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Welcome to Our New Customers
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Doublewood Inn - Fargo, ND
Forum Restaurant in Minneapolis
Max & Erma's-Aberdeen, SD
MN Twins Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
Passage to India- Fargo, ND
R Bar on Main
Ramada of Marquette, MI
Ringo Restaurant in St. Louis Park
Slim's Lake Hallie Tavern (Chippewa Falls, WI)
Snack Shack- Fergus Falls, MN
Southside Restaurant, Bemidji, MN
The Ambassador, Houghton, MI
The Knuckle of Sturgis, SD
Tula's Cafe, Minocqua, WI
See What Our Customers Are Saying About Us!
Thank you for your business.
We're HERE whenever you need support or consultation.
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INCREASE SALES
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Looking to increase sales through existing customers? Contact us today about adding a loyalty program to your MICROS POS solution.
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Contact Us For More Information
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Game Changing Card Fees Benefit Restaurants
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that restaurants are starting to rethink their policies regarding the use of credit cards in their operations as a result of the new law that just went into effect.
While some restaurants like the famous steakhouke Peter Luger's in Brooklyn are keeping their "cash only" policy, restaurants now have more flexibility to adopt new policies.
Under the new law, restaurants can set a $10 minimum on card purchases while offering discounts and promotions for cash purchases. These practices were strictly forbidden under the old law. New fees for debit cards will also be regulated by the Federal Reserve to help insure that they are "reasonable and proportional" to the costs of the transactions. Finally, some good news for restaurant operators. Click below to review the entire Wall Street Jounral article.
Learn More About the New Law |
Federal Reserve Guidelines
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WHAT INTERESTS YOU?
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The Z Report is looking for your ideas and suggestions for future issues.
If you have an idea and want to share it, contact us at:
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Unified Threat Management
 
A complete network
security solution
Virus, spyware prevention
Content filtering
ViewPoint reporting software
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CUSTOM GIFT CARDS
Order Your Custom Gift Cards Today!
Contact:
Melissa Dreyer
888-505-0544
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Loss Prevention
Solutions
- Reduce Employee Theft;
- Reduce Liability for
Accidents, Slip-and-falls
- Reduce Vendor Fraud
- Increase Efficiency in
Video Investigations
- Increase Productivity of
Employees
- Increase Accountability
of Customer Service
- Make Business Decisions Based on Fact, Not Assumptions
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Greetings!
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Loyalty is difficult to earn and even harder to keep.
At North Country Business Products, we strive every day to provide our customers with the best possible service, sound advice, and outstanding value. In today's economy, the importance of loyal customers and vendors is even more critical to building and sustaining a successful business.
In this issue of The Z Report, we talk about the success of different hospitality initiatives around the country that are helping restaurant operators drive business and increase loyalty. The opportunity to increase top line revenue and cater to your existing customers is now available to all sizes and types of restaurants. Whether large, small, quick service or full service, these ideas may help your restaurant.
Ask our team how we can help you drive sales in your restaurant. Technology can help but so can the advice of your "loyal" technology provider.
We can help. Give us a call...you will be surprised.
Sincerely,
Dean
Dean Crotty, President
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A Menu Special That Works: Loyalty Programs
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Build Costumer Loyalty Without Deep Discounts
 Restaurants are replacing the two for one, free dessert for your birthday, and half priced bottles of wine with a more unique "experience" according to a recent Wall Street Journal article entitled "Restaurants Serve Perks for Loyalty."
Driven and tracked by "loyalty" technology, diners are being rewarded with everything from vacations to country music CD's. Instead of earning points for meals, restaurant patrons are being lured with the opportunity to attend wine tastings, sample new menu items, or even receive an autographed football. While chains like TGI Friday's, who recently upgraded their MICROS systems, customers earn a reward for just signing up for "Give Me More Stripes", but also receive an incentive for every $100 spent.
