There are still two months left in 2009, but for many people in both the foodservice and publishing industries, 2010 cannot come fast enough. The question is, will the new year be any stronger?
There certainly are signs that the economy is climbing out of the massive hole it found itself in the waning weeks of 2008. With the Dow finally flirting with the 10,000 mark again and consumer confidence appearing to be on the rise, we can be hopeful that the worst of our economic woes are behind us.
Of course, unemployment figures seem to belie a resurgence, and as we know from past recessions the restaurant and foodservice industries tend to lag behind the curve. And, as the foodservice industry goes, so goes the foodservice trade publishing business. So, we aren’t quite prepared to do a “the witch is dead” dance.
The tenor of advertising seems to be that companies may be willing to spend money again, but they want better assurances that their advertising and marketing dollars will mean something. They are not willing to cast their nets, so to speak, unless they’ve got some evidence that there actually will be fish in the nets when they hail them up.
So it may be with operators, as well. Administrators may be more inclined to put money back into your foodservice programs, provided they have some proof that the money will net a solid return on investment.
What is your take on 2010? What are your hopes, and fears, for the coming year? What are the major challenges you face, and where do you believe your best opportunities for success lie?
We’d like to hear from you. Over the coming weeks, I hope to be able to report your answers in the Editor’s Blog. So take a moment to share your thoughts with us. Drop me a note at pking@foodservicedirector.com and watch the state of the industry, as you see it, unfold in this space as 2009 winds down.