Hello.
Website manager speaking to YOU!!!
I do my best to keep the GMV website constantly updated with news from the licensed trade and drinks industry.
To ensure this is done competently covering the subjects and other matters that are important to you and your business I require that you comment on the content of the site. It is the only way in which I can be made aware of whether I am achieving my aims and satisfying your perceived requirements.
Becoming a blogger is a very easy process, simply go to the website and click on BLOG and you will be guided through the procedure.
I need your comments to ensure that the widest possible range of matters are covered on the site.
The site is now widely referred to by the media, national companies and others interested in the licensed trade. We also have enquiries from other countries demonstrating the wide appeal of the GMV website.
So come on, let me hear from you.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Complacency among Licensees
The majority of forecasts indicate poor trading for 2009. Do not expect much assistance, if any, from Government. Pubcos and brewers appear reluctant to be the cavalry and ‘ride to the rescue’ of the lessee/tenant.
What to do? Sitting and doing nothing is most definitely not an option. Yet increasingly I am concerned to see licensees doing just that.
Worrying about a problem will not solve it, firm action will. The need to reverse the presumed lack of trade in 2009 is paramount but will only be achieved by hard work, innovative ideas and an acceptance by licensees that the business model needs to be changed. Acceptance that the British pub has changed in so many aspects and will never return to what it was is the first major step in remodelling your business.
Licensees must look at their trading areas and try to spot if they are missing potential opportunities. To say provide a greater level of catering is, in my opinion, too simple. That’s not to say it would not be financially viable for some pubs, but the majority of smaller pubs would be unlikely to make substantial financial gains.
Perhaps some pubs need to move away from the traditional business trading method. Accept an earlier opening time, the big players are doing it and have increased turnover. Are your premises located where the supply of a breakfast catering service would increase income?. If there are no pizzerias in your immediate area how about supplying that service including home delivery? Pizzas provide one of the largest catering markets in the UK today.
The point I make is that there are opportunities out there but they have to be identified and worked at.
Do you believe your rent to be too high? A telephone call to head office or a mention to your BDM is unlikely to achieve much. Hard work will. Present your case in a professional manner to your landlord with supporting evidence, in particular from your accountant, to give yourself the best chance of winning a reduction. Anything less than a properly presented case is unlikely to bring results. Bear in mind landlords have an obligation to also return a annual profit, both to survive as a company and to satisfy their shareholders. They will not be prepared, without a fight, to forfeit income that helps you return to profit but sends them into liquidation.
What changes, if any, have taken place in your trading area? Stores, factories, offices closed down. Are they such that a cut in business rates may be achievable? Thinking about it will not help, research and hard work will.
Is that live entertainment really covering its costs? I know of a smallish pub paying £540 in entertainment costs over two nights and yet it is blatantly obvious, from simply standing in the premises, it is losing him money. I would estimate the licensee could achieve similar trading results with 50% less income on those nights, but without the band.
Staffing during poor trading periods will always lead to unnecessary expenditure, can that expense be reduced?
Reductions achieved in outgoings transposes into increased profits even with decreased income.
I may be opening a can of worms by appearing to be stating the obvious, but from my work I see too many licensees who do not appear to appreciate that only a big effort on their part will improve their business, complacency will not.
What to do? Sitting and doing nothing is most definitely not an option. Yet increasingly I am concerned to see licensees doing just that.
Worrying about a problem will not solve it, firm action will. The need to reverse the presumed lack of trade in 2009 is paramount but will only be achieved by hard work, innovative ideas and an acceptance by licensees that the business model needs to be changed. Acceptance that the British pub has changed in so many aspects and will never return to what it was is the first major step in remodelling your business.
Licensees must look at their trading areas and try to spot if they are missing potential opportunities. To say provide a greater level of catering is, in my opinion, too simple. That’s not to say it would not be financially viable for some pubs, but the majority of smaller pubs would be unlikely to make substantial financial gains.
