The Weather is devastating for business - but it could be worse!

Of the 9 businesses I currently look after only 3 are trading at anything like normal levels; the rest are open but with virtually no customers! ( I have to say also with no staff on duty also, just management holding the fort). I was planning to get my first e shots out this week but have held off as frankly I don't believe for a minute the offers are going to be anything like strong enough to tempt customers out in these conditions. I actually don't think giving it away with cash back would work at the moment. Therefore I 'm holding off and preparing messages for next weekend when I hope the market will be more responsive.

I feel it could be worse because frankly if we are going to have a slow couple of weeks they may as well be the worst two weeks of the year.

Frustratingly my marketing set up just isn't slick enough at the moment to be able to respond quickly on a day by day baisis. For instance where the roads to and from a Pub are clear and the Pub car park is clear it would be great to re-assure 500 customers that alls well and we'd love to see them.

In the meantime I am getting on with my marketing planning for the next three months and in particular I have been encouraging Valentines packages to be both bold on pricing and available for the entire weekend. Its been 6 or 7 years sicne the last time Valentines fell on a Sunday. Last time I can clearly remember the market faithfully turning up on the Sunday evening - this year I'm not so confident and fearful a great many will want to make use of their usual Saturday night out and save on the second dinner out! We'll see; but all menus are going to be available both nights.