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Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

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Corona Chronicle #40: 9 Ways to market your restaurant during COVID-19- Christi Christian- Los Angeles, CA

Learn more about Christi Christian here. Key Takeaways Things are moving so fast that ideas you had a week ago could be moot now More and more we are encouraged to eat takeout The 9 ways to market your restaurant Take your menu and scale it down to what people want the most and what can travel well Up your sanitation and show your customers that you are actually doing it. Hospitality first – it starts with the leader Day-specific promotion Create "boxes" for whole meals – valued price Alcohol promotions – package wine with other items – discount it – check state regulations Prepare for upcoming holiday events – promote them! Community – help each other out – we are all in this together Don't be afraid to seek out help Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: Check out www.contactlesspickup.net here An article about UV light use in commercial kitchens here and here

Apr 16, 202033 min

Corona Chronicle #39: Toast POS- Kevin Hamilton & Chris Dimmick- Boston, MA & Dayton, OH

Interested in Toast as your POS? Contact me for an introduction! Eric at restaurantunstoppable dot com Learn more about Toast POS here. Learn more about Kevin Hamilton and the Toast POS leadership team here. Learn more about Chris Dimmick here. Key Takeaways Toast POS is free for the next 3 months Toast launched Rally for Restaurants with four main pillars: How to rally companies and individuals to help reduce restaurants' operating costs How do we motivate consumers to help support their local restaurants? Get the government's attention for help support small- to medium-sized businesses To recruit other tech partners to achieve these goals Rally for Restaurants aims at helping all restaurants; not just Toast customers Chris Dimmick is a Toast POS user who used the new services for online ordering/pickup for his bar Toast NOW is free and helps users transfer to online ordering, etc. Be aggressive about managing online presence with Toast Encourage your guests to use YOUR online ordering app and not other, more expensive third-party services Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: Toast POS website Toast NOW is free RallyForRestaurants.com

Apr 15, 202028 min

Corona Chronicle #38: CARES Act and PPP with Texas Restaurant Association- Dr. Emily Williams Knight- Austin, TX

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Learn more about Dr. Emily Williams Knight here. Key Takeaways CARES Act and how it works The purpose of hope and setting dates The restaurant industry is a 3-5% profit margin industry, we cannot survive on savings The June 1st deadline is unrealistic The industry needs a government plan to carry them through December AT LEAST Workers are incentivized to stay home for health, safety, and more money from unemployment (because of tips) but the CARES Act encourages employers to rehire staff by a certain date; these two mechanics conflict; it doesn't work. Many small businesses cannot access PPP loans With a PPP loan there is: no personal guarantee, no collateral, no test elsewhere which speeds up the process but limits options Before making decisions, talk to your accountant EIDL (Economic Injury Disaster Loan) loans are available as well Every state has a Restaurant Association that can help you specifically CARES Act is federal, it applies to all states If you opened your business after February 1st you are not eligible for PPP loans but you are eligible for a small business loan Your fear of changing your business model should be gone now, take this opportunity to improve your business Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: Texas Restaurant Association website breaks all this down for specifically hospitality industries Email Dr. Knight: [email protected] Chamber of Commerce website (specific to your area) SBA website Lobby for more money and more relief and extended deadlines here TX Restaurant Relief Fund Contact Information at Texas Workforce Commission Unemployment insurance support department staff: (512) 463-2236, (512) 475-0435, or (800) 628-5115; [email protected] and [email protected] Office of the Commissioner representing Labor: (512) 463-2829 or (800) 832-2829;[email protected]

Apr 14, 202052 min

Corona Chronicle #37: What you do during the COVID-19 should reflect your mission statement- Jennifer Desrosiers- Exeter, NH

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Learn more about Jennifer Desrosiers here. Key Takeaways Go cashless if you can Whatever you do during the crisis should still align with your mission statement Let your mission statement guide you through tough decisions during the pandemic Feed healthcare workers if you can Pop Ups—are they safe? How do we carry them out? Resources mentioned in this Chronicle

Apr 13, 202038 min

Corona Chronicle #36: Complying with "The New Normal"- Aaron Colby- Los Angeles, CA

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Learn more about Aaron Colby here. Key Takeaways what complying with"The new normal" looks like. Adjusting to minimal staff and working from home. Being mindful of the shift within your business and making sure you're documenting these changes appropriate to remain compliant. If your employees are making 1 dollar less an hour making sure they apply for unemployment insurance. Are your people eligible for unemployment if they're fearful of working What the future may look like- from a lawyers perspective. Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: Davis Wright and Tremaine

Apr 10, 202058 min

Corona Chronicle #35: Short, mid, and long-term strategies- Dean Small- Newport, CA

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Learn more about Dean Small here. Key Takeaways You must be positive and, dare we say, excited about the future You must have three strategies: short-, mid-, and long-term Short-term: convenience, restaurant-quality food via pickup, easy and safe as possible for the consumer, delivery plays a big role as well, keep your website up-to-date, Mid-term: reduce your menu, provide what people need, go towards groceries if you can Long-term: Q1 of 2021 is the light at the end of the tunnel; plan for that Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: None

Apr 9, 202034 min

Corona Chronicle #34: What you do for your community now will come back ten-fold- Peter Austen- Gloucestershire, UK

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Learn more about Peter Austen here. Key Takeaways People are cute g out what they don't need to do; that includes bars/pubs You have to adapt to lean operations Sell everything you have to your community What you do for your community will come back ten fold Do not forget those who do favors for you now (banks, landlords, etc.) Whether you stay in business is UP TO YOU

Apr 8, 202031 min

Corona Chronicle #33: Stay positive and get creative- Elizabeth Blau- Las Vegas, NV

