Integrating knowledge into your action

Integrating knowledge into your action
Many people learn a lot of stuff, but never change their working habits or action.
Just a few changes to what you actually do with your business can make a huge difference.
Have you allowed ideas to influence your actions?
from ThinkDaily

Thanks to everyone here I'm much better informed and, yes, I use the ideas!

I change pretty easily. Maybe too easily. I try to put every good idea I hear into action!

Agree with this so much. I have let myself remain stuck to my ways too long. This site and the people who make this site useful have helped me get out of my rut and slowly change to better myself and the business.

Unfortunately, some make changes just to make changes. Is it risky to my business/reputation? Someone makes a suggestion, you read something, an idea. But we should think before applying something. Is it a good spend of money? Will this increase revenue/profit? Will it reduce my labor/stress? Is it theory or are a number of people getting true value out of the change? Will it improve our reviews or customer experience? ...

I'm always on the lookout for new ideas. Sometimes my own, sometimes I nick them from others, some from feedback forms from guests, but I'll always try new things to see if they work.

There was a period when the gurus were saying we HAD to have whirlpool/Jacuzzi tubs if we wanted to get reservations. I looked at cost, weight, cleaning and decided not in my lifetime. My bank account and my house could not support it and my cleaning stopped there also. BUT it really depends on what is the expectations of the area you are in. It also depends on how many in your area climb on those bandwagons. (I wonder how many went bankrupt from adding them.)
I saw the light on private bath and created one - all I could do. I thought about making my shared bath a 2-room suite - rejected that after considerable thought. Listened when the idea was put forth that guests preferred a big bed to a big room. Now have a king and 2-queens. (DID not hurt that I had a omen in the form of a gifted king to move it along)
We each have to weigh what works for our structure and our wallets but be open for ideas. Hence the number of us who have switched to RezKey (if it satisfied JB with her demands of tech and working ease, it was good enough for me the numbnutz) and Squ are. But I am certain there was a lot of checking out for everyone else.

Highlands John said:

I'm always on the lookout for new ideas. Sometimes my own, sometimes I nick them from others, some from feedback forms from guests, but I'll always try new things to see if they work..

Click to expand...

Highlands John said:

I'm always on the lookout for new ideas. Sometimes my own, sometimes I nick them from others, some from feedback forms from guests, but I'll always try new things to see if they work.

Click to expand...

I'm still new in this game but the info in this forum has nipped a lot of headaches in the bud. I've learned so much from everyone's experience and I learn something new everyday. You're all making me the best that I can be in this game and I hope you all stick around for a long time.

gillumhouse said:

There was a period when the gurus were saying we HAD to have whirlpool/Jacuzzi tubs if we wanted to get reservations. I looked at cost, weight, cleaning and decided not in my lifetime. My bank account and my house could not support it and my cleaning stopped there also. BUT it really depends on what is the expectations of the area you are in. It also depends on how many in your area climb on those bandwagons. (I wonder how many went bankrupt from adding them.)
I saw the light on private bath and created one - all I could do. I thought about making my shared bath a 2-room suite - rejected that after considerable thought. Listened when the idea was put forth that guests preferred a big bed to a big room. Now have a king and 2-queens. (DID not hurt that I had a omen in the form of a gifted king to move it along)
We each have to weigh what works for our structure and our wallets but be open for ideas. Hence the number of us who have switched to RezKey (if it satisfied JB with her demands of tech and working ease, it was good enough for me the numbnutz) and Squ are. But I am certain there was a lot of checking out for everyone else..

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Location, pricing and your guests will dictate what you offer as well as what season you are the busiest. I could fill 12 rooms at close to $300 with a jacuzzi every weekend (2 night minimum on jacuzzi rooms always) in the winter and most summer weekends - I unfortunately only have 3. We are a romantic getaway spot. They call and if I have no jacuzzis they hang up and try somewhere else until they find one. However, in the summer/foliage my less expensive basic rooms fill up first because we have older guests who are coming for a train ride for foliage viewing. Typically I fill up completely but again the jacuzzi rooms go last in those months. We're creating a new room when we move into our little house next door. It will have a beautiful stone surrounded jacuzzi with a fireplace and have breakfast delivered to the room. The rate will be about $375 a night - and I know I'll get it so it makes sense for me. Others would be crazy to spend the money we are on creating this ultimate romantic room. Do what works for you - knowing your business is the best way to determine your needs - not by some crazy expert/consultant or a survey or study people read online.

2cat_lady said:

Highlands John said:

I'm always on the lookout for new ideas. Sometimes my own, sometimes I nick them from others, some from feedback forms from guests, but I'll always try new things to see if they work..

Click to expand...

