Fast food offerings must reflect the pulse of the economic climate Despite the tough economic climate, fast food remains a popular choice for South African families, but in order to attract and sustain a robust customer base, fast food franchisors need to ensure their menus reflect the financial environment and offer customers “more for their money”. Jan de Beer, Managing Executive of The Fish & Chip Co . says this popular fast food outlet has not only recently revisited its national menu to remain relevant to customers’ pockets, but also offers special promotions to attract more business.  With so many fast food choices, South Africans don’t have to go far to find a meal that everyone in the family would like to eat. The local fast food market is very competitive and each player needs to stay at the cutting edge of marketing to arrive at an approach that prompts people to spend their hard-earned money at their particular fast food restaurant.   Fish is the fourth...

How to make 2015 the best year for your business 2015 has arrived – and while many business owners have already put their new business plans in place in 2014, for some it remains a daunting task. Proper planning should not be underestimated, however. Without a plan in place, there will be no ‘road map’ available to steer you in the right direction. Managing Executive of The Fish & Chip Co, Jan de Beer shares some tips below on the important plans that need to be considered, before the new year runs away with us. With so many things to consider in business, where do you even start when planning for the new business year? Perhaps the ideal starting point might be to firstly review what was accomplished in the year that was. Upon reflection, it is important for a business owner to firstly determine which goals and targets were achieved in the past year and which were not. No matter what the targets were, a business owner needs to conduct a thorough ‘stock take’ of the current ...

An incentive can make all the difference in business It is no secret that having something to work towards in business is vital to keep it moving forward. Without a goal to aim for, we’re just stuck in a rut are we not? The problem is, however, in working fervently to achieve these goals with gusto, we sometimes lose that drive to make it to the finish line. The fact is, no matter what time of the year, fatigue can set in fast when it comes to reaching for those milestones. The answer? Incentive programmes. Jan de Beer, Managing Executive of The Fish & Chip Co. shares more on incentives in business and why these are important to enhance productivity. Working towards a goal means nothing without something to urge you on, which is why incentive plans are ideal as they not only provide those taking part with the needed motivation, but also offer recognition and reward to employees for meeting pre-established goals or objectives. No matter what form the incentive takes on, whet...

Franchisee life hacks to optimise your productivity Productivity is something that rises and falls like the ebb and flow of the ocean. Some days you might find yourself taking the day in your stride, then on others it seems like you’re just not ticking anything off your to-do list. Fortunately there are tips and tricks which you can employee to ensure you make the most of your day – no matter what your job entails. Managing Executive of The Fish & Chip Co, Jan de Beer shares some ‘life hacks’ to enhance your productivity on a daily basis. The term ‘life hack’ refers to any tool or activity that you can use to optimise areas of your life that need some improvement. It certainly does not refer to hacking computers, if that was what you were thinking. When it comes to increasing productivity, whether you own a business, work for a company or even if you are a student, here are some hacks that you can use to maximise your productivity every day. Get a good start Have a hearty b...

Put a spring back in the step of your business A change of season always brings about a sense of renewed purpose. Aside from the obvious changes in weather, somehow seasonal change also brings about the need for refreshed energy and drive. This is especially true in spring where everything awakens from hibernation and starts anew with greater vigour, which is why this is the ideal time to make a business bloom again. Managing Executive of The Fish & Chip Co, Jan de Beer, shares some tips on how a business owner can renew their thinking to reinvigorate their business and put back that ‘spring in its step’.  It’s no secret that as the year goes by, one often loses the drive to finish the year off with the same purpose as when it started. With new year’s resolutions a thing of the past and 2014 well on its way there as well, many business owners are stuck in the slump of the final stretch of the year, which tends to create a ‘go-slow’ effect, among the owner and his/her suppor...

