How is the gas prices hurting your place of business?

Question

We have a mom and pop restaurant at 209 north main st in waurika ok. named courthouse grill we have been hurting in small town America because of the gas prices. All our food has gone up our utilities have gone up and now our customers are not coming in due to the high gas. What are we to do? Any advice would be grateful.

Answer 1

We own a Mom and Pop Gift Shop in Maine, and we feel your pain.  Unfortunately, people are spending only on necessities, and our businesses don't quite fall into that category.  I don't know how long you have been in business, but we have been in for 14 years, and the only advice I can give is two-fold.   Try offering a 2-fer, or buy one meal, get the other half-off.  The other is..just hang in there, it is bound to get better.

We have sales every so often, and sometimes that helps.  Good Luck, and keep the Faith.

Answer 2

Hey I would like to offer my help. I think every business right now needs to really start to cut back and become more effecient. So there are many things you can cut back on and look at to help control cost.

Here are some questions I would ask:

1. Is your restaurant near the court house, if so I would say that they are not going to stophaving people going to court.

2. If you are near the court house, have you tried giving out gift cards for like $3 off. It must be a gift card not a piece of paper. You can get gift card machine for credit card machine companies.

3. The number one things is your customer service and your employees. You may tink it is ok but I can assure you it can improve. Customer Service is the only thing you can do againest your competion.

4. This you need to really listen to. I can help you or another business coach can. But you need to get a outside perspective on your business. Most business owners say we dont need the help or they cant afford it. You can not "not" afford to do it.

There are so many things you can do to help your restaurant. But need to seek help to save your business.

You can go to http://www.ezinearticles.com/

and they are many articles about restaurants and how to help them.

Good Luck,

Charlie