Highlands John said:

I'm always on the lookout for new ideas. Sometimes my own, sometimes I nick them from others, some from feedback forms from guests, but I'll always try new things to see if they work.

Click to expand...

I'm still new in this game but the info in this forum has nipped a lot of headaches in the bud. I've learned so much from everyone's experience and I learn something new everyday. You're all making me the best that I can be in this game and I hope you all stick around for a long time.
.

Click to expand...

As others have quite rightly said, what works for one venue won't work elsewhere.
in Christmas 2013 we visited a pub/restaurant near my sister. They gave everyone an envelope with their bill, on it it said the envelope contained a discount voucher, it was guaranteed to give 15% off but some envelopes had 25%, 50% or even 100% off a dinner bill , for use in January or February. The clever twist was you weren't allowed to open the envelope until you came to pay your bill, so you didn't know how much discount you were getting.
Seemed like a really clever idea so we did it last summer, with vouchers valid nov. thru March. I gave out nearly 100 envelopes, I've had two back and both were from people who I think would probably have come back anyway.
Great idea, didn't work for us, probably down to us being in a destination. I'd hoped a few people would have passed them on to others, didn't happen.
Wont do it again this year, might work for others here though.

Highlands John said:

2cat_lady said:

Highlands John said:

I'm always on the lookout for new ideas. Sometimes my own, sometimes I nick them from others, some from feedback forms from guests, but I'll always try new things to see if they work..

Click to expand...

Highlands John said:

I'm always on the lookout for new ideas. Sometimes my own, sometimes I nick them from others, some from feedback forms from guests, but I'll always try new things to see if they work.

Click to expand...

I'm still new in this game but the info in this forum has nipped a lot of headaches in the bud. I've learned so much from everyone's experience and I learn something new everyday. You're all making me the best that I can be in this game and I hope you all stick around for a long time.
.

Click to expand...

As others have quite rightly said, what works for one venue won't work elsewhere.
in Christmas 2013 we visited a pub/restaurant near my sister. They gave everyone an envelope with their bill, on it it said the envelope contained a discount voucher, it was guaranteed to give 15% off but some envelopes had 25%, 50% or even 100% off a dinner bill , for use in January or February. The clever twist was you weren't allowed to open the envelope until you came to pay your bill, so you didn't know how much discount you were getting.
Seemed like a really clever idea so we did it last summer, with vouchers valid nov. thru March. I gave out nearly 100 envelopes, I've had two back and both were from people who I think would probably have come back anyway.
Great idea, didn't work for us, probably down to us being in a destination. I'd hoped a few people would have passed them on to others, didn't happen.
Wont do it again this year, might work for others here though.
.

Click to expand...

Seems like that was test marketing. There are many ideas, but often only a very have merit.
Personally, I despise anything that smacks of "discount" or "coupons." Every now and then I saw an Inn on Groupon. How in the world does one expect to make money when they take 50% of a 50% off offering, and who does one expect to attract other than bargain hound?

undersea said:

Highlands John said:

2cat_lady said:

Highlands John said:

I'm always on the lookout for new ideas. Sometimes my own, sometimes I nick them from others, some from feedback forms from guests, but I'll always try new things to see if they work..

Click to expand...

Highlands John said:

I'm always on the lookout for new ideas. Sometimes my own, sometimes I nick them from others, some from feedback forms from guests, but I'll always try new things to see if they work.

Click to expand...

I'm still new in this game but the info in this forum has nipped a lot of headaches in the bud. I've learned so much from everyone's experience and I learn something new everyday. You're all making me the best that I can be in this game and I hope you all stick around for a long time.
.

Click to expand...

As others have quite rightly said, what works for one venue won't work elsewhere.
in Christmas 2013 we visited a pub/restaurant near my sister. They gave everyone an envelope with their bill, on it it said the envelope contained a discount voucher, it was guaranteed to give 15% off but some envelopes had 25%, 50% or even 100% off a dinner bill , for use in January or February. The clever twist was you weren't allowed to open the envelope until you came to pay your bill, so you didn't know how much discount you were getting.
Seemed like a really clever idea so we did it last summer, with vouchers valid nov. thru March. I gave out nearly 100 envelopes, I've had two back and both were from people who I think would probably have come back anyway.
Great idea, didn't work for us, probably down to us being in a destination. I'd hoped a few people would have passed them on to others, didn't happen.
Wont do it again this year, might work for others here though.
.

Click to expand...

Seems like that was test marketing. There are many ideas, but often only a very have merit.
Personally, I despise anything that smacks of "discount" or "coupons." Every now and then I saw an Inn on Groupon. How in the world does one expect to make money when they take 50% of a 50% off offering, and who does one expect to attract other than bargain hound?
.

Click to expand...

