RESTAURANT STRATEGY

#231 - Franchise Roundtable - PART 1 ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN Thousands of restaurants across the country use Kickfin to send instant, cashless tip payouts, directly to their employees’ bank accounts, the second their shift ends. Get in touch today for a personalized demo and see how restaurants and bars across the country are tipping out with Kickfin. VISIT: kickfin.com/demo. ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: POPMENU If you’re a restaurant owner you need a great website that not only looks beautiful, but helps drive more traffic and sales. Use POPMENU to take your business to the next level. Best of all, listeners of this show can lock in one, set monthly rate… and get $100 off their first month. VISIT: https://popmenu.com/restaurantstrategy ***** I have spent my entire career in restaurants, but nearly all of that has been spent working with independents. Some multi-unit groups here and there... but very few franchises. But I've been getting more and more questions about franchising. So... I decided to pull together a panel of knowledgable individuals: Lauren Fernandez, Troy Hooper, and Darryl Sangster. This week and next we'll be taking a deep dive into the world of franchising. This week, we're going to look at things from the perspective of the franchisee, answering some key questions that many listeners have sent me... like, "What should I look out for in an agreement?" "How do I know if it's the right company for me?" "What sort of return should I expect"... and many more! OUR DISTINGUISHED PANEL: Lauren Fernandez: https://www.fullcourse.com/ Troy Hooper: https://www.krpusa.com/ Darryl Sangster: https://sangsterfranchisegroup.com/ ***** Same results, with a new name: The P3 Mastermind ProgramThe 3 Ps stand for PROFIT, PROCESS, and PROGRESS -- our 3 pillars! Learn more by setting up a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#230 - Profit is the ONLY Thing That Matters ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: TRIPLESEAT Revolutionize your private event planning with Tripleseat's all-in-one platform. Boost new booking sales by 30%, generate more leads, create contracts, BEOs, and more. Plus listeners of the show get a discount when you sign up. VISIT: https://tripleseat.com/restaurantstrategy/ ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: DAVO Don’t let sales tax spoil your business. Stay on top of sales tax with automation from DAVO by Avalara so you can spend less time in the back office, and more time in the front of house. Click the link below to learn more and try DAVO free for the first month: VISIT: https://www.DAVOsalestax.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Profit is literally the ONLY thing that matters in your business. Great food and warm hospitality are in service of that bottom line. On today's episode we're talking about WHAT profit is... because I think some are confused. We're going to talk about WHY is should matter to each and every one of you. And finally, we're going to talk about the all important HOW... How you can build a path to profitability. ***** Everything changes when your restaurant starts generating consistent, predictable, 20% profits every single month. Are you ready to level up? To bring your restaurant to where you know it should be? Just imagine how consistent profit would change your like. Ready to learn more about my P3 Mastermind Program? Schedule a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#229 - Co-Founder of Boka Restaurant Group, Kevin Boehm ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE Take control of your costs with using MarginEdge. Best of all? No contract. No setup fee. Free and unlimited training and support. VISIT: marginedge.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: 7SHIFTS 7shifts is the team management platform for restaurants. From hiring, to scheduling, training and retaining, they’ve got the tools you need to help you run your business with ease. Better understand your restaurant, hit your labor targets, and keep your entire team connected. Plus, 7shifts integrates with POS and payroll systems you already use and trust! Join over 30,000 restaurants using 7shifts today. Restaurant Strategy listeners get 3 months free. VISIT: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Kevin Boehm is an absolute GIANT in our industry. He's the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Boka Restaurant Group, based out of Chicago. Some of his notable restaurants include: Boka, Girl & the Goat, Cabra, Swift & Sons, to name but a few. He and his partner, Rob Katz were recipients of the 2019 James Beard Award winner for Outstanding Restauranteur. He is wise, curious, and as generous as they come. After four years of interviews on this podcast, I can honestly say this is perhaps the best to date. There is so much value packed into an hour I recommend taking notes for this one. Clear some time, clear your desk, and learn from a true master. IMPORTANT LINKS: Boka Restaurant Group - https://www.bokagrp.com/ Biân - https://www.livebian.com/ Kevin on IG - https://www.instagram.com/kevinboehmboka/ ***** What would your life look like if your restaurant could generate consistent, predictable 20% profits? My guess is it would change everything for you. If you've been open for at least a year, are generating at least a million dollars in revenue, but struggle with profitability... Then set up a free 30-minute strategy session to learn more about my P3 Mastermind: (The 3 Ps stand for Profit, Process, Progress) Click the link to schedule a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#228 - My 4 Takeaways from Bar & Restaurant Expo 2023 ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: TRIPLESEAT Revolutionize your private event planning with Tripleseat's all-in-one platform. Boost new booking sales by 30%, generate more leads, create contracts, BEOs, and more. Plus listeners of the show get a discount when you sign up. VISIT: https://tripleseat.com/restaurantstrategy/ ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: DAVO Don’t let sales tax spoil your business. Stay on top of sales tax with automation from DAVO by Avalara so you can spend less time in the back office, and more time in the front of house. Click the link below to learn more and try DAVO free for the first month: VISIT: https://www.DAVOsalestax.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Earlier this week, on Episode 227, I shared a handful of quick interviews I captured on the trade floor at Bar & Restaurant Expo. You heard from owners and operators, as well as some of the vendors in attendance. And they all shared insights from their experience at the show. On today's episode, I'm sharing my big takeaways from my time out in Las Vegas. ***** Everything changes when your restaurant starts generating consistent, predictable, 20% profits every single month. Are you ready to level up? To bring your restaurant to where you know it should be? Just imagine how consistent profit would change your like. Ready to learn more about my P3 Mastermind Program? Schedule a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#227 - Lightning Interviews at Bar & Restaurant Expo ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE Take control of your costs with using MarginEdge. Best of all? No contract. No setup fee. Free and unlimited training and support. VISIT: marginedge.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: 7SHIFTS 7shifts is the team management platform for restaurants. From hiring, to scheduling, training and retaining, they’ve got the tools you need to help you run your business with ease. Better understand your restaurant, hit your labor targets, and keep your entire team connected. Plus, 7shifts integrates with POS and payroll systems you already use and trust! Join over 30,000 restaurants using 7shifts today. Restaurant Strategy listeners get 3 months free. VISIT: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Bar & Restaurant Expo is one of the biggest industry trade shows of the year. Attendance at this year's event was close to 12,000, and the energy was electric. I was out there in Las Vegas giving two talks to the crowd... but I also had the opportunity to podcast live from the trade show floor. I did a series of lightning interviews with some vendors, sponsors, and operators in attendance. If this episode gets you excited for next year's show, then GOOD! I'll be there and I hope to see you there as well. If you have any questions, then please reach out. It's one of my favorite trade shows of the year; an event I love returning to time and time again! IMPORTANT LINKS: SpotOn - https://www.spoton.com/chip KickFin - https://kickfin.com/demo/ Uptown Hospitality Group - https://uptownhospitality.com/ 7Shifts - https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy Pursuit of Hoppiness - https://redmonkeydowntown.com/ Base Camp Pizza - https://basecamppizzaco.com/ Rev Ciancio - https://www.linkedin.com/in/revciancio/ ***** What would your life look like if your restaurant could generate consistent, predictable 20% profits? My guess is it would change everything for you. If you've been open

