they are the ones who not only have to deal with a change in their working environment, but they also have to help your customers cope with the changes as well. The more information they have, the better equipped they'll be to get through the process.
On the VMSD.com website, Steve Kaufman offers commentary on two different trips taken to two recently-remodeled stores. The interesting thing about it is that he doesn't focus on the updates themselves so much as he does the employees' reactions to the changes. At the first store, he overhears employees griping to customers, while at the second, the employee he chatted with had a very positive response to the updates.
Now, Mr. Kaufman does note that the first store remained open during the remodel and that might have played into the employees' complaints. (The second store closed during the transformation.) Still, I can't help but wonder that if these employees have been kept informed on the project's progress and trained on how to address customer complaints/comments, would the interaction have been more positive?
It's certainly something to consider if you're planning any store updates of your own.
--Liz Blohm
Thursday, May 20, 2010
See FC Dadson at ICSC RECon
While F.C. Dadson's Marie and Troy are busy working NRA Show this weekend in Chicago, our Director of New Biz Development, Larry Myer, will be heading out west for the 2010 ICSC RECon (May 23-25 in Las Vegas).
And while he's there, he'll be taking part in a panel presentation Sunday morning (the 23rd @ 9:45am, to be exact) about cutting edge ways to reduce the cost of store openings. With money and financing being such a hot-button issue these days, the session's all about delivering timely advice for making both new corporate and new franchise locations more affordable.
From the show website:
Joining Larry is the moderator, Ryan Cunningham of Javelin Solutions and fellow panelists Jim Valentino, President & CEO of Tropical Smoothies; Jacqueline Vanella, Development Lead East for Burger King; and Dan Wieber, EVP New Business Development for Great Clips.
And while he's there, he'll be taking part in a panel presentation Sunday morning (the 23rd @ 9:45am, to be exact) about cutting edge ways to reduce the cost of store openings. With money and financing being such a hot-button issue these days, the session's all about delivering timely advice for making both new corporate and new franchise locations more affordable.
From the show website:
"From reassessing site selection parameters to developing multiple footprint sizes to value engineering fit out, retailers and food concepts need to find ways to lower the cost to open new units. With lower upfront costs, financing becomes easier, more units can be opened on the same budget and unit profitability increases. Hear from site selection and design/construction experts as well as cutting edge retailers and food providers on ways to reduce costs and increase profitability."
Joining Larry is the moderator, Ryan Cunningham of Javelin Solutions and fellow panelists Jim Valentino, President & CEO of Tropical Smoothies; Jacqueline Vanella, Development Lead East for Burger King; and Dan Wieber, EVP New Business Development for Great Clips.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Going to NRA Show 2010?
The National Restaurant Association's NRA Show 2010 starts this weekend in Chicago. F.C. Dadson's resident kiosk expert Marie VanDrisse and restaurant guy Troy Schwehr will be in attendance, and we were wondering if you'll be there too.
If you are attending and are looking for a break from the hustle and bustle of the show floor, Marie will be moderating a panel of seasoned restaurant development pros as they talk about expanding into the non-traditional market. The session will take place on Sunday (the 23rd) from 10-11:30am. More info can be found here.
Or if you're interested in learning more about F.C. Dadson, feel free to call either Troy or Marie at (800)728-0338 to set up a meeting during the show.
Hope to see you there!
If you are attending and are looking for a break from the hustle and bustle of the show floor, Marie will be moderating a panel of seasoned restaurant development pros as they talk about expanding into the non-traditional market. The session will take place on Sunday (the 23rd) from 10-11:30am. More info can be found here.
Or if you're interested in learning more about F.C. Dadson, feel free to call either Troy or Marie at (800)728-0338 to set up a meeting during the show.
Hope to see you there!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Where is Your Time the Most Valuable?
As a new franchise owner the task of getting a location can feel very daunting. First, you have to find a space. Then there's choosing an architect, finding a general contractor, permitting -don't even get me started on this one- and the actual construction itself.
Studies have shown that a new franchisee can easily spend over 300 hours overseeing the pre-construction and construction phases of their store openings. In most cases, these new franchisees have little experience in these areas, so even more time gets spent researching contractors, comparing pricing and ensuring all your bases are covered -once you've figured out what bases you need covered in the first place.
And then there are all the questions that will inevitably come your way during construction. "The demising walls don't coincide with the drawing and need to be changed. What do you want to do?"
While all of this is going on, there are store orders to place and staff to hire and train. And on top of all of that, you have to find time to market your new business to ensure the community is aware you are opening your doors.