Perhaps some pubs need to move away from the traditional business trading method. Accept an earlier opening time, the big players are doing it and have increased turnover. Are your premises located where the supply of a breakfast catering service would increase income?. If there are no pizzerias in your immediate area how about supplying that service including home delivery? Pizzas provide one of the largest catering markets in the UK today.
The point I make is that there are opportunities out there but they have to be identified and worked at.
Do you believe your rent to be too high? A telephone call to head office or a mention to your BDM is unlikely to achieve much. Hard work will. Present your case in a professional manner to your landlord with supporting evidence, in particular from your accountant, to give yourself the best chance of winning a reduction. Anything less than a properly presented case is unlikely to bring results. Bear in mind landlords have an obligation to also return a annual profit, both to survive as a company and to satisfy their shareholders. They will not be prepared, without a fight, to forfeit income that helps you return to profit but sends them into liquidation.
What changes, if any, have taken place in your trading area? Stores, factories, offices closed down. Are they such that a cut in business rates may be achievable? Thinking about it will not help, research and hard work will.
Is that live entertainment really covering its costs? I know of a smallish pub paying £540 in entertainment costs over two nights and yet it is blatantly obvious, from simply standing in the premises, it is losing him money. I would estimate the licensee could achieve similar trading results with 50% less income on those nights, but without the band.
Staffing during poor trading periods will always lead to unnecessary expenditure, can that expense be reduced?
Reductions achieved in outgoings transposes into increased profits even with decreased income.
I may be opening a can of worms by appearing to be stating the obvious, but from my work I see too many licensees who do not appear to appreciate that only a big effort on their part will improve their business, complacency will not.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Bureaucracy in the Trade
Hello All.
As editor of the GMV's magazine I have decided to do some articles on the unnecessary bureaucracy contained in the Licensing Act 2003. We all keeping moaning about it so I thought I would take up the cudgels and see just what the thoughts of grass root licensees are. Hopefully we can get something done, almost certainly in the long term but we have to start somewhere.
I realise that complaining is not enough, we have to be prepared to think the matter through and argue our case constructively in order to gain some ground. So I need your thoughts to ensure that those sections of the Act you believe to be simply useless red tape are attacked first.
Look at BLOG ' Bureaucracy in the Licensed Trade' - Monday 26th May 2008
Look forward to hearing from you.
Joe O'Riordan
Editor - The GMV magazine
As editor of the GMV's magazine I have decided to do some articles on the unnecessary bureaucracy contained in the Licensing Act 2003. We all keeping moaning about it so I thought I would take up the cudgels and see just what the thoughts of grass root licensees are. Hopefully we can get something done, almost certainly in the long term but we have to start somewhere.
I realise that complaining is not enough, we have to be prepared to think the matter through and argue our case constructively in order to gain some ground. So I need your thoughts to ensure that those sections of the Act you believe to be simply useless red tape are attacked first.
Look at BLOG ' Bureaucracy in the Licensed Trade' - Monday 26th May 2008
Look forward to hearing from you.
Joe O'Riordan
Editor - The GMV magazine
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
The Beer Tie
Hello.
The GMV is anxious to know what the small licensee thoughts are on the tie?
The matter needs a lot of thought and consideration. Getting rid of the tie sounds wonderful but what, if any, penalties will the brewers and pubcos introduce to counteract any loss of income they may suffer?
For sure they won't simply let it happen and lose profits, indeed if they did that their shareholders would hang them out to dry. Through your LVA or our Executive Officer, John Madden - 01708 447899, let us know your view so that it can be adopted as official GMV policy and we can then support the "Fair Pint" campaign.
View the GMV magazine October edition articles on 'The Tie' to assist you in fully understanding the argument. If you would like to receive a copy please contact Jor O'Riordan 01323 486021.
Joe O'Riordan
The GMV is anxious to know what the small licensee thoughts are on the tie?
The matter needs a lot of thought and consideration. Getting rid of the tie sounds wonderful but what, if any, penalties will the brewers and pubcos introduce to counteract any loss of income they may suffer?
