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Welcome to Our New
Customers
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Bemidji Regional
Event Center
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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Fast Food Spending
Increases Among Wealthy
According to an American Express study, fast food purchases by the "ultra-affluent" have increased by 24% over the same period last year. For the rest of us, the increase in fast food purchases was up 8%.
Through July 2010, visits to fast food restaurants fell 2% compared to drops of 3% and 8% respectively according to the NPD Group, Inc. The recession has changed the buying habits of all groups, according to the Wall Street Journal article, and while spending is increasing on luxury items, rich consumers seem to feel that saving on a meal is a way of feeling "frugal."
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| TECH NEWS | 
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California Health Department Uses QR Codes for Reports
Kern County officials have developed a smart phone "app" and system for using QR codes to help consumer "look up" inspection reports.
County regulators starting printing a small, square QR code on all of the letter grade cards posted in front windows. Using the phone's camera with free software that recognizes the QR codes, consumers can view the entire report.
Check Out QR Codes |
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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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Happy Holidays to all of our customers and staff.
We appreciate your business and want to say "THANK YOU!"
It has been a challenging year, but America's appetite for eating out again is back! "Consumers are returning to their old habits and restaurant business is up in all sectors, from fast food to casual to tablecloth", according to Ron Paul, president of Technomic, the industry's leading research firm.
While we know this isn't true across the board in every restaurant, the signs are encouraging. Many consumers have adjusted to the change in the economy, are feeling more optimistic, and starting to see the federal government taking steps to keep things headed in the right direction.
Our job is still to help you do yours. We offer new technology and programs that can help you to manage your business more efficiently and increase sales. Many of our latest innovations can be added to your existing system. Regardless of whether you want to increase revenue, improve security, or simply manage costs, our staff is here to help you, your staff, and your restaurant.
We can help make 2011 a great year for your business. Call us today to find out how.
Best wishes for a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season!
Sincerely,
Dean
Dean Crotty, President
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Restaurant Performance Index
Reaches Three Year High
|  The NRA Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) rose in October to its highest level since September, 2007. Driven by same-store sales and customer traffic levels, the RPI has been on the rise with the outlook looking significantly better in the next six months. In October, 2010, over 51% of the restaurants were reporting increased sales from a year ago, while less than 33% reported a decline. Both indicators showed a substantial improvement with only 44% reporting better sales in September. More importantly, the Expectation Index, which measures restaurant operator's six-month outlook, stood at its strongest level in many months. This index measures four indicators, including same-store sales, employees, capital expenditures and business conditions. Restaurants also indicated that their hiring and capital investment outlook for equipment, expansion, and remodels remained "solid", with revenues expecting to grow. Read More About the Restaurant Performance Index Contact us to discuss ideas to improve and track your performance.
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Top Trends for 2011
NRA Survey Offers Unique Insights
 The "What's Hot in 2011" survey is out and 1527 chefs were polled online to uncover their predictions for next year. At the top of the list for food trends were "hyper-local" sourcing of food items, healthy kid's meals, sustainable seafood, and gluten-free or food-allergy conscious menu items, along with smaller portions for a lower price. On the drink menus, items like micro-distilled spirits topped the list, locally produced beer and wine, culinary cocktails, and food-beer pairings were the fresh ideas for 2011. In the non-alcoholic category, specialty iced-teas topped the list. From an operational perspective, mobile food-trucks and pop-up restaurants will be the hottest trends. Third on the list were restaurants with gardens, which match up with the trend of more fresh produce options on menus. Throughout the survey, there are many references to healthier menu options and ideas that support diet-conscious diners. Chefs also indicated that 55% were currently using social media for professional purposes, with another 18% planning to do so. When asked about their most successful marketing strategy during the recession, the top responses were offering value specials, increased marketing efforts like social media, and simplifying menus--but with more portion size offerings. All of the trends seem to indicate that technology, especially in tracking marketing efforts, would be useful in supporting these new initiatives, including electronic, iPad, and smart phone applications for menus and wine lists. Download the What's Hot Survey |
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Seattle Hit With
Credit Card Breach
Security Issues Still a Huge Problem
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 Federal authorities now say a recent Seattle cyber attack was a much bigger crime than first believed, reports Linda McGlasson, editor for the site BankInfoSecurity.com. A United States Secret Service agent says more than 1,000 credit and debit cards may have been compromised in the attack.
The attack happened in late October, and the forensic trail leads overseas, officials say, card data was stolen on October 22nd in a one-day attack, by what authorities say for now was one hacker. The overseas hacker, who was able to access the network through the POS system, appears to have been able to leapfrog from the restaurant's access during the transaction process, to a critical computer server where account information was available.
The scheme appears to involve the sale or distribution of the stolen account information to numerous individuals across the country, as well as in foreign countries. Those individuals then used the information to make purchases against the consumer's accounts. Authorities early in the investigation speculated that an organized crime group was involved.
Contact us to help ensure your restaurant is doing everything possible to protect the security and integrity of your customer's credit card data.
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MICROS Provides New Service
Updated Security Alerts Now Available
MICROS has announced an added service for MICROS customers! You can now visit the information security section of the MICROS web site and sign up to receive automated emails each time MICROS releases a security related update for one of its products. In addition to these Security Enhancements for MICROS products, MICROS will also use this vehicle to distribute Alerts pertaining to Operating System Security Updates.
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Groupon or Coupon?
Do the Benefits Outweigh the Costs?
Somebody must think Groupon is a great idea since Google offered the company over $5 billion, but is it good for YOUR restaurant?
Designed properly, a Groupon campaign can bring in a lot of first time guests, who may never have heard or visited your restaurant. Campaigns have actually put certain restaurants on the map.
The flip side is the cost of a campaign, whether it is Groupon or a copycat competitor. Most likely you will need to offer a 50% off coupon, leaving you 50% to split with Groupon.
This leaves your restaurant with only 25% of every dollar.
Each redeemed coupon creates a losing proposition and sometimes these coupon holders don't tip well, don't come back, etc. If you are going to try Groupon or any other service, plan properly. Launch campaigns on a slow day, or during slow hours.
Make sure servers are trained to sign new customers up for your newsletter or loyalty program. Consider programming an auto gratuity into your POS system, and of course, track the activity associated with a coupon meal. With each coupon customer creating "red ink", you need to make sure the long term benefits of repeat business are fulfilled.
Read more about Groupon for restaurants and contact us before you implement a campaign, to make sure you are leveraging your technology effectively to make the coupon transaction as valuable as possible.
Contact us to learn more about ways to build a marketing initiative that works!
| | Steve Halverson
888-505-0540
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