Huh! I know an innkeeper who made thousands and thousands with Grou pon! You sell them and then very few ever use them in most cases.

EmptyNest said:

undersea said:

Highlands John said:

2cat_lady said:

Highlands John said:

I'm always on the lookout for new ideas. Sometimes my own, sometimes I nick them from others, some from feedback forms from guests, but I'll always try new things to see if they work..

Click to expand...

Highlands John said:

I'm always on the lookout for new ideas. Sometimes my own, sometimes I nick them from others, some from feedback forms from guests, but I'll always try new things to see if they work.

Click to expand...

I'm still new in this game but the info in this forum has nipped a lot of headaches in the bud. I've learned so much from everyone's experience and I learn something new everyday. You're all making me the best that I can be in this game and I hope you all stick around for a long time.
.

Click to expand...

As others have quite rightly said, what works for one venue won't work elsewhere.
in Christmas 2013 we visited a pub/restaurant near my sister. They gave everyone an envelope with their bill, on it it said the envelope contained a discount voucher, it was guaranteed to give 15% off but some envelopes had 25%, 50% or even 100% off a dinner bill , for use in January or February. The clever twist was you weren't allowed to open the envelope until you came to pay your bill, so you didn't know how much discount you were getting.
Seemed like a really clever idea so we did it last summer, with vouchers valid nov. thru March. I gave out nearly 100 envelopes, I've had two back and both were from people who I think would probably have come back anyway.
Great idea, didn't work for us, probably down to us being in a destination. I'd hoped a few people would have passed them on to others, didn't happen.
Wont do it again this year, might work for others here though.
.

Click to expand...

Seems like that was test marketing. There are many ideas, but often only a very have merit.
Personally, I despise anything that smacks of "discount" or "coupons." Every now and then I saw an Inn on Groupon. How in the world does one expect to make money when they take 50% of a 50% off offering, and who does one expect to attract other than bargain hound?
.

Click to expand...

Huh! I know an innkeeper who made thousands and thousands with Grou pon! You sell them and then very few ever use them in most cases.
.

Click to expand...

Groupons never expire, only the promotional value does. Merchants must honor that anytime (groupon site).
The "very few" does not square with the overall survey, per a quora article - they said redemption is around 80-90% by expiration of offer. I cannot speak for B&Bs, but groupon experiences in general for businesses are often regretted. Grouponers tend to be more negative; businesses that use groupons seem to have their online reviews (Yelp) go down on average by half a star on average (report).
Now if I could figure out why the hyperlink does not work for me, on this forum. It causes my chrome to hang incessantly...

Ah yes... ideas influencing action.
Do you have an idea pipe line?
How about an idea holding tank?
Time set aside to discuss and send an idea into the pipeline?
Filters to vet and refine them along the way?
Additives to make them whole?
We have had so many ideas. Now they get plopped in the tank and only the ones that make it through the pipeline get funded.

undersea said:

Highlands John said:

2cat_lady said:

Highlands John said:

I'm always on the lookout for new ideas. Sometimes my own, sometimes I nick them from others, some from feedback forms from guests, but I'll always try new things to see if they work..

Click to expand...

Highlands John said:

I'm always on the lookout for new ideas. Sometimes my own, sometimes I nick them from others, some from feedback forms from guests, but I'll always try new things to see if they work.

Click to expand...

I'm still new in this game but the info in this forum has nipped a lot of headaches in the bud. I've learned so much from everyone's experience and I learn something new everyday. You're all making me the best that I can be in this game and I hope you all stick around for a long time.
.

Click to expand...

As others have quite rightly said, what works for one venue won't work elsewhere.
in Christmas 2013 we visited a pub/restaurant near my sister. They gave everyone an envelope with their bill, on it it said the envelope contained a discount voucher, it was guaranteed to give 15% off but some envelopes had 25%, 50% or even 100% off a dinner bill , for use in January or February. The clever twist was you weren't allowed to open the envelope until you came to pay your bill, so you didn't know how much discount you were getting.
Seemed like a really clever idea so we did it last summer, with vouchers valid nov. thru March. I gave out nearly 100 envelopes, I've had two back and both were from people who I think would probably have come back anyway.
Great idea, didn't work for us, probably down to us being in a destination. I'd hoped a few people would have passed them on to others, didn't happen.
Wont do it again this year, might work for others here though.
.

Click to expand...

Seems like that was test marketing. There are many ideas, but often only a very have merit.
Personally, I despise anything that smacks of "discount" or "coupons." Every now and then I saw an Inn on Groupon. How in the world does one expect to make money when they take 50% of a 50% off offering, and who does one expect to attract other than bargain hound?
.

Click to expand...

I work on the basis that to get more people through the door in the winter I'd probably have to join boo king dot com.
I'd rather give guests 15% discount !