I currently owned a cafe. There is a big competitor just opened up 3 weeks ago. They have taken a dramatic part of my business. I now need some ideas to improve my cafe concept and how I could attract the customer to come back.

At the moment I am looking to sell my business, is this a good idea?

One thing you can try is to contact your local newspaper's business section writer and pitch an article idea. Tell him/her your situation. If your new competition is a major franchise or chain, the article could take on a You've Got Mail slant....the big bad Fox Books comes to town and kills the Little Shop Around the Corner. It could get you the sympathy vote.

Something similar happened to a local bakery in my area several years ago. An article appeared in the local paper about how they'd been in business for many years and lately business had dropped dramatically and they were in danger of going under. I happpened at the time to work for a major Fortune 100 company. I started ordering monthly birthday cakes from them. Very quickly the entire corporation started ordering from them. Fast forward several years....they not only survived, they recently opened a second location.

Good luck to you.
Sylvia
http://smallbusinessstartup.biz
Startup & Biz Plan Help
http://smallbusinessstartup.biz/blog

My first thought when customers leave me to go to a competitor is... what was so bad about my product that they would switch that easily. Not, what is the competitor doing that is so great?

People who are satisfied with the product will switch temporarily to see what something new is all about, but if you have the better price, the superior product, they'll come back... The trick is to not let your customers know that you're suddenly feeling like your business has been dramatically affected by the loss of business. Selling your business best be done on the hush hush, putting a sign in front of your door will guarantee that the rest of your customers will cross the street.

T


Tina Brooks, VP Marketing
Brooks Pepperfire Foods, Inc.
Makers of Peppermaster Hot Sauces
http://www.peppermaster.com

Eat more peppers!