Danny Klein, the editorial director for QSR and FSR magazines, shares his background and how he got involved in the restaurant industry. He discusses the challenges the industry is currently facing, such as inflation, labor costs, and access to capital. He also highlights the opportunities for innovation and managing the value equation. Examples include Texas Roadhouse's focus on execution, Chili's messaging for value, and Chick-fil-A's two-story drive-through. Klein emphasizes the importance...
Juan Orrego, co-founder of Cuboh, shares his entrepreneurial journey and the story behind Cuboh's acquisition by ChowNow. Cuboh helps restaurants integrate their online orders into their point of sale system, while ChowNow is a direct online ordering platform. The acquisition allows ChowNow to offer both third-party integration and direct ordering options to restaurants. The conversation highlights the challenges restaurants face with third-party delivery apps and the importance of owning cus...
Scott Porter, founder and CEO of San Diablo Artisan Churros, shares his unconventional career path and the origin story of his churro business. He discusses the importance of customer and brand experience in creating a thriving brand and marketing strategy. Scott talks about how he secured partnerships with stadiums and event centers by winning them over with the taste and quality of his churros. He also shares some successful marketing strategies, including local event-based marketing, revie...
Andrew Smith, the managing director and co-founder of Savory Fund, shares his journey in the restaurant industry and how he helps small local concepts scale and grow. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on the underbelly of a business, which includes leadership, systems, and people. Marketing should be inside-out, with a strong emphasis on executing a great customer experience. Loyalty programs and providing value to customers are key marketing strategies. Andrew also discusses the chall...
SummaryAndrew Nikash, co-founder and CEO of FIRST, discusses the challenges and opportunities of third-party delivery for restaurants. He highlights the importance of restaurants maintaining a direct relationship with their customers and offers strategies to reduce the cost of delivery while maximizing profits. Andrew emphasizes the need for restaurants to understand their unit economics and create a separate delivery profit and loss statement. He also suggests using branded tracking links an...
SummaryEric Cacciatore, founder and host of the Restaurant Unstoppable Movement and podcast, shares his background and journey in the restaurant industry. He emphasizes the importance of four walls marketing and creating a great in-store experience. Eric also discusses the challenges and opportunities in the restaurant industry, including rising labor and food costs, diversification of dining options, and the need for restaurant owners to take control of their own customer relationships.Keywo...
Steve Smyth, the director of restaurant technology for Taco John's International, shares his experiences of implementing technology in the restaurant industry. Taco John's, a legacy brand known for its tacos and burritos, has been using technology to enhance the guest experience and improve communication. They have implemented mobile ordering, loyalty programs, and third-party delivery services. Taco John's focuses on putting the guest first and continually gathering feedback to improve their...
David Doty, owner of Lehigh Bakery, shares his journey in the restaurant industry and the growth of his bakery. He discusses his background in finance and law and how he transitioned into the food industry. David emphasizes the importance of customer experience and engagement in driving sales and growth. He shares strategies such as saying yes to customer orders, upgrading equipment, and offering convenience. David also talks about the unique classes they offer at the bakery to deepen custome...
Sterling Douglass, co-founder and CEO of Chowley, shares insights and tactics for restaurant marketing. He discusses the importance of point-of-sale integration and the value of digital marketing tools for SMB restaurants. Douglass emphasizes the need to focus on both generating demand and creating repeat orders. He highlights the significance of maintaining up-to-date listings on platforms like Google and leveraging data to inform marketing decisions. Email marketing is also discussed as a v...
Jeff McFadden, founder of The Smoked Taco and Wallabies Smokehouse, shares his experiences in building successful restaurant brands. He emphasizes the importance of finding a unique niche and creating something that stands out from the competition. Jeff also discusses the challenges of scaling a business and the need to address operational issues as you grow. He highlights the value of having a strong team and empowering them to take ownership. Jeff encourages collaboration and learning from ...
