Keep It Clean

Cleanliness is next to Godliness. Who coined this expression? John Wesley is probably the best bet even if the original is Hebrew. Doesn't really matter. The religious dimension doesn't feature in the running of a bar; well, not normally. But cleanliness does and should.

I recall that some years ago Honda made a point of cleanliness being at the centre of its overall quality management. The company still does make a point of it. Founder Soichiro Honda is quoted as saying that "superior products don't result from an attitude that allows disarray, untidiness and uncleanliness in the work environment". From this obsession with cleanliness comes an "attitude and environment that is productive and efficient, organised and reliable".

(Quotes from an article by Paul V. Arnold, "Case Study: The Honda Way", www.reliableplant.com)

Japanese manufacturing practices may seem a million miles away from the average local bar, but they do offer lessons nevertheless. In addition to an efficient production environment, Honda seeks to create a place of work that people enjoy and therefore makes them more content and more productive. Cleanliness is one aspect of this. The company also wants to let its customers know and see that it operates such a clean working environment. Staff and customers.

This all started to come to mind when I was speaking today with Kevin and Jane at JK's in Puerto Pollensa. This bar does well. I asked what they attribute the bar's success to. There are a number of factors, but one that came shining through, literally I guess, was cleanliness. To be honest, I had never really given this aspect of a bar much attention. I suppose I would if a place was unclean, but as a sort of selling point for a bar I wouldn't have placed it high on the list. But I'm not necessarily like others. I have heard this cleanliness angle elsewhere in respect of bars; cleanliness and uncleanliness. I have heard of people opting not to return to a bar because of a lack of cleanliness. People do rate it as being important.

I was given an example. Couple come in, order a couple of Pepsi's, sit down for a minute or so and then one goes to the loo, comes back, says something approving about the cleanliness and then they order something to eat. Cleanliness is next to Godliness and next to the goodliness of the bar.

All this emphasis on "clean" shouldn't come as a surprise. Look around reviews and you will often find cleanliness or filth being commented on. I know of a restaurant in Puerto Pollensa where a new owner took over this year and spent a tidy sum on rectifying the unedifying state of the loos.

Coming back to JKs, one of the other points they made was that they have a reputation for reliability in a variety of ways. What was it in one of those quotes about Honda? The last word in the second quote - "reliable". And perhaps that should be the last word about bars and their success.


QUIZ
Chain - The Elton-The Who connection was "Pinball Wizard". Elton was in the film of "Tommy" and how do you get from "Tommy" to Sting? Yesterday's title - The Boxtops. (See this at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z8RCfnWPOo). Today's title - lovely song by an underrated Glasgow indie band.

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