This week's Buzz:
-What restaurants are doing to say in business, emerge successful from the recession as the recovery begins.
-Comings & Goings in Northwest Georgia: Ark's old site, Fred's in Rockmart, Brown conference center in Cartersville.
-This week's big story: Jobs. Career fair, jobless report to hit same day?
-Get LIFE online--the radio station, that is.
-Peaks & Valleys: Top teachers, RACA's resolve, Tree House volunteers.
Comings and goings in Northwest Georgia
It was another week of pluses and minuses for Northwest Georgia. Two longtime businesses are making big changes while a new conference center is starting to rise in Cartersville. Those changes include:
Farewell to the old Ark's Liquors:
Photo by Jack Druckenmiller
Gone: Motorists on Turner McCall last Friday saw the remnants of Ark's Liquors as it gave way to a new turn lane from Turner McCall to Fifth Avenue. The store itself has moved to Mount Alto Plaza just up the street off Shorter.
Going: Fred's in Rockmart. Fred's Discount Store at 1061 Nathan Dean Parkway is about to close. You've seen the shop for years at the intersection of Ga. 101 and U.S. 278. The chain itself is nearly 670 stores strong throughout the nation and reported just a slight dip in overall sales in August. As for Rockmart: A big clearance sale is under way. You have to wonder what the proximity of the new Wal-Mart SuperCenter did to Fred's overall performance.
Coming: Clarence Brown Conference Center
This photo from Sunday shows ground work continuing on the $20 million Clarence Brown Conference Center under way in Cartersville across Ga. 20 from the Georgia Highlands College campus. The 45,000-square-foot center should be finished by mid-2010. It is being funded by SPLOST dollars.
What to watch this week: Employment issues: Shorter College's career fair on Thursday could be staged the same day the co-host, the Georgia Department of Labor, releases the August jobless rates for Northwest Georgia. Those rates won't be pretty and are likely to be in the 10-plus percent range yet again. Expect at least 65 employers and 2,000 visitors to The Forum, if not more (Click).
-Adding to it all: Christmas holiday shopping will be up from last year but only because the 2008 hires were the lowest in nearly 20 years, says Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
-On the plus side: Those 500 new jobs coming to Calhoun thanks to Bentley Dye and Shaw projects. Both represent at least $100 million in development.
LIFE, online at last: That is, 93.5 FM LIFE. Since the format switch a few months back, work has been continuing on WSRM's online home. Limited Web casts were available, primarily the Pepperell High football games. That changed last week as the Web site went live with streaming, updates on "Pete and Brenda in the Morning" and other features. For more, click LIFE
Part one: As the recovery begins . . .
Restaurants cutting costs, turning to social media to help keep customers coming in while enduring recession's last gasps
By Natalie Simms
natsimms76@gmail.com
While many economists believe the recession is over, the effects are still being felt. As we wait for the recovery, managers and owners are doing what they can to stay in business. The restaurant industry, one vital to our economy, is watching, waiting -- and taking steps to stay ahead.
We've seen more closings than comings in Northwest Georgia's dining community in the past 12 to 14 months with some of the bigger hits being D. Morgans, Zydeco, Bridges 239 and Flavors.
"The market is just not consistent," says Ron Wolf, CEO of the Georgia Restaurant Association. "In some areas, restaurants are doing great and in other areas, some are closing up … there is no consistency."
There are 13,000 restaurants in the state, 3,400 of which are members of the GRA, Wolf says.
"We are diligent in monitoring all levels of state and national legislation to make sure there are no new hardships for restaurants or any business," Wolf says. "But right now, our challenges are known … the economy is down so people are not going to eat out or they will be eating at less-expensive restaurants."
Keeping costs down: Knowing the challenges makes it easier to figure out solutions. Wolf says they have been giving restaurant owners and operators several ideas to help keep their costs down as they ride out the tough economy.
