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Dec 18, 2017 13:06:22 GMT
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You appear to be well on the way do have a opening date in mind ? Hopefully mid-January. You should be fine by then most people will have woken up from the festive slumber / holidays by that point - is there something you can do regarding a launch / opening party that will give you the edge on the competition - local radio / newspaper invite that will give you some PR? - Trip Advisor is a good call too once you get opened (you will always get one or two that you can't please that expects a cup of tea to cost 20 pence) - but largely should you give a good PR base to work from - always looks good if can post a good fresh image - do you have some type of USP that will put you above the others out there - it could be something simple has 'Good quality food & drink with a friendly service to match' ( I use a similar USP but in a different market mine being 'High quality restorations with a personal service' |
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Last Edit: Dec 18, 2017 13:07:10 GMT by Deleted
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,520
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Dec 18, 2017 20:55:38 GMT
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CURRENT FLEET
'95 Rover 623SLi (65k miles)
'99 Renault Laguna Executive
'55 BMW 318i (52k miles) for sale
'06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Dec 18, 2017 21:14:34 GMT
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Retro Rides Cars and Coffee in the summer? I'm a sucker for a good hot chocolate so if I'm ever in the vicinity I'll be sticking my head in  |
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Looking good! Will you be taking payment when folk order, or keeping track so they can pay at the end (how to stop folk "forgetting" to pay before they leave )? Take-away or sit-in only? (office/shop workers might just want to grab a cup and go...) Any plans for staff training before you open? Maybe hold an Invite-only "Family, Friends, Forum-folk" training day? Give everyone monopoly money with their invite, it will give you practice at keeping track of orders, using the till and giving change, making sure you don't run out of clean cups, cashing up at the end of the day... Thoughts from working and eating in cafes : clean the tables as soon as folk leave. Keep a lookout for customer trying to attract your attention, serve everyone in a group at the same time. I find Blackboards invaluable. Find somebody with neat handwriting to update them "Offers / daily specials / managers choice..." It takes a lot of effort to keep the tables cleared when you're busy ! Happy staff (you will have problems - don't let customers see or hear them, or any staff arguments). music? PRS payments? soft background is good. Any local musicians? (play their CD for free - offer some for sale!) Ban staff (you !) from playing with mobiles when you're at work, it takes your attention away from the customers.  |
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,520
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Dec 19, 2017 17:36:26 GMT
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Retro Rides Cars and Coffee in the summer? I'm a sucker for a good hot chocolate so if I'm ever in the vicinity I'll be sticking my head in We'd love to see you. I always fancied having 'cars & coffee' mornings for my car forum buds, but to be honest, the parking set-up doesn't really lend itself to having groups of cars and petrol heads all turning up at the same time unfortunately. |
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CURRENT FLEET
'95 Rover 623SLi (65k miles)
'99 Renault Laguna Executive
'55 BMW 318i (52k miles) for sale
'06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,520
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Dec 19, 2017 19:01:44 GMT
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Back door has been switched round so it's outward opening for fire exit purposes, plus push bar...   Extra Yale lock added for security on the front door, and replacement new shiny door handles...  Also today, I sanded down all the holes in the downstairs room ceiling, which had been foam and filler filled (not the nicest of jobs), had a meeting with the security alarm company, spoke more to the graphics company regarding branding, plumbed in the self filling water boiler and fitted a couple more internal door handles. |
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CURRENT FLEET
'95 Rover 623SLi (65k miles)
'99 Renault Laguna Executive
'55 BMW 318i (52k miles) for sale
