1. Opening, Pre-Opening, and Post Opening
Chapter 12

2. Grand Opening. Final stages are critical, you will need to dig deep
Grand Opening! Final stages are critical, you will need to dig deep! The following are actions you might need to take in the following weeks after opening.

3. Pre-Opening DEALING WITH EXPERTS AREAS OF CONCERN
Accountants, lawyers, marketing firms, consultants
They all want to build relationships.
You pay for the relationship hourly.
Price shopping is nearly impossible.
You have a big decision to make.
Pre-Opening
AREAS OF CONCERN
You must be comfortable with the expert.
Ask for the hourly rate and how billing is done.
Avoid the leading question ‘how are things going?’
Question the bill if it does not seem right.
If the relationship starts to not feel right, STOP!

4. SERVICE CONTRACTS TYPES
Real estate agent, trash, phone service, uniform/ linens, pest control, alarm company, credit card companies
WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR
Auto renewal
Sales of their company- terminates the contract at your option
Sales or closure of your company- they become baggage
Term
Fix prices- no change for the term of the contract
Any service changes starts a new term. No Way!
Default- how to cancel
SERVICE CONTRACTS

5. Just before opening REVIEW YOUR GRAND OPENING CHECKLIST
Store Manager- is that you?
Head Baker
Construction status
Punch list
Contractors warranty
Staff- hire 4 weeks out- interview 6 weeks out
Social Media
Set your pay policy
Cleaning & Setting the store
Training is key- take it seriously, give them time and tools to succeed
Grand opening social media, press release
Check your register and CC equipment
Make sure supplies are flowing
Set the store! Clean, walk, observe
Set plan o grams for cases and production sheets
Just before opening

6. More on opening  Invite people for lunch Things do go wrong
Friends
Family
Local businesses
Give incentive for opening days
Find a Small Business Development Corporation Consultant- they are free!
More on opening 
Things do go wrong
Equipment can break
Construction can take longer than expected
Try to relax
Do not lose your cool. For every second you lose your cool, it takes an hour to repair the damage.

7. What if something happens to you?
EMERGENCY NUMBERS
What if something happens to you?
Your staff?

8. Emergency Police
Emergency Nonpolice
Hospital
Staff Emergency Numbers
Plumber, electrician, contractor, etc

9. Opening the doors! Opening do’s Have a plan for each area
Protect your cash.
Encourage communication
Share information that’s selling with the team
Record when items are sold out.
Listen to customers
Have pockets!
Take breads
Look for issues
Recap results
Opening the doors!

10. Opening the doors! Opening don’t’s Run the store or run errands
Talk on the phone
Run over your supervisors
Visit with salespeople
Gossip
Express frustration
Use foul language
Opening the doors!

11. What is a Runaway? MANAGE A RUNAWAY
- If your sales are far greater than you expected, get help!
Call any additional deliveries and services
Find people that can help short term- even from another bakery
Call a temp agency
Revisit/ Adjust production
Revisit store hours
Revisit sales staff
Ask friends and family for help!
What is a Runaway?

12. Post opening Expect to make changes!! Adjust production
Decide on what needs attention first, second, third
Stay on top of labor!
Ask some of these questions pg 251
Walk your store daily
Post opening
Adjust production
Make sure you record customer requests
Increase top sellers
Decrease non sellers

13. BIG MISTAKES Production Review Questions
Bakers want to make what they like, how they like it
A new store is a baby for at least a year.
Don’t back off of training team members.
BIG MISTAKES
Review Questions
Pg 254
Pg 255