Giving away $1 menu items and value meals has become unsustainable. Restaurants are establishing "consumer continuity with loyalty programs". These programs, linked directly to your MICROS system, can be marketed on your restaurant menus, your web site, your cashier station, and your table tents. According to industry experts the return on investment is typically 2% of annual sales with initial costs that any size operator can afford. In the past, only chains could afford sophisticated loyalty technology...now it is available to all MICROS users!
Find out more about what a MICROS Loyalty Program can do for your restaurant.
Contact us to discuss these ideas and how we can help you implement them and track results. |
Mid Semester 2010 Report Card:
Gift Card Sales Increase
QSR and casual dining restaurants saw substantial increases in the sales of gift cards in the first half of 2010 compared to the same period last year.
The average gift card sale for a casual dining restaurant was over $28 dollars while the number of gift cards sold in this sector increased by 6% according to one industry leader. The study was based on activations and reloads which is a common practice as diners hold onto their "currency" for convenience and rewards.
In QSR concepts, the dollar value of reloads actually increased 47% compared to 25% for all merchants. The average gift card amount in QSR increased to $13.45 far greater than a single transaction. The dollar value of gift cards in quick service restaurants jumped 14%.
Along with the increase in gift card usage, MICROS has added an array of gift card solutions that enhance gift card programs on several levels. From gift card marketing to administration and tracking, MICROS provides a complete end-to-end solution. Paper certificates and stand alone gift card terminals have become artifacts of the past while fast, convenient, and integrated solutions from MICROS speed processing and reduce costs.
Gift and loyalty programs can be separate initiatives or offered as a combined incentive. We recommend you talk with us to determine the best solution for your restaurant. With MICROS, you've got choices and with our dealership you get the expertise to choose the right one.
If you have not implemented a state of the art gift card solution, it is time to see the latest options from MICROS. | |
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Didn't You Get The Memo?
It's a Text on Your Phone
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 If you want to get the word out to your staff and help insure an immediate response, then "texting" is your new management tool. While the use of texting to reach out to customers with "offers" has also become popular, the ability for managers to communicate with a single employee or the entire staff via texting is replacing email and voice mail. MICROS users such as Auntie Anne's to chains like Which Wich, management is often texting more than 10 people at a time. Sometimes they're just texting the staffer who is late while other texts are company announcements. The good news is that people are actually texting back. Restaurant staffs are already carrying a smartphone or cell phone with text capability so generally everyone is ready to receive your messages. Typical text messages are informational and even motivational including accolades. Schedule changes and daily specials are examples of typical text communications. Even suppliers like Coca Cola are actually sponsoring Auntie Anne's text messaging. Texting is surpassing voice mail and email as a preferred method of communication. Fast, short, and to the point. Why not? There are a variety of text messaging solutions that are web based and activated from your notebook PC, cell phone, or smartphones.
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Marketing for a Good Cause: Your Own
When your restaurant can increase customer engagement while enhancing your reputation, the result creates a winning program. Today, more restaurants are trying to help their communities.
Cause Marketing, such as Share our Strengths Great American Dine Out, had a goal of ending hunger. However, it did more than fulfill its primary objective. Employee levels of pride and enthusiasm improved while customers had no problem spending more money and supporting a good cause. One initiative raised $23,000 and redeemed 32% of the bounce back campaign while generating substantial incremental revenue.
Silver Diner, a small chain based in Maryland uses their MICROS POS to help local school districts by donating a certain percentage of sales of their new healthy food options. Their new system will track the entire program creating "accounts" for specific schools. "Action for Healthy Kids" has generated positive press for the restaurant and is just starting to show revenue increases with the school year now underway. Silver Diner expects to raise $150,000 for local schools in their community.
Learn about more how a MICROS program can help in your community. Find Out More about Cause Marketing
Contact us to learn more about ways to build a cause oriented marketing solution that works! | | Steve Halverson
888-505-0540
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