Weissman Isn’t Letting the Pandemic Greatly Impact His Business
When social distancing rules were in full force, Aaron Weissman (pictured, holding box) made the most of his time. Although he had to close the dining room of his Teriyaki Madness (TMAD) restaurant in Great Falls, Montana, he was able to keep his business running with a busy and engaged staff.
No layoffs
Weissman was thrilled that he didn’t need to lay off any of his 25 employees. He seized the opportunity to feed the local frontline heroes and even redecorate his dining room while his doors were closed. Instead of hiring a painting crew, Weissman invited his staff to help brighten up the restaurant. “It was a fun change of pace for everyone and a great way to take advantage of our closed doors. I was planning to redecorate anyway, so the timing was perfect” he says.
Using Technology
Because of the company’s commitment to technology, food sales stayed strong through the crisis. “There was a steady stream of business coming in with take-out orders,” he says. “Since we already had these systems in place, we didn’t have to change too much like some other businesses did.”
In addition to remodeling, Weissman and his team stayed busy making and delivering dozens of catering boxes for first responders and healthcare workers. Each catering box contains enough food for 10 and includes TMAD favorites like spicy chicken and stir-fry veggies. With the company’s “Pay-it-Forward” program, TMAD corporate matched contributions from customers. “It’s amazing how much of an impact one company can make,” says Weissman.