Firm closing

[Passing Time]

2 hours ago, jackwhite said:

What kind of business do you own?

Can you tell us about some instances where you have diversified said business in light of difficult trading conditions ahead?

What kind of diversification would you suggest for a restaurant?

I take very little notice of this clown jack - he trolls for a reaction. His posting style is very similar to that of someone who has been banned off here more times than I can remember for doing what he's doing now.

[Non-Believer]

1 hour ago, Blade Runner said:

As a SME you cant compete with IOMG departments playing at being businesses.

The Govt is a bit like the brewery in this respect.

It wants to be in everybody's business but its own.

[alpha-acid]

59 minutes ago, Non-Believer said:

The Govt is a bit like the brewery in this respect.

It wants to be in everybody's business but its own.

Which Brewery is that Guiness, Molson Coors, Heineken ?

[Non-Believer]

22 minutes ago, alpha-acid said:

Which Brewery is that Guiness, Molson Coors, Heineken ?

H&B

[BriT]

4 hours ago, 2112 said:

There are a lot of comments on the NPM Facebook page about this. Each to their own. I am assuming that if this firm is struggling financially then perhaps Tynpotwald members should buy something. After all didnt Rob Callister buy suits with his expenses? 

I’m not sure 24 Manx tartan ties is going to save them. 

[jackwhite]

14 hours ago, HiVibes said:

I own a business that was not given a penny in handouts as government decided my sector was not worth supporting and  Howard Quayle needed the money more.

We have survived through lock down by selling off equipment, furniture, vehicles, downsizing premises essentially becoming a skint start up again.  Losing all the baggage helped us change direction towards a market where we could see growing demand, same skills same business just a fresh approach. Had we been given a helping hand from government quite likely we would have just carried on as before, and our business would probably have slowly declined.

I have no interest or experience in owning a restaurant,  all I can say is Close Leece looked like an attempt to live life out of a Sunday supplement and was way too remote and 'piggy' for me, there are a few more like that trying to be what somone thinks is a cool lifestyle or vanity project rather than meeting a need. People are not going to stop going out and the places people want to go to will do just fine, why should we support businesses that should have made drastic changes or are not popular for good reason?

 

You possibly misunderstood my original question as you don't say what kind of trade the business is in.

It's all well and good being able to diversify but it's not possible for some trades. My question on restaurants is because these are one of those that it's not possible for.

I agree with what you're saying on Close Leece to be honest. I do actually think it wasn't that bad an idea but it's become obvious the last few years that spending was going to feel a pinch eventually with costs going up and luxury businesses, which is what I feel this is, would be the first hit. They could have shifted their offering or just seen the writing on the wall at that point. They have apparently struggled since the first lockdown, so it wouldn't be have been a surprise. I can certainly think of one such premises where it's an attempt at high end but the person running it has no idea what that looks like.

Let's take the new venture from the Front Porch guys as an example. Just to get your take on it. If you don't know their current offering it's a US themed bar with live music, alleged American cuisine (I wouldn't eat it but I believe plenty do) and it's rammed at the weekend. Sports on etc. Their latest venture seems to be aimed at a more sophisticated market. Small plates. Nice wines. They've brought in one of the advanced wine people from Wine Down as the manager. Would this fall into your definition of 'vanity project' or 'cool lifestyle' or do you think this will be a place 'people want to go'?

[Passing Time]

30 minutes ago, jackwhite said:

You possibly misunderstood my original question as you don't say what kind of trade the business is in.

It's all well and good being able to diversify but it's not possible for some trades. My question on restaurants is because these are one of those that it's not possible for.

I agree with what you're saying on Close Leece to be honest. I do actually think it wasn't that bad an idea but it's become obvious the last few years that spending was going to feel a pinch eventually with costs going up and luxury businesses, which is what I feel this is, would be the first hit. They could have shifted their offering or just seen the writing on the wall at that point. They have apparently struggled since the first lockdown, so it wouldn't be have been a surprise. I can certainly think of one such premises where it's an attempt at high end but the person running it has no idea what that looks like.

Let's take the new venture from the Front Porch guys as an example. Just to get your take on it. If you don't know their current offering it's a US themed bar with live music, alleged American cuisine (I wouldn't eat it but I believe plenty do) and it's rammed at the weekend. Sports on etc. Their latest venture seems to be aimed at a more sophisticated market. Small plates. Nice wines. They've brought in one of the advanced wine people from Wine Down as the manager. Would this fall into your definition of 'vanity project' or 'cool lifestyle' or do you think this will be a place 'people want to go'?

After the first lockdown, we tried a slight diversification with take away food. Problem was that we were still paying a rent with not many people dining in. Add to the cost the take away equipment, it was plain to see that we could not justify this for long. We then got ridiculous requests for deliveries and to be honest our standard of food was not produced for boxes. Thankfully, business is slowly picking up but still feel that government (UK and here) should look into VAT for food outlets

[HiVibes]

32 minutes ago, jackwhite said:

Let's take the new venture from the Front Porch guys as an example. Just to get your take on it. If you don't know their current offering it's a US themed bar with live music, alleged American cuisine (I wouldn't eat it but I believe plenty do) and it's rammed at the weekend. Sports on etc. Their latest venture seems to be aimed at a more sophisticated market. Small plates. Nice wines. They've brought in one of the advanced wine people from Wine Down as the manager. Would this fall into your definition of 'vanity project' or 'cool lifestyle' or do you think this will be a place 'people want to go'?

