Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Offer More Value to More Markets

A popular definition says that insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result. Mo's Chowder in Newport, Oregon was a thriving fisherman's hangout, serving hearty fare to the men who cast their nets in the waters surrounding this very active fishing community. As happened to many communities with a single-industry focus, however, things began to change. Fishing became less of a going concern. The founder sold the restaurant to her granddaughter and the new generation was sane enough to realize that if they wanted to keep the business afloat in the community, they had to jump from the sinking ship of a mere fisherman's dive.

Building on their longstanding legacy in Newport, the owners decided to remake the restaurant, and now Mo's caters to families, not just fishermen. What was once a place shrouded in the smoke of hard working, hard-drinking fishermen is now a family-friendly place where families—dads, moms and kids—enjoy a meal that includes all the tasty fare of days past, but in an atmosphere that is as welcoming as it is bustling. The sanity of the owner’s decision speaks for itself. This now kid-friendly place has expanded from one location to three and the popularity of its namesake chowder graces the menus of other restaurants, as well.

If your sales are sluggish, maybe its time to cast your net a little wider or into new waters to attract a bigger pool of customers.