Learn more about Elizabeth Blau here. Key Takeaways Family meal best practices Employ waitstaff for deliveries Family style meals are economical Focus on what makes people comfortable Positive outlook is key Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: Postmates Grubhub James Beard Foundation- four resources and update

Apr 7, 202030 min

707: Chef Kelly Mullarney on Adaptability, Evolution, and Open-Mindedness

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Chef Kelly Mullarney is a graduate from the CIA with nearly 40 years of experience working in, opening, and operating successful restaurants. Today Chef Kelly serves as co-founder and chef of Bruxie. Bruxie is responsible for the original Fried Chicken and Waffle Sandwich, and each unique sandwich recipe was developed by Chef Kelly. Today, there are seven Bruxie locations in California and Nevada, and 18 U.S. locations and 24 international locations in development. Show notes… Calls to ACTION!!! Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!) Favorite success quote or mantra: "The mind is like an umbrella; it works best when it's open." In today's episode with Kelly Mullarney we will discuss: Open-mindedness Kelly got his start working for free in order to learn as much as he could Kelly recommends getting kitchen experience before entering culinary school Any experience, good or bad, is a valuable experience The importance of traveling and broadening your horizons Growth happens when you are out of your comfort zone Adaptability and evolution Bring solutions and not problems Take the stress for your team It's better to light a fire within your staff instead of under their ass Working with recruiters Franchising Creation of the Fried Chicken and Waffle Sandwich The pressure of fine dining Creativity can be taxing Branding The future of Bruxie Today's sponsor: Restaurant365 is a cloud-based, all-in-one, restaurant-specific accounting and back-office platform that seamlessly integrates with POS systems, payroll providers, food and beverage vendors. It generates accurate real-time reporting and analysis in user-friendly dashboards, facilitating immediate, data-driven decision making. Restaurant365 eliminates manual, error-prone processes and is designed to help restaurant businesses grow with functionality that helps optimize labor costs, reduce food costs and increase revenue. P&G ProfessionalTM offers innovative total foodservice solutions featuring trusted brands such as Dawn® Professional, Cascade® Professional, Spic and Span® and Comet®. We are unique in that our total solutions are founded in customer and patron understanding, superior products that help save time and cut overall costs, and a five-star service group that is compensated based on customer satisfaction, not commissions. Visit www.pgpro.com for the latest information about P&G Professional's solutions and services. Knowledge bombs Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success? Work ethic What is your biggest weakness? Overthinking What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview? It's about personality What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it? Finding the right people Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team. Lead by example What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff? Exceed the guest's expectations What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner? GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey What's one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough? Listen If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be? Be kind Be open-minded Don't be afraid to fail but learn from the failures and learn to adapt (Bonus!) Find what makes you happy and be passionate about it Contact info: Bruxie website Franchising with Bruxie Email: [email protected] Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Kelly Mullarney for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time! Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

Apr 6, 20201h 35m

Corona Chronicle #32: Three critical ways to cope and thrive right now- Katie Frank- Ann Arbor, MI

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[Audio coming soon] Learn more about Katie Frank here. Key Takeaways Why hope is so important Be of service to your community Someone depends on you so be positive for yourself and everyone who you impact Hope for a more desirable future; it's UP TO YOU Have a vision for your future We need to rally, we can't do it alone Make a list of the negatives first and avoid them Figure out what success looks like in this situation A vision for you and your staff How to take phone orders quickly and efficiently Read back the order Pre-check and re-check and confirm upon delivery Accuracy, politeness, enthusiasm, go the extra mile Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: Zing Train to make your business better. Why Having Hope Matters The Power of Visioning During Transitions How to Give Great Customer Service Over The Phone

Apr 3, 202031 min

Corona Chronicle #31: This is your chance to plan for your future- David Denney- Dallas, TX

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Learn more about David Denny here. Key Takeaways Most landlords are being helpful--talk to yours NOW For the relief bill states, you hire the same number of employees, not necessarily the SAME employees The reasons why insurance doesn't cover COVID-19 Some restaurants have created non-profits to feed first-responders Feeding those in need gives you goodwill which will last and keep you alive when this is over This is your chance to plan for the future now that CARES has passed Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: Denney Law Group Texas Restaurant Association Resource Page Davis Wright Tremaine LLP COVID19 Resource page

Apr 2, 202035 min

706: Dean Small on 8 Ways to be More Profitable

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Dean Small is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, where he apprenticed for two years at Windows On The World. In 1985, Dean became Director of Culinary Development and Purchasing Manager at El Torito Restaurants, which operated more than 220 units and 12 restaurant concepts, with operations grossing over $420 million. In 1988, Dean founded Synergy Restaurant Consultants to provide innovation and efficiency strategies to restaurants and food manufacturers. Since then, Synergy has been a food, beverage, and operations resource to over 225 national restaurant chains and independent operators. Check out Jolt as mentioned in today's episode! Check out Enjoy as mentioned in today's episode! Check out ExpandShare as mentioned in today's episode! Check out Menuvative as mentioned in today's episode! Check out DELIVER-iT as mentioned in today's episode! Show notes… Calls to ACTION!!! Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!) Favorite success quote or mantra: "You only know what you know." In today's episode with Dean Small we will discuss: Most people are not born restauranteurs, there is so much you have to learn Working at Windows on the World, the busiest restaurant in the world Productivity, Motivation, high volume kitchen work Working for a Rockefeller How does skiing relate to restaurant hospitality? Cooking in a pineapple cooking contest High-end catering in Aspen Becoming the best caterer in a very busy ski town Failure based on uncontrollable circumstances Meeting challenges as opportunities The immensity you can learn from a massive corporation Leverage buy-outs and how they work Look for "white spaces" where services are needed but don't exist The 8 ways to become more profitable: Brand Positioning Guest Experience/Emotional Connection Management Team and Execution of Strategy Menu Innovation Off-Premise Cattering Labor Costs Food Costs Marketing Today's sponsor: Restaurant365 is a cloud-based, all-in-one, restaurant-specific accounting and back-office platform that seamlessly integrates with POS systems, payroll providers, food and beverage vendors. It generates accurate real-time reporting and analysis in user-friendly dashboards, facilitating immediate, data-driven decision making. Restaurant365 eliminates manual, error-prone processes and is designed to help restaurant businesses grow with functionality that helps optimize labor costs, reduce food costs and increase revenue. P&G ProfessionalTM offers innovative total foodservice solutions featuring trusted brands such as Dawn® Professional, Cascade® Professional, Spic and Span® and Comet®. We are unique in that our total solutions are founded in customer and patron understanding, superior products that help save time and cut overall costs, and a five-star service group that is compensated based on customer satisfaction, not commissions. Visit www.pgpro.com for the latest information about P&G Professional's solutions and services. Contact info: Email: [email protected] Synergy Restaurant Consultants Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Dean Small for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time! Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

