Marketing can have a significant impact on the food choices that we make as consumers. From promotional campaigns that target a specific audience based on certain demographics to word of mouth and social media, the amount of marketing that we experience on a daily basis is astronomical. That’s why it has such an influence on our choices. Let’s take a deeper look to dig into the specifics.
Social Media
Social networking is a major part of most people’s lives and can provide inspiration for your next meal even if you weren’t looking for it. That means your decision regarding whether you want to order some fast food or purchase a pre-packaged meal from the supermarket is heavily influenced by what you see in your news feed on Facebook or Instagram.
The majority of buying decisions about what to have for a meal happen approximately two hours before mealtime.
Basically, if you are served a fast food ad within that two-hour time frame, you are much more likely to choose the fast food option over others. This period of time, either right before lunch or the end of the workday, is also when many people are on social media, making it an influential source when it comes to food choices.
Word of Mouth
Recommendations from friends, family and trusted acquaintances have a significant influence on consumer food purchases. Compared to an online review site or even social media platform, an offline recommendation from a credible source is ultimately more influential to most consumers.
This is because of the increased trust and intimacy associated with word of mouth, in-person recommendations. If a friend or family member is willing to share their experience with another friend or family member, they are much more likely to try the food for themselves.
Television
What we see on TV can also have a very profound impact on the food choices we make. Because the typical American spends thousands of hours in front of the television, the messages portrayed in TV advertisements are a determining factor in the food choices we make each day.
Techniques like attractive jingles, catchy phrases and attractive photography are employed to make the marketed food item seem irresistible.
In addition, the media also often use celebrities and models for their advertisements. Unfortunately, this can have a negative impact, especially on children and young adults as this tactic may lead to many misconceptions about the relation between health and body shape.
Celebrity endorsement
Celebrities have influence over so much in our everyday life whether or not we’re conscious of it happening, and this extends to food. When corporations have celebrity endorsements, they choose very carefully based on the public’s view on that celebrity and what key personality traits lend best to selling the product.
With repetition, the association between celebrity and product create value in the mind of the consumer; credibility is formed as well as brand recognition and trust.
It’s almost summertime! And that means vacation time! You may be thinking that you don’t have the budget for such luxuries, but it’s definitely possible to successfully travel on a budget. Even a vacation to Disneyland, a notoriously pricey trip in most cases, is possible on modest funds. For those looking for some more grown-up options, here are 10 destinations well worth the vacation time that will not break the bank.
Yellowstone, WY
Travelers of every age will enjoy the spellbinding beauty of the natural attractions that await visitors to Yellowstone. For the cost of one entrance fee vacationers can enjoy days of hiking and skiing amidst hot springs and mud pools.
It is true that hotels in the nation’s capitol can leave something to be desired in terms of pricing for the budget-conscious traveler, but with so many free museums to visit along the city’s mall entertainment costs can easily be kept low enough to make up the difference.
Oenophiles on a budget may have to skip Napa with its high-cost lodging, but a visit to this East Coast city can easily sub in. Filled with wineries and historical attractions, such as Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, alike, Charlottesville is quickly gaining a reputation for rustic luxury all its own.
This city in the heart of Texas is one of the most popular travel destinations in the nation and for good reason. With live music galore, dancing halls, and both boutique hotels and large chains this city truly offers something for everyone. A stroll down South Congress Ave provides hours of window shopping fun for everything from antiques and vintage clothing to real deal cowboy boots and incredible homemade meals at value menu prices are available at any of the myriad food trucks the city is famous for.
While singles can find plenty to enjoy on the boardwalks and golf resorts of this South Carolina city, this is one destination where even entire families can play on a budget. Ocean-front family-friendly resorts line the beach and the sun shines well into autumn, making Myrtle Beach an excellent choice for all budgets in nearly all seasons.
