GRS Restaurant Technology Blog

A recent international survey by Time magazine found that 80% of respondents felt they could not survive a single day without their cell phone.  50% of Americans sleep with their phone right next to them, and 20% compulsively check their phone every 10 minutes or more.  There’s even a new word for the the fear of losing your phone:  Nomophobia. Upwards of 67% of us may suffer from it.

At Pizza Expo last month, I spoke with a number of restaurant owners who were in the market for a new point-of-sale system.  Many had been using their old system for over a decade, and were limping along with barely-functional hardware and ancient software.  They've been trying to postpone the inevitable, but have finally realized that the benefits of a new point-of-sale system are compelling and the time to upgrade is now.   

Today, more than ever, we love shiny new gadgets.  We line up for the latest technology innovation, even it its just a tiny bit better than the last big thing.  We blindly accept the notion that technology is good for us.  But if you are looking to grow your business, is technology the answer?  Will your investment pay off?  Here’s some common techniques you may try to grow your business - and how technology can help.

The busiest season for restaurants is now upon us. For pizza restaurants, Halloween, Thanksgiving Eve, New Years Eve, New Years Day and the Superbowl make up the biggest days of the year.  Prepare for that rush by making the most of your restaurant software, planning ahead, and staying calm!

If you haven't considered adding text messages to your restaurant marketing mix, here's some compelling reasons to do so - and some tips for success!    Text messaging is rapidly becoming an important tool for restaurant marketers - and for good reason.

Check out theChive's funny pizza box art thread AND share your funny pizza box art or order requests with us!

As restaurant operators become increasingly aware of the importance of the Hispanic demographic, the answer for many of them is a resounding YES!.  

Coupons - love 'em or hate 'em, it's hard to get away from them in the pizza industry.   Most pizza restaurants issue coupons to grab the attention of their customers, to encourage new customers to try the restaurant, to compete with the other pizzerias in their area, to introduce new products, and to encourage 'bundling' of products together.  But what's the best way to know if your coupons are effective and working? 

Every restaurant owner understands, innately, that customers like customization.  From "Hold the mayo" to "Can I have a salad instead of fries", custom requests happen daily.  

Terry Black, owner of Jimmy and Joe's Pizza (2 locations in Mesa and Chandler AZ) has a passion for his product and connecting to his community.  We chatted with him about how his marketing strategy has helped build up an enormously loyal customer base over the 5 years they've been in business.  One tool he can't do without:  GRS SalesBuilder, an automated customer loyalty solution that powers his VIP Rewards Club.