Apr 2, 20201h 27m

Corona Chronicle #30: Stay relevant on social media even though you are closed- Bruce Irving- Boston, MA

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Learn more about Bruce Irving here. Key Takeaways Restaurants that show the customer the entire process of how pickup/curbside food is handled safely and successful Use social media to demonstrate that you are being safe with handling food to reassure them if you close you MUST stay relevant on social media If you are closed create a consistent online presence and talk to your customer base Go live and teach your customers how to cook Engage with your community online Plan your reopen now Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: Check out Bruce's online Pizza Summit here Email Bruce: [email protected]

Apr 1, 202022 min

Corona Chronicle #29: Run a marathon for your team…LITERALLY- Matt Louis- Portsmouth, NH

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Learn more about Matt Louis here. Key Takeaways If it's impossible for your restaurant to safely and efficiently turn to take and delivery, don't do it; close. Don't play games with public health; take this seriously If you feel uncomfortable operating amid COVID-19 concerns then don't do it Don't go forward with takeout/delivery unless you have solid plan; don't wing it Your staff could be in the most-at-risk demographic Matt is running a marathon on his treadmill as a fundraiser for his staff so…GET CREATIVE! Once again: Plan for WORST-CASE scenario Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: None

Mar 31, 202036 min

705: Krimsey Ramsey on Be Authentic in Life and in Business

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Chef Krimsey Ramsey graduated with a bachelor's in Petroleum Engineering from Louisiana State University --Krimsey also has her MBA From Texas A&M Corpus. After 5 years as a Petroleum Engineer, Krimsey had an extreme awakening and decided to change her life into one of positive activism through opening a restaurant. In 2017 Krimsey's Cajun Kitchen in North Hollywood, CA: The World's First 100% Vegan Cajun Restaurant, was born! Today, they'er about to go into their second location with their mission is to spread "Good Voodoo" for themselves, our Earth, and all our planet's inhabitants. Check out RestaurantOwner.com as mentioned in today's episode. Check out Episode 437 with David Scott Peters about menu engineering as mentioned in today's episode. Show notes… Calls to ACTION!!! Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group Krimsey's Pop-up Checklist Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!) Favorite success quote or mantra: "I remind myself everyday that I'm going to die." In today's episode with Krimsey Ramsey we will discuss: Recognize mortality Veganism Activism Be welcoming Lifestyle changes based on morals Women in male-dominated professions Working with family Second-generation spaces Stay small in the beginning so you can pivot Testing the market in festivals and pop-ups, farmer's markets How to break into a festival for a pop-up Testing your market in your back yard Costs and budgets in the early days Burning out in the early months of opening The importance of collaborating with others in your community YOU have to set up you employees to succeed Rating your employee's performance as a specific incentive to make more money Substance abuse as an escape from restaurant industry stress Today's sponsor: BentoBox empowers restaurants to own their presence, profits and relationships. The hospitality platform disrupts third-party services that come between the restaurant and the guest. BentoBox puts the restaurant first and offers tools that drive high-margin revenue directly through the restaurant's website. BentoBox is trusted and loved by over 5,000 restaurants worldwide including Union Square Hospitality Group, Eleven Madison Park, Gramercy Tavern, Lilia and more. Restaurant365 is a cloud-based, all-in-one, restaurant-specific accounting and back-office platform that seamlessly integrates with POS systems, payroll providers, food and beverage vendors. It generates accurate real-time reporting and analysis in user-friendly dashboards, facilitating immediate, data-driven decision making. Restaurant365 eliminates manual, error-prone processes and is designed to help restaurant businesses grow with functionality that helps optimize labor costs, reduce food costs and increase revenue. P&G ProfessionalTM offers innovative total foodservice solutions featuring trusted brands such as Dawn® Professional, Cascade® Professional, Spic and Span® and Comet®. We are unique in that our total solutions are founded in customer and patron understanding, superior products that help save time and cut overall costs, and a five-star service group that is compensated based on customer satisfaction, not commissions. Visit www.pgpro.com for the latest information about P&G Professional's solutions and services. Knowledge bombs Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success? "Being myself and having that translate into the business." What is your biggest weakness? "Telling myself I suck too often." What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview? "Find out if they're engaged and connected." What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it? "Focusing on one thing at a time." Check out Nir Eyal's book "Indistractable" as mentioned here 👆🏽 Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team. "Be transparent and connected." What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff? "Be playful and connect with guests. Have a good time." What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner? GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM Recovery: Freedom from Our Addictions by Russell Brand What's one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough? "Telling your team EXACTLY what you want." Name one service you've hired. David Scott Peters - Food and Labor cost tracking What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influenced operations? Google Docs If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be? Everyone go get a therapist Listen to people when they talk, put the phone away and be present Go outside more Contact info: Instagram @krimseys Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining

