Looking Back – A Brief History: Linda and Steve Nyman initially opened a Dinners Ready franchise at this location. Linda has a passion for food and a natural grace and charm that endeared her to many of customers. Dinners Ready is a franchise business and when the meal assembly business model didn't work out like the franchisors insisted it would, the franchisees were not free to adapt their businesses to meet customer needs and preferences. Linda and Steve were forced to sell the business and we know that many of our customers miss having them in their lives.

Shelley Barshaw bought the business from Linda and Steve and shortly thereafter sold the store to David Bowles and Janet O’Connor. David is Shelley’s brother and was working as a business consultant who became involved in the business when Shelley bought the Dinners Ready franchise and then learned that Dinners Ready did not have the capacity to keep its promises. Reinventing the business while managing the conflict with Dinners Ready was simply more stress than Shelley could handle. She needed the support that the franchise promised. So David and Janet reopened the store previously known as Entrees and More, previously known as Dinners Ready, just recently known as Bethany’s Kitchen and now called Bethany’s Table. Yikes! So why are you confused?

Meal Assembly Business – One Man’s Analysis Written for Anybody Who Cares:

Converting the business from a Dinners Ready franchise to an independent business has been a journey. All over the country meal assembly storeowners are facing a similar set of challenges. Here’s why.

When Linda and Steve opened the Bethany Village Dinners Ready, “meal assembly” was announced in “Forbes” and the “Wall Street Journal” to be “the next big thing”. On the face of it, this made sense; putting families back together at the dining table eating quality meals is a valuable service.

In 2004 and 2005 many different franchisors exploded onto the scene in a rush to capture the market for this hot new concept. But the concept was flawed. Franchisors had designed a business model that was great for selling franchises, but came up short in meeting the wants and needs of consumers. The cumbersome online ordering process and advanced scheduling assembly sessions were designed for storeowner convenience, not customer service. The bloom was soon off the rose. People simply needed better service and convenience.

David became engaged with stores around the country in hope of helping them reinvent their businesses to draw upon the strengths of the owners and better meet the needs and desires of their customers. Bethany’s Table is a leading example of this solution. However, the more success we build the less feasible it seems that other owners could use our example. Janet is a highly talented chef. The store is located in a mixed-use commercial center amidst a sophisticated, diverse and financially able population. The journey we embarked on in June 2008 has resulted in a very unique business model.

The business lesson here is to know who you are and be clear about your values. Then, understand the marketplace in which you find yourself. Develop realistic convictions about both the opportunities and the challenges that are presenting themselves. Understand your customers’ needs. Then, use your self-understanding to reflect and discover the criteria that your customers will use to choose you. Finally, be flexible, say “Yes” a lot and work like a dog. Oh yeah, and have an abundance of cash.

At Bethany’s Table we think we have found our way but it has been a dance. Although it sure would have been easier with a little more cash, we wonder if we would have gotten as creative as we have. Stay tuned!