Some days experience brings us face to face with a worthwhile lesson even when we’re not out “digging for dirt.” This recently happened to me when I was browsing the SmokeRing forums and came across a very sad thread. The story of a victim of bad customer service. This poor guy had purchased a smoker from one of our most popular competitors, but he was having a terrible time communicating with the pit maker. Finally, he got so tired of waiting, he asked for a refund. Even then the company was not keeping their word, and the last I heard, he was about to get a lawyer.

Of course, I haven’t validated whether all the details of this story are true, but it certainly seems authentic. Either way, this story is terrible for the brand.

In small business the stories people tell and how your market perceive you is your brand. If you were Pepsi or Nascar, you could afford to spend millions on a 30-second commercial, but you’re not. Build your brand by creating a good experience with your market, the people you are targeting in business.

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A few months ago I asked my wife for a snack and she walked into my office with the plate above. Believe me, it really filled my tanks (food tank and love tank). It was a DELICIOUS example of how to combine two or three favorite foods to make a taste explosion.

When it comes to snacking, these are some of my favorites: crackers and cheese ball (or cheese), peanuts and/or chocolate, old-fashioned popcorn with about three different seasonings on it, and so on. You get the idea.

Now add barbecue to the mix. Sliced cheese and low ‘n slow chicken breast on a good ole club cracker. That’s where the explosion happens. Does snacking get any better than this?

Share your snack ideas with a comment below.

Have fun,

Lavern

I’m having a hard time staying ahead of the curve here on my blog. I wanted to post some Father’s Day gift ideas and Father’s Day recipe suggestions, but the time came and went. Still no blog post.

But hey, perhaps you can relate and this makes you feel at home. 🙂 You know, sometimes we get behind the times and just need a little permission to be late.

Father’s Day is very special to me because I have a dad I am very proud of and I have the blessing and honor of being a Daddy to three very sweet children.

Maybe you are a tough barbecue dude and that sounds a bit too mushy for you. But I think we all have a soft spot in our hearts for children.

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In a recent post, I talked about the importance of good planning when you’re cooking for a crowd. Maybe I am a bit imbalanced since I always like to have my chickens lined up, but I think my concerns were valid.

Today I want to move on to my second tip on cooking for a crowd: using decent equipment.

So you are interested in catering for money, fund-raising for non-profits, or being the honored chef at family gatherings, graduation parties, church picnics, or some sort of crowd setting. You are serious about cooking and don’t mind investing in your dream. A good smoker or grill is a solid investment and the best way to achieve your goals.

When it comes to the equipment, here is what you need to think about:

1. Size of cooking space/amount of output.
2. Ease of use.
3. Ease of cleanup.
4. Lifetime value for your investment.

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All of true meaning in life revolves around relationships. There are many types of relationships, but in this blog post, I am thinking of relationships in business. People love to do business with real people, not “faceless” corporations. Your market is waiting to lavish loyalty on you and your brand if you will only earn it.

Market loyalty is one of the keys to growing a small business on a low budget. It’s how you can attract more customers, get your customers to buy more often, and make your customers spend more when they buy from you.

There are plenty of advertising and lead generation strategies that hardly give you any return on your investment, or at least require careful tracking. You can easily lose your shirt if you’re not careful. But when you sincerely invest in building relationships with your market through free gifts, events, or coaching, it’s just hard to go wrong.

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Before you invest lots of money in equipment, you should ask yourself, Will I be able to get replacement parts? Where will I turn if I need service? It’s good to think about future support in case you lose a cooking grate or can’t get your rig up to temperature.

Meadow Creek is an example of a thriving, advancing brand. They are constantly looking for ways to improve their equipment, and Melvin (the owner at Meadow Creek) is always there to help resolve problems, such as freight damage and other unfortunate situations.

Beyond the changes I mention in this blog post, Meadow Creek is already working on more changes, such as better paint and solid rubber tires for the small models.

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