Feeding our Community!

 COVID and your local Restaurant

According to the study done by Restaurants Canada – Alberta’s Foodservice COVID-19 Update Feb 2021 – prior to COVID there were over $12B in sales over 11257 establishments. 

SHOP LOCAL ALERT:  Every dollar that was spent at a restaurant generated $1.85 of spending in the rest of the economy!  So for every dollar spent, the restaurant would spend $1.85.  Wouldn’t you love that rate of return on your investment?  Not all of it will be spent locally, but the Didsbury Restaurants run a Shop Local First policy, ensuring that as much as possible is spent locally.

Does this mean our restaurants are making money?  Not as much as you expect.  For every $10 spent at a restaurant:  $3.08 is for wages & benefits;  $3.29 food & beverage costs: $3.20 operating costs; leaving a grand total of $0.43 pretax profit.   Reminder these are pre-COVID numbers!

Alberta restaurants employed 6.4% of the provinces workforce, ranked #3 in the private sector employers.

Then COVID arrived!

Having some provincial wide statistics, I asked our local Restaurant Chamber Members if they would share if these #’s reflected their situation. 

1 – 65.6% OF FOODSERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS INDICATED THEY WERE OPERATING AT A LOSS.

While our local restaurants are not running at a loss, at this time, the margins are very tight.  Factors include :

costs of products – we have all experienced the higher food prices in the stores

costs of packaging – shortages of supplies, due to increased demand

payroll – many of our local restaurants have tried to keep staff on as long as possible but unfortunately this is one area that has been cut to help keep afloat.  Many owners have also opted to not pay themselves or pay minimally.

operating costs – utilities, rent, insurance, etc still need to be paid and have not gone down.  In fact, at least one of our restaurants is facing up to 25% increase in rent alone!

            1B – WHY DO YOU KEEP OPERATING?

Community was the resounding answer here!  Didsbury is home and they are committed to being a part of the community.   Small business is an important part of the culture of Didsbury.

2 – 36% OF FOODSERVICE COMPANIES INDICATED IT WOULD TAKE 12-18 MONTHS TO RECOVER, WHILE 28% INDICATED IT WOULD TAKE 18+ MONTHS TO RECOVER.

The question was, facing these hard numbers what have they done to keep their names out there? 

The answer is the Lifeline of COVID survival– Social Media, Internet   Not only daily use of social platforms to indicate hours, specials etc but making sure FB, Website, etc information is current.

Many use pictures of their foods to entice.   Praire Whistle makes sure you see what they are making today as they post enticing pictures each day!

Word of Mouth and/or referrals has become more important than ever!  So keep talking up the great service and food Didsbury offers!  Ask Vintage Coffee of the power of word of mouth!

3- In Oct 2019 57% of food was served through Drive Thru/Pick up, this changed to 80% in Oct 2020.  Do these #’s reflect your business.

After taking a pause, to evaluate how to Pivot with the changes in March 2019,  most food companies made the change to 100% curbside/takeout.  One of our local Food Trucks, Grillz, added to their menu and increased the hours they were available.  Again using Social Media to get word out of locations and times.

Our restaurants are striving to keep us fed. Lets show our support by being the Community that keeps our local food companies alive! 

Great food, great chefs, great coffees, expanding menus…..we have it all!

Support Local – Buy Local

Didsbury  - welcome Home  and a great place to grow!

Thank you to the members who replied, I am sure their answers reflect every other food companies in town!

Prairie Whistle; Vintage Coffee Bar; Grillz

The New Greeter!

 The new Greeter!!

 

One of the changes the COVID has triggered is a New Greeter program…

 Yes this is a bit of a tongue in cheek blog today, but it is a part of our new neighbourhood!

 At one time  you were always greeted by a person when you entered a store, hotel, or place of business. Those days were thought to be a thing of the past.  Not anymore!  Now every time you enter a place of business, you are greeted by a new greeter, the Hand Sanitizer! 

It might be a stand-alone dispenser or may be accompanied by a person.  Please be kind.  The person is doing their job trying to keep everyone safe and following the rules.  The use of Hand Sanitizer is mandated by the Government as a way to reduce transmission of the coronavirus.

 

Some answers to the questions posed to our new Greeter:

 

When should hand sanitizer be used?

Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (ABHS) containing at least 60% alcohol can be used for hand hygiene if soap and water is not available. However, if hands are visibly soiled, hand wipes should be used to remove any such soil or organic material; this should then be followed by the use of ABHS.May 30, 2020

Community-based measures to mitigate the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Canada

www.canada.ca › services › diseases › health-professionals

 

 

AHS answers to your questions:

https://www.alberta.ca/assets/documents/covid-19-relaunch-guidance-hand-sanitizer.pdf
Hand Sanitizer – What you need to know 1 alberta.ca/BizConnect Email: BizConnect@gov.ab.ca ©2020 Government of Alberta | Published: June 23, 2020

 

Overview

Hand hygiene refers to removing or killing microorganisms (germs) on the hands that have been picked up from contact with an infected person, contaminated surfaces or the environment. When performed correctly, hand hygiene is the most effective way to prevent the spread of communicable diseases and infections. Hand hygiene is performed either by using soap and running warm water or with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

When to use hand sanitizer? 

Use when soap and running water is not available.  When hands are NOT visibly dirty.  Upon entering and exiting a public place (e.g. mall, grocery store, playground).  After touching a multi-use shared object (e.g. elevator button, pin pad).

How to use hand sanitizer?

Depending on the size of your hands, the amount of hand sanitizer needed may vary.  Use enough product to cover hands and vigorously rub over hands until all surfaces are completely dry (about 20 seconds).  Do not rinse or wipe off the hand sanitizer before it is dry.  Always follow the label directions on hand sanitizer products.