'06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,520
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Dec 22, 2017 19:27:44 GMT
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Some bits to update.. Back door now has a plate over where the previous handle was. Bit tidier...  WC marked up. Just the one toilet is required, although if we feel like we need to have separate M and F toilets, we have space that we can pinch from the store room.  Self-fill water boiler arrived and plumbed in...  Extra security on the back door...  8oz, 10oz and 12oz cups arrived. Not cheap, but nice...  Metal triple dimmer fitted...  We have five emergency lights now, which kick in even when the power goes off (they have a separate battery back-up)...    All the light switches have now been swapped out from white ones to brushed metal type  I set the broadband wi-fi up today (box needs to go on the wall still). Notice the extra shelf created by the off cut off the worktop end above it, and I finished it off today with some edging along the front...  Some of the cups up on the cup warmer on top of the coffee machine.  I've got some tables and chairs to build up...  Finally, the three up/down lights are wired up and working downstairs. I'm so pleased with how these look, and the effect they give. They pick out the roughness, texture and feel of the timber and slate tiles perfectly. It looks better than we expected it to...   Oh, and these two old railway posters came in the post. I'll get these framed up and on the wall...   The branding and design has been approved today, so we can get it to the sign makers straight after New Year. I've sorted our milk supplier, picked up more timber planks for the counter front and cleaned/swept/hoovered the downstairs room so it's ready for the flooring to go down. The alarm company came out today as well, and we now have a working premises alarm. I think we're still making steady progress, with a hoped for opening date of Monday 22nd January. |
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Last Edit: Dec 22, 2017 19:31:07 GMT by Geordie
CURRENT FLEET
'95 Rover 623SLi (65k miles)
'99 Renault Laguna Executive
'55 BMW 318i (52k miles) for sale
'06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,520
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Dec 22, 2017 23:03:33 GMT
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We have a basic FB page up and running. It's a bit basic at the minute, as we haven't finished the shop yet, or got any signs up, but like us if you want to... www.facebook.com/Saltburn/ |
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CURRENT FLEET
'95 Rover 623SLi (65k miles)
'99 Renault Laguna Executive
'55 BMW 318i (52k miles) for sale
'06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Is the competition aware of your arrival to the town or are you launching in stealth mode?
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,520
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Dec 23, 2017 17:53:07 GMT
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Is the competition aware of your arrival to the town or are you launching in stealth mode? Talking to passers by, and other business owners in the town (hairdressers and picture framers etc), they could see it was going to be some sort of coffee shop, but weren't sure who owned it. I guess from that the other coffee shop/cafe guys will also know our plans. We haven't gone in there and introduced ourselves though. |
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Last Edit: Dec 23, 2017 17:54:04 GMT by Geordie
CURRENT FLEET
'95 Rover 623SLi (65k miles)
'99 Renault Laguna Executive
'55 BMW 318i (52k miles) for sale
'06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Is the competition aware of your arrival to the town or are you launching in stealth mode? Talking to passers by, and other business owners in the town (hairdressers and picture framers etc), they could see it was going to be some sort of coffee shop, but weren't sure who owned it. I guess from that the other coffee shop/cafe guys will also know our plans. We haven't gone in there and introduced ourselves though. I would do. My old man was great mates with all his nearest rivals. You never know when you need a quick borrow! I kept the tradition by being great mates with one of their daughters, but maybe I wouldn't recommend this course of action for you!  |
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Dec 24, 2017 16:37:13 GMT
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Good to see updates - I would remove the pics of the security though, you never know who is looking... Especially as its not open yet... Just my two pennorth.
