newsletter

Restaurants. 129 Cardinal Sins.
Top 10 Retail Mistakes
Facebook vs. Reality. Which is Better?
Contacting pcAmerica 

Restaurants. 129 Cardinal Sins.

Eric Ripert is the head chef and partner of Le Bernardin in Manhattan, a four-star rated restaurant for 22 years according to The New York Times. In his latest book, On the Line, Ripert lists 129 Cardinal Sins that all restaurants should avoid.

It’s a great list that all restaurants (full service or fast food) should print out and post. A partial list is below. You can get the entire list by going to:

http://blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping/6557/eric-riperts-129-cardinal-sins/   or

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/taste/45469537.html?page=1&c=y

or Search Google.com for "129 cardinal sins" restaurant

Ripert’s book is available at:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/On-the-Line/Eric-Ripert/e/9781579653699

Some of the 129 Cardinal Sins

1. Not acknowledging guests with eye contact and a smile within 30 seconds. First impressions count!

2. Not thanking the guests as they leave. Last impression!

3. Not remembering the guests’ likes and dislikes!

7. Forks with bent tines.

9. Chipped glassware.

10. Tables not completely set when guests are being seated.

12. Tables that are not leveled.

13. Salt and pepper shakers that are half empty.

14. Salt or sugar crusted inside the shakers.

19. Tables not properly cleared.

20. Burned-out light bulbs.

24. Wobbly tables or chairs.

25. Broken chairs.

28. Socializing with certain guests while ignoring others!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

34. Orders that arrive incomplete.

35. Not acknowledging guests as soon as they’re seated.

45. Addressing the woman as “the lady.” (Times are changing!)

58. Being too hurried to be attentive.

73. Not refilling water or coffee.

77. Not clearing one course completely before serving the next (e.g., toast, finger bowls).

78. Removing plates before all guests are finished.

101. Smelling like cigarettes.

124. Not getting the order right the first time.

127. Dirty or spotted flatware.

128. Crumbs on chairs.

Top 10 Retail Mistakes

This list comes from a fashion industry website but really applies to every retail store (or restaurant).

Loud and Obnoxious Music
Handwritten Signs
Poor Lighting or Lack Of Lighting
Unpleasant Odors
Stained Floor and Ceiling
Dirty Bathrooms This is probably the BIGGEST problem of most retail stores. Bathrooms need to be spick and span! Polished and sparkling clean no matter what. Make sure that there are plenty of paper products, soap, and trash receptacles (which are emptied regularly) and are cleaned daily. Customers are known to leave retail stores solely based on dirty bathrooms. And though it is difficult to control this, odors should be taken care of as best as possible.

Messy Dressing Rooms
Not Enough Shopping Carts/Baskets
Crowded Aisles
Messy and Disorganized Checkouts

Read the entire article at:

http://www.infomat.com/fido/getarticle.fcn?&type=guides&SearchString=handbag&id=737870PS0000165&start=1&tr=10

Facebook vs. Reality. Which is Better?

Has Facebook taken over your life?

If you read our newsletter a few weeks ago, we talked about how Patricia’s Pizza II was successfully using Facebook as a marketing tool. Facebook has over 200 million users. The company is thought to be worth $10 billion dollars (far more than GM).

I heard from many readers who really despise Facebook and would never use it. On the other hand, I heard from several other small businesses who believe that Facebook has helped their businesses.

In my opinion, Facebook is an interesting website (social networking website) that you may want to explore for personal and/or business purposes. In the four weeks that I have been a Facebook member, I have been contacted by lots of people that I haven’t heard from in years. I’ve seen lots of people who write entries on Facebook that are probably inappropriate. The town of Harrison NY is trying to fire three cops who posted lewd sexual jokes about the female town supervisor who is now calling for the dismissal of the cops.

For me, I keep my Facebook time down to under 5 minutes per day and rarely display my thoughts in fear that the entire world will know my true feelings.

I recommend that if you have never signed on to Facebook, give it a try. I’m not recommending it as a great website. It’s just that with 200 million users, it’s worthwhile taking a look at it so you can understand what it’s all about. Search for me (Howard Y. Gosman) and search for Patricia’s II Pizza and say hello.

I’m certainly not hooked on Facebook, but many people are. The June, 2009 issue of PC World has an article by Steve Fox (Techlog) called Facebook vs. Reality: Who Needs to Get a Life? In the article, Fox compared Facebook to Reality. Which one is better? Do you really need real friends, physical contact and family or can  you get it all from Facebook? … And the Winner Is … Facebook.

Remember going to sleep away camp and being afraid of ghosts and bears? Teens are now more afraid of being without cell phone access, Facebook and You Tube. To see the article go to:

http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20090520/LIFESTYLE/905200337

To see a Facebook guide for clueless adults, go to:

http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009905260315