Our Pride Our Village’s Post

PDQ Restaurants COO Eric Knott shares why being an active, recognized part of the local community is key for restaurant marketing success. 🍽️ Empowering teams to build grassroots local relationships - whether at Little League games or other community events - drives real loyalty and differentiation for multi-location restaurants. This snippet is just a preview of the actionable local marketing insights shared in the full episode: https://hubs.ly/Q02pvR7r0 What has been your restaurant's approach to community building and local marketing? What's worked well or been challenging? We want to hear from you! 👇 #LocalMarketing #LocalMarketingLab #MarketingPodcast #RestaurantMarketing #CommunityInvolvement #LocalCommunity #LocalRestaurants

I thought we’d take a look at a business story that’s been bubbling away in the Stroud Valleys for a while now, a business that today (Friday 8 November) expands into Cirencester. That story leads the edition linked below that and emailed out to subscribers to The Raikes Journal yesterday. I thought it deserved a closer look, not least because Raikes has history with the organisation in question. It was one of the first big features we wrote when it emerged - more as a movement than a business - back in the Covid-19 pandemic, during Raikes’ first iteration. What fascinates me is that here is a business that really shouldn’t work at all, but is thriving, charting its own course across the unforgiving hospitality sector, that has an incredible following, pays the living wage and above, doesn’t even charge set prices, gives its produce away for free or below cost at times, and faced down eviction for the second time in the last three years just this summer. Yet here it is opening its second restaurant-come-café in Cirencester. By the power of some kind of counterintuitive alchemy it creates jobs and is inexplicably winning by investing in ‘building community around good food’. That business is many people's food hero, The Long Table. As regular visitors to Raikes will know we paywall some of the main stories to give back to those members who support us by paying for their subscriptions to make what we do possible - and that allow us to give some of what we do away for free so everyone can enjoy it. A little bit like The Long Table, I guess. We’re a community interest company too. All the main reads on The Raikes Journal are unique. You won’t get them anywhere else. We’re not an aggregator site, a portal for press releases or advertorials and we don’t rush to post stuff before anyone else does. We care about journalism. We care about giving you some quality and we care about community and about Gloucestershire. As we said, a bit like The Long Table. NB: We believe we now publish the best-read newsletter of its kind for Gloucestershire, pound for pound. I hope you enjoy the read. Stroud & District Chamber of Trade & Commerce | Stroud District Council | Invest in Gloucestershire | Cirencester Chamber of Commerce | Cirencester Town Council | Tom Herbert | William North | #food | #restaurants | #hospitality | Cotswold District Council | Stroud Brewery - a certified B Corporation

Running a restaurant is no small feat, but your resilience and vision set you up for success. Here’s today’s reminder: "With this restaurant, I am building a future for my family, creating memories for my guests, and enjoying the best partners to keep growing." Your passion drives your success, and with the right financial partner, the possibilities are limitless. Fundswell is your ally for growth, helping you create a lasting impact on your community. #BusinessMotivation #RestaurantGrowth #Fundswell

Running a restaurant is no small feat, but your resilience and vision set you up for success. Here’s today’s reminder: "With this restaurant, I am building a future for my family, creating memories for my guests, and enjoying the best partners to keep growing." Your passion drives your success, and with the right financial partner, the possibilities are limitless. Fundswell is your ally for growth, helping you create a lasting impact on your community. #BusinessMotivation #RestaurantGrowth #Fundswell

One bakery, one small town. 100% of cupcake sales FOR A WEEK to an employee’s family. Two thoughts: #1 - If a business in a town of 7000 can do this, imagine what is possible when all businesses choose to lead with love. #2 - These stories of impact matter when you think about where you want to live, where you want your work, and how much you value the collective human spirit that surrounds you in a community. Thanks Boule Bakery for leading the way❤️ #remarkablerural #community —————— I’m often the most enthusiastic person in a room. I love energizing family friendly brands with communications that connect humans with companies. If I can do it while supporting rural America - that’s a bonus (because I know how amazing it feels to have wide open spaces, unplanned porch gatherings, and neighbors who surprise you with baked goods.)

Have you heard about ChurchStreet Family? Learn more in this article from the Huntsville Business Journal !

Is it acceptable to share a love for BBQ on this platform? 😄 What does BBQ have to do with business? A lot, actually. Hear me out... There’s nothing more satisfying than a perfectly smoked pork belly or ribs, fresh off the smoker. 🍖🔥 But it’s not just about the food—it’s about the people. It’s about gathering around a table, sharing stories, connecting with friends, and celebrating wins (both big and small). In many ways, BBQ is a lot like business—it brings people together. Whether it’s a team lunch, a weekend get-together, or an impromptu client meeting—great things happen when we’re all at the same table. So, what’s your favorite BBQ style? Let me know down in the comments.😊 #BBQ #Community #BusinessAndBBQ

🌟 Boost Your Business with Mysellf! 🚀 It's FREE and it INCREASES your income! 💸 Mysellf is the ultimate tool for anyone who earns tips. Whether you’re a restaurant, salon, or any tip-receiving establishment, our platform is designed for YOU! Join the community of savvy businesses that are already reaping the rewards. Join Mysellf today on MYSELLF.PH/TIPS and turn those positive reviews into real profits 💰 #Mysellf #NonCashTips #CustomerReviews #BoostYourBusiness

We thought we’d take a look at a business story that’s been bubbling away in the Stroud Valleys for a while now, a business that today (Friday 8 November) expands into Cirencester. That story leads the edition linked below that and emailed out to subscribers to The Raikes Journal yesterday. We thought it deserved a closer look, not least because Raikes has history with the organisation in question. It was one of the first big features we wrote when it emerged - more as a movement than a business - back in the Covid-19 pandemic, during Raikes’ first iteration. What fascinates us is that here is a business that really shouldn’t work at all, but is thriving, charting its own course across the unforgiving hospitality sector, that has an incredible following, pays the living wage and above, doesn’t even charge set prices, gives its produce away for free or below cost at times, and faced down eviction for the second time in the last three years just this summer. Yet here it is opening its second restaurant-come-café in Cirencester. By the power of some kind of counterintuitive alchemy it creates jobs and is inexplicably winning by investing in ‘building community around good food’. That business is many people's food hero, The Long Table. As regular visitors to Raikes will know we paywall some of the main stories to give back to those members who support us by paying for their subscriptions to make what we do possible - and that allow us to give some of what we do away for free so everyone can enjoy it. A little bit like The Long Table, I guess. We’re a community interest company too. All the main reads on The Raikes Journal are unique. You won’t get them anywhere else. We’re not an aggregator site, a portal for press releases or advertorials and we don’t rush to post stuff before anyone else does. We care about journalism. We care about giving you some quality and we care about community and about Gloucestershire. As we said, a bit like The Long Table. NB: We believe we now publish the best-read newsletter of its kind for Gloucestershire, pound for pound. We hope you enjoy the read.

Starting out in the restaurant business was a thrilling journey for me, but it wasn't without its challenges. One major obstacle was figuring out how to effectively market my restaurant online. With so many platforms and strategies, it felt like I was constantly running in circles. After some trial and error, we decided to focus on building our social media presence. We invested time in engaging with customers, sharing user-generated content, and consistently posting mouth-watering pictures of our dishes. The results were really encouraging! We saw a significant spike in customer engagement and even a boost in reservations. Through this experience, I learned the importance of being relatable and straightforward with our audience. It’s not just about the food, but about building a community centered around our restaurant. My advice for anyone facing similar hurdles is to stay true to your brand and engage authentically. Building an online community takes time, but your efforts will pay off. Let’s put together a strategy for YOUR business and watch it grow together!