Mar 30, 20201h 28m

Corona Chronicle #28: The time to rebuild is NOW! - Jim Laube & Joe Erickson- RestaurantOwner.com

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Chronicle # 28: Start rebuilding NOW! - Jim Laube & Joe Erickson- RestaurantOwner.com RestaurantOwner.com is giving owners and operators 90 days of FREE membership. Email Jim at [email protected] Let them know I sent you. Audio here Key Takeaway The resources the RestaurantOwner.com is providing its members. Understanding that we're in this together. Is April 12 a realistic time to get back to business? Plan for longer Hows the landscape going to change? Who will recover quicker? Larger operations or smaller operations? Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: RestaurantOwern.com/covid19 Email Jim or Joe to get 90 days free [email protected] [email protected]

Mar 29, 202039 min

Corona Chronicle # 27: TONIGHT, TIP YOUR BARTENDER- Donald Sayers- Chatanooga, TN

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Key Takeaway During hard times it's always amazing to see the unqique ways come together. Donald sayers created a way to tip bartenders and servers when you have a drink. Its called ServiceIndustry.tips Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: ServiceIndustry.tips

Mar 27, 202018 min

Corona Chronicle #26: Ask, "What can I do?"- Patrick Mulvaney- Sacramento, CA

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Find out more about Patrick Mulvaney here. Key Takeaways Dealing with mental health during these anxious times. Stepping up and being there for those in your community who need you. Patrick and Mulvaney are preparing 400 meals a day. Don't wait for funding, just take care of people... they'll take care of you. being mindful of social distancing while you serve your community. Holding family meals to maintain business culture. Using your unique skills and network to serve your community and farmers. Use this as a time to love, learn, and build each other up. We'll come out stronger. Resources Mentioned: None

Mar 27, 202031 min

Corona Chronicle #25: How to maintain culture when you're physically apart/Maintain communication through Whatsapp- Jillian Whitlow- Austin, TX

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Find out more about Jillian and Suerte here. Key takeaways Maintain culture by staying connected with your team while physically separated Suerte chose WhatsApp because it's less concerned with "work" WhatsApp and communication with your team allows you to get to know each other better and become closer while physically separated WhatsApp has a Coronavirus Information Hub on their website which makes this easier Suerte has a tri-weekly newsletter given to everyone on their team Suerte had to lay-off their staff so they are providing meals to those who got laid-off Suerte has decided to close temporarily in order to take care oft heir people first File a mass-unemployment application for your entire staff Keep up team morale as best you can during this time Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: WhatsApp group chatting Slack for group communication more related to work In the Weeds Facebook group (Austin Service Industry) Seasoned App

Mar 26, 202025 min

Corona Chronicle #24: "Is it socially responsible to stay open?"/work ON your business while you're closed- Erica Van Leirop- Olympia, WA

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Key takeaways How their drive-through burger stand was up 39% Why Erica still decided to make the hard decision to close, despite the willingness of her staff to continue working. We ask, "Is it the socially responsible thing to stay open?" Staying in contact with your people via social media. Working ON the business during this slow time. Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: None

Mar 26, 202019 min

704: Jason Berkowitz Shares 15 Tips to Restaurant Success

Raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Jason Berkowitz is a hospitality veteran dedicated to team development and operational excellence. Jason credits his Psychology degree from Michigan State University for helping shape his unique approach to hospitality and team management. His career spans more than 40 restaurant openings from fast-food to fine-dining. He's held a number of posts, including VP of Operations for Umami Burger and COO for Tocaya Organica. Today Jason serves as CEO and Founder of ArrowUp Training, a stylized safety, anti-harassment training and supervisory coaching n program for restaurants. Catch Jason's book Please Don't Sleep With The Host: And 49 Other Tips For Managing A Functional And Profitable Restaurant Check out Jason's previous episode: #703! Show notes… Calls to ACTION!!! Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!) Favorite success quote or mantra: "Be nice." In today's episode with Jason Berkowitz we will discuss: The inspiration for writing the book The 15 Tips discussed today are: Be the best "YOU" that you can be Dress everyday like it's your first day of work Work like you own the place but remember that you don't Know the 5 things the owner checks when he walks into his restaurant Vibe Lighting Temperature Cleanliness Gross sales Know the difference between a "Wow" and a "Holy shit" customer Embrace the law of averages Please don't sleep with the host Embrace your staff's ambitions, support them Provide you new hires with proper training and materials Lower the bar Respect your chef and their kitchen Take care of your feet For every problem you kill, another will rise in their place People fire themselves The noose fits just as easily on the hangman's neck Today's sponsor: BentoBox empowers restaurants to own their presence, profits and relationships. The hospitality platform disrupts third-party services that come between the restaurant and the guest. BentoBox puts the restaurant first and offers tools that drive high-margin revenue directly through the restaurant's website. BentoBox is trusted and loved by over 5,000 restaurants worldwide including Union Square Hospitality Group, Eleven Madison Park, Gramercy Tavern, Lilia and more. Restaurant365 is a cloud-based, all-in-one, restaurant-specific accounting and back-office platform that seamlessly integrates with POS systems, payroll providers, food and beverage vendors. It generates accurate real-time reporting and analysis in user-friendly dashboards, facilitating immediate, data-driven decision making. Restaurant365 eliminates manual, error-prone processes and is designed to help restaurant businesses grow with functionality that helps optimize labor costs, reduce food costs and increase revenue. P&G ProfessionalTM offers innovative total foodservice solutions featuring trusted brands such as Dawn® Professional, Cascade® Professional, Spic and Span® and Comet®. We are unique in that our total solutions are founded in customer and patron understanding, superior products that help save time and cut overall costs, and a five-star service group that is compensated based on customer satisfaction, not commissions. Visit www.pgpro.com for the latest information about P&G Professional's solutions and services. Contact info: www.arrowuptraining.com Email: [email protected] Social handle: @jdberko Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Jason Berkowitz for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time! Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