For sure they won't simply let it happen and lose profits, indeed if they did that their shareholders would hang them out to dry. Through your LVA or our Executive Officer, John Madden - 01708 447899, let us know your view so that it can be adopted as official GMV policy and we can then support the "Fair Pint" campaign.
View the GMV magazine October edition articles on 'The Tie' to assist you in fully understanding the argument. If you would like to receive a copy please contact Jor O'Riordan 01323 486021.
Joe O'Riordan
Monday, May 26, 2008
Bureaucracy in the Licensed Trade
The finance director of Arkell's Brewery, Ray Fisher, is retiring from the company and has cited the tremendous increase in "red tape" as the major reason for his doing so now.
He said "It's absolutely ridiculous, many of these rules and regulations take so long to comply with and in the big scheme of things they mean nothing at all.
It is difficult for all business, whether they are large or small, it's so time consuming and does nothing to contribute to the success of the business."
What are your thoughts; let me know what you think are the most useless or annoying bureaucratic rules, regulations or legislation that you as a licensee is forced to work under.
Joe O'Riordan
He said "It's absolutely ridiculous, many of these rules and regulations take so long to comply with and in the big scheme of things they mean nothing at all.
It is difficult for all business, whether they are large or small, it's so time consuming and does nothing to contribute to the success of the business."
What are your thoughts; let me know what you think are the most useless or annoying bureaucratic rules, regulations or legislation that you as a licensee is forced to work under.
Joe O'Riordan
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Refusal of the OFT to investigate Pubco's
I am shocked that the OFT have refused to investigate the unfair practices of the Pubco's. Their continued resistance to assisting the lessees and tenants in reducing costs, and in particular rental levels, is disgraceful.
The longer they they refuse to change their policy the fewer pubs there will be left to save.
In the late 80's the Beer Orders stopped brewers from owning more than 2000 pubs, because it was supposely an unfair system to customers in choice and product price. Here we are 20 years later and now it is the Pubco's that own 1000's of outlets and yet it appears to be OK, how can that be?
Joe O'Riordan
The longer they they refuse to change their policy the fewer pubs there will be left to save.
In the late 80's the Beer Orders stopped brewers from owning more than 2000 pubs, because it was supposely an unfair system to customers in choice and product price. Here we are 20 years later and now it is the Pubco's that own 1000's of outlets and yet it appears to be OK, how can that be?
Joe O'Riordan
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Meeting with MP to Discuss Exploitation
Representatives of the GMV are to meet with Timothy Farron Lib Dem MP who is campaigning for Government action to "prevent the exploitation of pub landlords" by pub companies.
The meeting is scheduled for the 6th May in London, representing the GMV will be the Executive Officer, John Madden CMBII, Bernard Brindley, Chairman of the GMV Parliamentary Committee, Godfrey Page, Chairman of the GMV, and Brian Rees a parliamentary committee member.
Farron has expressed his grave concerns as to the conduct of those brewers and pubco's that make it very difficult for pub landlords to earn a reasonable living by increasing rents, he has tabled an early day motion (EDM) on the matter.
It is hoped that the outcome of the meeting will be to increase the awareness of MP's to the plight of many licensed outlets and win their backing to the EDM.
Details of the meeting will be in the July edition of The Guild News, on the GMV website www.gomv.co.uk and on this blog.
Joe O'Riordan
The meeting is scheduled for the 6th May in London, representing the GMV will be the Executive Officer, John Madden CMBII, Bernard Brindley, Chairman of the GMV Parliamentary Committee, Godfrey Page, Chairman of the GMV, and Brian Rees a parliamentary committee member.
Farron has expressed his grave concerns as to the conduct of those brewers and pubco's that make it very difficult for pub landlords to earn a reasonable living by increasing rents, he has tabled an early day motion (EDM) on the matter.
It is hoped that the outcome of the meeting will be to increase the awareness of MP's to the plight of many licensed outlets and win their backing to the EDM.
Details of the meeting will be in the July edition of The Guild News, on the GMV website www.gomv.co.uk and on this blog.
Joe O'Riordan
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