Networking and Information Sources of Independent Restaurateurs

Abstract

Relationships between types of informal networks, business characteristics of small independent restaurants, and demographic descriptions of the owners/managers of these businesses were investigated.

Data were gathered by mailed questionnaire from a responding sample of 135 owners/managers of independent restaurants. Information regarding networking behavior, suchas whom restaurant owners/managers contacted and how frequently they contacted these sources, owner/manager demographic data, and business information concerning size, number of years in operation, financial performance, and type of restaurant was gathered.

The study indicated that relationships exist between networking behavior and demographic characteristics of managers, and between networking behavior and certain business characteristics.

Keywords

Independent restaurateur networking information sources manager demographics business features

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