Mar 26, 202057 min

Corona Chronicle #23: Organizations that help their communities have the best chances of survival- Rudy Miick- Boulder, CO

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Find out more about Rudy Miick here. Key takeaways You must confront your fear Hotels kitchens are also moving to pickup only The solution is not black and white Find out what you can do with the cash you have on hand Domino's is hiring 20,000 workers this week Everyone's sense of cleanliness and sanitation will improve The restaurants that give to and help their communities will come out of this better than they entered it Keep healthy while quarantined; eat healthy and stay active Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: Check out Rudy's and Bruce Irving's online Pizza Summit here Chronicle # 22: Have multip

Mar 25, 202034 min

Corona Chronicle #22: Have multiple strategies for multiple outcomes- Kristen Corral- Las Vegas, NV

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Find out more about Kristen Corral here. Key takeaways Make multiple plans Shuttled down- Just too unsafe for staff. Chatbots have been helpful Work on your recovery strategy now. Keep the conversation online going. You need to stay top of mind. Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: none

Mar 25, 202023 min

Corona Chronicle #21: Mapping your 12-week cashflow budget David Scott Peters- Phoenix, AZ

Find out more about David Scott Peters here. Key takeaways We're a cashflow business and we don't have the cash flow to survive Establish a 12-week cash flow budget Depending on what your cash flow budget tells you will determine how you handle this situation. Become a grocery store. Our restaurants may be closed, but there is still work to be done. Work ON your business. Continue to nurture relationships. Continue to serve your community Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: David Scott Peters Cashflow tool - Email David for tool RestaurantOwner.com- COVID-19 Resources Page

Mar 24, 202033 min

Corona Chronicle #20: Economic projections for the industry/Abandoning your employees is irresponsible- Patricio Wise- Sacramento, CA

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Find out more about Patricio Wise here. Key takeaways Farmers and grocery stores need help right now Don't just default to unemployment Closing your doors and leaving your employees on their own is irresponsible Surviving is enough right now Reinvent yourself based on the circumstances Don't cut corners Don't do delivery unless you already have insurance; if you don't have it GET IT! Offer things like toilet paper and essentials to your customers and employees Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: Toast POS for delivery/pickup This session brought to you by Seasoned.co/unstoppable – You don't always need an employee- You don't always need a job- You always need community. Seasoned has got it all.

Mar 24, 202027 min

Corona Chronicle #19: Human Resources/Communication with your employees is key- Carrie Luxem- Chicago, IL

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Find out more about Carrie Luxem here. Key takeaways Furlough or lay off? Do what you can to keep your employees with you Treat employees like family Make sure to check in with your team Even if you don't know what to do, you must communicate that to them There is no such thing as a small concern, every concern matters to the person asking the question Get away from the chaos if you can Metal health is key Designate one person as a point of contact for your team Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: Carrie's Website RestaurantHRGroup.com Families First Coronavirus Response Act https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LmnNaqAUTLBfhJRvfHQ3S1vvPwuUSbGBYZNbJhwpASk/edit?usp=sharing Tell Congress to Support Restaurants https://actnow.io/33vA1gB?fbclid=IwAR0CnjULAWQPiUgr-o8tBEX2iamyl-490xm7Kvc8m2g7CjGPRxkGcMf2FjU Danny Meyers Interview with CNBC's Squawk on the Street https://www.cnbc.com/video/2020/03/20/shake-shack-founder-danny-meyer-on-how-coronavirus-pandemic-is-decimating-restaurant-industry.html This session brought to you by Seasoned.co/unstoppable - You don't always need an employee- You don't always need a job- You always need community. Seasond got it all

Mar 23, 202032 min

Corona Chronicle #18: #curbsidechallenge- William Lo- Carbondale, IL

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Find out more about William Lo here. Key takeaways The purpose of the curbside challenge is to encourage people to follow the COVID-19 guidlines Lo's restaurant has decided to close to flatten the curb Pay the staff early if you can Before closing, give all your food to you employees COVID-19 is growing by over 100,000 weekly worldwide The struggle some of us are going through: stay open and make money or do the right thing and shutdown? Reach out to your city/town and ask about reducing your taxes to pay your staff Still need to plan for worst-case scenario You MUST be creative in these times Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: #curbsidechallenge on Facebook This session brought to you by Seasoned.co/unstoppable - You don't always need an employee- You don't always need a job- You always need community. Season got it all.

