Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for September 24, 2015
Transcript:
Gus: So, there's not much money in peddling vegetables. Who knew? Mary Lou: Well, I wanted to open a cafe, remember? Gus: Yes, the French bistro, a start-up restaurant out in the country. You're not losing money fast enough with the vegetables? Gus: It's important to start small, Lou! Mary Lou: So you keep telling us. Mary Lou: If we get much smaller, we'll disappear!
Boots at the Boar Premium Member about 9 years ago
Yeah. The only problem is that small is often not economically viable. “Go big or go home.”
moosemin about 9 years ago
While ignoring the above post, starting small is a much greater challenge today, as the biggies have firmly staked out their ground. Do Lou and Gene have a WEB site yet? Better get one kids, and make it attractive!
hawgowar about 9 years ago
Location, Location, Location,
If even a great little bistro is on a country road halfway between Hooterville and Bugtussle, it ain’t gonna do well.
We had a small family restaurant near my mostly rural area which had friendly staff and great food. It was our favorite place to eat, but there weren’t enough people to keep it in business and it folded after two years. The husband and wife owners couldn’t bring themselves to lower the food quality or be jerks to the employees about wages.
DDrazen about 9 years ago
To paraphrase an old joke: “How do you make a small fortune in the country? Come with a big fortune.”
A Hip loving Canadian... about 9 years ago
…and if you lose any more time (and money) you’ll go bankrupt.
Ermine Notyours about 9 years ago
How do you start a small business? Just start a big business, and wait.
gaebie about 9 years ago
Don’t they live in South Carolina? A French Bistro out in the country in South Carolina. Yea, the people out there will come in droves. Right..Better stick with the veggies.
paultunes about 9 years ago
as i recall from my Junior Achievement days the stats for any new businesses are pretty bad. 50% or better fail after a few years. the food industry is always dicey. she should know that having been in the biz. surprising Mary Lou would ask for help. she seems like the alpha type who will do her own thing whatever others say or think. lucky she found a beta like Gene to rule. he gets to raise somebody else’s kid and be bossed around by the kid’s mom.
gammaguy about 9 years ago
A little bistro serving food fresh from their own garden? Not guaranteed, but I know of more than one that has succeeded nicely and survived the test of time. Didn’t become a giant chain, nor earn enough to buy a yacht, but making enough to be comfortable and save for the future. None of this family seems addicted to masses of technology or bling, so I think they could be the right ones to make it work.