Interview Questions Explained

Link to the questions

We'll provide a high-level explanation of these questions in another post.  For now, we'll explain the purpose of each question. 

* Use "discriminating" in a sentence. Use "picky" in a sentence.

This isn't just a vocab question, it's used to introduce applicants to a way of thinking about food and customer taste sensibilities.  Our employees will be expected to aim to have a discriminating palate and to know how to work with picky customers.  We also want our employees to have a nuanced vocabulary when discussing our products with customers. 

* "Economics isn't a zero-sum game, where there's a loser for every winner." Provide an example of this dictum. If you don't agree with it, explain why.

This is a business ethics question.  We use it to introduce our worldview, which is significantly influenced by the idea that economic life isn't a zero-sum game, where there's a loser for every winner.  This question begins a discussion about how we can develop products that benefits the consumer and the seller.  We don't screw over a customer for profit.  We create win-win situations.  We make a profit because we provide our customers value that exceeds the price of our products.  Also, we don't want to work with anyone who thinks that economic life is necessarily a zero-sum game.  We'll discuss this question more in (yet) another post. 

* Sell this dish...
Useless question that goes against some of our other questions.  We're not looking for those who can sell anything to anyone.  We used this question because we wanted to assess creativity and sales ability.  We're not sure if it does. 
 
* Do you carry a trade deficit with a business? Are you concerned about it?

This has been an effective question.  We use it to introduce the idea of value.  Everyone who has purchased something has a trade deficit with someone.  Most of us carry a trade deficit with a grocer.  To make smoothies, we have to purchase produce from a grocer.  If the grocer doesn't spend the same amount on smoothies as we do on her produce, then we carry a trade deficit with her.  But that's okay, because her produce allows us to create value.  Without this trade deficit, we wouldn't have a smoothie shop. 
Not all trade deficits are good.  If we purchase *only* doritos, beer, and cigarettes for our consumption from our grocer, then we'd have a bad trade deficit because this exchange will make us unhealthy and thus unproductive. 

* A restaurant receives a party of 20. Each party member decides to pay with a credit card. How does this impact restaurant operations (ie customer service) and labor costs? (Answer this question in fewer than 5 sentences).

This question gets applicants to think about the cost of food service operations. 

* From your last grocery bill, estimate the amount of protein, calories, and carbs you purchased per dollar.

Employees will be asked to develop smoothies that meet specific nutritional and budget needs.  They're required to not just think of our products in terms of taste, but also how we can pack as much nutrition per dollar into each smoothie.  If the world's greatest smoothie costs $20 to make, we're not going to sell it.  We're trying to get our employees to think about cost-effective nutrition, and not about guilt-tripping customers into purchasing ideal nutrition that they may not be able to afford.

Summary: we're using these questions to let applicants know that we want them to figure out ways to develop and sell value.

Location and Restrictions

The store is in a plaza located just off I5 and on the King/Snohomish county border.  We don't have car and foot traffic numbers.  Subjectively, the area feels very busy.  

The storefront below.

It's tucked in a corner -- low visibility -- but it's next to a 24 Hour Fitness gym that receives an average of 1000 sign-ins per day.  Notable neighbors include a Thriftway grocery store, Starbucks, and Blockbuster.  The plaza we're located in is just off I5

The main advantage of the location is that it's located next to a busy gym.  We assume that gym goers are much more likely than the average person to be interested in a smoothie, either as a health supplement or as a post-workout reward.  For instance, muscle-builders need pre and post workout nutrition to maximize training effect.  Those who go to the gym for social reasons may consider a smoothie a guilt-free reward for their hard work.

The interior is 1563 sf and divided into 2 sections, a back kitchen and front service area.  It's probably too large for our needs, so we're going to maximize use of the space by creating a lounge area that's a composite of  those at Starbucks and bubble tea shops.  If nobody wants to hang out in our shop, then we'll consider subleasing a part of the store.      

The front area below. 



There are drawbacks to being located in a "busy" location that includes international chains like Starbucks and a regional grocery store like Thriftway.  Chains will often insist on including restrictions on what their neighbors can sell.  Landlords are likely to oblige because chains add prestige and stability to a commercial plaza.

Here are a few restrictions on what we can do:

*Can't sell coffee or tea based products, unless it's offered in a restaurant (Starbucks)
* Can't offer deli service (Thriftway)
* Can't offer restaurant service (Thriftway and Blockbuster)
* Can't sell health supplements (Rite Aid)
* Can't sell x,y and z food items.  

The list goes on.  However, we can sell baked goods (the one concession the agent insisted on receiving from the grocery store) so anyone who wants to start a bagel/bread shop, let us know.  We'll sublease part of the space to you if you can make good baguettes. 

We'll discuss more about these restrictions in a post about the menu.