No, no it's not you... it's everybody!!

Well, the good news is it's not just us and the bad news is it's not just us. Qurble.com which originally began as U Gotta Eat has been in operation for a year and a half.  We've been fighting since day one to build this company as most consumers began cutting back on eating out.  See the thing is we don't have anything to compare our experience in business to besides the current business climate which for the restaurant industry in general ain't that good.  We know the area is facing between a 15 - 17% unemployment rate, the highest in the state.  And that the entire country, is reeling from the current economic situation but, at the end of the day you still wonder... is it just me?

The true answer we've learned from this is no and yes.  When first starting there would be days when absolutely no one would call in an order.  NO ONE!!  Those were long and daunting days.  Imagine waiting by a phone for 12 + hours of the day for nothing.  Pretty demoralizing but, you can either give up or find out what the heck you're doing wrong and change it.  The reason I mention this is because the reason no one called is because no one knew we existed!  The fact is there are a lot of restaurants whos sales are down so no it's not just us but,... there goes that lovely word "but", what we noticed is that even though people may be eating out less often they haven't stopped eating out completely.  And what places are consumers going to eat at? Restaurants that have the most notoriety or most familiarity, namely the Olive Garden's, Outback Steakhouse and Chili's of the world.

So what have we learned from this?  In tough times people don't stop spending completely they just go for what's the most dominant in their minds.  Mention Chili's for lunch with a group of people and almost everyone will know what Chili's is and know that if they spend money there they most likely won't be disappointed.  Where as, mention you're local mom and pop shop, with some exception,  and there is a more than likely a slight pause.  The difference is marketing!  We are constantly hearing about deals from big chains like Applebee's, Chili's, etc. who may or may not have deeper pockets to stay afloat (sorry Krispy Kreme) so it's only natural when looking for a place to eat that these businesses get a majority of the pie.

So what have we here at Qurble.com learned:  Market, Market, Market and then when done Market some more.  The secret to financial success in the worst of times is just market your goods and services.

Best Regards,

Derek Caffe
Chief Executive Officer
Qurble.com
330-743-8135

Why do you try to break me life!?

Well today was a day like any other, life tried to make me say uncle with yet another little setback. I'm doing some work on my laptop (making Qurble.com even greater for you) and I notice that the battery is pretty low.  Now under any other circumstance this would garner no special attention except... for the fact that it's plugged up to the AC adapter!  So from here I see that the little status light on the adapter is out and began to repeatedly plug the adapter in and out of the wall outlet and laptop to see if it was just a bad connection.  No luck.  What's next?  Well I decided to do what a lot of people do when they're pretty sure an appliance has reached the end of its useful life and have nothing to lose... I beat the heck out of it.  I began to smash it against anything within my line of sight to try to get the dang thing to work... the floor... my fist... a hammer... the refrigerator... countertop... but, to no avail.

So once I came to the realization that I'm going to have to replace it I had to think quick because the remaining battery life is at about 38% and going. Having access to the internet is kind of imperative for an internet based company so the idea of not having it is not an option. Immediately I hop over to Google to find a replacement and they're relatively cheap, $20 - 40 but... they won't arrive for about a week!!  And I could have just paid for priority shipping but that boosted up the price substantially and I would still be without a way to the information superhighway for about a day or possibly two.  To Best Buy we go for a huge shock, sticker price, $104 before tax!  That's $110.76 after tax... FOR A CHARGER!!  I only paid $500 for the whole laptop package a year and a half ago.  So that means 20% of the purchase price was just for the dang CHARGER!  I don't have that type of money because I don't make that type of money.  WHY!!!

Because going without it is not an option I'm willing to take I then head to Walmart where I find it for $96.08 after tax. Well at least it was cheaper than Best Buy. I purchased it and now my relationship with the internet is stronger than ever. lol.  Life continually tries to break me but, not this day or any other.  ME: 1 - LIFE: 0

Best Regards,

Derek Caffe
Chief Executive Officer
Qurble.com
http://www.Qurble.com

New season, a lot wiser.