Is hand sanitizer bad for skin? 

Hand sanitizer is generally well tolerated.  When used on healthy skin hand sanitizer should rarely cause skin problems.  To reduce the risk of skin irritation do not wash hand with soap and water immediately before or immediately after using hand sanitizer and do not put on gloves until hands are dry following the use of hand sanitizer.  For ongoing skin problems, speak with your doctor or work with your employer to determine if there are acceptable substitutes and appropriate lotions.

 

 

So the next time you enter a business, don’t forget to look for the New Greeter!  

They come in all shapes and sizes, may be alone or with a person, but will be by the door somewhere!. 

 

2020 a year of change!

 

2020 has been a year of change!  

Changes that have affected all aspects of our lives.  Socially, mentally, physically and financially.

 How have you fared?  Has your garden grown?  Did you take the time to review your business and implement changes?

 Stats Canada, along with the Chambers of Commerce, have released their information on how business has changed from the beginning of the year to today (latest numbers are as of Aug 2020).  I have tried to break out Alberta numbers as much as possible.

 

Changes:

Percentage of people who will continue working from home?               

                                                Feb 2020         May 2020        Aug 2020

Canada                       5.9%                14.4%              6.2%

            Alberta                         4%                   12%                 3.5%

-       The trend shows that some will continue to work from home, or at least work part of the time from home. 25.2% of businesses indicated that they would offer more employees the possibility of working remotely once the Pandemic is over.  14.3% are likely to require it. 

 

Length of time to return to Pre Covid operations

                                                Less than 1 week       3-4 months      6 months or more      

            Canada                       41.5%                          3.5%                7.1%

            Alberta                         36.7%                          4%                   9%

 

Percentage  of workers laid off due to COVID

                                                0-1%                            50-60%            100%

            Canada                       59.5%                          4.1%                10.6%

            Alberta                         58.2%                          4.5%                9.1%

-        29.9% of businesses reported reducing staff hours or shifts, while 28.4% laid off staff

 

Level of impact (decrease) for demand of products/services

                                                None               Low                 Med                 High

            Canada                       9.4%                8.2%                16.1%              64.8%

            Alberta                         7.8%                7.7%                15%                 68%

-       In May retail sales dropped to -31% but by June have rebounded to 3.8%...there is light at the end of the tunnel!

 

The potential for Vaccines, etc will reduce COVID but things will always be different. 

 

Just like a storm passing through and causing havoc, the damage can be repaired but the neighbourhood
will never be the same.

 

Take a look at New Orleans.  After all these years, there are still areas that have not been rebuilt or recovered. But other areas have come back strong! New updated buildings and businesses have created a better neighbourhood!

 

Recovery will be slow, but we will come back better and stronger.  We will have worked together to recreate our neighbourhood, and change will happen..

BUSINESS/ GARDEN STATUS REPORTS...

                                    

So, how is your garden (business) growing?

We started the COVID A.C. blogs with references to taking the time to weed, prune and replant your business.  Let's take a moment to see how you are growing….

What has survived the drastic measures taken to renew, strengthen and grow?!

Your business plan was dusted off and you took a look at how/why you started your journey.  What changes did you make:

Staffing:                - this was a huge factor in the business world.  Between February and April over 14 million Canadians became unemployed.  

-          As a business owner/manager we take things personally and I know you struggled with these hard decisions.  Please don’t beat yourself up about what happened.  It was out of our control.  We have to remove the pest (COVID) before we can strengthen and grow!

This was a good time to look at everyone’s roles, processes, etc and see if there are ways you can improve.

Services/Product             - how have you improved? 

-          Have you reduced stock?  Is stock still available?  Break downs in the Supply Chain have affected all areas of life.

-          Did you move to an online presence? Keep it up! Even with restrictions slowly being eased people will not be flocking to the stores in the same numbers as before.

-          Did you remember to Thank your customers and Employees? Kindness and respect makes the best soil conditioners…

Goals                     - Are you still striving towards the same goal?

-          Has a new opportunity shown itself?

 

You have survived!  Some changes have occurred but if you continue in this new direction then the harvest will be strong and plentiful!

Did you remember to record your changes?  Now we need to take these changes and put them into a more concrete plan.

As an employee I used to hate the Annual Review questions….where do you see yourself in X number of years?  But as a business owner that takes on such an important role!  Think of this as the crop rotation plan!  How are you going to stay strong? Improve your soil (basis for all crops)?

The drum roll please …..A Strategic Plan!

This is like your business plan but on fertilizer!! Your business plan was for the here and now.  Setting up the processes, markets, etc.  You planned and seeded the garden.  Now you need to look at guiding your business towards your long term (2-5 year) goals and establish the steps necessary to attain them.

You know the processes, the market, the supplies, and the staffing of your business today but the Strategic Plan takes it that one step further.  It is a challenge to review markets and review if projects are falling within the parameters of your visions and objectives.

Strategic planning allows you to capitalize on your strengths, take advantage of opportunities and become more forward-thinking…Forward thinking is hard today, but if we don’t keep looking and moving forward we will go nowhere.  Having a plan and changing it as things change is much better than not having one.  It is easier to weed and thin out then to try and start new plants in the middle of the season!

Just like a business plan this is not something done in an evening or on a napkin.  Look for resources to guide you through the process:  The Didsbury & District Chamber of Commerce has links to various resources: Your local financial institution; the BDC; Alberta.ca (https://www.alberta.ca/small-business-supports.aspx). 

And one last thing….don’t forget to include your Emergency Response Plan – you know the one you have been working in ….that little garden plot of perennials that once planted only needs maintaining and occasional pruning…

Share your garden/business success with us by Following the chamber blog and see how others have worked toward a strong harvest!