Minor Changes

Major Business

Business Proposal to Create New Business

Heather Morgan

November 25, 2011

Beer Its Cheaper

Than Therapy

Table of Contents

I. Introduction Pg. 3

II. Maintenance Pg. 3

III. Food & Drink Pg. 4

IV. Entertainment Pg. 6

V. Conclusion Pg. 7

VI. Work Cited Pg. 8

As an employee of your business, and your friend, we have had many conversations

about business. We have had similar and varying ideas. I would like to use our experiences,

conversations, and additional research to propose some ideas to improve business. Between the

economy and smoking ban, business has been slowly getting quieter. I believe three ideas could

help make a difference in business.

The idea of maintenance, no matter how major or minor seems overwhelming sometimes.

Once completed, the satisfaction is the greatest reward. One thing I think that could make the

biggest impact in the business’s general appearance would be to close the doors for two days and

do a deep spring cleaning. Your businesses motto is “Open Every F****** Day”, but sometimes

you just have to break that motto for the better of your business. In two days’ time, with the right

crew to help, so much more could be accomplished than what the regular cleaning crew can

address. Depending on the size and capabilities of the crew helping you, you may be able to

address not just cleaning but any small maintenance issues in

that same two days.

Your business shows a lot of character just by the

pictures, signs and memorabilia around the bar. But all that

character unfortunately collects dust and cobwebs. Just about everything on the walls needs to

come down and be thoroughly cleaned. While things are off the walls, the walls and ceiling

could be washed of any remnants of nicotine stains since the smoking ban. That alone would

brighten the room ten times. A fresh coat of paint could be thrown on the walls or areas that just

need to be touched up could easily be done while walls are bare. The additional shelving needed

to display the beer can collection, that draws a lot of attention, could finally be hung and the rest

of the collection could be displayed. The rope lights that accent the collection need to be

maintenance or replaced. Signs and pictures could be rearranged, updated, or replaced easily at

the time too. Just by rearranging the stuff on the walls, customers will believe some of the stuff is

new or notice stuff they had never noticed before. In addition it may make it easier for the

regular cleaning crew to stay on top of it.

A second easy step that could be taken, whether it is at the same time as the cleaning or

another time, is to finish any unfinished projects. I do recommend doing them at the same time

as the cleaning closure that way there is less downtime. The few unfinished projects that there

are, were set aside because of customer interference or safety. During the two day closure there

obviously would not be the concern of customers.

The bathroom remodel was done almost two years ago. The bathrooms turned out very

nice and definitely unique; but there are still pieces of trim missing in the bathrooms and the hall

that leads to them. Or the couple of cracked floor tiles that need to be replaced can be done

without being disturbed, and have time to properly adhere. With winter right around the corner, I

recommend replacing them soon before the snow and salt help peel up more tiles. While one

person finishes the trim pieces, another works on the floor tiles, a third person could replace the

feet on the chairs. Over time the feet on the chairs have become mangled and are causing damage

to the bar and the floors also. All of these items would not cost you anymore than labor. Majority

of the supplies to finish them are taking up space in the store room.

Another easy way to improve business would be to expand the food menu and drink

specials. We do not have a large menu, and do not serve food on the weekends. We do not have

to have a very large menu either, just adding a few more options to it would give customers more

options to tempt their taste buds. Carrying food draws people in and makes them stay longer.

With the option of food it also keeps customers from becoming intoxicated as quickly.

Customers come in, in larger groups to dine or invite others to join them.

A lot of our business during the spring, summer, and early part of fall is motorcycles on

the weekends. Having the kitchen open on the weekends would encourage more bikes to stop

and stay a while on their trip. They are usually looking for something

quick and easy to eat. During spring and fall I would recommend

carrying a chili or soup, so they can warm up. During the summer you

could have burgers, brats, or salad sandwiches like tuna, chicken, or egg salad. I would

recommend carrying appetizers also. A few simple items like potato skins, chicken wings, or

beer nuggets could keep people seated longer. These few additional items on the menu are

inexpensive and would expand the menu substantially.

With different games or events on TV that people may come to watch, pairing a drink

with certain food items will also draw customers. By advertising certain games or events with a

food special would make the idea more inviting and entertaining to our customers. Think about

running these as specials aside from the regular daily specials to attract more customers.

Event Specials

Monday Night Football $8.00 Pizza & a Pitcher

Taco Tuesday’s $2.50 Corona’s$5.00 AYCE Taco Bar

Thursday Football $2.00 Bud & Bud Light$.50 Potato Skins

Saturday Nascar $2.00 Miller Lite$.50 Wings

Sunday Football $1.00 Drafts$4.00 AYCE Sloppy Jo’s

When customers go out they do not usually want to go see the band that played across the

street last week. Being we

are a small community with

two bars, the same bands

are over played for our

area. I think we should do

more than just bands to draw weekend crowds. Recently you have been hosting karaoke; I think

you could draw more of a repeat crowd if you were to expand on the idea and host karaoke

contest. Every month could lead to one big sing off at the end of the month. Another option with

the holidays approaching could be to host a special meal one weekend a month; the proceeds

from the meal go to a local foundation or cause. It also shows how much you care for the

community that helps support you.

Give customers an opportunity to win free drinks or food while at the bar throughout the

day. Maybe anytime a certain actor/actress is on TV; maybe whenever a train goes by. It

encourages customers to stay longer, whether they are trying to win, or have won. Theme parties

seem to always be trendy and memorable. Parties like “80’s Night” are popular. It gives

customers a reason to dress up. Not only are theme parties growing but so are trivia and game

themed nights. We could expand our bingo nights by hosting game nights. Games could be either

TV show or game board themed. You could choose to do this yourself or there are services

online Team oriented games would be most beneficial because it would attract groups of people

in addition to individual customers. Prizes for winning could be free drinks, free food, or

different vendor gear.

Daily SpecialsMonday $3.00 MixersTuesday $1.00 Drafts

Wednesday $.50 off DomesticsThursday $1.00 Drafts

Friday $4.00 BombsSaturday $2.50 Corona’sSunday $3.50 Bloody Mary’s

All of these events and different specials could easily be advertised for free thru

Facebook, the bars website and event calendars posted around the bar and throughout town.

Monthly newsletters could be sent to customers whose’ emails we have collected over time. All

are free or inexpensive forms of advertisement that you can use to your advantage.

Living in a small town there is a greater sense of community. With that sense of

community, people of the community, like nothing more than to see local businesses succeed. I

wish nothing more than to help you build additional business, and have many years of success

with in the community. Just these few changes could increase business significantly. Cleaning

and maintenance draws customers who want to see new changes. Additional food and drink

specials would keep customers sitting in the bar longer. Different events draw different and new

crowds on the weekends.

Works CitedLesonsky, Rieva. http://www.smallbiztrendcast.com. Unknown. October 2011

<http://www.smallbiztrendcast.com/>.

SCORE Association. www.score.org. 2010. October 2011 <http://www.score.org/resources/spike-tv-serve-up-success>.

Smith, John. Owner Heather Morgan. 10 October 2011.