Mar 23, 202030 min

703: Jason Berkowtiz on The Psychology of Training

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Raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Jason Berkowitz is a hospitality veteran dedicated to team development and operational excellence. Jason credits his Psychology degree from Michigan State University for helping shape his unique approach to hospitality and team management. His career spans more than 40 restaurant openings from fast-food to fine-dining. He's held a number of posts, including VP of Operations for Umami Burger and COO for Tocaya Organica. Today Jason serves as CEO and Founder of ArrowUp Training, a stylized safety, anti-harassment training and supervisory coaching n program for restaurants. Check out Harri - Talent Technology Software for the Needs of Hospitality - as mentioned in today's episode! Catch Jason's book Please Don't Sleep With The Host: And 49 Other Tips For Managing A Functional And Profitable Restaurant Show notes… Calls to ACTION!!! Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!) Favorite success quote or mantra: "Show up. For your team. For yourself. The hustle is real." In today's episode with Jason Berkowitz we will discuss: Emphasis on community Taking responsibility The psychology of managing others Going deep with training The importance of empathy Impose your values on those around you to be consistent in operations Be humble Keep kitchen work in perspective; you're not saving lives on the operating table Give your team the tools and attitude to thrive and then get out of their way Attention to detail in all aspects of the restaurant experience Lean in and listen Be yourself when dealing with guest, don't be fake Take a step back and coordinate Efficiency in the dining room The restaurant is an art installation Importance of confidence when leading Quarterly reviews vs quarterly reviews HR Positives of online scheduling Accountability Being sustainable Today's sponsor: BentoBox empowers restaurants to own their presence, profits and relationships. The hospitality platform disrupts third-party services that come between the restaurant and the guest. BentoBox puts the restaurant first and offers tools that drive high-margin revenue directly through the restaurant's website. BentoBox is trusted and loved by over 5,000 restaurants worldwide including Union Square Hospitality Group, Eleven Madison Park, Gramercy Tavern, Lilia and more. Restaurant365 is a cloud-based, all-in-one, restaurant-specific accounting and back-office platform that seamlessly integrates with POS systems, payroll providers, food and beverage vendors. It generates accurate real-time reporting and analysis in user-friendly dashboards, facilitating immediate, data-driven decision making. Restaurant365 eliminates manual, error-prone processes and is designed to help restaurant businesses grow with functionality that helps optimize labor costs, reduce food costs and increase revenue. P&G ProfessionalTM offers innovative total foodservice solutions featuring trusted brands such as Dawn® Professional, Cascade® Professional, Spic and Span® and Comet®. We are unique in that our total solutions are founded in customer and patron understanding, superior products that help save time and cut overall costs, and a five-star service group that is compensated based on customer satisfaction, not commissions. Visit www.pgpro.com for the latest information about P&G Professional's solutions and services. Knowledge bombs Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success? "My energy" "use it like a tool, not a weapon." What is your biggest weakness? "Get lost in the office. Need to be in the weeds more." What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview? "Passion" Question about something they love What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it? California laws changing unexpectedly Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team. Understanding What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff? Be authentic, don't say things you don't mean What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner? GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM Traction: Get a Grip on Your business by Gino Wickman Please Don't Sleep With The Host: And 49 Other Tips For Managing A Functional And Profitable Restaurant What's one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough? Side work sheets, addressing when things aren't being done properly Name one service you've hired. Aaron Colby at Davis Wright Tremaine LLC Also, check out Episode 702 with Aaron Colby ArrowUp Training What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influenced operations? Harri - Talent Technology Software for the Needs of Hospitality Plate IQ - Automate Your Restaurant's Invoice Processing If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaura

Mar 23, 20201h 46m

Corona Chronicle #17: Join the Industry United Facebook group- Keith Sarasin- Nashua, NH

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Key takeaways Join the Facebook group Industry United We need to think of the restaurant industry as an aligned industry going in the same direction Mental health is key to this situation It's important to realize for your mental health that you are not alone in this We need to start spreading GOOD information Reach out to insurance brokers and landlords Stay liquid as long as possible Apply for an SBA loan Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: Industry United Facebook group Greg Hill Foundation SBA website www.pickupfixe.com Mental health hotlines

Mar 22, 202047 min

Corona Chronicle #16: Lean into helping your team/using Slack to share resources and keep communication open- Chris Dimmick- Dayton, OH

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Find out more about Chris Dimmick here. Key takeaways Opened first concept on Thursday and Dayton shut down restaurants on Sunday Support your Government leaders to shut down - it's the right thing now Make your team the priority Offered employees $10 per hour to volunteer at Dayton Food Bank Turn on all revenue opportunities Get loud on social media Take gift card purchases and give it to your team Help your team with unemployment How to delivery alcoholic drink - Ohio allows this Embrace social media advertising Only focus on what you can control Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: Toast POS - online ordering Slack - team communication

Mar 22, 202026 min

Corona Chronicle #15: Break-even mentality/How this affects fine-dining establishments - Brad Cecchi- Sacramento, CA

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Find out more about Brad Cecchi here. Key takeaways How to adapt How to optimize curbside pickup Developing a website for pickup - pickupfixe.com Fine-dining world is the worst-case scenario for pickup/curbside-only Add to your menu for pickup and curbside, get creative Shelter-in-place in Sacramento-what is it like? Try to get rent relief in any form from your landlord Look into getting catering contracts with hospitals - people on the front lines need to eat well Can community support and goodwill dry up? Farms and vendors are affected just as much as restaurants - try to make mutually beneficial deals with them Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: Stripe - Online Payment Processing for Internet Business www.pickupfixe.com

Mar 20, 202033 min

Corona Chronicle #14: Large franchised restaurants and how they are affected - Akash Kapoor- San Fransisco, CA

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Find out more about Akash Kapoor here. Key takeaways A city in full lock-down: San Fransisco The biggest Corona Chronicle operation yet: 46 locations in development/4 opened in the last few weeks Franchised locations and how they are affected Best practices for gift card purchases at this time Loyalty, gift cards, POS right now and always Trimming the fat, making sure the people who can't work now have a job to come back to when it's over Serving free, hot meals for staff who aren't working currently Who will be affected more? Big or small operations? Plan for the worst and hope for the best

Mar 20, 202020 min

Corona Chronicle #13: Adopting in house delivery best practices - Kyle and Maggie Gordon- Plano, TX

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Key takeaways 45-day survival mindset. Straight to the "save money" mindset. "Cut the fat." Keep who needs you the most. Speak with the people you owe the most money to, first, for a deferment; you want to stay as liquid as possible. Talk to the bank about a loan deferment. Negotiate terms with the landlord. Adopt delivery (the ordering app). Meal deal. Don't discount. Take care of your restaurant brothers and sisters. It's time to come together. Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: TheOrdering.app

Mar 20, 202028 min

Corona Chronicle #12: Why the Restaurant Industry is the most equipped to get bent over - Brooks Tanner- Philadelphia, PA

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Find out more about Brooks Tanner here. Key takeaways Create fresh canned products to sell. The point is not to profit, but to slow the bleeding and get cash flow to your team. Let your employees know grocery stores are hiring. Got extra toilet paper and other dry goods in storage? Supply and demand, baby- Sell it. Get on regular conference calls with other operators in your community. Sell gift cards and forward the cash to your staff. Think out of the box. Ask, "what other services can I offer?" Keep your mind wide open. Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: Coronavirus COVID19 Global Cases by Th Center for Systems Science and Engineering.

