Cafe Bouchee (@ the old Yanni's in Sea Grove)

[Bobby J]

That is the million dollar question.... Where to advertise? You spread it around. You develop a plan. Everyone knows the numbers they need to stay open but most of us have no clue how to reach those numbers. Simply opening up with a good product does not work. As times are tougher people begin to cut back on advertising. Guess what? This is really when you should kick it up a notch. If you truly do not have the money then you got to get out in the community and make a voice for yourself. I do not mean any of this to hurt anyone. Simply constructive and 30 years of watching business's open and close on 30A. Marketing is the best and most effective way to get your voice out. Find reasons to tell the world why you are the best! Tell the paper! Tell the internet! You tell them you are the best and here is why we are the best. Create the hype! Ali was the one on the greatest boxers ever. Early on in his career he would shout out, "I am the greatest." People would laugh but it really was just him marketing himself. In an interview years later he was asked about that and if he really believed he was the greatest. He said he really felt like he was but he knew no one would know this if he did not let them know. It does not have to be as arrogant as Ali but you got to be able to market yourself well enough to let people know how good you are.
I heard great things about the Bouchee folks and wish them well. Also remember that closing a door just simply opens many more. My comments are not aimed directly at them but for all the new struggling businesses along 30A. Tough times require a change in the way we typically do things. 30A has historically been extremely hard place to keep a shingle up. Simply not enough people to have a typical business plan.

 

[gmarc]

Yes from my observations 30-a seems like a tough place to make a go of businesses such as restraunts due to the brutal seasonality. I think a huge winner is something like bruno's did with 1/2 price for locals from sept-march. yes you'll make very little money but it keeps the doors open till the spring and summer were you make the money. its just like the construction or landscaping business. you basically give the product away at a little over breakeven in your slow months to keep your staff business so they don't quit and they're there during the busy season.no different than renting your house. you charge prime rates in the spring and summer and basically let snow birds stay there at rates just to pay your bills during the winter.many people in my area are now using cars like the mini as a driving billboard which is brining in restraunt business. 30-a is very challenging as theres only a certain amount of people there in the off season so no matter what many won't survive

 

[Bobby J]

And then you have Stinkys, Red bar and Bayou Bills that keep killing it year round. Hmmmmmm......

 

[elgordoboy]

And then you have Stinkys, Red bar and Bayou Bills that keep killing it year round. Hmmmmmm......

I agree with much of what you are saying but even Stinky's occasionally had tumbleweeds blowing through the parking lot last year. There aren't enough people/money to support an abundance of businesses and, as with water, level is being found. A restaurant in Destin that made solely salads has a sign on their door saying "Closed, victim of the economy". It is my contention that more businesses were unjustly buoyed by a wildly, and mostly imaginary, expanding economy than are being closed by a contracting economy. Locations rent for what the market will bear or remain empty, but I believe that this can be skewed by being in a tourist area. For example, I have to ride several miles in either direction now for a commercially produced espresso yet someone will undoubtedly come down during Spring or Summer and say "I can't believe that there is no such and such here especially with all these people to sell to!! Wow I'll open one and make a killing while working in Paradise!" Thus there is an artificially pumped up number of people willing and able to lose their shirt. Many see nothing except the good times because not living here they have no conception of how lonesome it gets for a large chunk of the year. Then you have places like the Brazilian resto on Holiday Isle that missed two Summers while spending time and money to rebuild the inside. They opened up into a Fall/Winter and managed to make it 3 months or so I beleive. This place had a host of issues but the timing certainly did not help. Competiiton is tight and so are many peoples' fists these days. I am sorry for the real pain and heartache experienced by those who are unable to proceed. Look before you leap.

 

[rdelong43065]

Gordy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Still kicking I see!

 

[Bobby J]

I agree with much of what you are saying but even Stinky's occasionally had tumbleweeds blowing through the parking lot last year. There aren't enough people/money to support an abundance of businesses and, as with water, level is being found. A restaurant in Destin that made solely salads has a sign on their door saying "Closed, victim of the economy". It is my contention that more businesses were unjustly buoyed by a wildly, and mostly imaginary, expanding economy than are being closed by a contracting economy. Locations rent for what the market will bear or remain empty, but I believe that this can be skewed by being in a tourist area. For example, I have to ride several miles in either direction now for a commercially produced espresso yet someone will undoubtedly come down during Spring or Summer and say "I can't believe that there is no such and such here especially with all these people to sell to!! Wow I'll open one and make a killing while working in Paradise!" Thus there is an artificially pumped up number of people willing and able to lose their shirt. Many see nothing except the good times because not living here they have no conception of how lonesome it gets for a large chunk of the year. Then you have places like the Brazilian resto on Holiday Isle that missed two Summers while spending time and money to rebuild the inside. They opened up into a Fall/Winter and managed to make it 3 months or so I beleive. This place had a host of issues but the timing certainly did not help. Competiiton is tight and so are many peoples' fists these days. I am sorry for the real pain and heartache experienced by those who are unable to proceed. Look before you leap.

