A NEW SURVEY REVEALED HALF OF
ALL BUSINESSES ARE HALTING
HIRING.
WITH ME THE OWNER OF THE CHATEAU
IN UPSTATE NEW YORK.
WHAT’S THE STATE OF PLAY FOR
YOU?
>> IT’S A TALE OF TWO STATES FOR
US.
THE EMPLOYEE ISSUE IS A NATIONAL
ISSUE CREATED BY FEDERAL
PROGRAMS.
THOUSAND WE HAVE AN INFLATIONARY
ENVIRONMENT.
NEW YORK IS LAGGING BEHIND OUR
FLORIDA BUSINESSES.
TRAFFIC IS DOWN 50%.
HOW DO YOU HIRE AND BILL YOUR
STAFF IF YOU DON’T KNOW IF
CUSTOMERS ARE COMING AND YOU
HAVE AN INFLATIONARY PERIOD ON
TOP OF THAT.
BRIAN: WE LOVE GOING OUT TO EAT.
WE LOVE THE FACT THAT
RESTAURANTS ARE OPEN AND TRYING
TO SERVICE.
BUT THE PRICES ARE SO HIGH AND
THE SERVICE IS ALMOST ALWAYS
WAY, WAY SLOWER THAN ANYTHING WE
HAVE HAD IN THE PAST.
WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM YOUR
CUSTOMERS?
>> MOST OF THEM UNDERSTAND.
A FEW HAVE HIGHER EXPECTATIONS
WHO DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON
IN TERMS OF OUR WORKFORCE.
OUR WORKFORCE IS YOUNGER.
THEY REQUIRE MORE TRAINING.
BUT MANAGEMENT INFLATION,
WATCHING YOUR INVENTORY ON A
DAILY BASIS BECAUSE OF PRICE
FLUCTUATING EVERY DAY.
YOU HAVE GOT TO MANAGE AND TRAIN
A YOUNG STAFF THAT’S BACK TO
WORK THAT’S A LOT YOUNGER THAN
PREPANDEMIC.
WE TELL OUR CUSTOMERS, WE
APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE.
WE ARE HIRING YOUNG PEOPLE.
BRIAN: THERE IS A LOT OF TALK
ABOUT WHETHER WE ARE IN A
RECESSION OR HEADING IN A
RECESSION.
BUDDY, YOU ARE AN ECONOMIST, YOU
RUN YOUR RESTAURANT, YOU ARE A
PRACTICAL ECONOMIST.
WE MIGHT BE AT A NEGATIVE
INFLECTION POINT HERE.
HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU ABOUT
THAT?
AND IS IT CHANGE WHAT YOU HAVE
AHEAD IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS.
WE HAVE FLORIDA NUMBER TWO IN
SARASOTA.
WE ARE BEHIND BECAUSE OF THE
SUPPLY CHAIN, WINDOWS.
WE ARE OPENING THAT NOVEMBER 4.
THAT CAT IS OUT OF THE BAG.
WE ARE NEGOTIATING FOR A THIRD
LOCATION AND WE ARE NERVOUS.
WE MAY SLOW DOWN OUR EXPANSION
PLANS BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE ARE
HEADING INTO INFLATIONARY TIMES.
AND WHEN YOU CAN’T GET A STEAK
OR POTATO, WHAT WILL YOU PAY FOR
IT.
INFLATION IS THE CONVERSATION.
BUT WE ARE STARTING TO SEE A
SUPPLY SIDE ISSUE BECAUSE OF
LABOR.
WE ARE PRODUCERS AND AS MORE
ORGANIC PRODUCERS ARE DOING, IS
CUTTING BACK ON PRODUCTION.
HOW DO WE PAY OUR BILLS AND
MANAGE THE POST PANDEMIC REALLY
CRISIS.
BRIAN: THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
IS OUT THERE SAYING THE PICTURE
IS BETTER THAN YOU THINK, IT’S
ROSIER THAN YOU THINK.
ARE THERE ANY BRIGHT SPOTS?
WE GOT RIGHT POLICIES, THE RIGHT
LEADERSHIP.
YOU CAN SEE A BETTER FUTURE
AHEAD FOR YOU AND OTHER SMALL
BUSINESSES?
>> I SAY YES BECAUSE OF FLORIDA.
IF I CAN’T HAVE ANY FLORIDA
EXPERIENCE, I WOULD BE VERY
NERVOUS.
FLORIDA IS SUPPOSED TO BE A
SEASONAL SUMMER BUSINESS WHERE
WE DECLINE IN BUSINESS.
WE ARE NOT SEEING THAT.
PROFESSIONALS ARE GETTING BACK
TO WORK.
WE HAVE A NEW GENERAL MANAGER,
NEW KITCHEN MANAGEMENT.
SO FLORIDA GIVES ME HOPE THAT
WITH THE RIGHT POLICIES, WITH
THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP, WE CAN GET
NATIONALLY, WE CAN GET THIS
BACK.
BUT I DON’T SEE THAT HAPPENING
ANYTIME SOON IN THE BLUE STATES.
BRIAN: BUDDY, I WISH THE BEST