Running a business is nothing I believe you can prepare for in a classroom environment.  As of October 20, 2009, we will have been in operations for a year and a half.  Wow, what a ride.  I often say to myself, "Can I ever catch a break?"  Born in Youngstown, OH in January 1983 I, along with other staff members, never got to see the heyday of the city or rather the good times.  Our orientation to the city was that of vacant buildings, drugs, violence, murder and an overall sense of hopelessness.  And then, (for me) 25 years later I start a company and lo and behold... worst economy in decades. Geez.  As Kurtis Blow once, so famously stated, "Those are the breaks!"

Well, you can do one of two things:
1. Sit there, complain and take it.
2. Get proactive and do something to change your fortunes

If you haven't figured out which of the options we're taking, the fact that our company is still existing in the worst economy in decades should give you a hint.  We've been looking to expand and figuring out ways to better meet our customers needs and increase revenues.  If you have any suggestions on how we can provide a better service, please let us know.

We want to do everything humanly possible to serve our customers but need to have the necessary sales to support our operations.  If you like the service we provide and want more of it or just like what we stand for, a group of young, local entrepreneurs trying to add to the local economic firepower then please help us do this by supporting us with your dollars.  Not only do you support us but also the local restaurant industry at the same time.  And with your investment we will make it grow ten fold into a company that not only provides a great service, but generates tax revenue for local government programs, creates local jobs for web developers, software developers, marketing and sales representatives, etc. and is a beacon of hope for a generations of disenfranchised youth that yes, you can actually succeed, even in Youngstown, OH.

Best Regards,

Derek Caffe
Chief Executive Officer
Qurble.com
http://www.Qurble.com

Tabs on Us!

Thanks for viewing,

It's official starting August 5th Qurble.com will be picking up the tab on all delivery and take-out orders placed online through Qurble.com. Just place your order online and all you have to do is pay for your food with cash or credit. Before you place your order online please view our video tutorial on the "How it Works" page of the website. Once you place your order and hit checkout you cannot hit the back button on your internet browser to make corrections. You must use the "go back" or "change order selections" link on the page. Your order will get screwed up and we don't want that. Other than that it is as simple as apple pie.

Qurble.com is on Facebook and Twitter also, the links to each our listed respectively: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Youngstown-OH/Qurblecom/114898126878?ref=ts & http://twitter.com/QURBLE. So stop rushing on the phone and keep your parking spot with Qurble.com just a click away

Best Regards,

Derek Caffe

Chief Executive Officer

Qurble.com

http://www.Qurble.com

Can shrinking Qurble.com help it grow?

Here we are again. Thanks for visiting the blog of Qurble.com

Well I've been thinking about this for a while now. When we first started Qurble.com, (originally U Gotta Eat) like a lot of small businesses we figured it our job to tell anyone who would listen, about our company. After all everyone's gotta eat. But by trying to make such a large area aware to our services we have in the process become a "nomad business" getting sales here and there without a real customer base to call home. We never established a core concentration of customers because our marketing efforts were spread so thin that no one really could absorb what it is we do. So it got me to thinking. Can shrinking the scope and efforts of Qurble.com to one concentrated community actually produce greater results than a larger net?

This whole small business realm is very much unexplored territory for me, as I'm sure for many in business it is also. The concept of shrinking to become larger doesn't make 100% sense to me but, as I've learned in Youngstown, "If it doesn't make sense, you're probably on the right track." Beginning in August, Qurble.com will begin shrinking its services. Don't worry it's to make us a better and hopefully a little more fruitful company. Here's some of the proposed changes we'll be implementing:

1. Smaller delivery zones - Qurble.com will be breaking down its delivery area into smaller delivery zones. This will help us dramatically lower both the service fee and the delivery times.

2. Focusing on YSU/Downtown Youngstown - Since our headquarters is based right in the heart of Youngstown we've decided to focus all efforts on our closest community.

3. Land Cruisers - Since we'll be focusing on smaller delivery zones especially in the YSU/ downtown Youngstown arena we're considering establishing a fleet of bike and foot couriers available for speedy delivery. Quick delivery and Eco- Friendly too.

