Everyone knows that it’s the added drink, cookies, and sides (sidelines?) that you make your real profit on.  You don’t make any money offering a whopper for $2.50.  You make it when the buyer needs a fountain drink, which costs you maybe 15cents, and you charge him $2+ for the drink.

see the above subway incentive.  they are running an incentive campaign to suggestive-sell, customers on a drink and some chips.

Nothing fancy, but if you don’t ask, you don’t get.

Every little bit counts, especially when you are talking Nando’s, and many of the locations are clearly sucking wind, oftentimes not so busy, even at times of the week where you would expect them to busy.  Especially when it is obvious the operator is behind the counter, looking glum because they are trying to make rent that month, or have had a shitty month of sales.  Especially when you walk in, and you are the only person in the joint, and you start to wonder if the product you are being served is fresh.  Nando’s HQ Marketing department—-what are you doing for your weaker franchisees, to help them along with their sales?  What projects are you working on, WITH them?  They have no money in the till—–what do you expect them to do with……..nothing, and what game-plan do you have that will turn their fortunes around slowly, but surely?

The four-wednesday facebook campaign was well-intentioned, but is a short-term affair—the marketing equivalent of a one-night stand.  Useless over the longer term.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING THAT IS GOING TO HAVE A MEANINGFUL AND LASTING IMPACT, FOR ALL OF YOUR LOCATIONS????

kitsilano was the first to fall.  Who will be the next?  Westwood mall?  Kerrisldale?  West Van?  Ironwood plaza?  What are you doing for these sorry locations, the ones that even I, a Nando’s fan, can’t bear to patronize any longer?