Question

Blue Diamond is a restaurant located in Taymsa Nizwa. The location of the restaurant is out of the
city and customers have to travel a long distance to the restaurant to order the food. Since the
restaurant is at the outskirts of Nizwa, people tend to avoid traveling out of their way. The owner
is concerned and worried about the sales of the food. He is considering different options for the
survival of this business. He is in a dilemma to shift the same restaurant to another location or to
start a new business. Due to this, he is reluctant to spend more money on buying goods for his
restaurant. If he has to continue with the same business, he has to utilize all materials/goods related
to restaurant, otherwise he may think to sell them out.
The owner has consulted many of his friends seeking advice to either shift or change the business.
Some of his close friends suggested him to change the location of the restaurant, and some of them
suggested to change the business. He has done some survey in the main areas of Nizwa, where
majority of restaurants are making huge profit every month. Many questions coming into the mind
of Blue diamond owner. Due to Pandemic COVID 19, businesses are halted. He still has some
time to take a decision for his business.
a. What would be your suggestions to the owner of the Blue Diamond Restaurant for the smooth
continuation of the business? Convince the owner with valuable inputs regarding the type of
business suitable for him in Nizwa.
b. If the restaurant owner is convinced, how effective survey and research can be made for a new
business? What challenges he may face in switching the line of business?
Your answer should be around 400 words for each question.

Answer 1

a) Here, the situation is,
Blue Diamond is a restaurant located in Taymsa Nizwa. The location of the restaurant is out of the city and customers have to travel a long distance to the restaurant to order the food. Since the restaurant is at the outskirts of Nizwa, people tend to avoid traveling out of their way. The owner is so much worried about these issues. He also considered lots of options to overcome these difficulties. But nothing came good. So currently he is in a dilemma whether to shift the same restaurant to another location or to start a new business.

My suggestion is that, it is better to shift the same restaurant to another location, mainly, to the main areas of Nizwa. From the survey conducted by him it is clear that restaurant business can flourish and can make huge profits if it is established in a place within city limits of Nizwa. He can do the business with good features to attract the customers like, offering discounts, conducting contests, providing take away, home delivery facilities, etc.
You can convince the owner to shift the location by giving the following inputs.
- Profit generation is ensured if the restaurant runs well. Hence, all additional expenditures incurring due to shifting of the location can be reached at its break even stage within no time.
- Easy availability of infrastructural facilities.
- Availability of qualified and experienced professional networks will help to seek advice from them in case of any issues.
- More financing options are available in city areas, in case if the business needs any financial aid.
- Availability of skilled workforce.
- Easy access for image building
- Easier access to key supplies and services.

b) The survey is a powerful marketing research tool to discover opinions and attitudes about your company and your competition from large numbers of people. Surveys cost a fraction of what they used to, placing them within reach of any small business. Regardless of the size of your business, you can grow and prosper by using affordable surveys to develop strategies that get new customers and keep the ones you have. A researcher uses an online survey, mobile survey, paper survey, or a combination of all modes, to know the best result. Surveys are helpful in the following manner.
- minimises the risk involved in investment
- identifies potential threats and opportunities
- gives understanding about competitors strengths and weaknesses
- helps to spot recent trends
- helps to focus on customer needs and advantages.

If he changes the line of business, he might face the following challenges. Develop your answer in the light of the following topics.
- Uncertainty about the future.
- Use of technology
- Improvement of customer service
- Maintaining reputation
- Adapting to the changes in the business environment
- Increased competition in the market
- Changes in business regulatory environment