Delegates from NJ Attend the 2008 National Restaurant Association Public Affairs Conference

NRA Update: Restaurant Depreciation Victory! As you know, Congress passed and the President signed the Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 on October 3, 2008. In addition to provisions to stabilize the financial markets, the legislation included tax extension relief for businesses. In a major victory for the restaurant industry, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 legislates a 15-year depreciation schedule for new restaurant construction in 2009. In addition it extends the 15-year schedule for restaurant improvements in 2008 and 2009. (The provision also includes extension for leasehold improvements in 2008 and 2009, and owned retail building improvements at 15 years for 2009 as well). For many years, NRA has fought for changes to the tax code to treat new restaurant construction and improvements similarly, and now we have achieved a 1 year provision. Now that new construction has been included in tax extenders, it sets the precedent to be extended as an existing tax policy, and not a new provision in future years. Although we will need to work hard to keep this provision, we are hopeful we can build upon this 1-year provision. ...
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Developing Guest Loyalty-Connecting Emotionally to the Guest John L. Avella, President of EQ International Perspectives Inc Guest loyalty should be the outcome of every Guest interaction. Creating a unique, emotionally “Connected” experience for every Guest should be your goal. “To be competitive in today’s global and every changing economy, businesses need to produce a distinctive, personal and emotional experience for each of their Customers” (Barlow and Maul, 2000). In this world of mediocre service how great would it be to have your Guest service providers create a distinct and emotional experience for every single Guest? Based on creating these types of experiences, you will enjoy Guests who always come back and create a lifetime income stream for your restaurant. This is Guest loyalty and loyalty can be your restaurant’s powerful and profitable strategic advantage over your competition. Why Guest Loyalty? Isn’t Guest satisfaction good enough? According to Jeffrey Gitomer,(1998) “Satisfaction is no longer the acceptable standard of Customer service, The standard and measure of success for the next millennium is loyal Customers” . ...
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GIFT CARDS AND GIFT CERTIFICATES BY: Sharmila D. Iazzetti, Esq. Mandelbaum Salsburg, PC Recently, a NJRA member questioned whether there were any restrictions regarding expiration dates on gift cards or gift certificates that he issues to his patrons. His concern was that some patrons have presented gift certificates that are over eight years old and have received full value for those certificates. He would like to impose an expiration date for his gift certificates to his establishment and wanted to know what he is legally entitled to do. In April 2006, New Jersey amended the Gift Card Act, to address anger being expressed from gift card recipients who learned that their gift cards had either expired or were significantly discounted due to dormancy fees. Under the amended Gift Card Act, N.J.S.A. ...
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EXPANSION OF THE DRAM SHOP ACT BY: SHARMILA D. IAZZETTI, ESQ. OF MANDELBAUM SALSBURG, PC The New Jersey Licensed Alcoholic Beverage Server Fair Liability Act, N.J.S.A. 2A:22A-1 et. seq., also known as the Dram Shop Act, was originally intended to protect the general public from the hazards of irresponsibly serving alcohol to minors and intoxicated patrons. “Dram shop liability” refers to the responsibility of the tavern, restaurant or other business that sells or gives the alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person or a minor who then causes harm to another. The Dram Shop Act can be an effective tool in preventing drunk driving. A recent New Jersey Court ruling, however, has arguably extended the impact of the Dram Shop Act. On March 20, 2008, the New Jersey Appellate Court issued a decision regarding the case of Bauer v. Nesbitt and the C View Inn. The case was on appeal from a summary judgment motion. The opinion indicates that summary judgment should be reversed and the case should be allowed to proceed to trial. The issues before the court were whether either the Dram Shop Act or common law negligence could apply to the C View Inn. ...
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Protect Your Customers: Information that Should — and Should Not — be Included on Electronically Printed Receipts Effective October 1, MasterCard mandates that electronically printed merchant receipts must omit the card expiration date. By P. Gayle Hoskinson Interchange and Compliance Manager — Heartland Payment Systems When accepting payments by credit or debit card, protecting your customer's personal information is essential for reducing fraud. One way to do this is limiting the amount of cardholder information that appears on electronically printed receipts. In fact, many organizations — including credit card companies and the federal government — have mandates governing the amount and type of cardholder information than can appear on these receipts. Compliance with these guidelines protects your customers and your business — and helps you avoid costly non-compliance fines. ...
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National Restaurant Association 2008 Public Affairs Conference Brings Record-Breaking Number of Industry Leaders to Washington, D.C. More than 700 restaurateurs expected to meet with lawmakers about food prices, card-check, nutrition information and other key industry issues - NJ has 21 attendees this year (Washington, DC) – The National Restaurant Association is expecting record-breaking attendance at this year's 2008 Public Affairs Conference to be held September 23-24 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C. In this critical election year, more than 700 restaurant industry grassroots leaders will converge in the nation’s capitol to meet with their members of Congress to discuss issues affecting their businesses, including rising food prices, union card-check, and nutrition information. With sales reaching $558 billion this year and a workforce of 13.1 million, the restaurant industry is a major driver in both national and local economies, and plays an essential role in the lives of millions of Americans every day. ...
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NJRA & Fishbowl Present: The Competitive Edge Series… “Five ways to market your restaurant locally” Integrating your business with your local community is an easy and fun way to increase your restaurant's sales. Find out how to effectively market your restaurant locally at Fishbowl's free email marketing webinar on October 2 at 3pm for New Jersey Restaurant Association members. Fishbowl is the leader in permission-based email marketing for the restaurant industry. The New Jersey Restaurant Association has joined the National Restaurant Association in partnering with Fishbowl to bring its email marketing solution to you as a discounted member benefit. During this brief, virtual webinar, Fishbowl will share 5 easy ways you can market your restaurant in your community and help your restaurant stand out. Fishbowl will provide you with tips and tricks to gain a local presence and keep your customers coming back in the door. Don't miss this customer traffic-building opportunity from the convenience of your office.