Mar 20, 202034 min

Corona Chronicle #11: Using "grocery bags" & "TV dinners" to support team, community, and other businesses- Nathan Ares- Phoenix/Tucson, AZ

Find out more about Nathan Ares here. Key takeaways The latest on Phoenix and Tucson It's not about competition, it's about supporting the community/team members and getting through this. Collaborate with other business to put together Grocery bags Create TV dinners. The idea is not to be profitable, but to give an opportunity for cash flow for your employees. Slow the bleeding. Advice on how to talk to the landlord get an extension on paying your rent. Advice on how to talk to your employees; don't be negative How to speak to your community Nathan and his team are sharing recipes for the frozen vegetable they're guests are buying at the grocery store. Don' talk about it. Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: None

Mar 19, 202026 min

Corona Chronicle #10: Ethics Suite- Juliette Gust- Phoenix, AZ

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Find out more about Juliette Gust here. Key takeaways The similarities between 9/11 and COVID-19 Give staff the opportunity to work out their reduced schedule themselves If an employee is more in need of work, give him/her privilege Become aware now of opportunities for fraud and theft Be sensitive to employee needs in this particularly stressful time Be present, be aware of what's happening with all your staff You may be busy trying to save your business but you are also a leader; you must lead Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: Find the Ethics Suite hotline here.

Mar 19, 202020 min

702: Aaron Colby on The Top 20 Employee Legal Hotspots

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Aaron Colby is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Southwestern University of Law. Today he's practicing law at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP where he represents employers in single-plaintiff, multi-plaintiff, and class action disputes involving allegations of wrongful termination, discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and wage and hour issues such as overtime, meal and rest breaks, and off-the-clock work. Aaron defends organizations on public accommodations claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act and California Unruh Act, and claims of defamation, trademark, and other business-related matters. Today we're going to cover the "Top 20 Employee Legal Hotspots" restaurant owners and operators struggle with when it comes to compliance. Show notes… Calls to ACTION!!! Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!) Favorite success quote or mantra: "Be direct and know your audience." In today's episode with Aaron Colby we will discuss: The 20 Employee Legal Hotspots Hiring Decisions and Process 1. Use of Staffing Agencies and Joint Employment Gig economy Hiring vs. contracting Unfair vs. against the law Document when an employee does something wrong so you can prove it later on 2. Independent Contractor (1099) v. Employee (W-2) Classification The difference between independent contractors and employees - defined by the law 3. Form I-9 Compliance You need to make sure someone is legally allowed to work in the United States Be vigilant Ask relevant questions - know what they are Get the I-9 BEFORE they start working 4. Hiring - Background Checks and Criminal History Inquiries Highly regulated 5. Employee Arbitration and Class Action Waiver Agreements Why do you need it? You can make it mandatory Is it a red flag if an employee doesn't want to sign it? Wage and Hour 6. Non-exempt (Hourly) v. Exempt (Salary) Employee Classifications Everyone is qualified for hourly but not salary Some salary workers still require over-time 7. Local Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave Regulations City, county, state laws all apply - NOT only state 8. Equal Pay Everyone deserves the same pay for the same job Some states don't allow employers to ask applicants past payment 9. Timekeeping for Non-Exempt Employees You MUST keep records for all work done No insurance for time-keeping in business Don't ignore it - address it 10. Travel time You MUST be paid for it Delivery functions 11. Meal and Rest Breaks You MUST provide the opportunity to all employees Police it vs. Provide it Not just IF you took a break but also when and for how long and was there an interruption? 12. Paystub and Payroll Practices Federal is baseline - states individually break it down more specifically Paystub requirements 13. Commission Agreements and Bonus Plans Overtime is much more complicated than "time and a half" Anything outside of hourly is complicated and must be understood 14. Expense Reimbursements No federal laws - all state-by-state Driving, getting, phones, insurance - if it's required for the job you must reimburse by state law 15. Uniforms and Tools If you require someone to wear something, you have to reimburse for it 16. and 17. Tips and Service Charges Voluntary You must categorize them Tips are state-by-state Tips belong to the employee not the business Service charge is demanded by the business Harassment and Conduct 18. Anti-Harassment Training and Policies Major differences from every other work environment Some states have harassment training requirements Leave of Absence 19. Leave of Absence Different in restaurant industry than all other industries You need to know what rights the employee has Get a doctor's note Termination Decisions 20. Termination Decisions All the categories where you're unable to fire someone EVERYONE can be protected by discrimination laws Separation agreements Have policies in place before firing someone for a made-up policy Today's sponsor: BentoBox empowers restaurants to own their presence, profits and relationships. The hospitality platform disrupts third-party services that come between the restaurant and the guest. BentoBox puts the restaurant first and offers tools that drive high-margin revenue directly through the restaurant's website. BentoBox is trusted and loved by over 5,000 restaurants worldwide including Union Square Hospitality Group, Eleven Madison Park, Gramercy Tavern, Lilia and more. Restaurant365 is a cloud-based, all-in-one, restaurant-specific accounting and back-office platform that seamlessly integrates with POS systems, payroll providers, food and beverage vendors. It generates accurate real-time reporting and analysis in user-friendly dashboards, facilitating immediate, data-driven decision making. Restaurant365 eliminates manual, error-prone processes and is designed to help restaurant businesses grow with functionality that helps optimize labor costs, reduce food cos