The Fish & Chip Co. puts customer satisfaction in a higher gear It is no secret that when it comes to business, meeting the customers’ needs should be a top priority. It’s all about adding value. Aside from offering sterling service and products that exceed their expectations, the real way to make a customer happy is by going the extra mile. This is what has sparked The Fish & Chip Co. to run another competition for their loyal customers –to prove just how committed they are to meeting their needs. Following the success of their first ‘Win a Car’ competition, which was finalised in March 2014, the company decided that they needed to reward another loyal fan. “The winner of our first competition, who is a local taxi driver who does not own his own mode of transport, was elated when we delivered his new car. We knew, based on his reaction as well as the overwhelmingly positive response from the public, that giving away a car has phenomenal appeal and is a dream competiti...

Is your focus on the right place in your business? Jan de Beer Many small business owners, including those in franchising, are faced with so many different business elements to manage that they often tend to place too much of an emphasis on one area. While it is important to spend quantity and quality time to develop a specific business element, entrepreneurs cannot put all their efforts into one focal point alone as there are many other factors to consider that will contribute to their success. Many owners seem to predominantly focus their energies on either being product centric or customer centric when it comes to managing their brand. The question remains, which option, if any, is the right one to zone in on?  Managing Executive of The Fish & Chip Co, Jan de Beer believes a franchised business needs to focus on both.  It goes without saying that the business is nothing without the product or service. With nothing to sell, what is the purpose of trading? Equa...

The importance of Mandela Day Nelson Mandela International Day has been inspiring people across the country - and the world - to take action and effect some change, even if only for 67 minutes on 18 July each year. In honour of our late president, individuals and companies alike make the most of this day to demonstrate their commitment to social change, with some going over and above what they usually do for the community. But what is the big deal with Mandela Day anyway and why is it worth taking part? Managing Executive of The Fish & Chip Co, Jan de Beer, shares his thoughts on the idea of Mandela Day and why businesses should become more involved in social initiatives.  Mandela once said; “there can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children”, We couldn't agree more. In business, the concept of corporate social investment (CSI) is no longer viewed as a simple charitable donation. CSI is about more than P...

The top predictors of success in business The prospect of starting a business is always an exciting one. When starting out, hopes are high, goals are set and entrepreneurs are eager to turn the business into a lucrative empire that will exceed their wildest dreams. The reality is, however, that there really is no crystal ball that can share revelations on a business’ success. Even in the business of franchising, in which the achievement rate can be increased by 80% or more due to the support and structure it provides, success is never a sure thing. Managing Executive of The Fish & Chip Co , Jan de Beer does however feel that there are certain elements and characteristics that a business owner expresses that can predict their triumph in business.  While there are a few determining factors to consider, such as adequate funding and a prime location, the real forecasters to success go deeper than the obvious. Even if an entrepreneur feels they have what it takes to make a bu...

Why change is good for business They say change is as good as a holiday. In the case of The Fish & Chip Co., it’s as good as a menu overhaul. As of April 2014, The Fish & Chip Co. added even more ‘Hot and A lot’ value to the plates and pockets of their customers by refreshing their menu with new meals as well as a whole new menu category, breakfast. The decision to make the changes was not taken lightly, as Managing Executive of The Fish & Chip Co, Jan de Beer, confirms below.  In the business world, brands don’t evolve, improve or remain competitive without change. Change is what keeps it moving forward and relevant in the consumer’s eyes. Brands cannot make changes just for the sake of it, and should base their decision making process on thorough research before anything in the business is tweaked. Change, no matter how minor, could either make or break the brand. Whether change includes a slight alteration to the way stock is purchased or a major shift in ...

The business of good time management It is said when you own your own business that ‘time is money’, and that the amount of time you put in will determine the amount of profit you make. Time management in business is, however, one of the most challenging aspects when running a business, with many owners struggling to strike a balance between the tasks that are essential to success and those that are less so. The business of franchising proves no different, even with a franchise manual that can be used as a guideline. Managing Executive of The Fish & Chip Co, Jan de Beer, shares more on how to practise proper time manage ment in the franchising business, to ensure the most is made of every day. Even though there are many definitions as to what time management actually means, the most common definition is to understand the act of taking conscious control over time spent on various activities. Spending too much time on one activity is not time management, it’s wasting time. To ...