On this special episode of Restaurant Rocket Fuel Shane Murphy is a guest on Smart Pizza Marketing Podcast with Bruce Irving. Welcome to another episode of Smart Pizza Marketing! In this episode, our host Bruce sits down with special guest Shane, the founder of Boostly.com. Boostly offers a fast and efficient text marketing service that allows pizzerias to reach their customers in real time, resulting in increased orders and revenue. With a simple registration process and minimal effort ...
Matt Doka, co-founder and CTO of Five Stars, shares the story of how Five Stars started and the importance of loyalty programs for small businesses. He discusses the shift from just having a loyalty program to creating a comprehensive life cycle communication platform that turns transactions into relationships. Matt emphasizes the effectiveness of text and mobile push notifications compared to email and the importance of choosing the right partners in the industry. He also provides advice for...
Jerry Hancock, founder of SubZero Ice Cream, shares the story behind the unique ice cream concept and the process of using liquid nitrogen to create custom-made ice cream. He discusses the challenges of starting a franchise business and the impact of appearing on Shark Tank. Hancock emphasizes the importance of community involvement and grassroots marketing in driving store sales. He also encourages continuous learning and taking ownership of projects.TakeawaysSubZero Ice Cream uses liquid ni...
Sean Walchef shares his journey as a restaurant owner and media creator, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and digital presence. He discusses the shift from 'if you build it, they will come' to the reality of needing to tell your own story. He highlights the significance of the 'orange tree story' and the power of repetition in storytelling. Sean encourages restaurant owners to start with video content and showcase the 'why' behind their decisions to build a sustainable brand.Keyword...
Brett Linkletter, founder and CEO of DineLine, shares his expertise in restaurant marketing. He discusses the importance of tracking ROI and offers various methods for restaurants to track their success, such as using QR codes, store visits, and credit card swipes. Linkletter emphasizes the need for restaurants to focus on both customer acquisition and retention marketing. He explains that acquiring new customers is more expensive, but returning customers have a higher chance of becoming life...
Mike Norton, an expert in restaurant marketing, shares insights on the importance of data collection and utilization in the restaurant industry. He emphasizes the need for restaurants to have a cohesive system to collect customer data and highlights the value of tools like reviews and feedback solutions. Norton discusses the challenges faced by the industry in adopting technology and offers strategies for turning customer data into marketing opportunities. He emphasizes the importance of havi...
Sean Huntington, former owner of Sweet Cakes Cafe, shares the story behind the bakery and cafe and how it developed over time. The business gained recognition after being featured on TLC's Best Food Ever TV series. Sean discusses the impact of the TV appearance on their sales and the challenges they faced in sustaining that momentum. He emphasizes the importance of providing value to customers and creating a great experience both inside and outside the restaurant. Sean also highlights the nee...
SummaryBennett Maxwell, founder of Dirty Dough, shares his journey of building a successful gourmet cookie franchise. He discusses the importance of mental health and mindset in finding joy and fulfillment in life. Bennett highlights the key strategies that have contributed to the rapid growth of Dirty Dough, including leveraging word-of-mouth marketing, building a strong brand, and focusing on local store marketing. He also emphasizes the significance of measuring marketing efforts and makin...
Andy Gartz, founder of Slab Pizza, shares the origin story of his successful pizzeria and the strategies he used to build a cult-like following. The key to Slab's success was focusing on high-quality pizza and letting the product speak for itself. They didn't rely on traditional marketing methods but instead relied on word-of-mouth and customer referrals. They created a customizable pizza experience, allowing customers to choose their own toppings and flavors. They also named pizzas after cus...
Our first episode and its a good one! Shane Murphy our host of Restaurant Rocket Fuel interviews Bruce Irving, founder of Smart Pizza Marketing, shares his expertise on marketing for SMB restaurants. He discusses his background in the pizza industry and how he started the Smart Pizza Marketing podcast. Bruce highlights the challenges he faced in marketing his own pizzerias and the strategies that worked for him, including Facebook ads and email marketing. He also provides insights ...