Mike Kilcoyne’s Post

Running a family restaurant might seem like a breeze from the outside, but let me tell you, it's anything but easy. Sure, we've got that family bond going for us, which is awesome. We share the same values, and there's a deep trust between us. But with that comes a whole bunch of stuff that people don't see. However, the biggest con of working in a family business is this constant blur between family time and work time. Sometimes it's hard to separate personal stuff from business decisions, and that can lead to tricky situations. So yeah, running a family restaurant has its perks, but it's not a walk in the park. It takes resilience, communication, and a whole lot of love for what we do to make it work day in and day out. But in all honesty, if I could choose what I do in life, I would choose this life and family all over again! #family #restaurant #business #enterpreneur #familybusiness

How do you spot greed in a business? Yesterday, my family and I ate lunch at an authentic Chinese restaurant. My mum’s favourite in our city. This restaurant opened around 1998, in the city centre, near the old Stow College. Back then, it was roomy, spacious and comfortable to sit in. Nowadays, signs of greed are everywhere. 1. There are two tables by the left of the door, as you walk in. They sit four people. Back in its glory days, there were a row of seats, for customers to sit at, whilst they wait for their table. 2. There is a table that sits four at the fire exit, at the back of the front of house. Another dangerous indicator. If a fire broke out, the fire exit would be blocked. 3. The massive fish tank was removed, during its renovations, during Covid. This allowed more space to have more tables. A sign of greed. Or a sign of maximising space, for more profit??? 🤔🤔🤔 It was the weekend and the second day of Chinese / Lunar New Year, so the restaurant was jam packed with diners. 4. What shocked me was the amount of potential diners stood at the door way. Others who were coming in, were stuck. Diners who wanted to leave, were stuck. This is dangerous because in the event of a fire, there could be diners getting crushed. 5. Another sign of greed was a sign on the door, it indicated that “A surplus charge” would be in place due to the Chinese / Lunar New Year. This happens annually. The boss of this business is very generous in giving, to her customers. She knows how to make her customers feel important. She gave my family’s children red lucky bags or 利是 🧧yesterday. It is a tradition in the Chinese culture, to give children money, in a red envelope called 利是🧧, aka red lucky bag, or red envelope. The boss shows that she cares for her customers, in a personal way. I believe this is what makes her restaurant stand out, from the rest, in Glasgow. However, the signs of greed can put customers off, from visiting regularly. Knowing what I know about the dangers, that lurk in this establishment, I have been staying away from it. Do you recognise the signs of greed in a business, that could put your safety at risk? #greed #runningabusiness #healthandsafety

Countless bars and restaurants find themselves "busy going broke". You know the ones: bustling on Friday and Saturday, yet eerily quiet the rest of the week. No matter how talents the staff, they struggle to make ends meet with just two nights of tips, prompting them to leave in search of more stable income. In their desperation to stem the financial hemorrhage, owners often resort to misguided tactics like discounting, introducing themed nights, pouring money into social media ads, or adding lunch service. Yet, these efforts only exacerbate the underlying problem. There was an old saying growing up in the country "Milk your cows before heading to the market to buy more!". That's why, in my bar group, we embraced a central philosophy: if we couldn't turn a profit on Friday and Saturday alone, we had to question if the business was for us. All other nights would be a bonus. To achieve profitability, we directed our focus squarely on those two nights. Through strategic marketing, operational efficiency, and a commitment to exceptional guest experiences, we managed to attract patrons who returned with friends on quieter evenings. Only then did we consider implementing new initiatives. While marketing and hospitality delivery are straightforward, optimizing peak hours requires a more nuanced approach. That's why I'm hosting a webinar next Thursday to share exactly how we accomplished this. Join us here: https://lnkd.in/eqdzD7qS

What do LinkedIn subscribers and 2-Minute Noodles have in common? The simple answer is; a lack of time. As a professional you put your career before many other things. For this reason, you spend much of your time working leaving you very little time to cook a meal. So, inevitably, at some point you’ll make 2 minute noodles to fill the void. This is my free business idea for a 2-Minute Noodle Networking Restaurant. #freebusinessidea #networking #noodles #remotework

Tuesday Tips: Play It Cool 🧊 There are so many things to love about summer—but for some restaurants, the warm weather can have a real impact on business during these months. Tap the link below and beat the heat by developing enjoyable, creative experiences to help your guests cool down. https://ow.ly/k0rr50SxnIw

🍽️ Business lunches just got better! Our boxed lunches are curated for satisfaction and delivered for convenience. Don't miss out; order for your team today! 👩💼 #BaileySeafood #BuffaloNY #BuffaloDelivers #BuffaloBusinessMeals #BuffaloWorkWins #BuffaloMealPrep #BuffaloLunchDelivered #BuffaloCateringDoneRight #BuffaloQuality #BuffaloProEats #BuffaloOfficeOrder #BuffaloMeetingFix #BuffaloYumYum #BuffaloBossLunch #BuffaloBusinessSolutions

Aaand we're back! Join Leslie Nydick and me on Friday for our final "Let's Talk About It" of 2023. Our topic? Office holiday parties -- our best tips and (of course) our favorite stories. As office holiday parties in 2023 begin to approach pre-pandemic levels again, there is much to navigate and discuss. Bring a cup of your favorite beverage and join us for a coffee or tea break that is sure to be enlightening - and fun! Link to register in the comments. 📌 See you then! #linkedin #socialnetworking #personaldevelopment

We know that coffee plays a big role in your day-to-day activities. Whether you pick one up on your way to work, during your lunch break, or after a busy day, coffee is always there to pick you up! ☕ Let's see what your coffee order says about you! #hospitality #nycstaffing #nycevents #eventstaffing

👩💼 Exciting Business Strategy: Empowering Baristas to Foster Community Growth! ☕ At the heart of every vibrant community lies a central hub – the local coffee shop. 🌐 Recognizing this, our business strategy revolves around empowering Baristas as community builders. 🚀 Imagine the impact: 1 Barista serves 10 people daily. Now, multiply that by the ripple effect of those 10 people each bringing in another 10 friends. 🔄 The result? A robust, interconnected community! By investing in the frontline of our cafes, we're not just serving coffee; we're cultivating connections and building relationships. 💬 Baristas become the catalysts for a network effect, where every cup poured extends the reach of our community. This strategy aligns with the essence of community building – it's not just about transactions; it's about forging meaningful connections. ☕🤝 Our Baristas are the architects of these connections, turning a simple coffee order into a social experience. As we embark on this journey, let's celebrate the Baristas who go beyond brewing beverages – they're the architects of a stronger, more connected community. Together, one cup at a time, we build not just a coffee culture, but a community culture! ☕🌟 #CommunityBuilding #CoffeeCulture #BaristaConnection

Another new client win to celebrate right now! 🎉 I love it when my clients go from 18-hour days to a 9-day vacation! It's amazing what happens when you implement our Restaurant Freedom Forumla™. You have better employees, higher sales, higher profits, and FREEDOM for you and your family. #clientwin #clientsuccess