As I am not making a case for government funding, my sector is service based so yes I can get completly shafted and survive, but I don't think any sector should have special ongoing funding, and support should be means tested.

Personally the Front Porch clientelle and concept is not for me, though I think its great any business opening in this climate, I really like the concept of the greenhouse effect, whilst I feel uncomfortable with the wanky self description of 'a very instagramable urban-jungle vibe' that is the place I will meet people. I don't drink wine unless I am out for a proper meal, so the small plates and getting sloshed concept like the Front Porch is not for me, but I am sure it will be popular.

[jackwhite]

12 minutes ago, Passing Time said:

After the first lockdown, we tried a slight diversification with take away food. Problem was that we were still paying a rent with not many people dining in. Add to the cost the take away equipment, it was plain to see that we could not justify this for long. We then got ridiculous requests for deliveries and to be honest our standard of food was not produced for boxes. Thankfully, business is slowly picking up but still feel that government (UK and here) should look into VAT for food outlets

I know your business and I agree with everything you say there. 

Take the likes of Enzos and Wine Down in Douglas, the new Chris Franklin place in Peel, Versa down south, these places would be exactly the same. You also want a certain ambience when dining in these places. Plating it from a takeaway box at home is not what I want from that level of spend. These are all places I would have eaten, or would like to try. I don't see how these places can 'diversify'. The Filbeys have had their food van. I'm sure it's fine. Do I want to eat there having previously eaten at Filbeys? Absolutely not. 

In short, some businesses can diversify, others it's not an option.

[P.K.]

15 hours ago, HiVibes said:

I own a business that was not given a penny in handouts as government decided my sector was not worth supporting and  Howard Quayle needed the money more.

We have survived through lock down by selling off equipment, furniture, vehicles, downsizing premises essentially becoming a skint start up again.  Losing all the baggage helped us change direction towards a market where we could see growing demand, same skills same business just a fresh approach. Had we been given a helping hand from government quite likely we would have just carried on as before, and our business would probably have slowly declined.

I never realised doing a paper round was so complicated...

Edited August 24, 2022 by P.K.

[jackwhite]

2 minutes ago, HiVibes said:

As I am not making a case for government funding, my sector is service based so yes I can get completly shafted and survive, but I don't think any sector should have special ongoing funding, and support should be means tested.

Personally the Front Porch clientelle and concept is not for me, though I think its great any business opening in this climate, I really like the concept of the greenhouse effect, whilst I feel uncomfortable with the wanky self description of 'a very instagramable urban-jungle vibe' that is the place I will meet people. I don't drink wine unless I am out for a proper meal, so the small plates and getting sloshed concept like the Front Porch is not for me, but I am sure it will be popular.

Fair points.

It seems you two have some sort of issue but lets not allow it to cloud common sense. 

Businesses will fold but, as I've said before, it's probably obvious who these businesses are. I have one or two in mind immediately (I won't be naming) that I think will be fortunate to survive.

I've stated before and it's more or less the same as what you are saying. Any business which has a well thought out concept where there's a gap in the market, with good (preferably exceptional) customer service, has a fighting chance even in the current market conditions.

[The Old Git]

1 hour ago, Passing Time said:

and to be honest our standard of food was not produced for boxes.

I don’t know which business you are, but I had a delivery from one restaurant I like going to occasionally and the delivery food was bloody awful and nothing like you’d get in the restaurant. I didn’t bother with meal deliveries from them again. 

I found Wine Down meal deliveries quite good as you finish cooking them yourselves. I note they’re still doing meal deliveries. 

[MrGarrison]

18 hours ago, Passing Time said:

I take very little notice of this clown jack - he trolls for a reaction. His posting style is very similar to that of someone who has been banned off here more times than I can remember for doing what he's doing now.

You’re talking absolute bollocks again aren’t you. 

[thommo2010]

4 hours ago, jackwhite said:

You possibly misunderstood my original question as you don't say what kind of trade the business is in.

It's all well and good being able to diversify but it's not possible for some trades. My question on restaurants is because these are one of those that it's not possible for.

I agree with what you're saying on Close Leece to be honest. I do actually think it wasn't that bad an idea but it's become obvious the last few years that spending was going to feel a pinch eventually with costs going up and luxury businesses, which is what I feel this is, would be the first hit. They could have shifted their offering or just seen the writing on the wall at that point. They have apparently struggled since the first lockdown, so it wouldn't be have been a surprise. I can certainly think of one such premises where it's an attempt at high end but the person running it has no idea what that looks like.

Let's take the new venture from the Front Porch guys as an example. Just to get your take on it. If you don't know their current offering it's a US themed bar with live music, alleged American cuisine (I wouldn't eat it but I believe plenty do) and it's rammed at the weekend. Sports on etc. Their latest venture seems to be aimed at a more sophisticated market. Small plates. Nice wines. They've brought in one of the advanced wine people from Wine Down as the manager. Would this fall into your definition of 'vanity project' or 'cool lifestyle' or do you think this will be a place 'people want to go'?

The food in the front porch is very decent, obviously not somewhere you would go for an intimate meal but decent if you're having a pint and watching the sports

[jackwhite]

58 minutes ago, thommo2010 said:

The food in the front porch is very decent, obviously not somewhere you would go for an intimate meal but decent if you're having a pint and watching the sports

I've had it and don't agree but everyone has their own tastes.

I'm quite fussy when it comes to eating out here tbh so I wouldn't judge it solely on that.