By focusing in we're hoping to find a home for Qurble.com to really blossom. If you have any suggestions please let me know by leaving a comment. Every little bit helps. We're getting prepared, are you?

Best Regards,

Derek Caffe

Chief Executive Officer

Qurble.com

http://www.Qurble.com

A Guy, A Business and A Blog

Glad to have you back!

I am constantly reading articles about social media marketing along with a lot of other business related topics. Don't get me wrong, I see the benefits of having your business on facebook, twitter and having your own blog but, if you don't understand it what's the point? We aren't in Kansas anymore Toto! Well in order for Qurble.com to keep up on its social media p's and q's I've decided to change the direction of our blog. Well, to be quite honest there really was no true focus previously, I was just trying to figure out the purpose of all this stuff. Ok, a blog is an online journal? Correct. What exactly do you talk about? Whatever you want to. Really? Really. Here in lies the problem and opportunity.

I've seen business blogs that are strictly business focused and those where business owners will talk about their recent trip to Walmart with their daughter. The spectrum is so wide and as a business owner you don't want to make a mistake and have the blog hurt your business but, there is no steadfast rule. We are living in the social media Wild Wild West where entrepreneurs can become the stuff of legends or watch their flames get snuffed out. Truthfully I don't understand the importance of Twitter when there' s Facebook where you can do the same thing AND meet new friends while keeping up with old ones. I guess the old saying is true, "If you build it, they will come." Question is, "Now that we've come, what to do?"

Instead of look at it as a problem, an opportunity is what I see. I figured my niche was to show the perspective of a 20 something full time business owner building a tech company and industry out of the remains of a proud post industrial economy. And also to bring about awareness to a younger generation of people that no matter your age there are business opportunities all around you to take advantage of.

So what is this all about for me? Put simply it's about: A Guy, A Business and A Blog and their journey down the entrepreneurial highway.

Hope to see you back soon.

Best Regards,

Derek Caffe

Chief Executive Officer

Qurble.com

http://www.Qurble.com

"To Infinite, and Beyonce". I mean "Beyond."

Ever wake up and feel just excited about your day? Although that particular day may have no special event planned later on in it you're genuinely enamored with the possibilities of the day. Well that's the way I would wish for you to feel in this city of Youngstown or where ever you happen to be in this world. Imagine the effect it would have on your environment if we only looked at the world and expected nothing less than an absolute thrill ride everyday. Well the change first start within you. There is a quote that I remember from a sign in Y.S.U.'s food court that states "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." I take that sign to heart, as long as I live in an area I must live my vision in it. Screw the traditions and business as usual, especially if business as usual as has produced the perpetual economic slump this city has been in since the early 70's. The 70's people!! That's nearly forty years of not getting it right!

So what's the answer?... CHANGE!

Try something... anything. If it doesn't make sense then you're probably on the right track. If there is resistance than keep going. If there "isn't" any resistance then that indicates people are comfortable which translates to same old, same old and we see where that' s gotten us. So go out be a trailblazer and disrupt business as usual. In the short term you'll be looked at as crazy and doomed to failed by both enemies and friends but... the key is "Perseverance!" And soon that crazy person will be the modern day pioneer, the stuff of legends. So what you're not a business owner or the leader of the pack you can inspire those around you.

Here @ Qurble.com we've been in the process of doing just that trying to "Shock the System". No more business as usual. We see Youngstown in a different light than most, and in order for our vision to come to light, "We must be that change!" Qurble is getting ready to expand and will be seeking the support of all the people who are sick of business as usual and seek change. We wish to live in a city where everyday provides new and wondrous possibilities. A world where people can't wait for someone to ask them how their day is because of all the ventures and plans in the works. A world where diversity is allowed to thrive and everyone no matter their interests has a group of friends to share those interests.

A world of openess and learning.

Qurble is our venue for that change. So the next time someone ask what does Qurble mean, stand for or represent. You'll know the answer: "Possibility!"

Til the next Blog,

Derek Caffe
Chief Executive Officer
Qurble.com

http://www.Qurble.com