Tablebases.com Blog

Viral posts on social media outlets, when a Tweet or other social media post becomes so popular that it is widely shared on the internet, are nothing new. However, 2013 brought about a new kind of marketing tactic, called "Newsjacking". The method has other names as well, such as "moment marketing", and essentially it involves riding the wave of an event or topic that is seemingly unrelated to your business, to create a viral message. The purpose of such efforts are not to create instant or mass conversions for sales, but rather to drive traffic to your website or social media profile, spread your brands image and strengthen brand affinity.  Continue reading →

Chances are, you've already heard about the cyber attack this past holiday season that resulted in hackers aquiring the credit and debit card data of 40 million Target customers, as well as the personal information of about 70 million of the companies customers. Well now the FBI and Secret Service are stepping up to warn retailers of the impending cyber security threats in 2014. The Chicago Tribune has reported that the FBI released a confidential report to retailers in the United States regarding Point of Sale security breaches. Continue reading →

We've updated this post just in time for Valentines Day. A prix fixe menu is a great option to keep everything flowing smoothly in your restaurant on the busy romantic holiday.  Do you find that your restaurant needs a little more, je ne sais quoi? Perhaps all you need is a little insurgence of creativity. A perfect opportunity to try something new and attract new customers is to have a prix fixe menu special. Most restaurants are accustomed to the idea of a fixed menu for special occasions such as Valentines day or Christmas, and in addition to those holidays, why not try adding the idea as a monthly tradition? Periodically offering customers a new dining experience can bring in the kind of repeat business that will keep you thriving, without having to put out a coupon or lower your prices. Read on for more tips on details to cover when organizing your prix fixe event. Continue reading →

Technology giant Google has its eyes on the restaurant industry, according to recent news. As Eater.com reports, the US Patent Office recently approved Google's request for a patent regarding some interesting new advertising technology that - should it ever come to be - could make some major waves in among restauranteurs. With the new service, businesses would have an opportunity to offer free or discounted rides to customers, essentially guaranteeing customer conversion. Continue reading →

New GMO labeling bills are currently being pushed in several states, with strong opinions on both sides of the argument. According to a recent article from Restaurant Business Online, Rhode Island and Hawaii are the latest states to consider mandatory labeling of food products that contain Genetically Modified crops or ingredients derived from GMO products. While they debate the pros and cons, more than two dozen other states are considering introducing similar bills. Two states, Connecticut and Maine, have already passed GMO labeling laws, but in order to prevent problems in the food industry, the measures will not take effect until more states officially adopt the cause. Continue reading →

Have you ever gone into your favorite café and wished that they also sold men's clothing? Or gone for a pastry and lamented the lack of motorcycle shop in the back? If that sounds familiar, you may want to consider relocating to South Africa. A recent New York Times editorial explores a Cape Town phenomenon that has been happening over the last several years, in which business savvy entrepreneurs are combining seemingly unrelated businesses under one roof. Continue reading →

  Have you ever taken a trip down a long, lonely road and seen a juice stand shaped like an orange? Or a coffee house in the shape of a percolator? These types of buildings fall into a genre known as novelty architecture (also known as programmatic or mimetic architecture), a structural phenomenon that began as a uniquely American style. While the genre began in the early 1900s, some prominent examples are still visible across the country and novelty buildings are still being constructed even today. Continue reading →

Technology is moving at an astoundingly rapid pace, between new methods of production at farms, new techniques for preparation such as 3D printed foods, and new ways of interacting with customers, like having tablets instead of traditional menus, the entire industry looks to be up-ended by computer driven ideas. One of the hot topics in the industry at the moment is the fate of wait staff, with some critics fearing that advanced technology will replace waiters and waitresses, removing the most hospitable part of an industry of hospitality. Continue reading →

In the not-so-distant past, dining at an upscale restaurant meant a tie and jacket for men, and a dress with high heels for women. Those dress codes have been progressively eroding over the years, and now it is not uncommon to see restaurants serving high-end food to patrons in jeans and t-shirts. The Huffington Post recently took a look at 11 restaurants throughout the country that still require men to wear a jacket - and have accompanying rules for women's dress as well - while dining. While the list is by no means comprehensive, the fact that there only 11 notable restaurants made the cut indicates to us that casual is taking over as the new formal when it comes to dining out.  Continue reading →

  The new year is off to a great start, and while some trends from 2013 have started to fade away, a few look like they may become permanent parts of the food and beverage industry. Local and organic fare is still in high demand, and small batch distilleries and breweries are opening throughout the country, much to consumers' delight (and even large producers are trying to make their products feel more personal). One of the issues with local and craft breweries, is the simple fact of America's size. How do get a hold of a case of your favorite small batch Brooklyn Brew if you live in San Francisco? That is the problem that consumers all over the country are hoping to solve, with beer trading, enabling consumers to trade for their favorite rare beers or those from far away. The interstate practice is gaining momentum as users take to internet forums at websites such as Beer Advocate, Talk Beer, and even on social networks using hashtags such as #Beertrade. Continue reading →