#226 - Strategies for Growing Private Dining Sales ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: SPOTON You may think of them as a POS system, but SpotOn is so much more. With SpotOn you get a seamless restaurant tech solution that actually boosts revenue and manages costs. Book a demo today and see how SpotOn is changing the whole game. VISIT: https://www.spoton.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: 7SHIFTS 7shifts is the team management platform for restaurants. From hiring, to scheduling, training and retaining, they’ve got the tools you need to help you run your business with ease. Better understand your restaurant, hit your labor targets, and keep your entire team connected. Plus, 7shifts integrates with POS and payroll systems you already use and trust! Join over 30,000 restaurants using 7shifts today. Restaurant Strategy listeners get 3 months free. VISIT: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Private Dining (like Catering) has less to do with hospitality and more to do with generating leads. In many respects it's a straight sales position. And so we have to approach things a bit differently. Today we're talking about how to put together and INBOUND and OUTBOUND sales strategy to grow your private dining business. ***** Same results, but a brand new name: The Restaurant Strategy P3 Mastermind The three Ps stand for PROFIT, PROCESS, and PROGRESS. (Our three pillars.) Curious to learn more? Schedule a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#225 - Doubling Your Catering Business with Dawn Skeete, Owner of Jam'It Bistro ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN Thousands of restaurants across the country use Kickfin to send instant, cashless tip payouts, directly to their employees’ bank accounts, the second their shift ends. Get in touch today for a personalized demo and see how restaurants and bars across the country are tipping out with Kickfin. VISIT: kickfin.com/demo. ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: POPMENU If you’re a restaurant owner you need a great website that not only looks beautiful, but helps drive more traffic and sales. Use POPMENU to take your business to the next level. Best of all, listeners of this show can lock in one, set monthly rate… and get $100 off their first month. VISIT: https://popmenu.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Dawn Skeete is the owner of a small Carribbean restaurant in Red Hook, Brooklyn called Jam'It Bistro. They successfully navigated their way through the pandemic, but are now struggling with foot traffic. Their response was to grow their catering business and they've done an incredible job so far. But they still need more. This week's interview is a bit different than what we normally do... this one is an hourlong coaching call. And it's so so so good. IMPORTANT LINKS: Jam'It Bistro: https://www.orderjamitbistro.com/ ***** Same results, with a new name: The P3 Mastermind ProgramThe 3 Ps stand for PROFIT, PROCESS, and PROGRESS -- our 3 pillars! Learn more by setting up a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#224 - Creating Better Restaurant Managers ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: SPOTON You may think of them as a POS system, but SpotOn is so much more. With SpotOn you get a seamless restaurant tech solution that actually boosts revenue and manages costs. Book a demo today and see how SpotOn is changing the whole game. VISIT: https://www.spoton.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: 7SHIFTS 7shifts is the team management platform for restaurants. From hiring, to scheduling, training and retaining, they’ve got the tools you need to help you run your business with ease. Better understand your restaurant, hit your labor targets, and keep your entire team connected. Plus, 7shifts integrates with POS and payroll systems you already use and trust! Join over 30,000 restaurants using 7shifts today. Restaurant Strategy listeners get 3 months free. VISIT: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy ***** On Episode 224 we talk about Pareto's Principle (don't worry, you already know what this is), and how it applies to every business... especially ours. We talk about setting clear expectations and how to manage those who work with you and for you. Most importantly we talk about the difference between OVERSIGHT and MANAGEMENT. Actionable takeaways to help you get more out of your team! ***** Same results, but a brand new name: The Restaurant Strategy P3 Mastermind The three Ps stand for PROFIT, PROCESS, and PROGRESS. (Our three pillars.) Curious to learn more? Schedule a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#223 - Digitizing Your Restaurant with Carl Orsbourn and Meredith Sandland ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN Thousands of restaurants across the country use Kickfin to send instant, cashless tip payouts, directly to their employees’ bank accounts, the second their shift ends. Get in touch today for a personalized demo and see how restaurants and bars across the country are tipping out with Kickfin. VISIT: kickfin.com/demo. ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: POPMENU If you’re a restaurant owner you need a great website that not only looks beautiful, but helps drive more traffic and sales. Use POPMENU to take your business to the next level. Best of all, listeners of this show can lock in one, set monthly rate… and get $100 off their first month. VISIT: https://popmenu.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Carl Orsbourn & Meredith Sandland are two of the smartest people in the industry, especially when it comes to the topic of digitizing your restaurant. Just last month they released their 2nd book, a follow-up to their wildly popular Delivering the Digital Restaurant. This new one is something of a "how-to" guide for restaurant operators trying to navigate this bold, new landscape. We dig into a bunch of different areas on Episode 222 of the Restaurant Strategy Podcast. IMPORTANT LINKS: Buy Both Books: https://www.deliveringthedigitalrestaurant.com/order Original Book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/40qhHvk New Book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3K5RfSd ***** Same results, with a new name: The P3 Mastermind ProgramThe 3 Ps stand for PROFIT, PROCESS, and PROGRESS -- our 3 pillars! Learn more by setting up a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#222 - Dialing in Digital Presence for Your Restaurant ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: TRIPLESEAT Revolutionize your private event planning with Tripleseat's all-in-one platform. Boost new booking sales by 30%, generate more leads, create contracts, BEOs, and more. Plus listeners of the show get a discount when you sign up. VISIT: https://tripleseat.com/restaurantstrategy/ ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: DAVO Don’t let sales tax spoil your business. Stay on top of sales tax with automation from DAVO by Avalara so you can spend less time in the back office, and more time in the front of house. Click the link below to learn more and try DAVO free for the first month: VISIT: https://www.DAVOsalestax.com/restaurantstrategy ***** We live in a digital world. That much is obvious, right? But people don't wander down the street anymore to find somewhere to eat. Hell, why should they when they have the world at their fingertips? And if the world is now online, then you must find a way to stand out in a place as noisy as the internet. On today's episode we're covering six different areas: website, SEO, press, citations, reputation management, and finally social media. Tons of information and actionable takeawys you'll be able to apply to your restaurant TODAY! ***** Everything changes when your restaurant starts generating consistent, predictable, 20% profits every single month. Are you ready to level up? To bring your restaurant to where you know it should be? Just imagine how consistent profit would change your like. Ready to learn more about my P3 Mastermind Program? Schedule a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#221 - Mastering Operations with Restaurateur, Rick Camac ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE Take control of your costs with using MarginEdge. Best of all? No contract. No setup fee. Free and unlimited training and support. VISIT: marginedge.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: 7SHIFTS 7shifts is the team management platform for restaurants. From hiring, to scheduling, training and retaining, they’ve got the tools you need to help you run your business with ease. Better understand your restaurant, hit your labor targets, and keep your entire team connected. Plus, 7shifts integrates with POS and payroll systems you already use and trust! Join over 30,000 restaurants using 7shifts today. Restaurant Strategy listeners get 3 months free. VISIT: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Rick Camac didn't start out in restaurants, but he's spent the better part of the last 30 years opening and running profitable concepts. He is now an educator at the Institute of Culinary Education (NYC), a strategic advisor for SIZZLE Acquisition Corp., and the Chief Operating Officer at Alpine Country Club. Tons of insight from his vast experiences in hospitality... IMPORTANT LINKS: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nycproeater/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-camac25/ ICE Website - https://www.ice.edu/newyork ***** What would your life look like if your restaurant could generate consistent, predicatble 20% profits? My guess is it would change everything for you. If you've been open for at least a year, are generating at least a million dollars in revenue, but struggle with profitability... Then set up a free 30-minute strategy session to learn more about my P3 Mastermind: (The 3 Ps stand for Profit, Process, Progress) Click the link to schedule a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#220 - How to Leverage ChatGPT for Your Restaurant ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: TRIPLESEAT Revolutionize your private event planning with Tripleseat's all-in-one platform. Boost new booking sales by 30%, generate more leads, create contracts, BEOs, and more. Plus listeners of the show get a discount when you sign up. VISIT: https://tripleseat.com/restaurantstrategy/ ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: DAVO Don’t let sales tax spoil your business. Stay on top of sales tax with automation from DAVO by Avalara so you can spend less time in the back office, and more time in the front of house. Click the link below to learn more and try DAVO free for the first month: VISIT: https://www.DAVOsalestax.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that ChatGPT has been making waves over the last several months. But can restaurants leverage the software to bring more efficiency to what they do? I set out to find out and the results may surprise you. Learn more about the platform, get real use cases, and better understand the future of this technology... all on this week's episode of Restaurant Strategy. Get ChatGPT: https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt ***** Want to learn more about my P3 Mastermind Program? Everything changes when your restaurant starts generating consistent, predictable, 20% profits every single month. Schedule a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#219 - James Beard Award Winning Chef, Gavin Kaysen ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE Take control of your costs with using MarginEdge. Best of all? No contract. No setup fee. Free and unlimited training and support. VISIT: marginedge.