August Pi Partner Letter

Hey Partner!

I apologize for this delay in getting your first-of-the-month coupon to you. Devon typically picks up this task but with switching over the POS system and her maternity leave (a beautiful granddaughter) it got bumped down the road. 

First things first. We would like to host a Pi Partner on Sunday the 24th.  (We are hosting a Zoe memorial service on the 23rd.)  Recognizing that everybody cannot hit the same day, we are hosting a second meal on Janet’s birthday, September 21st. Please click here to advise if you are available for either or both dates and we’ll try to work up a guest list.

In the event that you don’t subscribe or missed recent newsletters, we sent out two. There was the ‘Good News’ letter, followed by the ‘’Help Mr Wizard’ newsletter.. 

The concept of opening Pi’s doors, telling everybody in 97229, getting ample regional PR and waiting for the orders to pour in didn’t work. The POS system we selected, a sister program to our old POS that was supposed to take online ordering and customer communication to a new level, was a flop. The Good News letter mentioned above expounds on the pain caused by a reliance on technology and the travails of switching systems.

Please bear with me as I ramble a bit, just for you.  

It is my philosophy that we need to direct all of our conversations at a bullseye of the criteria our core customers use to choose us. One picks up targets on the outer rings of that bullseye, but they should not spend bullets trying to snag strays. In the case of Bethany’s Table, our customers choose us for the Experience. That experience has ingredients that differentiate us in the hearts and minds of our customers.

Pizza is most commonly sold, and business retained, by attracting people with coupons, discounts, loyalty programs, etc. Not only did our failed POS system do a lousy job at these functions, the messaging is wrong for our deep well of restaurant customers. Our customers appreciate value, and that is one of the ingredients in the experience BT provides. But if focus on price, they just blink stupidly. Correspondingly, if we use price to attract customers to Pi and hopefully expose them to BT, are not unlikely to get folks who wouldn’t place much value on the restaurant experience we offer, and are likely to grimace at the cost.

Bethany’s Table Steps In

We erred when we decided to keep Pi out of the restaurant. We were also mistaken when we slow-rolled Pi’s diverse menu and didn’t supercharge the cuisine with BT’s stamp. Meanwhile, a slow lunch business (at both outlets) was draining our vital juices. An abrupt change in staffing (some kids get so cranky when they don’t get their way) caused me to ‘too quickly’ pull the plug on BT’s lunch, in favor of Pi.

Now the lunch is branded ‘Bethany’s Table Lunch by Radii Pi’. Sit down attended service is available, as is counter service. The bar is open. We staff the pantry station early with Carlos, our lifetime day chef, and he cooks the pasta, soups and makes the salads to go with the pizzas prepared by Pi. The new system allows us to coordinate between the two kitchens for timing.

It also allows us sell pastas and pizza in-house during the day from the Pi menu (in-house, takeout and delivery), but then it enables us to put Bethany’s Table’s menu up for takeout and delivery in the evening and to coordinate a Chicken Marsala with a Pepperoni Pizza. Salads and pasta are made to order throughout the day.

There are so many little changes that it has been difficult to get all the details squared away on the fly. I plan to run a ‘Forgive and Inform’ promotion with BT customers. I want them to ‘TryItFor10’ with a 10% discount, followed by a 20% discount on their next order as a reward for telling us about their ordering and dining experience, whether for takeout or delivery.

Pi’s full list of pizzas are now available in the restaurant. Slices are available during happy hour.

Think good thoughts!

David

Your Partner code this month is:

 The new link to order is: Order Here