Contact: L. Kalinich
Click Here to Register!

NEW JERSEY RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES TICKETS ARE SELLING FOR THE UPCOMING AWARDS GALA Tickets are on-sale for the Gold Plate & 2008 Restaurateur of the Year Awards Gala Dinner Dance taking place November 24, 2008 at the Hyatt Regency Jersey City in Jersey City, NJ. The New Jersey Restaurant Association invites you to this spectacular black-tie culinary event featuring a magnificent view of the Statue Liberty and New York Skyline. The cost of the tickets is $195 per person and can easily be ordered by calling the NJRA at 800.848.6368. Jimmy Thornton of The Grand Summit Hotel and NJRA Awards Gala Chairman said this Awards Gala is honoring the best of the best. Additionally Jimmy Thornton remarked that this event is so popular reservations should be made now by calling NJRA at 800.848.6368. This is one night everyone should be at Hyatt Regency Jersey City. . Chef Catherine Kearney, Executive Chef at the Hyatt Regency Jersey City, has indicated that she and her staff are excited and looking forward to preparing for this Grand Reception and Gourmet Dinner. ...
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Business Owners: Don't Pay Usurious Rates For Working Capital Funds! Heartland Payment Systems Partners With Encore LLC To Offer Merchant Funding Heartland Payment Systems, a leading provider of credit/debit/prepaid card processing, payroll and payment services, has signed an exclusive agreement with Encore LLC, a private lending company specializing in the hospitality industry. The two companies will partner to offer qualified Heartland customers alternative working capital funding with guaranteed annual percentage rates (APR) not to exceed 30%. This offering provides business owners — who are routinely charged annual percentage rates of 80-100% or greater for other non-traditional funding and cash advances — with more reasonable rates for working capital monies to improve or expand their businesses, increase staffing or acquire additional inventory. Heartland is offering this service as a value added product to qualified customers to help them improve their businesses. Heartland will not receive any compensation from customers that purchase these working capital funding products. For more information, call an Encore representative at 877.302.0280 or visit www.encorefirst.com. Heartland Payment Systems is proudly supported by the New Jersey Restaurant Association for credit/debit/prepaid card processing services and payroll.

WHY LOCALLY GROWN? Buying high quality local and seasonal agricultural products is probably the only wide-spread culinary trend or style that has always been ¡§in fashion¡¨. It is in a restaurateur¡¦s best interests to convince prospective patrons of the quality of their food. Nationally, consumers patronize restaurants that source locally. This trend should especially apply in a state where the Jersey Fresh program has been so successful and well known for over two decades. „«„QƒnA major facet of a successful restaurant is the development and promotion of their seasonal menus. With the restaurant industry having a high mortality rate, intelligent restaurateurs are always seeking niche markets to exploit for exposure and ultimate business success. There is very little in the restaurant marketing that hasn¡¦t been tried before and successful restaurateurs borrow and emulate others successes. Restaurateurs are always looking for marketing that could work for them, and the promotion of Jersey Fresh seasonal menus could work very well. ...
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