As I sit here on a crisp Friday morning trying to collect and organize my thoughts for this very blog I have quickly realized that I can’t. I have some random thoughts going through my head about menu boards, drive-thrus, digital menu boards, and design but I cannot seem to put together enough about any one of them to write an entire blog about it. So what is a guy to do? (Insert light bulb over my head.) I have decided that this week I am going to touch on an array of unrelated topics. I think this should turn out to be useful information, but I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see. Here goes nothing…
Random Menu Board Thoughts
January 11, 2013 By Origin Display Group
Filed Under: Digital Menu Boards, Display Fixtures, Drive-thru Menu Boards, Menu Boards
10 Ways to Increase Your Bottom Line in 2013
January 3, 2013 By Origin Display Group
2013 is upon us; the time of year where people analyze their lives and make resolutions. People become reinvigorated and a sense of motivation fills the air… for about a week. As for businesses, many take the New Year to take a look at the past and plan for the future. Here at Origin Displays we have our own laundry list of items to tackle in hopes of reaching that allusive “next level.” One of our habits that we agreed to continue was our blogging. Not only do we enjoy passing along our knowledge to our readers but it also forces us to stay on top of the industry, keeping us keenly aware.
Filed Under: Digital Menu Boards, Display Fixtures, Drive-thru Menu Boards, Industry News, Menu Boards
Year End Industry News
December 26, 2012 By Origin Display Group
With us all but ready to tie the bow on another year, I thought I would scour the Internet looking for interesting articles to get the expert’s take on 2012 and what they expect in 2013. In fairness, it didn’t take too long to find four articles that I found compelling and definitely worth the read. If you have read any of my blogs by now then you already know they are very opinion based (what a blog is in its essence). Anyways, we all form our opinions in a variety of ways and I challenge you to read these articles and take a stance on what the “experts” are projecting. Do you agree? Disagree? Do you have something to add? Let us know!
Filed Under: Digital Menu Boards, Display Fixtures, Drive-thru Menu Boards, Industry News, Menu Boards
What We Saw In 2012
December 19, 2012 By Origin Display Group
For the second year in a row our team here at Origin Displays sat down last week and talked about 2012. What trends did we see? Where did we make our biggest strides? Where can we improve? What markets are we missing out on? What products can we develop? What other markets can we penetrate? These are just a small sampling of the questions we addressed during our full-day, off-campus meeting. We had a couple members of our sales team, a representative of Operations, our Administrator and general leadership as part of the conversation to make it as well rounded as possible. The result was similar to last year; eye opening for some, some differing in opinion, but the most overwhelming feeling was a sense of excitement as we stare down 2013. Many of the details of the meeting are business related and would be of no interest to you, but some of the trends we saw were interesting and are worth keeping an eye on.
Filed Under: Digital Menu Boards, Display Fixtures, Drive-thru Menu Boards, Industry News, Menu Boards
Ways to Improve Your Drive-thru – Part 4
December 12, 2012 By Origin Display Group
Today we wrap up our installments addressing Daniel P. Smith’s “100 Ways to Improve Your Drive Thru.” Last week the entire list was focused on technology. Reading it back, it did seem to get a little bit repetitive. There was a lot of talk about speakers and timers. This week we take a look at Daniel’s thoughts on the operations and design side of the drive-thru. These are two much more general categories that should offer a greater deal of interest (for both me and you).
Filed Under: Drive-thru Menu Boards
Ways to Improve Your Drive-thru – Part 3
December 6, 2012 By Origin Display Group
This week takes us through 51-75 of Daniel P. Smith’s “100 Ways to Improve Your Drive Thru.” If you have read the first couple of installments then you know that our opinion differs with Mr. Smith on a number of issues. However, for the most part, we agreed with the majority and simply offered some additional insights on some of his points. Let’s see what this week has in store.
Filed Under: Drive-thru Menu Boards
Ways to Improve Your Drive-thru – Part 2
November 28, 2012 By Origin Display Group
Last week I gave you my thoughts on #1-25 of Daniel Smith’s article “100 Ways to Improve Your Drive Thru.” This week I’ll take a look at #25-50. Similar to the first batch, there are certain suggestions that I don’t agree with. However, my opinion is merely that. Going through each item and being able to think about how it would affect your given location is what is most important. So take a read and let me know your thoughts.
Filed Under: Drive-thru Menu Boards
Ways to Improve Your Drive-thru – Part 1
November 21, 2012 By Origin Display Group
Just over a year ago in October of 2011, QSR Magazine published an article by Daniel P. Smith titled “100 Ways to Improve Your Drive Thru.” For the most part he has some insights that, if instituted, will surely improve your drive-thru operation. On the other hand, there are some head scratchers as well. In this first part of a four-part series, I am going to delve into numbers 1-25 and give you my expanded take on each item.
Filed Under: Drive-thru Menu Boards
Your Menu Board Questions Answered!
October 12, 2012 By Origin Display Group
As the days go by, and conversations are had, I have taken notice of some of the common questions that I get asked. I thought it may be useful to address some of them this week. The reason is two-fold. For one, they are more eloquently answered in written form and two, it can provide as a soundboard for questions that others are asking but what you may have yet to think about. A couple of notes to consider before reading the Q&A:
- For the most part, the questions are written in a formal way than how they are actually asked.
- Some of the questions aren’t actually stated, but insinuated through conversations. Put another way, they are questions that people are asking themselves.
Filed Under: Digital Menu Boards, Display Fixtures, Drive-thru Menu Boards, Menu Boards
What a Fully Functional Drive-Thru Looks Like
August 29, 2012 By Origin Display Group
Depending on what you read or who you talk to, the amount of quick-service traffic that is funneled through the drive-thru tends to range between 60 and 70%. Even if on the low end (60%) we are talking about some significant numbers. The reason for this is one part convenience and another part laziness, however, the way it should be interpreted is that the majority of QSR customers prefer to use the drive-thru. Shed in another light, to enhance customer satisfaction, put a drive-thru up at your location. In addition, drive-thrus grab you sales that you would otherwise not get; the mother with 3 young kids in the car, the unseasonable cold weather, the unattractive wardrobe someone’s rocking, or whatever it may be, a drive-thru dissipates any and all of these types of concerns.
Filed Under: Drive-thru Menu Boards
