#BoycottApplebees

[RaviX]

Some of you guys may have seen this hashtag going around on social media '#BoycottApplebees." For those that have not, An Applebees executive sent out a tasteless greedy email talking about how the increase in gas prices is good for the restaurant. I will attach the email with this post. This scenario reminds me of how MJ talks about going public and how that takes away the focus from the customers and the employees and turns it to shareholders. I am not saying to boycott Applebees or anything like that but I do think there should be some repercussions for this executive who owns over 50 plus restaurants in the midwest. How should Applebees handle this? Anyone here agree with this executive?

 

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[becks22]

The only word that comes to mind is gross. Just gross and disgusting and pure revulsion

 

[Guest-5ty5s4]

Blaming the wrong stuff...

Goofy letter. Bad economic situation. True? Maybe. Worth boycotting the chain? Probably not.

 

[BizyDad]

Sounds like an economics lesson to me.

Sure it lacks heart, but so does economics. I can't find anything technically wrong with his assessment. He's taking a long view on current market conditions. Maybe he is right, maybe he is wrong, but isn't this what business owners are supposed to do?

Tasteless? Greedy? Okaaaay. But there's two sides of that coin.

The other side is to call the employees who work for him "lazy" or "lacking drive" just because they work at an Applebee's.

Or calling the small businesses that he competes against "fools" or saying they "lack vision" for getting into such a low margin business.

Maybe these people should "get a real job/business" or they should "unscript" themselves.

Maybe everyone is right about these labels they throw around on others. It's the way of things I suppose.

But what does any of that have to do with running your business?

What's the point of starting a thread like this? Just want to have "an interesting discussion"?

Put your head down and get to work.

 

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[RaviX]

Sounds like an economics lesson to me.

Sure it lacks heart, but so does economics. I can't find anything technically wrong with his assessment. He's taking a long view on current market conditions. Maybe he is right, maybe he is wrong, but isn't this what business owners are supposed to do?

Tasteless? Greedy? Okaaaay. But there's two sides of that coin.

The other side is to call the employees who work for him "lazy" or "lacking drive" just because they work at an Applebee's.

Or calling the small businesses that he competes against "fools" or saying they "lack vision" for getting into such a low margin business.

Maybe these people should "get a real job/business" or they should "unscript" themselves.

Maybe everyone is right about these labels they throw around on others. It's the way of things I suppose.

But what does any of that have to do with running your business?

What's the point of starting a thread like this? Just want to have "an interesting discussion"?

Put your head down and get to work.

The point of this forum is not just to talk about "my business." I think this can be a post that entrepenuaers can learn from. Things NOT to do, like forget the humanity aspect of running a business. Especially in times like these were everything is under a microscope. A mistake like this (which it is) probably won't hurt Applebee's much. But it can yours. I'm sure we will be hearing some form of apology/action of some sort issued here soon. And yes, "an interesting discussion." Thanks for you contribution.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Is this the "current thing!?" YES, I SUPPORT THE CURRENT THING!

Joking aside, I understand what the letter is trying to say, it is simply poorly written and in poor taste. Not even sure it is economically true. This is why people hate corporations who treat employees like disposable pawns on a chess board. Certainly not something to throw in a nationwide corporate communique, at least this callously stated.

 

[biophase]

There was really no need to write this letter. It’s just weird.

He’s basically saying the number of people looking for jobs will increase as the stimulus and unemployment benefits end, so they can pay new hires less. But you’d think that the store managers would probably infer this when they see an increase in applications and prob higher quality applicants.

 

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