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Recently,
Captain George's Seafood Buffet
in Virginia Beach won honors in the
Virginian Pilot Newspaper
Best Of Hampton Road competition, but is that really news?
For over a decade Captain George's in Virginia Beach has been winning top
honors in categories such as Best Holiday Buffet, Best Fine Dining, and other categories.
The owners of
Captain George's restaurant have an amazing small business
story. You can read more detail on their website how "Captain George" Pitsilides' parents
immigrated to America and opened a restaurant.
George
grew up in the restaurant business and the family business has flourished
into the well known chain of 5 locations it is today.
On May 26, 2010 I asked
my server, Will, to speak to the manager on duty. Mike quickly appeared.
When asked what kind of advertising Captain George's does he thought for a
moment and answered "very little". In fact, it is feverish customer
loyalty and word of mouth referrals that bring in lines of customers. Mike
politely assured me that the banner hanging on the front of the restaurant
announcing their 2010 honors in the Best of Hampton Roads competition had
become an annual event and that it is readers votes that determine
winners. After visiting the Captain Georges seafood buffet in Virginia Beach you notice several reasons why they have such a
successful small business.
| Small Business
Lessons Learned At Captain George's In Virginia Beach |
_small.JPG) Service -
My most recent server, Will,
provided a good example of the service you can expect at Captain
George's. Will was efficient: all requests were responded to
quickly, personable: his personal warm welcome was memorable
- "go ahead and
attack those plates!", and helpful: he brought a plate of
steaming hot crab legs out of the kitchen to the table when other customers had just
emptied the buffet. |
_small.JPG) Product Quality -
There are many varieties of seafood dishes to choose from on
their buffet and each tastes fresh. The fact that buffet trays are
being emptied quickly by the large number of customers and then
promptly filled helps keep fresh food available to diners throughout
the evening. One favorite example: baklava is one of the deserts
provided on the desert bar. After eating a packaged baklava desert
from the grocery store and then eating the fresh ones provided at
Captain George's you taste the dramatic difference! |
_small.JPG) Congruent Message
- the restaurant does a good job of living up to the name
Captain George's Seafood Buffet.
It is a buffet style dinner and they serve primarily seafood
dishes. The restaurant has a nautical theme throughout including the
exterior of the building that is dressed with boat masts and ropes.
|
_small.JPG) Consistent Experience
- One reason customers of
Captain George's Seafood Buffet
continue to come back is that
they know what they are going to get. Year after year the excellent
service and product quality customers expect has remained unchanged.
Travelers to Virginia Beach can appreciate this fact, considering
they may only have so many dollars to spend on dinner. A good dining
experience is a sure thing at Captain Georges. |
One last observation on Captain George's
would be about the customers. They don't talk much while at Captain
George's. If you have experienced dinner at Captain George's you will notice
that there is more cracking of crab legs and chewing going on than
talking. There is an excitement in the air about the food choices and with
so much good eating to do there is little time for talking!
|
 Owning
your own micro or small business is the best way to reduce your taxes and
generate additional income for yourself even if you are still working for
someone else. Do you have a skill or idea that could be a business?
Getting started and knowing how to keep the business running are hurdles
many people need help with. The profiles provided in this section of
BowmansMoneyCollege.com give advice and lessons from small business
owners, some of them still employees of someone else, on the things they
believe will make your small business venture more successful. Read more small business
profiles
here.
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