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Stock up the fridge
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April 1, 2000: 7:32 a.m. ET
A small refrigerator in your office can perk up any meeting and boost morale
By Jane Applegate
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - I asked Richard Funess, managing director of Ruder-Finn Americas, for his greatest business idea. He came up with an interesting one I hadn't heard yet: Put a small refrigerator in your office, he said.
A refrigerator? That's it? I asked.
Yes. Fill a small refrigerator with cold drinks to offer people when they come into your office for a meeting. You'll see that it really perks them up. Here is what you'll find in Richard's refrigerator: Evian water, root beer, Diet Coke, a pint of vodka and horseradish.
Horseradish? The horseradish is for the roast beef sandwiches he eats at his desk.
Now, having a refrigerator in your office is not revolutionary, but it is a great idea for busy people nonetheless. It saves time because you or your assistant won't have to run out to buy cold drinks. People will look forward to a meeting in your office because they know you'll offer them something refreshing, even if they aren't thrilled about the topic of discussion.
Free food and drinks have always been a powerful management tool. Many companies offer free caffeine and snacks to keep employees buzzing, but Mike Bloomberg has taken free refreshments to the max. At Bloomberg L.P.'s Park Avenue headquarters, the kitchen in the lobby is always busier than Grand Central Station at rush hour.
Bloomberg loves to provide free snacks and drinks to guests and employees. He often hangs out in the kitchen, chatting with people. Guests appreciate his generosity, but busy employees rely on the available sustenance to keep going. At Bloomberg, leaving the building for lunch is frowned upon. It's just not part of the corporate culture.
No matter how small your business may be, it makes sense to provide free drinks and snacks. Stocking up at the local warehouse store quickly builds morale and productivity. Just be sure to watch your waistline.
(Excerpted from 201 Great Ideas for Your Small Business, Copyright 1998 by Jane Applegate. Published by arrangement with Bloomberg Press. Excerpts appear on Saturdays on CNNfn.com.) 
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