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,520
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Dec 24, 2017 16:45:47 GMT
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Good to see updates - I would remove the pics of the security though, you never know who is looking... Especially as its not open yet... Just my two pennorth. I understand the sentiment, but I don't know what pics of security I have posted? The only one I can see is of a bolt on the back door. There is more than that, believe me mate. |
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CURRENT FLEET
'95 Rover 623SLi (65k miles)
'99 Renault Laguna Executive
'55 BMW 318i (52k miles) for sale
'06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Dec 24, 2017 16:50:46 GMT
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Good to see updates - I would remove the pics of the security though, you never know who is looking... Especially as its not open yet... Just my two pennorth. I understand the sentiment, but I don't know what pics of security I have posted? The only one I can see is of a bolt on the back door. There is more than that, believe me mate. Oh, I don't doubt that - from a personal point of view (and perhaps overcautious, I do admit) I wouldn't post the photo of the Yale either. Just while its quiet in town, the little disadvantaged darlings don't need any extra info on what you're protecting yourself with... Hurry up and open, anyway! We have cars to bring and mouths to feed! |
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,520
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Dec 24, 2017 17:01:27 GMT
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I understand the sentiment, but I don't know what pics of security I have posted? The only one I can see is of a bolt on the back door. There is more than that, believe me mate. Oh, I don't doubt that - from a personal point of view (and perhaps overcautious, I do admit) I wouldn't post the photo of the Yale either. Just while its quiet in town, the little disadvantaged darlings don't need any extra info on what you're protecting yourself with... Hurry up and open, anyway! We have cars to bring and mouths to feed! Good luck to them in getting past the Yale mate. That's when they step onto the electrified floor and have flaming oil poured on them. Then the feathers. Can you tell I've seen Home Alone more than once? Can't wait to open. We're getting there. I'll crack on with flooring and skirting boards downstairs after Christmas, then the wall art goes up, and furniture goes in. Oh, and we're still waiting on the go-ahead from the council lol. Hoping to open the third week in January. Will be great to see you, and all my fellow Retro-Riders. |
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Last Edit: Dec 24, 2017 17:02:42 GMT by Geordie
CURRENT FLEET
'95 Rover 623SLi (65k miles)
'99 Renault Laguna Executive
'55 BMW 318i (52k miles) for sale
'06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Dec 26, 2017 19:49:00 GMT
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Well done for taking the leap & best of luck with the venture.
Looking great so far - are you doing any thing with the ceiling tiles? They look kind of grey & grubby in the photos.
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,520
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Dec 26, 2017 20:12:16 GMT
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Well done for taking the leap & best of luck with the venture. Looking great so far - are you doing any thing with the ceiling tiles? They look kind of grey & grubby in the photos. Thanks for that. Ref the tiles, we know a suspended ceiling isn't ideal. However, on top of everything else we had to do, rather than take it all down and sort the messy artexed holed ceiling above, we made the decision to improve what was there. The spot lights are great, and we rattle can sprayed every tile a stone/light brown colour. It actually ties in quite well with the browns that are in the wood floor. I think the fact that everybody who comes in says they love the decor as it is so far, and their eyes aren't drawn to the ceiling tiles is a positive. Perhaps the photographs don't do it justice. |
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Last Edit: Dec 26, 2017 20:12:47 GMT by Geordie
CURRENT FLEET
'95 Rover 623SLi (65k miles)
'99 Renault Laguna Executive
'55 BMW 318i (52k miles) for sale
'06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Dec 27, 2017 19:03:43 GMT
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best of luck with your new venture, being self employed has its ups and downs but is worth it, i jumped ship from employment 9 years ago leaving my job as assistant branch manager at howdens joinery to take over the delivery contract for the same depot of howdens (i notice you have one of their Spammy spam spam spam, no thank you, man.). was one of the best moves i made although i am jumping from that ship this year to complmetely change again and install log burners which is a bit more risky as the howdens work is guaranteed and i know they pay on time where as the log burner installations will take some building up and carries the risk of bad payers but its a now or never type decision.
my main advice to you is to keep on top of the books as 12 months of book keeping that needs to be submitted by the end of the week is a big headache.
good luck and if i find my self up your way any time ill drop in for a cuppa
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,520
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Dec 27, 2017 22:32:56 GMT
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Small update. I've had a few much needed days off over Christmas, due to being poorly with shingles. I went in today though, and spent a couple of hours making up some wooden chairs, lifting carpets and underlay, and got the concrete floor ready for the new flooring, and did a couple of runs to the tip.   This unpainted wall is ready for some enlarged photo action...  I got the wall hung fire out of it's box too. I should hang it tomorrow..  Chairs look good and they're comfortable too...  |
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Last Edit: Dec 27, 2017 22:33:41 GMT by Geordie
CURRENT FLEET
'95 Rover 623SLi (65k miles)
'99 Renault Laguna Executive
'55 BMW 318i (52k miles) for sale
'06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,520
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Dec 29, 2017 22:02:34 GMT
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CURRENT FLEET
'95 Rover 623SLi (65k miles)
'99 Renault Laguna Executive
'55 BMW 318i (52k miles) for sale
'06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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