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: 7SHIFTS 7shifts is the team management platform for restaurants. From hiring, to scheduling, training and retaining, they’ve got the tools you need to help you run your business with ease. Better understand your restaurant, hit your labor targets, and keep your entire team connected. Plus, 7shifts integrates with POS and payroll systems you already use and trust! Join over 30,000 restaurants using 7shifts today. Restaurant Strategy listeners get 3 months free. VISIT: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Gavin Kaysen is a two-time James Beard Award winner, as well as the Chef/Owner of Soigné Hospitality in Minneapolis, MN. His restaurants include Spoon & Stable, Demi, and Mara. His new cookbook, "At Home," is going to be back in stock any day now... IMPORTANT LINKS: Soigné Hospitality - https://staysoigne.com/ Gavin Kaysen - https://gavinkaysen.com/ At Home Cookbook - https://amzn.to/40gI2Mr ***** What would your life look like if your restaurant could generate consistent, predicatble 20% profits? My guess is it would change everything for you. If you've been open for at least a year, are generating at least a million dollars in revenue, but struggle with profitability... Then set up a free 30-minute strategy session to learn more about my P3 Mastermind: (The 3 Ps stand for Profit, Process, Progress) Click the link to schedule a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#218 - The #1 Way to Get Predictable Profits ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: SPOTON You may think of them as a POS system, but SpotOn is so much more. With SpotOn you get a seamless restaurant tech solution that actually boosts revenue and manages costs. Book a demo today and see how SpotOn is changing the whole game. VISIT: https://www.spoton.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: 7SHIFTS 7shifts is the team management platform for restaurants. From hiring, to scheduling, training and retaining, they’ve got the tools you need to help you run your business with ease. Better understand your restaurant, hit your labor targets, and keep your entire team connected. Plus, 7shifts integrates with POS and payroll systems you already use and trust! Join over 30,000 restaurants using 7shifts today. Restaurant Strategy listeners get 3 months free. VISIT: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Simply put... the only thing that matters in your business is PROFIT. Everything else is in service of that. I mean it. To be a bit callous: you serve great food, yes to bring people joy, but also to get them to rave about the meal to friends and family. You provide great service, yes to take care of people, but also to drive sales and make people want to return time and again. More covers = more revenue = more profit. And profit is the key to everything. Once you understand how to generate consistent, reliable profit everything else changes in your business. So if you're generating revenue but struggling with profitability, this episode is for you! ***** Same results, but a brand new name: The Restaurant Strategy P3 Mastermind The three Ps stand for PROFIT, PROCESS, and PROGRESS. (Our three pillars.) Curious to learn more? Schedule a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#217 - How to Market Like a Beast with Rev Ciancio ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN Thousands of restaurants across the country use Kickfin to send instant, cashless tip payouts, directly to their employees’ bank accounts, the second their shift ends. Get in touch today for a personalized demo and see how restaurants and bars across the country are tipping out with Kickfin. VISIT: kickfin.com/demo. ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: POPMENU If you’re a restaurant owner you need a great website that not only looks beautiful, but helps drive more traffic and sales. Use POPMENU to take your business to the next level. Best of all, listeners of this show can lock in one, set monthly rate… and get $100 off their first month. VISIT: https://popmenu.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Rev Ciancio is one of the most brilliant restaurant marketers I've ever met. He works with hundreds of different concepts all over the country, and is here to share his perspective on the easiest ways that operators can level up their marketing. Do not sleep on this one! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revciancio/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/revciancio TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@revciancio Fun With Fries: https://www.instagram.com/funwithfries/ ***** Same results, with a new name: The P3 Mastermind ProgramThe 3 Ps stand for PROFIT, PROCESS, and PROGRESS -- our 3 pillars! Learn more by setting up a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#216 - How to Create a First Class Training Program for Your Staff ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: SPOTON You may think of them as a POS system, but SpotOn is so much more. With SpotOn you get a seamless restaurant tech solution that actually boosts revenue and manages costs. Book a demo today and see how SpotOn is changing the whole game. VISIT: https://www.spoton.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: 7SHIFTS 7shifts is the team management platform for restaurants. From hiring, to scheduling, training and retaining, they’ve got the tools you need to help you run your business with ease. Better understand your restaurant, hit your labor targets, and keep your entire team connected. Plus, 7shifts integrates with POS and payroll systems you already use and trust! Join over 30,000 restaurants using 7shifts today. Restaurant Strategy listeners get 3 months free. VISIT: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy ***** If we believe that our people are our greatest asset, then it stands to reason that we would want to invest in those assets. And yet, the way we train our employees is often lacking. Hard stop. I've worked with hundreds of restaurants over the course of my career and most of them have substandard training practices. And I understand why that is. I understand it takes time and money, both of which are often in short supply. And yet I believe there is a failsafe way to train our people to get the most out of them. Not just for our benefit, but for theirs as well. On today's episode I'm explaining a system for three levels of training. Follow the blueprint and you will have created a first class staff. ***** Same results, but a brand new name: The Restaurant Strategy P3 Mastermind The three Ps stand for PROFIT, PROCESS, and PROGRESS. (Our three pillars.) Curious to learn more? Schedule a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#215 - A New Approach to Leadership and Staff Development with Jimmie Williamson ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN Thousands of restaurants across the country use Kickfin to send instant, cashless tip payouts, directly to their employees’ bank accounts, the second their shift ends. Get in touch today for a personalized demo and see how restaurants and bars across the country are tipping out with Kickfin. VISIT: kickfin.com/demo. ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: POPMENU If you’re a restaurant owner you need a great website that not only looks beautiful, but helps drive more traffic and sales. Use POPMENU to take your business to the next level. Best of all, listeners of this show can lock in one, set monthly rate… and get $100 off their first month. VISIT: https://popmenu.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Jimmie Williamson is not only a client of mine, but something of a mentor. He helps oversee operations at LTC Hospitality in Columbia, SC, where they've done some very non-traditional things. Leadership, education, and staff development are some of the subjects he's passionate about and so who better to talk to us about what they're doing down there in South Carolina? Jimmie's Email: jwilliamson@ltchs.com My Email: chip@chipklose.com ***** Same results, with a new name: The P3 Mastermind ProgramThe 3 Ps stand for PROFIT, PROCESS, and PROGRESS -- our 3 pillars! Learn more by setting up a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#214 - 12 Stupid Simple Marketing Hacks to Boost Revenue ***** Have you gotten your Employee Retention Tax Credit yet? I am hosting an hourlong Q&A session with CPA Catherine Tindall on Monday, February 27th. If you don't know what this is or you're curious to see if you qualify for more money, then please sign up below. It's TOTALLY FREE and happening only once! SECURE YOUR SPOT: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/employee-retention-tax-credit ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: DAVO Don’t let sales tax spoil your business. Stay on top of sales tax with automation from DAVO by Avalara so you can spend less time in the back office, and more time in the front of house. Click the link below to learn more and try DAVO free for the first month: VISIT: https://www.DAVOsalestax.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Most of the time we talk STRATEGY on this show. Which makes sense, right? Check out the name of the podcast. I do that because I think comprehensive planning is the secret to success for restaurants. But that's not to say there isn't a place for good old fashioned TACTICS. So that's what today's episode is all about... 12 stupid simple marketing hacks that will move the needle in your business! My Favorite Signature Creator: https://mysignature.io/ ***** Want to learn more about the Restaurant Accelerator Mastermind? Click the link to schedule a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#213 - Chatting with Pastry Chef Instructor and YouTube Influencer, Steven Konopelski ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE Take control of your costs with using MarginEdge. Best of all? No contract. No setup fee. Free and unlimited training and support. VISIT: marginedge.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: 7SHIFTS 7shifts is the team management platform for restaurants. From hiring, to scheduling, training and retaining, they’ve got the tools you need to help you run your business with ease. Better understand your restaurant, hit your labor targets, and keep your entire team connected. Plus, 7shifts integrates with POS and payroll systems you already use and trust! Join over 30,000 restaurants using 7shifts today. Restaurant Strategy listeners get 3 months free. VISIT: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Steven Konopelski has taken an unusual path to get to cooking, but it's that unique journey that makes his story that much more compelling. After a career as a ballet dancer and Broadway chorus boy, he became enamored with the culinary world. Specifically, the land of sweets. His Act 2 turned into something far bigger than he could've ever imagined and led him to working with some of the industry's biggest names including the one-and-only Claudia Fleming. He now works as an educator for the Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, and is here to share his story. ESCOFFIER SCHOOL LINKS: Website - https://www.escoffier.edu/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/escoffierschool Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/escoffierschools/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/escoffierschool LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/school/auguste-escoffier-school-of-culinary-arts/ STEVE'S LINKS: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chefstevekonopelski/?hl=en TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@chefstevekonopelski YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SteveKonopelski ***** Want to learn more about my Restaurant Accelerator Mastermind? Click the link to schedule a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule ***** I will

