There are 11 ways to survive the slow season. There are some important tips that operators use to keep their business steady during the slow times. College towns do really great when school is in progress, but some people might wonder how they keep their business flowing nicely when the kids go home. One of the things you need to do is start planning early. You also need to involve your vendors. This is very important.

Key Takeaways:

• Restaurateurs located in areas that have a tourist, or scholastic-related, upsurge yearly face the challenge of dealing with the off season.
• Even while in the thick of the upswing, it’s a good idea to start planning, up to six months ahead, for the off time.
• Use the off season to test out new menu items, inveigle locals, run contests, or just take a vacation.

“From June through mid-August, Athens, Ga., loses around 30,000 of its residents when students from the University of Georgia head home for the summer. Rob Longstreet, owner of Craft Public House in Athens, said he decided to hire a public relations specialist in April to help with the slow times.”

Read more: http://www.restaurant-hospitality.com/marketing/11-ways-survive-slow-season

Whole Foods Market Inc. is soon to be under new ownership by Amazon. Amazon has recently agreed to take over the growing grocery business. Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods will be very impacting since online ordering and delivery is very successful. Amazon moving Whole Foods more into the online market will cause sales increases due to many third party apps that involve food delivery. This deal would effect many restaurants to make their businesses technologically relevant in order to compete with the Amazon and Whole Foods powerhouse.

Key Takeaways:

• Amazon’s $13.7 billion deal to buy Whole Foods will change not only the grocery marketplace but the restaurant marketplace.
• Whole Foods has already taken away market share from restaurants. Amazon’s involvement, with its technology strengths, should make it even easier for consumers to get food in and out of the store.
• This takeover should help push restaurants into employing technology to reach customers and take orders. Currently, online restaurant sales comprise only 2.2% of all their business.

“An Amazon-owned Whole Foods, or an Amazon armed with Whole Foods brick-and-mortar locations, will only make it more important for restaurants to do more business online.”

Read more: http://www.nrn.com/finance/how-will-amazon-whole-foods-deal-affect-restaurants