>Restaurants and the "R" word

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>It isn’t a secret people are watching what they are spending. According to a Canton Repository article released this morning, servers are starting to feel the pinch of a slower economy.

Like many college students, I was a server at Outback Steakhouse for the greater portion of my college career. It was steady, fast money – perfect for a college student. Because of the menu selection on Outback, I waited on all walks of life and received just as many variations in tips. This article seems to reflect how almost all restaurants and seeing a slowdown in larger tips. In my opinion, the Repository’s article completely missed the point on WHY certain restaurants are feeling the decrease and others aren’t.

The people who are starting to tip less in restaurants are going to be middle class consumers and lower. They are the ones feeling the pinch in the economy, not the upper class.

The Canton Repository did a great job in interviewing servers from a variety of restaurants – Friday’s, Damon’s, Peter Shears, Bender’s and Esber’s. It was no surprise all restaurants except for one reported a recognition in decreased tips, all restaurants but Peter Shears – Canton’s only 5 star restaurant.

I’ve had the honor of eating at this restaurant and from those experiences, I assure you this is not a restaurant aimed at the middle class. Their outstanding menu and phenomenal wine selection is targeting the upper class. These people have more than enough money to not flinch when filling up their cars at $3.99 or even consider ordering a cheaper bottle of wine to save a few dollars. Therefore, yes, there are some servers receiving lower tips because of the economy. But some servers, like Carrie Berger of Peter Shears, won’t notice a decrease because of the restaurant’s clientele.

As a witness of the restaurant slowdown after the 9/11 attacks I am telling you from experience. I am sure there are upper class citizens out there feeling the crunch as we all are, I am merely saying this is hurting the middle class and below much more.

-Katy

>David v.s David

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>This year, American Idol’s success was shaky but nevertheless, Idol did it again. People voting for either David Archuleta or David Cook broke the record or in Seacrest’s terms, “smashed it by 23 million.”

The finale was filled with many celebrities such as Seal, Donna Summer, George Michael, Bryan Adams and Graham Nash. A few strange people appeared: Jimmy Kimmel, Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black. Of course your former Idol’s appeared – Jordin Sparks and Carrie Underwood. I believe this is the most star-studded finale ever.


What a way to promote Mike Meyers’ latest move, “The Love Guru.” Check it out. Not only did the two Davids love the movie but got a chance to meet him in person. Thankfully, the promo was over but then Mike Meyers appeared on stage for a shameless plug. You know what they say about marketing a bad product/movie… kill this movie fast so we can all forget about it.

ABC can’t even stop the Idol madness. So they are embracing the phenomenon – an Idol attraction at Disney World!

David Cook (one of the finalists) shows up in his first commercial for Guitar Hero. Oh wait, they filmed one with David Archuleta too! Very politically correct. Archuleta may have kicked butt last night but Cook definitely won Guitar Hero’s rendition of Tom Cruise’s living room scene in Risky Business.


So who won? David Cook is your NEW American Idol. I would have been happy with either. Cook would have been more marketable than Archuleta anyway. But the marketers didn’t choose Cook, 12 million people chose him over Archuleta. David Cook is having the time of his life singing the new Idol song, “Time of My Life” by Regie Hamm (winner in the second American Idol Songwriting contest).

Idol is over but before Seacrest signed off for the night, he reminded us that it starts all over again in January…

~Michelle

>It’s not easy going green… Or is it?

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>Pop Quiz: What do the following things have in common? Adopting an animal, cutting back on fast food and researching your comunity. Give up? These are all ways you can improve your “green” contribution to the environment.

Let me explain. We here at Felber & Felber Marketing are on board with becoming more green. Extensive research and strong attempts will be made as we enter into this area. Your patience is requested as you are witness to our trials and errors. But for now, here is what we can report.

The times of simply using recycled paper, carpooling and recycling aluminum cans have passed by. The present day green trends have exploded across neighboring communities and into the corporate world. If you are wanting to go green, but aren’t real sure here are a few things to get you started:

1. Turn off lights. Are you leaving the room for awhile? Are you turning in for the evening? Turning the lights off will save large amounts of energy over the course of a year. Multiply that by ten years… that’s a lot of energy savings. (And costs!)

2. Get others involved. It is true what they say, there are strength in numbers. Volunteering for an environmental organization is easy and very beneficial. Ask a friend to come along, your environment will thank you.

3. Educate yourself. Do you know how bad batteries are for the environmet? Once thrown away, they will break down and leak hazardous materials into the waste collection areas. Instead, try using rechargeable batteries or sending the batteries back to the companies citing your concern for the environment.

Stay tuned to our Adventures in Marketing to see what else you can do to help the cause.

-Katy

>The Real Showdown

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It is with great sadness I write this blog putting an end to the Cavaliers 2007-2008 season. With a heartbreaking game 7 loss to the overpowering Boston Celtics, our Cleveland Cavaliers will have to make another run at the Championship series next year.

Trying to shed some light on to this situation, I did take note of a few national commercials spotlighting the key players on these two teams. The first commercial for Vitamin water (YouTube video here) uses LeBron’s ball handling skills and witty commentary to prove his opponent is faking an injury and wins his case in court. The other commercial for Gatorade’s League of Clutch (YouTube video here) shows Kevin Garnett in various still captures from games throughout the season, often times capturing him with sweat dripping down his pain-striken face.

As a marketer’s perspective, both commercials are done very well. But begs the obvious question, which is more entertaining? Sorry Garnett, you might have moved on to the next round but LeBron beat your creativity in commercials. LeBron gets my vote.

-Katy

>Our Afternoon at the BallPark

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On Wednesday evening, the Felber team members received a text message from Rob saying our consolation prize for the Cavs losing game 5 was tickets to the Indians vs. Athletics game on Thursday afternoon. We are all huge sports fans, so this was a very exciting suprise for us.

Of course, being marketers, we surveyed the new Progressive Field’s changes since last season. A few things are different including a women’s only team shop and a business area in right field designated for business luncheons and group outings. They really have found a way to cater to all walks of life, hats off to them!

It was also interesting to note the obvious changes that have taken place in the park from its conversion to Progressive Field. When the field was named Jacob’s Field, there were only a few places of the name labeled around the park – now, as Progressive Field, it is very apparent there has been a switch in the overall marketing appeal of the field. Before, Jacob’s Field had minimal advertising around the field. Now, Progressive Field has replaced those empty areas with various advertisements of companies. Good idea or bad idea?


GO TRIBE!

-Katy