May be part of a business plan should be to ask people that live here year round what the off season is like. Just a hunch.

Any business selling solely salads should not blame the economy for their failure.

 

[Jdarg]

May be part of a business plan should be to ask people that live here year round what the off season is like. Just a hunch.

Any business selling solely salads should not blame the economy for their failure.

And the salad place shared a parking lot with a swishy gym- how could it fail?

 

[Renbertos]

Effective ways to advertise

That is the million dollar question.... Where to advertise? You spread it around. You develop a plan. Everyone knows the numbers they need to stay open but most of us have no clue how to reach those numbers. Simply opening up with a good product does not work. As times are tougher people begin to cut back on advertising. Guess what? This is really when you should kick it up a notch. If you truly do not have the money then you got to get out in the community and make a voice for yourself. I do not mean any of this to hurt anyone. Simply constructive and 30 years of watching business's open and close on 30A. Marketing is the best and most effective way to get your voice out. Find reasons to tell the world why you are the best! Tell the paper! Tell the internet! You tell them you are the best and here is why we are the best. Create the hype! Ali was the one on the greatest boxers ever. Early on in his career he would shout out, "I am the greatest." People would laugh but it really was just him marketing himself. In an interview years later he was asked about that and if he really believed he was the greatest. He said he really felt like he was but he knew no one would know this if he did not let them know. It does not have to be as arrogant as Ali but you got to be able to market yourself well enough to let people know how good you are.
I heard great things about the Bouchee folks and wish them well. Also remember that closing a door just simply opens many more. My comments are not aimed directly at them but for all the new struggling businesses along 30A. Tough times require a change in the way we typically do things. 30A has historically been extremely hard place to keep a shingle up. Simply not enough people to have a typical business plan.

I would have to agree that advertising can be costly especially during the slow months. There are inexpensive ways to advertise and get the word out about your business on a shoestring budget. I have worked in the advertising business here on the Emerald Coast for several years and I also have had to deal with the local economy, tourist season and hurricanes when it has come to making a living. I have worked with several successful magazines, that continue to be successful and there is a place for this print media, especially in season. I recommend On The Coast Magazine for year round advertising because it is marketed to the locals and goes home with school aged children in their back packs. This magazine is very effective advertising. I also recommend networking and successful business cards to market yourself with. A business card should be an effective inexpensive marketing tool. Rack Cards are a great marketing tool for many types of businesses that serves as a stand alone piece of marketing, they are inexpensive, you can get 5000 for $229.00. If you add a coupon to the card it is even more effective. Customer reward cards are also very effective in the slower season because it rewards the locals for being loyal customers. I am a sales representative for a company, that was formed, by people that have been in the advertising business, here on the Emerald Coast, that saw a need for effective creative advertising for the small business owner, that would not break the bank. We are local to the area and would love to help you through the tough times, with our creative ways of advertising. One of our specialties is restaurant set up, we do great menus. I hope this post has been useful and I would love to hear from you, so please post back.I will include my link since networking is also a very effective way of advertising.

Renee Smith
rsmith@mycardguy.com
www.MyCardGuy.com
850-298-8853 ext 108
888-537-5706 ext 108

 

[AlphaCrab]

I went to Cafe Bouchee on Saturday looking forward to my Eggs Benedict? But they are gone.

I know our market is tough, but I loved their food. Where has John and Kerrie gone? I would like to follow them.

I will miss my breakfast place!

They will be missed. I absolutely loved the FOOD, and the prices too--all great and competitive.....but...

Cafe Bouche seem to fall short on the fact that is had no conviction in its interior decor--sorry that is very important in my book--it seem like the old Yanni's, but lifeless and temporary, they even put up and exterior sign that was virtually unreadable???

I alway got the same waiter there who had no personality and was too robotic.

IMO Detail are important in any restaurant!

 

[Joyce Owen]

Good place, with a little more attention, could have been grayt!