Goodfriend Beer Garden & Burger House Operating with Efficiency
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Long-time bar impresarios Matt Tobin and Josh Yingling know how to brew success in Texas. Tobin’s first bar, Vickery Park, regularly packs the house in Dallas, with customers drawn to its global beer and casual food menu. And the duo’s newest venture, Goodfriend Beer Garden & Burger House in Dallas, logged $3.5 million in sales in just one year. Both venues boast live music, making them not just a craft beer lover’s paradise, but also top entertainment destinations in the area. Tobin and Yingling’s professional know-how, encyclopedic knowledge of beer, personal relationships and social media savvy are obviously critical to their success. Yet Tobin is also quick to credit NCR Aloha technology for keeping operations humming at his various establishments. “We looked at every type of POS solution when we started Vickery Park in 2005, but when we opened Goodfriend, I wouldn’t even talk to any other company,” says Matt Tobin, Co-owner. “NCR Aloha systems are so easy to learn. Most of my servers have used them before. NCR technology is truly the Apple of the POS world.” Tobin and Yingling use NCR Aloha technology as a hosted service, paying a fixed monthly fee for all software, hardware and technology support. The POS systems are replaced every five years, ensuring that Tobin and his staff will always have the best technology platform to operate their business. The ability to pay a flat monthly rate, rather than purchase systems, was a big draw for Tobin and Yingling. “When you start a restaurant, the upfront costs are unreal. Subscribing to POS as a service was almost like finding another investor. The capital that we would ordinarily have to spend on POS systems could be invested in other projects. And just having back-up capital in the bank was key – I think sometimes people forget how important that is,” says Tobin. Goodfriend Beer Garden & Burger House An NCR POS as a Service Case Study “When you start a restaurant, the upfront costs are unreal. Subscribing to POS as a service was almost like finding another investor. The capital that we would ordinarily have to spend on POS systems could be invested in other projects. And just having back- up capital in the bank was key – I think sometimes people forget how important that is.” Operating with Efficiency For the Restaurant Industry – Table Service Matt Tobin Co-owner, Goodfriend Beer Garden & Burger House
Transcript of Goodfriend Beer Garden & Burger House Operating with Efficiency
Long-time bar impresarios Matt Tobin and Josh Yingling know how to brew success in Texas. Tobin’s first bar, Vickery Park, regularly packs the house in Dallas, with customers drawn to its global beer and casual food menu. And the duo’s newest venture, Goodfriend Beer Garden & Burger House in Dallas, logged $3.5 million in sales in just one year. Both venues boast live music, making them not just a craft beer lover’s paradise, but also top entertainment destinations in the area.
Tobin and Yingling’s professional know-how, encyclopedic knowledge of beer, personal relationships and social media savvy are obviously critical to their success. Yet Tobin is also quick to credit NCR Aloha technology for keeping operations humming at his various establishments. “We looked at every type of POS solution when we started Vickery Park in 2005, but when we opened Goodfriend, I wouldn’t even talk to any other company,” says Matt Tobin, Co-owner. “NCR
Aloha systems are so easy to learn. Most of my servers have used them before. NCR technology is truly the Apple of the POS world.” Tobin and Yingling use NCR Aloha technology as a hosted service, paying a fixed monthly fee for all software, hardware and technology support. The POS systems are replaced every five years, ensuring that Tobin and his staff will always have the best technology platform to operate their business.
The ability to pay a flat monthly rate, rather than purchase systems, was a big draw for Tobin and Yingling. “When you start a restaurant, the upfront costs are unreal. Subscribing to POS as a service was almost like finding another investor. The capital that we would ordinarily have to spend on POS systems could be invested in other projects. And just having back-up capital in the bank was key – I think sometimes people forget how important that is,” says Tobin.
Goodfriend Beer Garden & Burger House An NCR POS as a Service Case Study
“When you start a restaurant, the upfront costs are unreal. Subscribing to POS as a service was almost like finding another investor. The capital that we would ordinarily have to spend on POS systems could be invested in other projects. And just having back-up capital in the bank was key – I think sometimes people forget how important that is.”
Operating with Efficiency
For the Restaurant Industry – Table Service
Matt Tobin
Co-owner, Goodfriend Beer Garden & Burger House
3097 Satellite Boulevard, Duluth, Georgia 30096
Engaging Consumers to Drive Sales
Tobin says the reliability of the POS terminals, which are built for constant daily usage, is “almost flawless.” NCR helped get him up and running by reloading operational and customer data and providing on-site technical assistance to implement the systems and train staff. “During that two- or three-day period, you feel like NCR works for you and is a part of your team. Opening a restaurant is incredibly stressful, so it was great to have that level of support,” states Tobin.
Tobin and Yingling leverage NCR POS terminals running Aloha Table Service software, NCR restaurant security services and gift cards to streamline operations at their busy establishments. Tobin and Yingling view NCR gift cards as a great brand-builder. “We use NCR gift cards at all of our restaurants. They’re very successful because we have so many regulars. Customers will drop $150 for gift cards, especially around the holidays. And almost 100% get used,” says Tobin. He believes that the gift cards are a great way to win new customers, drive repeat business with the bar’s fans and support local nonprofits. Goodfriend regularly donates gift cards to community organizations for charity auctions.
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In 2013, Tobin is planning to open a third restaurant. “We just signed another lease. We don’t even know what we’re doing yet: We’re still in the concepting phase. But without a doubt, we will be using NCR Aloha technology there,” he says.
Tobin says that he regularly recommends NCR Aloha systems to all of his friends in the business. “One of the first things I say is ‘Buy NCR Aloha. It’s totally worth it.’”
In the back of the house, Tobin and Yingling use POS data to evaluate their bars’ performance, create budgets, review product sales and minimize shrinkage. Having ready access to accurate, real-time POS data also helps Tobin pay key vendors, like Good 2 Go Taco, the next-door restaurant that prepares all of Goodfriend’s food. “I use NCR Aloha POS data at least six days a week, if not seven,” says Tobin. “We’d be dead in the water without it.”
Phone: 877-794-7237email: [email protected]
