Wisking it all

By: Angelo Esposito
  • Summary

  • Welcome to Wisking it all, where we interview hospitality professionals who put everything on the line to do what they do, and we try to understand how and why? Contrary to most businesses the hospitality business is mainly made up of people who are passionate about their trade. Not many people go into it for the money but go into it for the passion of delivering a unique customer experience.
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Episodes
  • S2E64 - Building Iconic Brands with Gastamo’s Peter Newlin
    Dec 10 2024
    About the Episode

    In this conversation, Peter Newlin, Chief Vision Officer and Co-Founder of Gastamo Group, shares insights into the future of the restaurant industry, emphasizing the importance of technology, mentorship, and community engagement.

    He discusses his personal journey into hospitality, the evolution of restaurant concepts, and the significance of experiential dining.

    Newlin highlights the need for patience and focus in building successful restaurant brands and explores the impact of technology on enhancing guest experiences.

    Takeaways
    • There's a tremendous backlog of ideas for great tech in restaurants.
    • Experiential dining is becoming a key focus in the industry.
    • Mentorship plays a crucial role in personal and professional growth.
    • Patience and focus are essential for long-term success.
    • Community engagement is vital for restaurant success.
    • Quality over quantity is a growing trend in dining.
    • Technology will play a significant role in the future of restaurants.
    • Understanding your home market is critical for growth.
    • Listening to customer feedback is essential for improvement.
    • The restaurant industry is evolving with new trends and technologies.
    Timestamps

    00:00 Discovered hospitality's joy, magic, and impact. 03:49 Fell in love with transforming guest experiences. 06:37 Philippe exemplified mentorship and inspired knowledge-sharing. 12:19 Patience, focus, and slow growth ensure success. 15:30 Perdida: personal journeys, community, destination, Baja ambiance. 18:04 Community-driven design enhances unique restaurant concepts. 21:29 Listen to customer feedback; crucial for growth. 23:31 Focus on regional growth and operational success. 28:17 Shift from quantity to quality in dining. 30:07 AI tools will enhance restaurant tech integrations. 32:52 Make people feel special; tech consolidates profitably.

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    34 mins
  • S2E63 - Uncommon Growth Tactics for Restaurant Operators
    Dec 3 2024
    About the Episode

    In this episode, Angelo Esposito interviews Gregg Majewski, founder and CEO of Craveworthy Brands. They discuss the journey of scaling restaurants, the importance of culture and leadership, and the innovative approach of Craveworthy Brands in the restaurant industry, including the use of virtual brands and shared kitchens to maximize efficiency and profitability.

    In this conversation, Gregg shares his insights on building a strong team culture, the importance of employee growth and retention, and his leadership philosophy that prioritizes the well-being of his team. He discusses the challenges faced by the restaurant industry, particularly in terms of operational hurdles and pricing strategies, while also emphasizing the need for embracing technology to enhance customer experience.

    Looking ahead, he outlines ambitious goals for Craveworthy Brands and the importance of supporting franchisees in achieving their dreams.

    Takeaways
    • Craveworthy Brands aims to support emerging and legacy brands.
    • Scaling from 30 to 300 locations requires a strong belief in the business plan.
    • Culture and leadership are crucial for restaurant success.
    • Systems and procedures must be in place for growth.
    • Transitioning to Craveworthy Brands was a planned move for Gregg.
    • Virtual brands can significantly increase revenue without additional overhead.
    • Speed and efficiency are key components of restaurant operations.
    • Franchisees' success leads to long-term success for the brand.
    • Innovative concepts like shared kitchens can optimize resources.
    • The restaurant industry is about adapting and evolving with market demands. Building a team culture is essential for success.
    • Employee growth should be prioritized over personal gain.
    • Great leaders support their team's aspirations.
    • Paying employees well can reduce turnover.
    • Technology should enhance, not replace, hospitality.
    • Operational challenges are prevalent in the restaurant industry.
    • Pricing strategies need to be flexible and responsive.
    • Setting ambitious goals drives progress.
    • Understanding the value of technology is crucial.
    • Leadership involves getting hands-on and staying connected with the team.
    Timestamps

    00:00 Craveworthy Brands: Supports emerging brands, franchise-focused growth. 05:04 Passionate culture, commitment drove unique sandwich success. 09:00 Create duplicable systems; manage failures; retrain/improve. 10:45 Invested in restaurants after family-focused career. 15:32 Menu designed for existing kitchen equipment use. 18:55 Supporting personal growth, even if leaving company. 20:22 Overpay to increase employee retention and loyalty. 24:30 Leaders succeed by engaging and performing duties. 27:53 Focus on perfecting one tech item completely. 29:11 Prioritize needs; avoid feature distractions with checklists. 32:30 Set impossible goals, work towards achieving them.

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    35 mins
  • S2E62 - Disney-Proven Tactics for Unmatched Customer Service
    Nov 19 2024
    About the Episode

    In this engaging conversation, Vance Morris shares his unique journey from a childhood paper route to a successful career in customer service and entrepreneurship. He discusses his time at Disney, the lessons learned, and how he applied those principles to build a thriving carpet cleaning business.

    Vance emphasizes the importance of customer experience, effective marketing strategies, and robust customer retention systems, providing valuable insights for business owners in various industries. In this conversation, Vance Morris elaborates the critical elements of customer service in the restaurant industry, furthered the importance of personal connections, staff training, and attention to detail. He shares insights from his experiences at Disney and his mission to improve service quality through his company, Deliver Service Now.

    The discussion covers practical strategies for restaurants to stand out in a competitive market and the significance of creating memorable customer experiences.

    Takeaways
    • Vance's journey illustrates the importance of customer service from a young age.
    • Disney's operational principles can be applied to any business.
    • Creating a unique customer experience is key to standing out.
    • Effective marketing should attract the right customers and repel the wrong ones.
    • Customer retention is significantly cheaper than acquiring new customers.
    • Using personal stories in marketing can create emotional connections.
    • Simplicity in systems ensures they are followed by all employees.
    • A robust loyalty program can enhance customer retention.
    • Direct mail remains a powerful tool for customer engagement.
    • Fun and personality in business can enhance customer relationships. Personal connections can significantly enhance customer loyalty.
    • Clean restrooms are a basic yet vital aspect of restaurant marketing.
    • Educating staff about the menu can improve customer interactions.
    • Attention to detail is crucial in the restaurant business.
    • Service quality is a key differentiator in the restaurant industry.
    • Training staff properly can prevent service issues.
    • Predictability in service builds customer trust and repeat business.
    • A mission to eradicate poor service can drive business success.
    • Utilizing resources like the right next thing finder can help prioritize improvements.
    • Creating memorable experiences is essential for customer retention.
    Timestamps

    00:00 Introduction. 03:17 Disney food industry career and roles overview. 08:04 Reluctantly considered carpet cleaning opportunity for marketing. 11:44 Unique phone greeting distinguishes Dave's Insurance. 14:20 Restaurants can boost business with loyalty programs. 16:28 I use my children in marketing campaigns. 19:04 Ritz GM embraces hands-on leadership, cleanliness approach. 23:31 Miscommunication about "Tequila Old Fashioned" button options. 27:51 Mission: Improve service quality with human element. 28:48 Consistent guests maintain steady restaurant income. 34:24 10 questions to find your next focus. 35:09 Mystery audits and Disney business boot camps. 38:41 Website offers courses on client retention strategies.

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    40 mins

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