The franchise team down at Coffee Club’s Montague Road HQ must sometimes wonder what some of their franchisees are thinking…

An iconic institution, with one of the most effective marketing tag lines ever; “Where will I meet you?” the Coffee Club is sadly sinking into a morass of ordinariness. Unspectacular coffee and a very tired menu is causing Brisbanites to find new and different venues for their social and business meetings. I’m really tired of lemon pepper Calamari with chips…

I should add that the search is generally in vain as there are few good coffee shops in Brisbane but that’s another story.

Anyway, back to Station Road, and why they must be pulling their hair out.

The darn place is never open. No kidding, 4pm (some days even earlier) and stumps are pulled. Play is over. Saturday afternoon, Sunday, drive past in the afternoon and it’s closed. Meet me at the Coffee Club in Station Road? No, they’re probably going to be closed. Try the two café’s across the road instead. Individual, eclectic, owners who really try to make it a great experience,

People do eat out in the evening around Indooroopilly. There are several venues open along the Station Road strip; starting at the top, there’s the Pig ‘n Whistle, several café’s and Asian venues and at the bottom, The Inrda pub, more café’s and the ice creamery. Across the railway line, there’s also Castelli’s and on the way up to the roundabout, McDonalds and at the roundabout, KFC, Noodle Box and Pizzas. Surely it’s not lack of available trade that causes the Coffee Club to close at 4pm?

Imagine if the Mac Café decided to close at 4pm every day? What would the Franchisor do or say? Methinks there would be some pretty heavy discussions and some very direct talking.

Guys, you’re becoming complacent. Inconsistent opening times across the chain, failing service standards and tired menus. You have an iconic brand and you’re resting on your laurels. Beware the Gatling Gun as your army fight it out in the trenches with swords and pitchforks. The Gatling Gun?

The Gatling Gun effect is a term I coined some years ago to describe the impact of an unexpected fleet-footed, savvy, aggressive competitor in your comfortable marketplace.

McDonalds had to change their offerings to compete with Subway. They had to change their packaging when the public outcry about their eco-unfriendly boxes became too much. They reacted to the outcry caused by the movie “Supersize me”.

What has to happen to cause you to react, Coffee Club?

I don’t know why it is people think that because I’m into sales and marketing, I’m a “natural” target for network marketing opportunities.

Let me set the record straight for once and forever: if you’re even thinking about approaching me as either a prospect, or to do training or coaching for a network marketing business; sorry, I’m not your guy. (FYI, I do use the products of several MLM Companies, though!)

Thanks.

We’re very pleased to announce the launch of our latest project, Brisbane Business Blog where you will find hundreds of useful business articles on subjects including Change Management, Negotiation, PR, Presentation, Public Speaking, Strategic Planning, Team Building, Workplace Communications and more!

Keep your eyes on this site as we’re going to be adding heaps of great content over the coming weeks and months.Of special note will be our Expert Author articles…

Bookmark the site now at www.BrisbaneBusinessBlog.com

If you anything like me, you’re probably absolutely sick of the Australian Media talking down the economy.

I discussed this with someone last week and they took action by creating an online petition where both small business owners and individuals can register their discontent at the way the media is trying to make us all reign in the purse strings and go into financial hibernation. If everyone does that, we will have another recession and won’t the media love that! I can see the headline, “Official! Australia in Recession.”

Like you, I went through the Keating “Recession we had to have” in the 90’s. Never again. If Australian small business rallies and looks at how businesses survived the last recession, they will see that survival came about by implementing systems to make themselves sleeker and by spending money on marketing.

The same processes will always work.

Anyway I want to get back to the petition. I’ve signed it and I hope you will, too.

It’s here.

And once you’ve signed, please do me a favour and send the link to this site to your friends so they can read my message, too.

Thanks!