Southern food, a historic district filled with architectural treasures, and a design school with all the culture that goes with it are just a few of the reasons tourists from all over the globe flock to this coastal city. The weather stays warm enough to enjoy the city’s beautifully planned squares well into the late autumn and some parts of the city even allow outdoor alcohol consumption. Best of all? Rates for accommodations are low enough that even the traveler on a budget will have some cash left over for a honey-inspired souvenir from the Savannah Bee Company.
Lovers of the outdoors will be in Heaven on the many hiking trails in this New York park. For those willing to sleep under the stars, campsites are the most affordable accommodation option, making meals one of the only expenses on this itinerary.
From hiking the Olympic mountains to enjoying a morning cuppa at the world’s first Starbucks, there are plenty of ways to keep muscles warm in this rainy city. While outdoor exploration is more pleasant during the warmer months, hotel rates do plummet in the winter, so those more interested in exploring the city’s alternative rock history than hiking can snag the best deal when the frost sets in.
From the rich history of the Alamo to its famed Riverwalk, there is more for a traveler to do in this city than simply eat his or her way through it, although that would certainly be enjoyable enough in its own right. Booking hotels and dinner reservations in places outside of the center of town will go a long way in keeping things under budget in San Antonio.
As far as lodging prices go, Nashville is one of the least expensive cities in the American South, which means more money to spend on live music and barbecue. This laid-back city is a great choice for travelers on a budget who do not want to sacrifice any of the fun and action.
If math or linguistics came easily to you, school was probably a far more enjoyable experience for you than others…
After all, these two types of intelligence are the primary focus of our educational systems. Other types of intelligence, like the ability to discern sounds or visualizing the world in different ways, are typically thought of as softer skills.
Not according to Howard Gardner. In his 1983 book Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences Gardner posited that in addition to linguistics and logical-mathematical intelligence, there are seven other types:
Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence
Musical
Naturalist
Interpersonal
Intra-personal
Spacial
Existential
Check out the infographic below for descriptions of each.
While it’s certainly possible, and probable, that you have at least some of each type of intelligence, you most likely excel in one or two specific areas.
So, if those areas aren’t either math or language, does it mean you aren’t an intelligent person?
Of course not.
We tend to think of things like musical ability, sports prowess and even math and language, to some extent, as skills — things that can be learned. That may be true, but people are complex and can have natural aptitudes and different types of intelligence in any or all of these areas.
A person with great intra-personal intelligence, for example, has a good understand of self, what they feel (and why) and what they want, as shown in the infographic above. Those with high bodily-kinesthetic intelligence are good at coordinating body and mind; these are your professional athletes, Olympians, etc.
Still, many argue that Gardner’s 9 types of intelligence aren’t really indicative of intelligence at all. Rather, they’re considered softer skills — things that can be learned, not natural abilities or aptitudes.
Food and beverage safety is the number one priority when running a restaurant, especially a successful one. That means making sure your managers, service staff and bar staff are trained and that their certifications stay up-to-date.
Enter ServSafe, the most popular food and beverage safety training program in the industry. Accepted in every state, it’s the obvious choice in terms of training resources. Now, you just have to figure out when and how to make sure your employees get ServSafe certified and that’s where we come in…
Here are the pro-tips to ensure your staff has all the training they need:
Create a schedule for everyone to get certified routinely
The ServSafe certificate is good for 5 years. In addition, many states mandate that you get re-certified once every certain number of years. For instance, California wants recertification once every 5 years, in Utah it is every 3 years, and Alaska is every 5 years.
No one expects you to keep track of all your employees hire-dates in your head, so have a schedule up in your break room that shows re-certification dates by hire date. For instance, if you hired 3 people in 2014, all three get a training day together in 2017.
Pro-tip: Make sure managers are also on the schedule, since many states (Rhode Island and California, for instance) mandate that a manager certified in safe food handling is always on site when food is being prepared.
Let technologybe your friend
ServSafe has online courses that allow employees to take classes in the comfort of the break room or their own living rooms. Online courses make it easy to get new hires certified quickly and lets you work around everyone’s busy schedules.