"I tell everyone to look at their business practices. Many are offering meals at a fixed price, smaller meals at a lower price, offering buy one/get one free deals as well as utilizing coupons," he says. "We've been trying to let the public know they can eat out and it not cost more money.
"In addition, restaurants need to look at overhead costs. There are lots of areas they can look at, including insurance costs, utility services and even negotiating for lower rent. I am sure landlords will work with restaurants who are struggling, rather than have them close up and lose money altogether," Wolf says.
Turning to social media or 'free advertising': Another emerging arena to reach current and new customers is social media. Wolf says social networks like Twitter and Facebook are becoming very important for business.
"We've been holding workshops on using social media," he says. "A lot of our restaurants are using e-mail, Twitter and Facebook to communicate deals and specials to established clients as well as reaching new customers."
Several local restaurants have been doing a number of these suggestions to keep customers coming in to eat. Not only are food and value important but so is customer service.
"We've been mailing out a lot of coupons and that has been really well received," says Nathaniel Lincoln, general manager of Outback Steakhouse in Rome. "We've been getting a lot of repeat business from the coupons and it's a great way for us to build a broader customer base to see that we have great food at a great value with quality customer service."
The Rome location has enjoyed positive daily sales and increases over last year's numbers, he says.
"A lot of people think Outback is too expensive but we've been working to get them to come in the door and realize that they can eat here for a reasonable price just like any other restaurant," Lincoln says.
The same can be said for Provino's Italian Restaurant at Midtown Crossing. While they aren't seeing huge increases, the restaurant is doing better than a year ago.
"We've been here for 10 years and offer a quality product so we like to think we do a better job than everyone else," says Bill Adams, general manager of the Rome Provino's. "We still offer a free meal on your birthday, early bird specials and kids eat free on Wednesdays, so those are all popular right now."
Corporately, Provino's is looking at expanding its marketing into the social media realm with Twitter and Facebook.
"We are looking at doing some specials that we send out notices via text message for only those who sign up," Adams says. "I think it will really be a positive and effective tool."
Something to Tweet about -- 800-person catering job via Twitter: Social media has really proven to be a hit with Slope's BBQ in Cartersville. According to owner Mark Mathison, the free advertising is paying off.
"I recently got a catering deal for 800 people off Twitter," he says. "It (social media) is free advertising so it's well worth it."
Slope's BBQ has also created a value lunch deal for $5. "We've found that $5 is the magic number for lunch, so we offer a different meal every day for a flat $5 that includes meal, drink and tax," Mathison says.
While his business has been fair, Mathison has reduced his overhead costs as much as possible and is depending on his good service to keep customers coming through the doors.
"The best form of advertising is word-of-mouth, so we try to do a good job and be consistent with good service and a clean restaurant," he says. "If you have bad customer service, customers are not going to come back."
As for the end to the down economy, managers all feel positive about the upcoming holiday season and 2010.
"We usually pick up in December but I think we will start seeing better numbers and a big turnaround in February," Mathison says. "After the holidays and the weather warms back up, people are going to get out."
Says Adams with Provino's: "With our food, since it is heavier, winter is usually our best months, from November to May…that's our prime time of the year. We also do quite a bit of party business, so we are hoping to get a lot of catering for the holiday parties."
Add's Outback's Lincoln:: "The holidays are always busy for us, so I have a lot of faith in our economy that people are going to go out and shop and will get hungry. We are fortunate to be in front of a great strip mall (Riverbend Center), so people can come have lunch and then go back to shopping."
Until then, restaurants need to keep costs down and customers coming through the doors.
"At the end of the day, we know our current economy is like all recessions over the last 40 years and it will pass," Wolf says. "They key is to be poised and ready for when it does."
Next week: We focus on another local industry as it positions itself for the recovery.
PEAKS & VALLEYS: The highs and lows of Northwest Georgia
Peak to the Rome Area Council for the Arts: Times are tough for this nonprofit and just about every other one in Northwest Georgia. Rather than whine, they turn to beer--and food. RACA produced two benefits last week, A Tasting of Rome and the second annual beer festival, to produce some extra cash just to survive. Also need: A donations box in the RACA lobby at 248 Broad St. We say this too often but perhaps not often enough: A vital arts community is as critical to our economic growth as any industrial park.