#212 - What's the Difference Between a Consultant and Coach? ***** Have you gotten your Employee Retention Tax Credit yet? I am hosting an hourlong Q&A session with CPA Catherine Tindall on Monday, February 27th. If you don't know what this is or you're curious to see if you qualify for more money, then please sign up below. It's TOTALLY FREE and happening only once! SECURE YOUR SPOT: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/employee-retention-tax-credit ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: DAVO Don’t let sales tax spoil your business. Stay on top of sales tax with automation from DAVO by Avalara so you can spend less time in the back office, and more time in the front of house. Click the link below to learn more and try DAVO free for the first month: VISIT: https://www.DAVOsalestax.com/restaurantstrategy ***** I get asked often... "Wait, you're a restaurtant COACH? Don't you mean, consultant?" No. I used to consult, but have evolved my business over the past couple of years to focus on coaching. And there is a time and a place for both. But in my opinion there's enough confusion on the topic to warrant a deeper discussion. So on today's episode we're going to talk about the differences, and explain when you might use one over the other. I hope you get a lot out of this one, and if you still have questions click the link below to set up a free call with me. Cheers! ***** Want to learn more about the Restaurant Accelerator Mastermind? Click the link to schedule a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#211 - Let Your Community Market For You with Bestselling Author, Mark Schaefer ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE Take control of your costs with using MarginEdge. Best of all? No contract. No setup fee. Free and unlimited training and support. VISIT: marginedge.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: 7SHIFTS 7shifts is the team management platform for restaurants. From hiring, to scheduling, training and retaining, they’ve got the tools you need to help you run your business with ease. Better understand your restaurant, hit your labor targets, and keep your entire team connected. Plus, 7shifts integrates with POS and payroll systems you already use and trust! Join over 30,000 restaurants using 7shifts today. Restaurant Strategy listeners get 3 months free. VISIT: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Mark Schaefer returns to the show to talk about his newest book, Belonging to the Brand: Why Community is the Last Great Marketing Strategy. We rehash some of the insights we uncovered on Episode #106 (when he first sat down to chat with me), and dive even deeper into the idea of community and what it means for restaurants. EPISODE #106 WITH MARK: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809?i=1000513907136 WEBSITE: https://businessesgrow.com/ MARK'S NEWEST BOOK: https://amzn.to/3RvHsHi MARKETING COMPANION PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-marketing-companion/id663933566 ***** Want to learn more about my Restaurant Accelerator Mastermind? Click the link to schedule a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule ***** I will be co-hosting a FREE Webinar with Catherine Tindall CPA on Monday, February 27 to talk all about the Employee Retention Credit. This is a government program that will soon expire, and we will be answering all your questions. SIGN UP FOR FREE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/employee-retention-tax-credit

#210 - Rethinking the Role of the Waiter ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: SPOTON You may think of them as a POS system, but SpotOn is so much more. With SpotOn you get a seamless restaurant tech solution that actually boosts revenue and manages costs. Book a demo today and see how SpotOn is changing the whole game. VISIT: https://www.spoton.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: 7SHIFTS 7shifts is the team management platform for restaurants. From hiring, to scheduling, training and retaining, they’ve got the tools you need to help you run your business with ease. Better understand your restaurant, hit your labor targets, and keep your entire team connected. Plus, 7shifts integrates with POS and payroll systems you already use and trust! Join over 30,000 restaurants using 7shifts today. Restaurant Strategy listeners get 3 months free. VISIT: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Restaurants have been around for thousands of years, and yet the model we now use was basically invested 250 years ago in Paris, France. It has served us well, but I dare say... it's become inefficient and clumsy. The world is changing and technology has shifted every other major industry including travel, education, publishing, television, movies, and on and on. We are at an intersection right now and we have the choice. The choice about whether we will utilize technology to create a new way of doing things. Or whether we'll resist and suffer like so many of the industries I just mentioned. Think about Blockbuster when Netflix came along. The railroads when Henry Ford introduced the first "affordable" car. Barnes and Noble when Amazon launched. Travel agents when Expedia first hit the internet. We have a choice, but the window is closing. On today's episode we're talking about how we can incorporate technology to do things better. And to free up our people to provide a level of service we've never seen before. ***** Want to learn more about my Restaurant Accelerator Mastermind? Click the link to schedule a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#209 - Building a Brand with Full Course CEO, Lauren Fernandez ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN Thousands of restaurants across the country use Kickfin to send instant, cashless tip payouts, directly to their employees’ bank accounts, the second their shift ends. Get in touch today for a personalized demo and see how restaurants and bars across the country are tipping out with Kickfin. VISIT: kickfin.com/demo. ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: POPMENU If you’re a restaurant owner you need a great website that not only looks beautiful, but helps drive more traffic and sales. Use POPMENU to take your business to the next level. Best of all, listeners of this show can lock in one, set monthly rate… and get $100 off their first month. VISIT: https://popmenu.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Lauren Fernandez is the CEO of Full Course, a restaurant development and investment firm that incubates and accelerates emerging fast casual brands. They do this by partnering with owners and helping them with education, strategic planning, and growth models. A former owner/operator herself, Lauren brings a ton of knowledge and experience to the table. WEBSITE: https://www.fullcourse.com/ GET 15% OFF WITH PROMO CODE: STRATEGY ***** Ready to learn more about the Restaurant Accelerator Mastermind Program? Click the link to set up a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#208 - How to Leverage TikTok to Market Your Restaurants ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: SPOTON You may think of them as a POS system, but SpotOn is so much more. With SpotOn you get a seamless restaurant tech solution that actually boosts revenue and manages costs. Book a demo today and see how SpotOn is changing the whole game. VISIT: https://www.spoton.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: 7SHIFTS 7shifts is the team management platform for restaurants. From hiring, to scheduling, training and retaining, they’ve got the tools you need to help you run your business with ease. Better understand your restaurant, hit your labor targets, and keep your entire team connected. Plus, 7shifts integrates with POS and payroll systems you already use and trust! Join over 30,000 restaurants using 7shifts today. Restaurant Strategy listeners get 3 months free. VISIT: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy ***** TikTok isn't the end-all-be-all, but it is the "next big thing." I have no idea how long it will be around, but it has millions of daily users... which means it represents a significant amount of traffic. If it's all about "location, location, location" then this is definitely where a lot of people are right now. It's worth learning a bit more about the platform, so that we may leverage that attention to generate more revenue for our businesses. On today's episode we're covering some of the basics, showing you how to get started... plus some ideas and advanced tactics for growing your following. Listen in! ***** Want to learn more about my Restaurant Accelerator Mastermind? Click the link to schedule a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#207 - All Things TikTok with Restaurateur, Matt Kirschner ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN Thousands of restaurants across the country use Kickfin to send instant, cashless tip payouts, directly to their employees’ bank accounts, the second their shift ends. Get in touch today for a personalized demo and see how restaurants and bars across the country are tipping out with Kickfin. VISIT: kickfin.com/demo. ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: POPMENU If you’re a restaurant owner you need a great website that not only looks beautiful, but helps drive more traffic and sales. Use POPMENU to take your business to the next level. Best of all, listeners of this show can lock in one, set monthly rate… and get $100 off their first month. VISIT: https://popmenu.