Having been in this industry longer than most of you reading this have been alive, I can assure you that we are all in a wonderful space and time.
All of us who have the privilege and pleasure of passing through our precious time on this earth in foodservice must capitalize on the undeniable window of opportunity that currently exists in spite of a slight hiccup in February.
Gas prices are down and disposable income is up, and guess where much of it is spent…? Yes, dining out! Sitting in a fine steakhouse recently hearing the bottles of wine being uncorked all over the place at a 400% markup was music to my ears.
Have you looked at hotel occupancy rates? (currently at a record high here in Chicago!) Try and get a room for NRA.
My phone is currently ringing off the hook. I could place 20 foodservice kitchen/facility designers immediately. That tells you dealers, etc., are slammed with openings and remodels.
In my company getting business is like falling off a log, it’s the inventory of super stars that is challenging. Super stars that are prepared to work long hours (does anyone work any less in this business?) exploiting their competitor’s weaknesses and causing disruption with great value propositions. I really cannot imagine what excuses sales executives can possibly dream up for not exceeding plan, and I’ve heard them all.
What a phenomenal time for owners, senior officers and other hiring managers to be bringing new young talent into our industry. I say bring them on. There is no place like foodservice to have fun, camaraderie and incidentally enjoy a very satisfying lifestyle.
If you are a market maker and feel that for some reason you are missing out, you had better take control of your destiny now as the express train that we are all on will inevitably slow down and many passengers will have to get out carrying their own baggage.
My message is loud and clear, we have recently worked till we dropped at the greatest foodservice equipment and supply show on this earth – NAFEM, and the thrill and excitement of NRA here in Chicago is just around the corner. Our time in the sun is now in the foodservice supply industry.
Mike Hawkins is a top recruiter in the hospitality tabletop industry. He can be reached at mikehawkins@mjhawkinsinc.com
Editors note:
We have been saying for some time now that this is simply the most exciting time in hospitality tabletop that we have seen in perhaps our entire career. So, we definitely echo Mike’s sentiments. We will write more on this topic soon, but Mike is quite correct….now, not two years from now…but now…is our time in the sun.
May it shine forever.