The time spent on all of the above quickly adds up. So, how do you prioritize what's important for you to focus on in the time you do have? Getting to know the brand, hiring and training your employees, setting up your location for opening and marketing your business so the cash registers will be ringing once your store opens are all pretty important areas to focus on as these are where your return on investment lies.
But what about the store construction? True, this is important, but there are also many companies out there that can help you out by moving that portion of store opening off your plate and putting it on theirs. It may cost you 3-5% more to have them manage the process, but when you break down the numbers, the additional cost is minimal. Plus, these companies utilize economies of scale and existing vendor relationships to keep build out costs affordable and use their expertise to keep things moving along so your store opens on time and on budget.
So, whether you are looking to open a location, move your brand to a national stage or have just begun franchising your concept, the most important advice I can give is to make sure you have a program in place that will allow you and/or your franchisees to focus on what is important and that is the long-term success of your brand.
--Troy Schwehr (Connect with me on LinkedIn.)
Studies have shown that a new franchisee can easily spend over 300 hours overseeing the pre-construction and construction phases of their store openings. In most cases, these new franchisees have little experience in these areas, so even more time gets spent researching contractors, comparing pricing and ensuring all your bases are covered -once you've figured out what bases you need covered in the first place.
And then there are all the questions that will inevitably come your way during construction. "The demising walls don't coincide with the drawing and need to be changed. What do you want to do?"
While all of this is going on, there are store orders to place and staff to hire and train. And on top of all of that, you have to find time to market your new business to ensure the community is aware you are opening your doors.
The time spent on all of the above quickly adds up. So, how do you prioritize what's important for you to focus on in the time you do have? Getting to know the brand, hiring and training your employees, setting up your location for opening and marketing your business so the cash registers will be ringing once your store opens are all pretty important areas to focus on as these are where your return on investment lies.
But what about the store construction? True, this is important, but there are also many companies out there that can help you out by moving that portion of store opening off your plate and putting it on theirs. It may cost you 3-5% more to have them manage the process, but when you break down the numbers, the additional cost is minimal. Plus, these companies utilize economies of scale and existing vendor relationships to keep build out costs affordable and use their expertise to keep things moving along so your store opens on time and on budget.
So, whether you are looking to open a location, move your brand to a national stage or have just begun franchising your concept, the most important advice I can give is to make sure you have a program in place that will allow you and/or your franchisees to focus on what is important and that is the long-term success of your brand.
--Troy Schwehr (Connect with me on LinkedIn.)
Monday, May 10, 2010
How to Negotiate a Lease
With the International Council of Shopping Centers' big RECon show just around the corner (May 23-25), it's not surprising to have real estate on the brain.
To help get other RECon attendees into the spirit, I thought I'd share this neat little article from Entrepreneur.com on how to negotiate a lease. It touches on the basics like finding a good location and calculating monthly lease payments, while explaining the critical points to iron out in a letter of intent.
It might seem overwhelming at first, but hiring an experienced real estate broker and an attorney to help makes it that much easier to get favorable terms on your desired location.
And if you happen to be in the market for a real estate broker and/or attorney, there's sure to be plenty at RECon!
--Liz Blohm
To help get other RECon attendees into the spirit, I thought I'd share this neat little article from Entrepreneur.com on how to negotiate a lease. It touches on the basics like finding a good location and calculating monthly lease payments, while explaining the critical points to iron out in a letter of intent.
It might seem overwhelming at first, but hiring an experienced real estate broker and an attorney to help makes it that much easier to get favorable terms on your desired location.
And if you happen to be in the market for a real estate broker and/or attorney, there's sure to be plenty at RECon!
--Liz Blohm
Thursday, May 6, 2010
FranDev 2010
Franchisors looking for a new conference experience should check out FranDev 2010, taking place June 12-16 in Tucson, AZ. Put on by a few of F.C. Dadson's good friends, the conference gives attendees the opportunity to have their franchise companies analyzed by 6 franchising experts (Bob Gappa of Management 2000, Amit Pamecha of FranConnect, Martin Greenbaum of Greenbaum Marketing, Brian Schnell of Faegre & Benson, Ron Feldman of Siegel Financial, and Jerry Darnell of Benetrends), and gain insight in areas like:
For more information on FranDev 2010 or to register for the conference, visit the conference page or contact Management 2000 at (800)847-5763.
--Tim Matey (Connect with me on LinkedIn.)
- Philosophy, structure, process, and procedures,
- Lead generation and recruitment systems,
- Website design and use, and
- Financing and legal options.
For more information on FranDev 2010 or to register for the conference, visit the conference page or contact Management 2000 at (800)847-5763.
--Tim Matey (Connect with me on LinkedIn.)
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