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Matt Kirschner is the Owner of Red Knapps Rochester, a 50's-style burger and shake joint. They're traditional in the food they serve, but far from it when it comes to them marketing themselves. Today we're talking about the something I know many of you have questions about: TikTok. WEBSITE: https://redknappsrochester.com/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/redknappsrochester/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/redknappsmattkirschner/ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@redknappsmattkirschner?lang=en ***** Ready to learn more about the Restaurant Accelerator Mastermind Program? Click the link to set up a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session with me: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#206 - Your Questions About Ghost Kitchens, Costing, and More! ***** Have you gotten your Employee Retention Tax Credit yet? This is a government program that was launched in the wake of the pandemic. On Episode 168 I had Catherine Tindall on the show to talk all about it. She is a CPA who has been helping hundreds of restaurants across the country recover hundreds of thousands of dollars. Set up a FREE assessment by scheduling some time on her calendar: LEARN MORE: https://calendly.com/ctindall/erc_klose?month=2023-01 ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: DAVO Don’t let sales tax spoil your business. Stay on top of sales tax with automation from DAVO by Avalara so you can spend less time in the back office, and more time in the front of house. Click the link below to learn more and try DAVO free for the first month: VISIT: https://www.DAVOsalestax.com/restaurantstrategy ***** We had so much fun last week that I figured I'd do it again. This week we're covering questions about ghost kitchens, inventory, COGS management, staff development, and more. ***** Want to learn more about the Restaurant Accelerator Mastermind? Click the link to schedule a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#205 - How to Build a 7-Figure Catering Business with Duce Raymond ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE Take control of your costs with using MarginEdge. Best of all? No contract. No setup fee. Free and unlimited training and support. VISIT: marginedge.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: 7SHIFTS 7shifts is the team management platform for restaurants. From hiring, to scheduling, training and retaining, they’ve got the tools you need to help you run your business with ease. Better understand your restaurant, hit your labor targets, and keep your entire team connected. Plus, 7shifts integrates with POS and payroll systems you already use and trust! Join over 30,000 restaurants using 7shifts today. Restaurant Strategy listeners get 3 months free. VISIT: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Duce Raymond is the Managing Partner of Sweet Baby Ray's Restaurant & Catering, based out in the Chicago area. On today's episode we talk about the humble beginnings of the Sweet Baby Ray's brand and track the decades it took to finally launch a restaurant with the same name. Duce shares some of the highs and lows that came with starting that brand, and ultimately we dive into the catering side of the business. Tons of great stores and insights on today's episode. Check it out! LEARN MORE: https://www.sbrbbq.com/ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@sweetbabyrayscatering?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sweetbabyrayscatering/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/sweetbabyrayscatering ***** Sign up for my FREE Webinar on January 24 & 25 and learn my 5-Step Framework for Marketing Your Restaurant the RIGHT Way. This is an hourlong webinar that I am only giving twice. We're capping each one at 100 people, so secure your spot now! REGISTER: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/two-secrets-profitability-jan?cid=154a8e4d-d3d0-44d8-b0c8-1ad7831d4b71

#204 - Your Questions Answered! ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: DAVO Don’t let sales tax spoil your business. Stay on top of sales tax with automation from DAVO by Avalara so you can spend less time in the back office, and more time in the front of house. Click the link below to learn more and try DAVO free for the first month: VISIT: https://www.DAVOsalestax.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Sign up for my FREE Webinar on January 24 & 25 and learn my 5-Step Framework for Marketing Your Restaurant the RIGHT Way. This is an hourlong webinar that I am only giving twice. We're capping each one at 100 people, so secure your spot now! REGISTER: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/two-secrets-profitability-jan ***** It's been a while since I've done one of these... in fact Episode 85 was the last time... so I think we can agree that we are loooooooooong overdue. Today is the first of two Q&A episodes. I put out a request for questions and you guys certainly delivered. Four questions today and another four next week. And don't fret if I don't get to your question; it probably means it was too good to cover in this format. Some were so good I've decided to turn them into their own episodes. We're talking budgets, problem solving, restaurant valuation, catering, and more... all on today's episode of Restaurant Strategy! ***** Want to learn more about the Restaurant Accelerator Mastermind? Click the link to schedule a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#203 - Going for Maximum Profitability with Margin Edge Co-Founder, Bo Davis ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE Take control of your costs with using MarginEdge. Best of all? Listeners of this show get to try MarginEdge FREE for 30 days. No contract. No setup fee. Free and unlimited training and support. VISIT: marginedge.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: 7SHIFTS 7shifts is the team management platform for restaurants. From hiring, to scheduling, training and retaining, they’ve got the tools you need to help you run your business with ease. Better understand your restaurant, hit your labor targets, and keep your entire team connected. Plus, 7shifts integrates with POS and payroll systems you already use and trust! Join over 30,000 restaurants using 7shifts today. Restaurant Strategy listeners get 3 months free. VISIT: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Bo Davis is the Co-Founder and CEO of MarginEdge, a revolutionary piece of software that helps owners and operators see their costs in real time. How do you build a profitable business? By controlling the controllables, of course. And MarginEdge is the best way I know to do that. Not only is he a tech founder, but Bo is also an operator with more than two decades of experience in hospitality. He's smart, passionate, and opinionated... which makes for a great guest. Don't miss this wide-ranging conversation with one of the smartest people in our industry. DEMO: marginedge.com/chip LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davis-bo/ ***** Want to learn more about my Restaurant Accelerator Mastermind? Click the link to schedule a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#202 - What I Learned From a Year of Travel ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: SPOTON You may think of them as a POS system, but SpotOn is so much more. With SpotOn you get a seamless restaurant tech solution that actually boosts revenue and manages costs. Book a demo today and see how SpotOn is changing the whole game. VISIT: https://www.spoton.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: 7SHIFTS 7shifts is the team management platform for restaurants. From hiring, to scheduling, training and retaining, they’ve got the tools you need to help you run your business with ease. Better understand your restaurant, hit your labor targets, and keep your entire team connected. Plus, 7shifts integrates with POS and payroll systems you already use and trust! Join over 30,000 restaurants using 7shifts today. Restaurant Strategy listeners get 3 months free. VISIT: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy ***** A few years back I made travel a priority for me and my family. Until three years ago I'd only left the country once in my life... back in high school... and it changed me. So why didn't I go anywhere for the next 25 years? It's a question I can't answer. But I solved the issue in 2019 when I took me, my wife, and our son to Paris. Since then (pandemic aside) I've made travel a priority. In fact, this past year I've been to Los Angeles, San Diego, Orlando, Las Vegas, Columbia, Milwaukee, and Charleston... not to mention London, the Amalfi Coast, and Punta Cana. I know that for many, travel is a luxury. And I do not take it for granted. In fact, I've made it a priority and have worked very hard to be able to travel as much as I do. On today's episode I'm sharing my biggest takeaways from a year spent zig-zagging the globe. ***** Want to learn more about my Restaurant Accelerator Mastermind? Click the link to schedule a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#201 - Leadership 101 with KRP CEO, Troy Hooper ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN Thousands of restaurants across the country use Kickfin to send instant, cashless tip payouts, directly to their employees’ bank accounts, the second their shift ends. Get in touch today for a personalized demo and see how restaurants and bars across the country are tipping out with Kickfin. VISIT: kickfin.com/demo. ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: POPMENU If you’re a restaurant owner you need a great website that not only looks beautiful, but helps drive more traffic and sales. Use POPMENU to take your business to the next level. Best of all, listeners of this show can lock in one, set monthly rate… and get $100 off their first month. VISIT: https://popmenu.