Business Boost for Pubs

Lester Pyatt –Managing Director Omark Hospitality Solutions has completed the formulation of a new programme due to hit the market after the Easter Holidays.

Lester said “For the past five years I’ve been working on a one to one basis with landlords of various licensed operations absorbing information about their issues and concerns, and creating “done for you” packages to improve productivity, to give more control over their day to day operations and consequently increase their turnover and profit.

I wanted to offer a Business Development Programme that was flexible because landlords have different set skills. A guaranteed return on investment gives piece of mind and dismisses scepticism and apprehension about costly consultancy services.

Whilst the programme will achieve success Pyatt gives a word of caution. “It’s not for everyone. Whilst I’ll impress on the operator that the system gives more control, thus in the longer term making managing operations easier, initially they will need to  adopt a smarter work ethic and make some tough decisions. Unfortunately some do not have the aptitude or tenacity to make it happen”. 

Pyatt notes that the first twelve months are critical for new entrants to the sector where more rigorous “fit for purpose” examination requirements should be administered by Pub companies and governing bodies.  Followed by “on the go” coaching and training programmes which are relevant for today’s competitive market. “We have all seen the carnage and debris due to past “broken” sector systems. Now is the time to put it right”.

“It’s all about raising standards. In five years’ time I hope we have a more concentrated, nimble, agile sector with adept Landlords and Pub Operators focussed on serving their customer’s needs and requirements to mutual financial benefit.

“In the meantime I’m currently in talks with the Institute of Hospitality to attain endorsement for this programme and now have recognition for the Government’s Growth Accelerator Scheme to identify progressive companies and individuals within the pub sector eligible for funded business development and coaching programmes in the Hereford and Worcester post code area.

                                                             Lester Pyatt 

                                                www.thepubspecialist.co.uk

I'll get back to you, or not!!

Im going to start with a bit of a rant!!.
Its aimed at pub operators and organisations within the pub sector.It seems that if your in one of these middle management or director type roles its sector standard not to return calls or get back to confirm meetings within a certain time frame.

Business Development Managers are renowned for this crime as they try and run round, overburdened with a "top heavy" portfolio of clients. Imagine if you had a grumpy customer who had a complaint and you decided to ignore them, certainly an opportinity to be crucified on a site like Trip Advisor.

Maybe there is an opportunity to open a complaints site that deals with poor customer service from pub companies and associates, maybe its not a silly idea after all?.

Woud like to hear from any landlord in the pub sector who's had a similar experience, please leave a comment below.

                                                               Regards Lester

The Pub Specialist’s - 14 Wishes & predictions for 2014 – Pub /Restaurants.

The Pub Sector

1. The Pub sector starts the green shoots of recovery, but realise there are tough decisions to be made.

2. Pub operators get closer to the “”sharp end of the business meaning more support for the landlord.

The Customer

3. More emphasis and focus on the customer is king. [Not just the current lip service we currently provide].

4. Realising consumers are now well trained and adept at seeking the perception of value and they won’t forget it.

5. Connecting and how you connect with the customer will pay big dividends.

6. Smiling will become the new customer service.

7. Customers will want more downtime, but will remain fickle in their selection of entertainment fixes to satisfy their requirements.

Selling

8. Less emphasis on trying to push and sell the product and more on building long lasting relationships.

Staff

9. Staff appreciation that giving lousy service will not be tolerable, and it’s not the boss that pays their wages but the customer.

Internet /Social Media

10. The internet will continue watch you’re every move good or bad- [think Trip advisor].

11. Goal posts will continue to move at an alarming pace in social media, so picking one and doing it well will be the way forward.

12. Visuals will replace boring text think instagram and twit pic

13. With all the current social media noise, people will realise that going back to less populated offline marketing strategies will work wonders.

14 Marketing your business will start to lean towards move media stations- look at what i pad can do for video for a tenth of the original price.

                 Project 10 -Are you ready for an extra £10,000 in your business?

                                      www.ThePubSpecialist.co.uk

                                               please click above

“The Pub Specialist says it’s time for a rethink on training and support”

“The Pub Specialist says it’s time for a rethink on training and support”

A day doesn't go by without an analyst reporting on the latest number of pub closures for it’s an issue upon which everyone has an opinion.  But in the long term could these closures steer a new path for the sector? Would a leaner, concentrated model with focussed, enthusiastic pub companies and more knowledgeable proactive landlords be the way forward?

If so, what is the solution? Running a pub operation already takes a lot of the landlord's time and effort and this limits his ability to develop new business opportunities successfully. Their urgent need for solid business foundations, control strategies in finance, operations, sales and marketing, can thus only be achieved successfully with external support and a reliable business information infrastructure.

The implementation of this support will only happen if the decision makers at board level rethink their business model and apportion budgets to train their Business Development Managers and invest in business development programmes that are relevant and proven to work.

In essence Directors should

• re-focus their efforts and budgetary commitment to training the landlords to a level of business competency required in today's competitive leisure market.

•  introduce more stringent, intensive induction training programmes for new pub entrants.

• have account focussed Business Development Managers trained in current business strategies enabling them to coach and support landlords to mutual benefit.

• encourage more trust and transparency between landlord and pub company in the financial aspects of the business.

It's not all doom and gloom. Customers still enjoy participating in our pub tradition with some good companies and operators. But with a bit of reorganisation it could be so much better for everyone. 

For further information contact Lester Pyatt on 07931 238211

                           www.ThePubSpecialist.co.uk

Business Personality- Self Analyzer

Here are attributes many of us value in bosses, employees; external business associates and friends :
What you should be                  What you shouldn’t be

• Honest                                    Untruthful
• Punctual                                  Late                
• Curious                                   Apathetic
• Proactive                                 Passive
• Flexible                                   Rigid
• Thoughtful                              Superficial
• Fun                                          Boring
• Generous                                 Stingy
• Committed                              Disinterested
• Respectful                               Dis respectful
• Organized                                Spontaneous
• Interested                                 In different
• Creative                                   Un imaginative
• Likable                                    Unlikable
• Positive                                    Negative
• Open                                        Guarded
• Adaptable                                Inflexible
• Risk                                         Safe
• Attention to detail                   Generalization           
• Kind                                        In humane

You get the idea. These are things that turn someone/business from ordinary into a star. They are even attributes we now assign to our favourite brands, treating them like trusted or respected friends.
Someone who is likable, honest, curious and thoughtful is easy to think of as gifted. This natural charisma and care is worth seeking out in the people we choose to work with.
You might be adept in one area or another, you might be raised in a culture or with parents that reinforce some of these values, but these are attitudes, and attitudes can be taught, and they can be learned.
There are 20 listed, so what percentage would you and your staff get today? And if you re- visited the list in twelve months’ time how much improvement has been made?
The question is do you care enough to take them on? 

                                                        Lester Pyatt
                                               www.thePubSpecialist.co.uk