Peak to the volunteers behind A Tree House for Rome: This has been the proverbial labor of love for organizer David Smith and a legion of friends and volunteers for more than a year. Ditto for the hard work by Mike Page with P & C Design Build of Rome. What's newsworthy is that Rome now has a special hangout for those with mobility issues who want to enjoy the park, river and outdoors. What's extra special: this was built by the community, for the community. Well done, all.
Peak to Floyd County's top teachers:
Judy Myers, a third-grade teacher at Armuchee Elementary School; Mary John Hendrix, a sixth-grade earth science teacher at Pepperell Middle School; and Janda Kaye Canalis, a healthcare science teacher at the Floyd County Schools College & Career Academy, are in the running for the 2010 Floyd County Teacher of the Year honors. The winner goes on to compete in the statewide competition. We salute this trio, and all educators, for what they do each day for our kids and our community.
Peak to the Cartersville-Bartow Convention & Visitor Bureau: Two announcements over the weekend again demonstrated how vital the CVB is to the community. First was the annual People's Choice Awards for best business, restaurant and attraction. Two newcomers won: Johnny Mitchell's Barbecue in Euharlee and Tellus: Northwest Georgia Science Museum. Also well done: the annual Hospitality Heroes honors, saluting those making a difference in the industry. Check the results by clicking Bartow Headlines.
Valley to local gas prices: Yet again we scratch our almost-hairless heads. Gas prices Sunday were $2.33 a gallon in Rome. On Saturday, in Mableton, a gallon at Kroger cost $2.23. And at the Macland Road Kroger, maybe 10 miles to the west, motorists were paying $2.08. Why didn't we fill up in Macland, not Mableton ....
Valley to the weather: OK, we begged for rain, the governor even prayed for it. But can we get a break now? Even as we recharge our water systems, the downpours are causing havoc with the recreation leagues and the Major Leagues. How about a little moderation?
Social Media Lab set for October from mRELEVANCE, Hometown:
A four-part, hands-on social media workshop is set for Oct. 7, 14, 22 and 28 conducted by mRELEVANCE and Hometown Headlines. The Social Media Lab will be held at Georgia Northwestern Technical College's Conference Center on the Rome campus (room H101-A).
For two hours each week, you'll learn the basics and insider tips about four social media tools: Twitter, Linked In, Facebook and blogging. Attendees are required to bring their own wireless-ready lap tops to the sessions as this is a hands-on venture. You'll leave each morning with your own social media accounts up and running.
The Social Media Lab helps large and small business owners learn how to effectively use social media to reach existing customers and to build relationships with new ones. All sessions are from 9 to 11 a.m., with doors opening at 8:30 a.m.
Early registration for the four-part lab is $129 and increases to $169 by Oct. 1. Individual sessions are available at $59 each. For more and to register, please click: Social Media Lab
-Breaking flood news via Twitter, Facebook: News of last week's severe flooding in Trion and metro Atlanta spread faster than ever thanks to a sudden surge in the use of Twitter and other social media. 
>Bauguss: "We have definitely seen an increase in the market in some areas. The majority of the buyers are first-time homebuyers that are taking advantage of the tax incentives and trying to close before Nov. 30. There are many listings on the market but houses are selling. For instance, in Gwinnett County, the multi-listing service states there are 5,513 residential resales on the market and 810 are bank-owned. However, there are 1,472 residential homes under contract that are pending to close. There are 802 new homes on the market in which 205 are bank- owned. There are 227 pending sales for new homes."
>The peak is for the recent string of wins that has moved the Braves back into the wild card hunt. With seven games to go (three with the Marlins, four with the last-place Nationals), the Braves have a bona fide shot thanks to a late-season rally.
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