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Troy Hooper is the CEO of Kiwi Restaurant Partners, a management and consulting firm serving the hospitality industry. Put simply, they excel at taking small brands and turning them into big brands. And he's speaking about the common threads that all successful companies have in common. Tons of insights from one of the smartest people in the industry... and HINT HINT... he thinks success has a lot to do with leadership. KIWI RESTAURANT PARTNERS: https://www.krpusa.com/ TROY ON LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtroyhooper/ ***** Ready to learn more about the Restaurant Accelerator Group Coaching Program? Click the link to set up a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session with me: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#200 - Everything I Believe About Running Restaurants ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: SPOTON You may think of them as a POS system, but SpotOn is so much more. With SpotOn you get a seamless restaurant tech solution that actually boosts revenue and manages costs. Book a demo today and see how SpotOn is changing the whole game. VISIT: https://www.spoton.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: 7SHIFTS 7shifts is the team management platform for restaurants. From hiring, to scheduling, training and retaining, they’ve got the tools you need to help you run your business with ease. Better understand your restaurant, hit your labor targets, and keep your entire team connected. Plus, 7shifts integrates with POS and payroll systems you already use and trust! Join over 30,000 restaurants using 7shifts today. Restaurant Strategy listeners get 3 months free. VISIT: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Can you believe it? We made it all the way to Episode 200, and what a wild ride it's been!! On today's show I'm sharing everything I believe about running a successful restaurant. If you're new to the podcast this will give you a really good foundation for moving forward. If you've been with us from the beginning, this will be a great refresher. Running restaurants is not for the faint of heart, but it also isn't rocket science. I'm on a mission to help owners and operators build restaurants that work as hard as they do. Driving profit is simple - not necessarily easy - and it shouldn't be as elusive as it often is. Today's episode is about the building blocks you need to succeed, and the strategy I know you can craft. RESTAURANT BUDGET: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/offers/GPgAjMU3 Want my Marketing Plan Template or my Marketing Calendar? Email me: chip@chipklose.com ***** Want to learn more about my Restaurant Accelerator Mastermind? Click the link to schedule a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#199 - Talking Beverage & Branding with Rob Day ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN Thousands of restaurants across the country use Kickfin to send instant, cashless tip payouts, directly to their employees’ bank accounts, the second their shift ends. Get in touch today for a personalized demo and see how restaurants and bars across the country are tipping out with Kickfin. VISIT: kickfin.com/demo. ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: POPMENU If you’re a restaurant owner you need a great website that not only looks beautiful, but helps drive more traffic and sales. Use POPMENU to take your business to the next level. Best of all, listeners of this show can lock in one, set monthly rate… and get $100 off their first month. VISIT: https://popmenu.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Rob Day is the Marketing Director for Jack's Abby Craft Lagers. He's responsible for both the distribution of the brand, but also the marketing for the brewery experience. Because of that, he's uniquely qualified to speak to both sides of the discussion. He brings years of experience to the table and has a lot of insights to share... specifically: how we get build better relationships with our vendors to get the support we need. JACK'S ABBY: https://jacksabby.com/ ROB DAY ON LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robjday/ ***** Ready to learn more about the Restaurant Accelerator Group Coaching Program? Click the link to set up a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session with me: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#198 - Goal Setting for the Year Ahead ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE Take control of your costs with using MarginEdge. Best of all? Listeners of this show get to try MarginEdge FREE for 30 days. No contract. No setup fee. Free and unlimited training and support. VISIT: marginedge.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: 7SHIFTS 7shifts is the team management platform for restaurants. From hiring, to scheduling, training and retaining, they’ve got the tools you need to help you run your business with ease. Better understand your restaurant, hit your labor targets, and keep your entire team connected. Plus, 7shifts integrates with POS and payroll systems you already use and trust! Join over 30,000 restaurants using 7shifts today. Restaurant Strategy listeners get 3 months free. VISIT: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy ***** What we do is extraordinary, and no... not everyone could do it. Let's celebrate that for just a second, and use that to propel you forward into your best year yet. With just a bit of planning, you can crush the competition... and I'm going to give you the tools to do it. All on Episode 198 of the podcast! RESTAURANT BUDGET: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/offers/GPgAjMU3 Want my Marketing Plan Template or my Marketing Calendar? Email me: chip@chipklose.com ***** Want to learn more about my Restaurant Accelerator Mastermind? Click the link to schedule a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#197 - Reconnecting Our People with 7Shifts Founder, Jordan Boesch ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE Take control of your costs with using MarginEdge. Best of all? Listeners of this show get to try MarginEdge FREE for 30 days. No contract. No setup fee. Free and unlimited training and support. VISIT: marginedge.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: 7SHIFTS 7shifts is the team management platform for restaurants. From hiring, to scheduling, training and retaining, they’ve got the tools you need to help you run your business with ease. Better understand your restaurant, hit your labor targets, and keep your entire team connected. Plus, 7shifts integrates with POS and payroll systems you already use and trust! Join over 30,000 restaurants using 7shifts today. Restaurant Strategy listeners get 3 months free. VISIT: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Ours is a people business and 7shifts is trying to reinvent how we connect to our employees. Their industry-leading software is hands-down the best on the market, and on today's episode the company's founder explains exactly how they got where they are. More importantly, Jordan explains how his upbringing prepared him for the product he would eventually build. Tons of insights on today's episode. VISIT: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Want to learn more about my Restaurant Accelerator Mastermind? Click the link to schedule a FREE 30-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#196 - Killer Gift Ideas for Restaurateurs ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN Thousands of restaurants across the country use Kickfin to send instant, cashless tip payouts, directly to their employees’ bank accounts, the second their shift ends. Get in touch today for a personalized demo and see how restaurants and bars across the country are tipping out with Kickfin. VISIT: kickfin.com/demo. ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: POPMENU If you’re a restaurant owner you need a great website that not only looks beautiful, but helps drive more traffic and sales. Use POPMENU to take your business to the next level. Best of all, listeners of this show can lock in one, set monthly rate… and get $100 off their first month. VISIT: https://popmenu.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Let's face it... if you don't give your family some suggestions, they're gonna get you crap this holiday season. So I've put together some ideas for you. Books, movies, stocking-stuffers, and more. Link to everything below... RECOMMENDED BOOKS: Purple Cow by Seth Godin - CLICK TO BUY Setting the Table by Danny Meyer - CLICK TO BUY Start with Why by Simon Sinek - CLICK TO BUY Drive by Daniel Pink - CLICK TO BUY Atomic Habits by James Clear - CLICK TO BUY Building a Storybrand by Donald Miller - CLICK TO BUY Post Corona by Scott Galloway - CLICK TO BUY Delivering the Digital Restaurant by Orsbourne & Sandland - CLICK TO BUY Everybody Writes by Ann Handley - CLICK TO BUY The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel - CLICK TO BUY DOCUMENTARY IDEA Spinning Plates - LEARN MORE HATE READING? Audible Membership -

#195 - Using Data to Create More Meaningful Connections with Brightloom CRO, Kellie Zimmerman ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN Thousands of restaurants across the country use Kickfin to send instant, cashless tip payouts, directly to their employees’ bank accounts, the second their shift ends. Get in touch today for a personalized demo and see how restaurants and bars across the country are tipping out with Kickfin. VISIT: kickfin.com/demo. ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: POPMENU If you’re a restaurant owner you need a great website that not only looks beautiful, but helps drive more traffic and sales. Use POPMENU to take your business to the next level. Best of all, listeners of this show can lock in one, set monthly rate… and get $100 off their first month. VISIT: https://popmenu.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Kellie Zimmerman is the President and CRO of a company called Brightloom, and they're helping restaurants use their data to actually drive more revenue and build stronger relationships with their guests. We get into a lot of good stuff on this episode, including personalization and the need for outside-the-box thinking. Listen in! IMPORTANT LINKS: Free Data Health Report - https://go.brightloom.com/data-health-report Brightloom - https://www.brightloom.com/ ***** Ready to learn more about the Restaurant Accelerator Group Coaching Program? Click the link to set up a FREE 45-minute Strategy Session with me: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#194 - Leadership in Turbulent Times ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE Take control of your costs with using MarginEdge. Best of all? Listeners of this show get to try MarginEdge FREE for 30 days. No contract. No setup fee. Free and unlimited training and support. VISIT: marginedge.