Oliver's Real Food - posts yet ANOTHER LOSS-MAKING QUARTER, page-287

Another ringaround to a few stores and my investment is as depressing as ever. Stores are quiet,staff disgruntled.

@Olivers,@Ontoit,given the situation with the ASX,when is something positve going to be done with sales? When will you wake up?

Rents are fixed
Labour costs are fixed (sounds like too low given some of the grumblings in store)
Food costs are reasonably fixed

That doesn't leave much room to reduce costs.And the current/previous/current leader has already told us shareholders how awesome his cost-cutting was on return, so what more can be done?

So, let's implement a new point of sale - install costs,hardware, training etc etc - does that increase sales? No.
Lets implement a few new lame products on the menu - does that increase sales? No. It just cannibalises current customers, makes your supply chain even more complicated, more waste or more out of stocks depending on how you dilute/overstock your stores. And your other product sales (pockets/sandwiches) just go down as a result.

What are you doing about increasing sales? A few crappy facebook posts. Has that increased foot traffic? No, of course not, you're just preaching to the converted. For the last time - do something about your top line. Get more people in the door. THe OLI brand is INVISIBLE to anyone else who isn't a convert. You're fiddling with the mechanics of a business that has an insignificant customer base. The sponge needs more water,you've wrung out everything you possibly can.

Martin/Kim-find yourself a team who understand sales and the need for LOTS OF customers or we're doomed.