To make things even more convenient, you can request eCertificates.
Students can request that the PDF file of the certificate be emailed to them immediately after they pass the exam, which means that you can have the proof of their training displayed right away.
Line everything up at once so you don’t have to keep track of different expiration dates and which certificates you are missing.
Make sure everyone passes the first time by offering study help
Honestly, some people don’t take tests well. They may be fantastic Chefs and Managers, with sterling records regarding safety and sanitation, but they have a hard time taking notes or they freeze at the word ‘exam.’
Remind your staff that if anyone needs a little assistance in note taking or understanding questions, you’re more than willing to help, and that ServSafe has links to quizzes and other study guides.
This way, your world-class employees can spend more time doing their jobs and less time fretting about a test.
Food safety certification is mandatory in most states and counties. These tips will make complying with these regulations easy and efficient, and will keep your establishment focused on producing good food, instead of keeping up with paperwork.
One of the biggest challenges in the food and beverage industry is hiring qualified and capable employees and keeping them around for the long run. The average day in the life of a food and beverage worker can be stressful, and using motivational techniques to inspire and support your staff will not only improve the quality of work but also increase the liklihood that they’ll stick with you.
Use these tips to incorporate a dose motivation into the daily management of your staff and watch them succeed!
Focus on the positive
Have you ever had a manager who put a spotlight on everything that was going wrong during the pre-shift meeting? Nothing beats people down more than only hearing about the things they have done wrong. The things that your staff needs to improve upon do need to be addressed, but addressing them in a constructive way is more likely to have a positive effect.
Try the “sandwich” technique. Begin by talking about some positive things you have seen in your employees. Maybe celebrate the successes of each individual employee. Then discuss things that need improvement. Then, conclude by thanking your staff for their hard work. By sandwiching the negative between two positives, your staff will feel encouraged, instead of discouraged.
Keep the acknowledgement coming
Have ongoing acknowledgement programs, like “Employee of the Month”. Designate an area in the back of the house where the successes of your staff members can be posted. If a customer writes a good review of your restaurant or the staff, post it there. Regularly update the postings, making sure to rotate through the whole staff.
Have daily goals
Create daily goals for your staff to work towards. Do you manage a steakhouse? Offer a reward to the server who sells the most of a certain type of steak. Does your restaurant specialize in fine wine? Set a wine sales goal for the server who has the highest wine sales.
The reward can be anything from a free meal to a gift card. Make it interesting by creating teams, and having your employees work together to achieve a goal.
Set monthly goals as well
If your daily goals are for a small reward, create a larger goal for the entire month. For example, set a goal for the staff member with the highest monthly sales, with nothing under a certain amount. The reward could be something like a $500 bonus or a paid day off.
Set up a continuing education program
If your employees feel like you care about them, it will show in the quality of their work. Investing in their future by offering further job training and education shows them you care, and it will increase the likelihood that they will stick with you long-term.
Provide opportunities to cross train within your restaurant, and if promotion is possible, try to do it from within.
Get your hands dirty
In a restaurant’s busiest moments, it’s easy for a manager to shout out for someone to cut lemons or roll silverware, but that may send the wrong message to your staff. Show them that you aren’t above tasks like these.
When it’s obvious a staff member could use an extra pair of hands, roll up your sleeves and help out. One of the characteristics of a good leader is to lead by doing not by telling.
Feed your staff
If you have ever worked as a server or cook, you know often it is that you go an entire shift without getting the opportunity to sit and eat. Provide these short breaks for employees to grab a bite if possible.
For shifts that are really busy, bring in breakfast, lunch, or dinner every now and then. This is another way to show your employees that you care, and they won’t have to try to get through a shift on empty stomachs!
The food and beverage industry is a stressful, but rewarding one. By following these tips, you’ll motivate your staff and encourage them to work towards being a valuable part of the team!
