stuff4restaurants

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O.K. It is edgy, so the kids and the anarchists will love it!
But it will also put some conservatives (thinkers not political parties) way off.
Oh bugger it, I have to admit I would use it in my places and even use it to get a couple inside myself for a laugh. Actually, I’m just not quite ready, yet, to say I disapprove of something with a bit of edge to it.

But it will probably burn a hole in your brain…

Is their no end to the cleverness and entrepreneurial talents of the Dutch?
They have now exported their pedal pub crawl thingy to the U.S.
Looks like great fun, I just wonder where the toilet is…

More info at www.pedalpub.com

I am about to do something very drastic…
Last week I decided to do some housekeeping on this blog and update my software. (It seemed like a good idea at the time) However, the data Gods showed their disapproval by munching up all my subscriber links, which means you are probably no longer receiving the daily email updates (and maybe, not even reading this)
If my site statistics are any indication, I am now writing this blog to myself and my Mother in law (who only reads it so she can make disparaging remarks about my spelling and grammar)

I need your help to spread the word and re-register using your favorite method.
SORRY! (I am however very glad you can not hear my true language)

The picture say’s it all…
What a great value add when serving drinks.
It may be a good idea to get a drink company to share the costs because, Yes, they will be stolen/taken home!! Just think, they will then be seen by friends family and work mates. I bet that doesn’t happen with your standard Advertising.

Maybe this is simply an inflationary tale…
but if you are trying to develop or expand your activities into the wedding market, here is a promotional idea that will grab some attention and generate a whole lot of FREE publicity.

 Each day I get many pics and links sent to me by readers who know I like bizarre stuff…

Many don’t have a lot to do with my editorial bent (whatever the hell that is!) but are great fun.

So I have decided ( It’s my blog so I can do what I like) that each Friday I will publish all the non related fun stuff that comes through my email, I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Go on meat eaters, defend your territory, Restaurateurs, I dare you to put a copy of this in the meat section of your menu.

Now I know why I don’t play Scrabble

Now I know that, I guess I should go there…

Just imagine the reaction…

When your customer opens their mail to find a a bright colorful ball with an appropriate (or if you are a little daring, a lightheartedly inappropriate) pun printed on it thanking them for their custom and inviting them back soon.

At least it’s going to be remembered long after an expensive color brochure packed full of brag and boast highly polished promo speak.

Leslie Allison-Seei, Partner of Robust Promotions fame sent me this idea that she has been working on with a new business appropriately named Send A Ball where you can find all the details on this clever alternative to boring brochures and flowers.

 No, I don’t think it’s for real…

Pity, it would be a great idea and sure as hell beat 99.9% of the plastic rubbish most airlines serve (well, in cattle class anyway)

Wow! would this give an airline a point of difference.

How about this for a low cost attention grabbing billboard?

Apparently it was dreamed up and produced in Belgium.

I guess half the fun was emptying all those bottles.

If you decide to give this a try, yes, I am available to help out on the production/bottle emptying line.

Obviously they don’t have a vandal problem there, or maybe they do and used that to generate some free media attention.

At last I have been able to grab a few moments and some broadband access to make a posting from a busy internet cafe in Tokyo.

We have spent the last few days rediscovering the essentricities of Tokyo. We have been staying in a quant little Ryokan (traditional Japanese Hotel) right in the heart of Akihabara (the electronic shopping hub of Tokyo) much to the delight of my computer obsessed 16 year old son. From there we have explored Art Galleries, the Ginza and the myriad of enchanting back alleys that provide a glimpse of modern Japanese suburban life.

Japan remains one of the most unique travel experiences available and the snow skiing rates with the best in the world. Since their ongoing financial struggles, Japan’s prices have returned to normal, and today, are consderably less than those in most parts of Europe.

I spent a lot of time in Japan during the late 80′ early 90’s and the prices then were ridiculous and westerners constantly grimaced every time a wallet was required.

The really fun part of Japan, their eccentricity, is still, I’m happy to report, still alive and well.

I don’t know what they put in the water here, but I’m seriously thinking of botteling and exporting it… at every turn there is some strange sign, quirky fashion or fabulous fetish to entertain and challange your imagination.

Here’s a quick example to wet your appetite. I’ve got heaps more fun stuff to share but have to catch our plane to Hong Kong (My favorite Asian city).

The photo above is of the CEO of a Japanese company that manufactures sex dolls modeled on the stars of animated Japanese cartoons. Apart from the the rather provocative placement of the good gentlemans right hand, I am told that these silcon hussey’s are so ridiculously expensive that many of the huge client base choose to hire them on a monthly basis. Now call me old fashioned, but I just dont relish the thought of taking delivery of a second hand product of this type.

But maybe I’m just being prudish.

Apple is apparently seeking to patent a system that would make it possible for customers to use a wireless gadget to place an order at a cafe or fast-food restaurant and pickup the order without waiting in line.
If the “wireless communication system” described becomes a product, then it would transform Apple into more than a computer and iPod maker and online seller of music and video. Instead, Apple would also become a middleman between restaurants, cafes, and possibly other merchants and their customers.
Apple as usual refuses to comment on any future products, but its patent applications can provide a hint as to where the company is at least thinking about heading. In the latest filing, Apple is apparently looking at going beyond its recent deal with Starbucks, which enables coffee drinkers to download music and video to their iPhones while enjoying a latte.
The latest application, filed Dec. 20, described a system in which a person approaching a cafe, fast-food, or take-out restaurant could place an order that would be received by an in-store computer. The person’s order would be treated as if the customer was standing in line, which means they would be served before people placing orders after the remote order arrived.
The remote customer would receive a confirmation that the order was received and the approximate time it would be ready for pickup. The notification could be displayed as text or an image on the device’s screen, or it could come via an audible message played through a device’s speaker or earphones.
Orders could be placed through a media player, wireless PDA, or cell phone. The obvious benefit to customers would be in avoiding the wait in line to order their favorite coffee drinks or hamburgers.
But the system would also have benefits to restaurant owners beyond providing better service. Each customer using the system would get a unique identifier for tracking the establishments they visited and what they bought. The information would be stored in the devices and synchronized with the computers of participating merchants.
The patent doesn’t address security or privacy issues, nor does it give specifics on the kinds of establishments Apple would be targeting with the system.
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FohBoh is a new social network for the restaurant industry and is apparwently due for full launch in January 08.

FohBoh stands for Front of House, Back of House, I guess it’s obvious once you are told.

They have a site up now and it looks very interesting. Have a look it could go real big if they get the formula right, and if it does, it could provide owners with a great opportunity to build useful contacts. You will find it HERE.

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The internet is littered with the failed attempts of companies attempting to jump on the viral marketing bandwagon.

It has become the new “Gold Rush” of Advertising. The problem is, very few companies have the slightest idea of how to make this viral stuff work. They foolishly believe, all they have to do is publish their brag and boast video clips on YouTube and they will be eagerly downloaded by millions of eager potential customers. WRONG.

They will only be downloaded if they are regarded as “cool” by YouTubers and they will only go viral if they are spectacularly geeky and different.

Anyone that tells you this is easy will be noticeable by the increasing length of their nose.

Cherryflava (a great South African Blog) has a very good article on what Nando’s did to breakthrough.

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