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: 7SHIFTS 7shifts is the team management platform for restaurants. From hiring, to scheduling, training and retaining, they’ve got the tools you need to help you run your business with ease. Better understand your restaurant, hit your labor targets, and keep your entire team connected. Plus, 7shifts integrates with POS and payroll systems you already use and trust! Join over 30,000 restaurants using 7shifts today. Restaurant Strategy listeners get 3 months free. VISIT: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy ***** The listeners of this show are -- for the most part -- leaders. Do you run a business? Are you responsible for other people? Do you fret about motivation and productivity? Do you have trouble getting others to do what you want? You're a leader. And I understand how hard of a job that is. On today's episode, I'm sharing some of my favorite ideas... mindset shifts for leveling up your leadership. Below you'll find all of the links to my favorite books on being a great leader. IMPORTANT LINKS: "Leadership in Turbulent Times" - https://amzn.to/3XERXdQ "Start With Why" - https://amzn.to/3OFXVXU "Setting the Table" - https://amzn.to/3u5J0wY "Drive" - https://amzn.to/3UcLVhG ***** Want to learn more about my Restaurant Accelerator Mastermind? Click the link to schedule a FREE 45-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#193 - Bringing Intentionality to the Hiring Process with Talroo CEO, Thad Price ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE Take control of your costs with using MarginEdge. Best of all? Listeners of this show get to try MarginEdge FREE for 30 days. No contract. No setup fee. Free and unlimited training and support. VISIT: marginedge.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: 7SHIFTS 7shifts is the team management platform for restaurants. From hiring, to scheduling, training and retaining, they’ve got the tools you need to help you run your business with ease. Better understand your restaurant, hit your labor targets, and keep your entire team connected. Plus, 7shifts integrates with POS and payroll systems you already use and trust! Join over 30,000 restaurants using 7shifts today. Restaurant Strategy listeners get 3 months free. VISIT: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy ***** We're at a breaking point with restaurant staffing, and my guest on this week's show has some insights to share. Thad Price is the CEO of Talroo, which takes an advertising approach to finding great talent. Tune in for a bunch of great nuggets! IMPORTANT LINKS: Talroo Website - https://www.talroo.com/ Talroo on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/talroo-official/ Thad on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thad-price-2368b/ ***** Want to learn more about my Group Coaching Programs? Click the link to schedule a FREE 45-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule Last chance to get $500 off my Restaurant Recharge Program! Want the promo code? E-mail me directly and I'll send it: chip@chipklose.com

#192 - Your Marketing is Broken (Here's How to Fix It!) ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN Thousands of restaurants across the country use Kickfin to send instant, cashless tip payouts, directly to their employees’ bank accounts, the second their shift ends. Get in touch today for a personalized demo and see how restaurants and bars across the country are tipping out with Kickfin. VISIT: kickfin.com/demo. ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: POPMENU If you’re a restaurant owner you need a great website that not only looks beautiful, but helps drive more traffic and sales. Use POPMENU to take your business to the next level. Best of all, listeners of this show can lock in one, set monthly rate… and get $100 off their first month. VISIT: https://popmenu.com/restaurantstrategy ***** I spend most of my week talking with restaurant owners from all over the world, and so it's easy for me to spot trends. There are certain things that all (or most) successful restaurants do. Likewise, there are things that all struggling restaurants have in common. On this week's episode I'm sharing a Top Ten List of sorts... the 10 things that are broken with your marketing. But here's the best part... I'm also sharing the 10 best ways to fix what's broken! ***** Ready to learn more about the Restaurant Accelerator Group Coaching Program? Click the link to set up a FREE 45-minute Strategy Session with me: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#191 - The Future of Tipping with Kickfin Co-Founder, Brian Hassan ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN Thousands of restaurants across the country use Kickfin to send instant, cashless tip payouts, directly to their employees’ bank accounts, the second their shift ends. Get in touch today for a personalized demo and see how restaurants and bars across the country are tipping out with Kickfin. VISIT: kickfin.com/demo. ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: POPMENU If you’re a restaurant owner you need a great website that not only looks beautiful, but helps drive more traffic and sales. Use POPMENU to take your business to the next level. Best of all, listeners of this show can lock in one, set monthly rate… and get $100 off their first month. VISIT: https://popmenu.com/restaurantstrategy ***** KickFin has been a sponsor of this show for a while now, and for good reason. They offer a compelling solution to a really big problem. They're revolutionizing tipping and employee cutlure with their software, and so I wanted to chat with their co-founder to hear his thoughts on the industry. He's as smart as he is thoughtful, and he's offering a ton of data and case studies in this week's episode. CASE STUDIES: https://kickfin.com/ SCHEDULE A DEMO: kickfin.com/demo EMAIL BRIAN DIRECTLY: brian@kickfin.com ***** Ready to learn more about the Restaurant Accelerator Group Coaching Program? Click the link to set up a FREE 45-minute Strategy Session with me: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#190 - Talking All About Your Tech Stack ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE Take control of your costs with using MarginEdge. Best of all? Listeners of this show get to try MarginEdge FREE for 30 days. No contract. No setup fee. Free and unlimited training and support. VISIT: marginedge.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: 7SHIFTS 7shifts is the team management platform for restaurants. From hiring, to scheduling, training and retaining, they’ve got the tools you need to help you run your business with ease. Better understand your restaurant, hit your labor targets, and keep your entire team connected. Plus, 7shifts integrates with POS and payroll systems you already use and trust! Join over 30,000 restaurants using 7shifts today. Restaurant Strategy listeners get 3 months free. VISIT: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy ***** We're talking all about tech stack, and I'm sharing specific recommendations for the software I think you need in your restaurant! IMPORTANT LINKS: Popmenu - https://get.popmenu.com/lp/restaurant-strategy Margin Edge - marginedge.com/chip 7Shifts - https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy KickFin - https://kickfin.com/demo/ Sprout Social - https://sproutsocial.com/ Marqii - https://marqii.com/ Bikky - https://www.bikky.com/ MailChimp - https://mailchimp.com/ Sevenrooms - https://sevenrooms.com/en/ Ovation - https://ovationup.com/ ***** Want to learn more about my Group Coaching Programs? Click the link to schedule a FREE 45-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule Last chance to get $500 off my Restaurant Recharge Program! Want the promo code? E-mail me directly and I'll send it: chip@chipklose.com

#189 - Interview with Asheville Restaurateur, Eric Scheffer ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE Take control of your costs with using MarginEdge. Best of all? Listeners of this show get to try MarginEdge FREE for 30 days. No contract. No setup fee. Free and unlimited training and support. VISIT: marginedge.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: 7SHIFTS 7shifts is the team management platform for restaurants. From hiring, to scheduling, training and retaining, they’ve got the tools you need to help you run your business with ease. Better understand your restaurant, hit your labor targets, and keep your entire team connected. Plus, 7shifts integrates with POS and payroll systems you already use and trust! Join over 30,000 restaurants using 7shifts today. Restaurant Strategy listeners get 3 months free. VISIT: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy ***** After a couple of decades in business, he must be doing something right. Eric Scheffer is as thoughtful as he he smart. He joins me to share all of this staffing secrets. Tune in! IMPORTANT LINKS: https://www.thescheffergroup.com/ https://jettieraes.com/ https://vinniesitalian.com/ https://www.cieloavl.com/ ***** Want to learn more about my Group Coaching Programs? Click the link to schedule a FREE 45-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule Want to get $500 off my Restaurant Recharge Program? E-mail me directly and I'll send you the discount link: chip@chipklose.com

