Reservations About Restaurants - March 21, 2010 - Segment Five

10 Tips in 2 Minutes - Reservations About Restaurants - Betsy and Renee recap the opportunities and challenges facing those who dream of opening their own restaurant. If you want to start a restaurant and you don’t have any experience, you’ll need an operations person to manage those aspects of the business. Try not to be everything to everyone, but instead, create products that resonate with people. Social media is another great way to build the presence of your brand, by creating “advocacy groups”—people who are fans of your product(s)—as well as allowing you to promote deals and new products to customers.

2Minutes&More with Betsy Berkhemer and Renee Fraser airs every Sunday at 1pm on KFWB NEWS TALK 980. Tune in for a full hour of tips for business success.

Reservations About Restaurants - March 21, 2010 - Segment Four

Reservations About Restaurants - Caller Matthew Baizer, CEO/President of Zao Noodle Bar, discusses his company’s efforts to develop and expand their franchise model. Zao Noodle Bar has multiple locations (one location in Los Angeles—on campus at USC) and Matthew elaborates on the company’s attempts to actively court more franchisees going forward. Fresh off of their first big franchising effort—a licensing deal with major airports nationwide—Matthew shares the qualities Zao values in potential franchise owners, including people who would like to deploy capital to open one restaurant, and based on its success, sign on to a subsequent development agreement, as opposed to making a development commitment upfront.

2Minutes&More with Betsy Berkhemer and Renee Fraser airs every Sunday at 1pm on KFWB NEWS TALK 980. Tune in for a full hour of tips for business success.

Reservations About Restaurants - CEO Interview - Keith Sirois, CEO of Big Boy Restaurants International - March 21, 2010 - Segment Three

Reservations About Restaurants - Interview with Keith Sirois, CEO of Big Boy Restaurants International

Betsy and Renee talk with Keith Sirois about the various ways the legendary chain is continuing to innovate and invigorate their products. Keith explains that there is a tendency in the restaurant industry to believe that there is a “silver bullet” in releasing a new product. More than anything, Keith maintains, it is about using a new product only to freshen up the menu, so that the customers who visit you regularly continue to have options. The main focus needs to always be put on quality service to the customer and providing an enjoyable atmosphere.

On the subject of operating a franchise, Keith explains that if you are an entrepreneur, you may not want to own a franchise, as franchises are all about executing a proven system and do not necessarily allow for a great deal of operational freedom. For those interested in possibly getting involved with a franchise, Keith recommends sitting down with the franchise owners to see what their expectations are, as well as getting a list of existing franchisees and talking with them about their experiences with that particular brand.

In 2009, Big Boy opened 7 restaurants in Southern California, and this year, they plan to open another 7 to 8 locations. However, Keith mentions, they would expand by 12 to 15 restaurants this year if people were interested. For anyone looking for more information about getting into Big Boy franchise, go online to www.bigboy.com.

2Minutes&More with Betsy Berkhemer and Renee Fraser airs every Sunday at 1pm on KFWB NEWS TALK 980. Tune in for a full hour of tips for business success.

Reservations About Restaurants - March 21, 2010 - Segment Two

Reservations About Restaurants - Caller Linda Griego, founder and owner of the restaurant Engine Company 28, discusses lessons from her experience with opening her restaurant during the recession of the 1980s. In her view, sometimes the best time to start business is when you have the passion and the time to see it through. Linda also shares her advice for people looking to open a restaurant right now, on everything from the right kitchen equipment to purchase to the abundance of available highly qualified individuals in the labor market right now.

2Minutes&More with Betsy Berkhemer and Renee Fraser airs every Sunday at 1pm on KFWB NEWS TALK 980. Tune in for a full hour of tips for business success.

Reservations About Restaurants - March 21, 2010 - Segment One

Reservations About Restaurants - In this current economic environment, a recurring theme among people who have been laid off is looking to pursue their lifelong dreams, which in many cases includes opening a restaurant. However, the reality of starting such a venture is far from rosy, as 1 in 4 restaurants close in their first year, and after three years, that number climbs to 3 in 5. It is a belief that many of these pitfalls can be avoided by operating a franchise restaurant, which is considered to be a safer bet than operating an independent restaurant. Caller, founder of The Counter, Jeff Weinstein, discusses the “Sum of the Parts” philosophy that guides his restaurant chain in creating a dynamic dining experience: it’s about more than the buns, the burger toppings, the lighting, or the music; it’s about how all those things come together. He also touches on the uses of social media for restaurant owners, mainly how tools like Facebook and Twitter give owners the chance to interact with customers while they are not actually in the restaurant.

2Minutes&More with Betsy Berkhemer and Renee Fraser airs every Sunday at 1pm on KFWB NEWS TALK 980. Tune in for a full hour of tips for business success.