Predominantly Deaf-staffed Toronto Restaurant Seeks $50,000 for Ad Campaign

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TORONTO, Ont. – The owner of a downtown Toronto restaurant predominantly staffed by deaf waiters, dishwashers and kitchen workers took to social media to raise $50,000 for an upcoming advertising campaign.

At Yonge Street’s Signs Restaurant and Bar, customers can place orders via an American Sign Language (ASL) menu cheat-sheet, which owner Anjan Manikumar says “is both delicious and personally enriching.” However, Signs incurs higher labour costs because it must employ additional hearing staff well-versed in ASL to ensure communication runs smoothly.
Signs opened for business in July 2014 but, “we need to increase our revenues during the coming months to break-even and sustain,” says Anjan. He hopes the ad campaign will increase traffic by helping hearing customers feel more comfortable interacting with deaf staff
Anjan says the funds would be used for working capital, social media and email marketing and advertising.

“Signs is more than just a restaurant and bar; it is a place that showcases diversity in work place,” he says.

 

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