#188 - Two Things All Restaurants NEED to Succeed ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN Thousands of restaurants across the country use Kickfin to send instant, cashless tip payouts, directly to their employees’ bank accounts, the second their shift ends. Get in touch today for a personalized demo and see how restaurants and bars across the country are tipping out with Kickfin. VISIT: kickfin.com/demo. ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: POPMENU If you’re a restaurant owner you need a great website that not only looks beautiful, but helps drive more traffic and sales. Use POPMENU to take your business to the next level. Best of all, listeners of this show can lock in one, set monthly rate… and get $100 off their first month. VISIT: https://popmenu.com/restaurantstrategy ***** I've spent my entire adult life -- 22 years -- working in hospitality. For the past 7 years I've been working primarily as a restaurant consultant and coach, and there are two common threads I see in the restaurants I consult with. The struggling restaurants all lack it, while the places that are killing it have these two things locked down? One on the operations side, and the other dealing with marketing... What are they? OPERATIONS: A path to profitability MARKETING: A clear framework for marketing the restaurant On today's episode we dig into all of that, and I give you simple, actionable ways to put this stuff into practive right away. Tune in! ***** Ready to learn more about the Restaurant Accelerator Group Coaching Program? Click the link to set up a FREE 45-minute Strategy Session with me: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#187 - Going for the WOW Factor with Woworks CEO, Kelly Roddy ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN Thousands of restaurants across the country use Kickfin to send instant, cashless tip payouts, directly to their employees’ bank accounts, the second their shift ends. Get in touch today for a personalized demo and see how restaurants and bars across the country are tipping out with Kickfin. VISIT: kickfin.com/demo. ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: POPMENU If you’re a restaurant owner you need a great website that not only looks beautiful, but helps drive more traffic and sales. Use POPMENU to take your business to the next level. Best of all, listeners of this show can lock in one, set monthly rate… and get $100 off their first month. VISIT: https://popmenu.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Woworks CEO Kelly Roddy sits down to talk about culture, evolution, and what a brand needs to stay relevant in a changing market. He's helped SaladWorks grow in unimaginable ways, and has helped grow the company's roster of brands in just a few short years. Lots to learn, so listen in! IMPORTANT LINKS: Woworks USA - https://woworksusa.com/ Saladworks - https://saladworks.com/ Fruttabowls - https://fruttabowls.com/ Garbanzo - https://eatgarbanzo.com/ The Simple Greek - https://thesimplegreek.com/ Barberitos - https://www.barberitos.com/ Zoup - https://zoup.com/ ***** Ready to learn more about the Restaurant Accelerator Group Coaching Program? Click the link to set up a FREE 45-minute Strategy Session with me: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#186 - What Makes Great Hospitality? ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE Take control of your costs with using MarginEdge. Best of all? Listeners of this show get to try MarginEdge FREE for 30 days. No contract. No setup fee. Free and unlimited training and support. VISIT: marginedge.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: 7SHIFTS 7shifts is a modern team management platform, designed by restaurateurs, for restaurateurs. It integrates seamlessly with the POS and Payroll systems you already use to give your team a competitive advantage. And guess what? Listeners of the show get their first 3 months FREE! VISIT: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Back in August, my wife and I took a trip to the Dominican Republic... just a quick, 3-day getaway to recharge after a very stressful spring and summer. When I was down there, I couldn't help but pay attention to how we were treated. And it got me thinking: What makes great hospitality? ***** Want to learn more about my Group Coaching Programs? Click the link to schedule a FREE 45-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#185 - Understanding the Impact of Marketing Research with Dr. Ernest Baskin ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE Take control of your costs with using MarginEdge. Best of all? Listeners of this show get to try MarginEdge FREE for 30 days. No contract. No setup fee. Free and unlimited training and support. VISIT: marginedge.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: 7SHIFTS 7shifts is a modern team management platform, designed by restaurateurs, for restaurateurs. It integrates seamlessly with the POS and Payroll systems you already use to give your team a competitive advantage. And guess what? Listeners of the show get their first 3 months FREE! VISIT: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy ***** A few years ago I decided to go back to school to get my MBA, and one of my absolute favorite professors was Dr. Ernest Baskin. He went University of Pennsylvania for undergrad and then got his Master's and PhD from Yale. His perspective is unique and I knew I wanted to bring him onto the show to talk about the importance of research. Enjoy this wide-ranging conversation with one of the smartest people I know. IMPORTANT LINKS: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ernestbaskin/ ***** Want to learn more about my Group Coaching Programs? Click the link to schedule a FREE 45-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#185 - Understanding the Impact of Marketing Research with Dr. Ernest Baskin ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE Take control of your costs with using MarginEdge. Best of all? Listeners of this show get to try MarginEdge FREE for 30 days. No contract. No setup fee. Free and unlimited training and support. VISIT: marginedge.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: 7SHIFTS 7shifts is a modern team management platform, designed by restaurateurs, for restaurateurs. It integrates seamlessly with the POS and Payroll systems you already use to give your team a competitive advantage. And guess what? Listeners of the show get their first 3 months FREE! VISIT: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurantstrategy ***** A few years ago I decided to go back to school to get my MBA, and one of my absolute favorite professors was Dr. Ernest Baskin. He went University of Pennsylvania for undergrad and then got his Master's and PhD from Yale. His perspective is unique and I knew I wanted to bring him onto the show to talk about the importance of research. Enjoy this wide-ranging conversation with one of the smartest people I know. IMPORTANT LINKS: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ernestbaskin/ ***** Want to learn more about my Group Coaching Programs? Click the link to schedule a FREE 45-minute Strategy Session: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#184 - What a Lemonade Stand Can Teach Us About Business ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN Thousands of restaurants across the country use Kickfin to send instant, cashless tip payouts, directly to their employees’ bank accounts, the second their shift ends. Get in touch today for a personalized demo and see how restaurants and bars across the country are tipping out with Kickfin. VISIT: kickfin.com/demo. ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: POPMENU If you’re a restaurant owner you need a great website that not only looks beautiful, but helps drive more traffic and sales. Use POPMENU to take your business to the next level. Best of all, listeners of this show can lock in one, set monthly rate… and get $100 off their first month. VISIT: https://popmenu.com/restaurantstrategy ***** After 20 years, my family and I made the big move out of NYC. We now live about thirty minutes outside the city in the New Jersey suburbs, and honestly, I couldn't be happier about it. But the one thing my 7-year old son made me promise was that I would let him run a lemonade stand one day. So I happily obliged, but of course, I had to do it my way; I used the experience as an opportunity to teach him about COGS and profit margin, and how to find a target market. Tune in to hear all about it, and to discover what all that can teach us about what we do working at a somewhat higher level. ***** Ready to learn more about the Restaurant Accelerator Group Coaching Program? Click the link to set up a FREE 45-minute Strategy Session with me: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#184 - What a Lemonade Stand Can Teach Us About Business ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN Thousands of restaurants across the country use Kickfin to send instant, cashless tip payouts, directly to their employees’ bank accounts, the second their shift ends. Get in touch today for a personalized demo and see how restaurants and bars across the country are tipping out with Kickfin. VISIT: kickfin.com/demo. ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: POPMENU If you’re a restaurant owner you need a great website that not only looks beautiful, but helps drive more traffic and sales. Use POPMENU to take your business to the next level. Best of all, listeners of this show can lock in one, set monthly rate… and get $100 off their first month. VISIT: https://popmenu.com/restaurantstrategy ***** After 20 years, my family and I made the big move out of NYC. We now live about thirty minutes outside the city in the New Jersey suburbs, and honestly, I couldn't be happier about it. But the one thing my 7-year old son made me promise was that I would let him run a lemonade stand one day. So I happily obliged, but of course, I had to do it my way; I used the experience as an opportunity to teach him about COGS and profit margin, and how to find a target market. Tune in to hear all about it, and to discover what all that can teach us about what we do working at a somewhat higher level. ***** Ready to learn more about the Restaurant Accelerator Group Coaching Program? Click the link to set up a FREE 45-minute Strategy Session with me: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

#183 - Talking Evolution and the Importance of a Growth Mindset with Chef Michael Reed ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN Thousands of restaurants across the country use Kickfin to send instant, cashless tip payouts, directly to their employees’ bank accounts, the second their shift ends. Get in touch today for a personalized demo and see how restaurants and bars across the country are tipping out with Kickfin. VISIT: kickfin.com/demo. ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: POPMENU If you’re a restaurant owner you need a great website that not only looks beautiful, but helps drive more traffic and sales. Use POPMENU to take your business to the next level. Best of all, listeners of this show can lock in one, set monthly rate… and get $100 off their first month. VISIT: https://popmenu.com/restaurantstrategy ***** Chef Michael Reed is a bit old school. He started his career at the bottom worked his way up through some of California's best kitchens, being mentored by industry giants like Nancy Silverton. He has slowly, quietly been building his empire over the past few years and was kind enought to take time out of his day to chat with me about that growth. Lots of insights, and more than a few good food stories. IMPORTANT LINKS: Poppy & Rose: https://www.poppyandrose.comPoppy & Seed: https://www.poppyandseedoc.com ***** Ready to learn more about the Restaurant Accelerator Group Coaching Program? Click the link to set up a FREE 45-minute Strategy Session with me: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule