Kanice L.’s Post

In our hyper-digitally connected world, fostering real-life community has never been more crucial. No matter your industry, local businesses are eager to team up and attract new customers together. According to the 2024 Square Future of Multihyphenate report, over one-third of restaurateurs highlighted the need for more events to foster in-person connections. Whether you run a salon, gift shop, or brewery, partnering with nearby establishments can amplify awareness and drive more visitors through your doors. Discover how Hi-Lo Liquor Market has leveraged their community to build brand loyalist: https://squ.re/49SG5uu

Thanks, Rohini Dey, Ph.D. for starting this much need conversation. The economics of the restaurant industry are indeed challenging. Is not like the old days before the pandemic. We are the vibrant tapestry woven with challenges and triumphs. Yet, we also are the flavors of the kitchen the laughter of diners, and the soul of our communities. There is an urgent pressing concern. The economics that underpins our establishments. Since the pandemic, restaurant owners have danced on a tightrope, balancing fair pricing, decent benefits, and living wages. However, there's a silent predator lurking in our kitchens. Picture this: vibrant neighborhoods, brimming with culinary diversity, are suddenly stifled as small restaurants, the heartbeats of these communities, vanish, leaving behind only fast food establishments. Who's to blame? The so-called developers for me "The Flippers." They swoop into our neighborhoods, get the benefits of our tax incentives erect buildings, and swiftly depart, leaving behind a ghost town of unaffordable empty spaces. According to their numbers, they need to rent only 75% of the project to make their money back. But it doesn't end there. Landlords, emboldened by soaring rents, we build up kitchens and upgrade their buildings and now demand more than just a slice of our earnings. They want a pound of flesh, with no guarantee of density in their projects, or sustainability for our ventures. I refuse to be a mere pawn in this project's profit-driven game. We are the artisans, the creators, the soul of the dining experience. It takes an army of dedicated, well-compensated staff to craft each meal with love and precision. The current model is unsustainable. With razor-thin profit margins, hovering between 3–5% before taxes, we're teetering on the brink. The culprit? Skyrocketing rents that spiral out of control, devouring our hard-earned revenues. So, what's the solution? It's simple – partnership. If developers claim to shape communities, let them join forces with restaurant owners. Let's reimagine our neighborhoods as vibrant hubs of collaboration, where eateries thrive alongside residential and commercial spaces. We have the power to shape the future of dining. Let’s champion a vision that strives for an industry that values creativity, inclusivity, sustainability, and above all fairness. #ReinventingRestaurants

Extreme thoughtfulness, inclusion, and generosity will always separate you from the crowd. All you have to do is pay attention. Here's a quick story from Unreasonable Hospitality. Will Guidara was bussing tables one night and overheard the four guests talking about their culinary adventure in NY. They ate at 4 of the best restaurants the city has to offer. The only thing they hadn't eaten was a street dog aka a dirty water dog. So what did Will do? He ran out to the cart on the corner, brought the hot dog back to the kitchen, and asked the chef to plate it. It was plated like it was part of their gourmet meal, and it no doubt blew their minds. Gift giving isn't about extravagance. It's about the emotional impact on the recipient. It's not what you give, but how it makes them feel. Each gift carries a priceless story. A story that will forever be in the memories of the people who receive them. Isn't a lasting impression what we all want to create at events and trade shows? Skip the branded merch. Focus on meaningful gestures. And as the story of the hot dog proves, it doesn't need to be expensive. -------------------- Hi, I'm Jay Designing experiences for trade shows that drive ROI for our clients. #business #branding #sales #marketing #eventprofs 

Another exciting topic coming up for this months Breakfast event - Strategies & Practices for building high-performing teams Join us on Tuesday 11th of June for some though provoking conversations! Sign up below... #BristolNetworking #TechLeaders #TechTeams #Bristol #Ghyston

We ALL love restaurants. And we ALL have pet peeves! What’s YOUR take on Reinventing Restaurants? What’s working and what’s not? How do we build better? Join the conversation. -      Restaurants – cherished social space or affluent entertainment? -      Chefdom - noble art or a craft gone astray? -      Media hypes – darlings, fads, pack-judgment, “the best” of, who decides? -      Fine dining norms – civilized convention or Eurocentric obsession? -      Wine service – connoisseur’s delight or hostage Stockholm syndrome? -      Tasting menus – divine curations or overpriced pretentiousness? -      Local, sustainable & F2T- a great start or greenwashing? -      Tipping – an archaic system or a must have? -      Immigrants – vital industry backbone or unwelcome? -      Global – what’s fine dining and what’s “ethnic”? - Automation – tech versus hands on service? -      Economics – is our current system tenable? Pricing. Benefits. Living wages. As owners, employers, innovators, we think of our restaurants as the key soft power to our cities and enjoy pushing the envelope on creativity. But many would say much of fine dining has morphed to overpriced pretentiousness #TheEmperorHasNoClothes dining egged on by fads, hype and convention. Some love this evolution, some don’t. Join us 5/20 5-7pm at Vermilion. Meet Let’s Talk Womxn nationally. Hear 10 unvarnished provocative soapboxes on reinventing restaurants by real restaurateurs. Columbus Lisa Gutierrez & Michelle Allen, Boston Rhonda Kallman & Seana Gaherin, Milwaukee Valeri Lucks, Miami Josie Smith Malave, Chicago Taylor Mason, Mary Aregoni, Julia Shell, Rohini Dey, Ph.D. Feast on six interactive global cuisines. Tickets $60 at www.letstalkwomxn.com. Let’s Talk Womxn is 900+ women restaurateurs & entrepreneurs across 15 cities committed to boosting our businesses collaboratively. All volunteer led. No dues. No overheads. No bureaucracy. No BS. Renegade. #LetsTalkWomxn #StrongerTogether #WomenOwners

Are you the 'Father of the Bride' in your restaurant? 🤵♂️ Be the mayor of the mile in your restaurant! Sam Stanovich shares this powerful analogy that could revolutionize how you run your business. Here's the scoop: ‣ Be in front, not behind the counter ‣ Greet customers, don't just make sandwiches ‣ Dedicate an hour daily to community engagement ‣ Become the true 'mayor of the mile' Simple ways to connect: Drop off flyers Attend chamber events Participate in school celebrations Wear your brand proudly in the community Remember: Your role extends beyond your restaurant's walls! What's your go-to method for connecting with your local community? #CommunityEngagement #RestaurantOwnership #LocalMarketing #Hospitality

From strategic decisions to community engagement, learn restaurant rebranding steps for transforming a restaurant’s image through relocation. https://lnkd.in/gQ286q_X #restaurantstrategy #restaurantowners #restaurantrelocation

Catherine Tabor, Founder & CEO of high-growth Sparkfly shares some great insights on dynamic offers in the QSR & Fast Casual space in Restaurant Dive. Here's an excerpt: "Made mainstream by the rideshare industry, surge pricing is a simple equation based on supply and demand. Dynamic pricing, however, is a much more complex model that adjusts the cost of an item or service based on market conditions, weather, season, time of day or supply changes. The critical distinction lies in the nuanced and data-driven nature of dynamic pricing. While surge pricing can feel punitive for the consumer during peak periods, dynamic pricing is more of a two-way street between brand and consumer that seeks to maintain customer trust and satisfaction while optimizing efficiencies for the company." 

Seize the opportunity…. Last night was my daughter’s 8th-grade graduation. Upon learning of the graduation date, one of the school’s parents, a savvy businesswoman and restaurant owner, wasted no time in extending an invitation for families to gather at her restaurant after the ceremony to “toast and celebrate.” When families arrived, they were greeted with a thoughtfully curated prix-fixe menu. As a result of this invitation, the restaurant was packed on a Wednesday night, which I imagine would have typically been a slower evening. Here’s why this move was brilliant: - By orchestrating this post-graduation gathering, the restaurant owner effectively induced FOMO (fear of missing out) among the families and graduates. - This served as an invaluable opportunity for the restaurant owner to showcase her brand to a captive audience. - It provided a great way to acquire new customers. - And to win repeat business once customers experienced the excellent food, service, and ambiance. Whether celebrating a graduation, a birthday, a little league win, or another occasion, is there an event your business can leverage to create memorable experiences and drive growth? Share in the comments below. #MarketingWin #RestaurantMarketing #PublicRelations #BusinessStrategy

Prior to launching Saint + Social, I spent 6 years in a relationship-centric career. Yet, amidst the flurry of coffee meetings, business card exchanges, and elevator pitches, I realized I was meeting countless faces but rarely building real connections. This prompted a deeper reflection: What if our professional interactions were more than just surface-level exchanges? And voila, Saint + Social was born for those looking for a way to form substantive relationships and facilitate meaningful conversation around the dining table. #dinnerpartyplanner #chicagoevents #dinnerparty #eventdesign #entertainingideas #businessdevelopment #uniqueevents