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March 2009
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Like Our Ideas or Want To Share Some of Yours
The Z Report is looking for comments, ideas and suggestions about how we can help our customers better utilize technology.
Write us and comment as often as you would like:
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Greetings!
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This issue of The Z Report is dedicated to foster ways to increase your revenue and decrease costs in today's economy. We know it's a challenging environment. Cowan's Retail Systems can show you ways to leverage your technology to increase sales, bring customers back more often, reduce costs, and raise profits. You and your staff are already working harder now we can also help you work smarter. Our goal is to be part of the solution by having our team support yours. We offer innovative strategies and knowledge that can help your business today. If our ideas sound good on paper, imagine what they can do working in your restaurant. Sound advice is only a phone call away. We hope you see benefit in The Z Report and will forward it on to others on your staff. Sincerely, Jason 
Jason Cowan
President
Cowan's Retail Systems
801-486-2151
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| Creating "Winners"
 Do you know anyone who does not enjoy winning a game, a match or the lottery? All of us enjoy the "thrill of victory", a competition or a game of chance.
Using your MICROS system, it's easy to create a "competition" that drives revenue, increases profits, and rewards your staff. The key to an effective program is to formulate one that generates revenue and profits while at the same time makes everyone a "winner". Establishing a goal of selling a few additional menu items is simple, attainable, and lucrative.
Here are some simple guidelines for producing "winning" strategies in your restaurant:
1) Provide Instant Gratification- Contests should be short in duration and measured by shift. Award the "prize" immediately, preferably in cash or with a gift card (not your OWN!).
2) Allow for Multiple Winners- Reward everyone who meets the goal and then give the top performer an extra "bonus". Example: Each server or cashier who sells 10 desserts wins the prize plus the top performer receives additional recognition.
3) Be Inclusive- Get the kitchen staff and bus staff involved...if the entire restaurants sells 30 desserts, provide them a reward as well. Get everyone on the bandwagon.
4) Celebrate the Victory- Each shift, start with a brief "kickoff" then and end the shift by "crowning" the winners.
5) Track the Results- Most MICROS systems have the ability to easily track specific menu items or groups by server, by cashier, and by shift. Some systems also offer a "dashboard" to display results real-time on the POS terminal during the shift. Post YOUR results!
Need more help designing your "contest"? Our staff is ready to help you. Contests are easy and fun tools to drive revenue, profits, AND reward staff.
Call us or email us at:
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Missing "$" Signs Increase Average Check
We did not make this up!
Cornell University and the Culinary Institute of America completed a study in late 2008 that actually showed when dollar signs were left off menus that the result was an 8.15% increase in the average check. Apparently, the perception created with the $xx.xx format "acted as an unintentional prime and activated concepts of cost or price, initiated a pain of paying, and subsequently caused guests to spend less".
Read More About The Cornell Study
Amanda Maudsley 801-486-2151
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Bring Customers Back...More Often
Every day chain operators communicate new promotions to their customer base to increase frequency. Over the past several years, their marketing departments teamed with their vendors and IT departments to create very effective programs using email, websites to download coupons, frequent diner programs, point systems and tracking solutions at the POS to measure the results.
Those systems were expensive but produced results.
Good news. Dynamic loyalty and "frequent diner" programs are now available for MICROS independent restaurant operators. Cost effective, simple to implement programs, are now offered for gift and loyalty....and they are totally integrated with your MICROS solution. They are no longer just affordable for the chain operator.
Want to compete on the same level as the big boys? Contact us, we can show you how. The benefits far outweigh the costs and your existing MICROS system is an integral part of the solution.
For more information about increasing return visits, contact:
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Wasting Time???
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Most restaurants are trying to keep close track of labor.
With all the employees, breaks, clock in and clock out transactions, labor rules, etc, the job for management hasn't gotten any easier. Excess labor costs create huge unnecessary losses...even 5 minutes a day per employee can cost your operation hundreds of dollars each month.
If you are using MICROS as your "time clock", you may not be using all of the new features available for enforcing schedules, monitoring exceptions, catching problems, and reducing over time. A lot has changed and there are a host of new benefits.
We can help. Let us perform a "labor audit", review your current practices, and show you ways to leverage your system to reduce your labor costs. Our dealership has the expertise to "fine tune" your system, educate you on potential opportunities to reduce labor costs, and explain the labor savings tools now available to MICROS users.
For your Labor Analysis, contact:
Amanda Maudsley
or call 801-486-2151. | |