Mar 19, 20201h 46m

Corona Chronicle #9: -The multitude of options to make this situation better/we need to have safety nets for crises like this- Doug Mullins- Lexington, KY

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Find out more about Doug Mullins here. Key takeaways Ouita Michel Restaurants operates 10 restaurants; 5 are currently closed - 150 employees are on leave The real issue is tipped employees They have set up a fund for tipped employees filled by donations from the community Taking this time to deep-clean the closed restaurants as if they are closing for a season; will be like new when reopened Donating food they cannot use to local food pantries Open restaurants are preparing free family meals for employees who cannot work Usually, these events cause us to want to be there for each other but in this case, that is the worst idea, what else can we do? One of the lessons: always have savings for situations like this Employees AND many restauranteurs are paycheck-to-paycheck, two bad weeks can bury us - why is that? What to do to generate cash flow for this specific situation Be flexible whether you're staff or an operator

Mar 18, 202028 min

Corona Chronicle #8: Insurance during the COVID-19/what to do?- Eric Cacciatore- Austin, TX

Find out more about Eric Cacciatore here. Key takeaways Extend the runway, stop the money-loss Amend and revise your insurance plan Get in touch with your broker Have your broker work for you to get the best outcome Develop a new plan for the future Document EVERY loss during this time

Mar 18, 20202 min

Corona Chronicle #7: The difference between unpaid leave, furloughed, laid-off, reduced-compensation /What are employee rights?- Aaron Colby- Los Angeles, CA

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Find out more about Aaron Colby here. Key takeaways Employee attorneys and what we need now What are restaurant lawyers dealing with now? The differences between laid-off, unpaid leave (furloughed), unemployment What is the WARN act? Restaurants want to retain their staff but these are hard decisions to make You can run into problems based on who you decide to furlough vs. lay off Reduced compensation - cannot go below the minimum wage Sick-leave due to COVID-19 Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: Learn about the WARN Act here

Mar 18, 202038 min

Corona Chronicle #6: Plan for worst-case scenario/How are farms affected?- Paul Callahan- Executive Chef- Brentwood, NH

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Find more about Paul Callahan here. Key takeaways Plan for worst-case scenario Coronavirus creating opportunity in the industry? Will it disrupt Paul's future opening of his farm How are farmers affected? How are farmers markets and pop ups affected?

Mar 18, 202020 min

Corona Chronicle #5: Curbside Pick-Up Best Practices/Talk to Your State Officials- Anna Tauzin- Texas Restaurant Association- Austin, TX

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Chronicle # 5: Curbside Pick-Up Best Practices/Talk to Your State Officials- Anna Tauzin- Texas Restaurant Association- Austin, TX Find more from Anna Tauzin Here Key takeaways If your business isn't already set up for delivery that ship may have sailed. Instead, focus on curbside pickup Curbside picks up best practices: Be sure to have enough paper products Plan for efficiency in your location Make sure you're giving accurate pick-up times Structure staffing for peak delivery times. Separate hot and cold food items when packages. Double Check orders Get specifics on make and model of car. Use SMS platforms to communicate with your guests. SlickText Simple Texting Pro Texting Third-party delivery promotions What to communicate to your start representatives Funds Tax deferrals Emergency eviction protection Rent mitigation

Mar 17, 202027 min

Corona Chronicle #4: Coronavirus Resource Master Document- Maria Campbell- Cooks Who Care- Philadelphia, PA

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Maria Campbell Founder of Cooks who Care in Philadelphia, PA has put together a master document filled with resources to help you get through these hard times. It's call: Food industry Coronavirus Collaboration Resources. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ylmm7zTFJkqGfcZHDMOYvOxSgspSjDxF9UEJJMHHU9o/edit

Mar 17, 202026 min

Corona Chronicle #3: Stop the Bleeding, Be Ready for Opportunity- Paul Tuennerman- Dat Dog- NOLA

Chronicle #3: Paul Tuennerman- New Orleans, LA Find out more about Paul Tunnerman here. Key takeaways We will get out of this better The Waren act and how it applies Business interruption insurance Survive to serve another day New Orleans has allowed only delivery and curbside pickup Everyone wants you to survive so reach out to banks and landlords to find out how they can help What opportunities exist because of this? Reach out to others in the industry Connect with Paul

Mar 17, 202024 min

Corona Chronicle #2: How and Where to Send Money- Kathryn Lott- Southern Smoke Fundation

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Chronicle #2: Kathryn Lott- Southern Smoke Foundation- Houston, TX Find out more about Kathryn Lott here. Key takeaways You have to look to the future But you have to wait before you see the actual damage Fear is the biggest problem here Do not kick anyone out of a building-family or business-while this is happening Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: Find out more about 501(c)(3) foundations here. Learn more about Southern Smoke Foundation here. Learn more about Atlanta's The Giving Kitchen here. Learn more about Portland's Family Meal here.

Mar 17, 202022 min

Corona Chronicle #1: Lobby for Potential Aid- Jonathan Horowitz- Houston, TX

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This is the first of many Coronavirus Chronicles. I've been wanting to dedicate an entire episode to this for a bit now, but everything is moving too fast. It's far better to create and publish content in real-time as everything unfolds. In my research and understanding of this pandemic, the single most important takeaway I've garnered is that we need to get aligned. Not just the industry, but globally. The quicker we can spread good knowledge. The quicker we can come out of this and get back to business as we knew it. Find out more about Jonathan Horowitz here. Key takeaways We got to pull together and be there for our communities- that's what we do in the restaurant industry. Transition to more takeout and delivery. Figure out how to take care of your people the best you can. help them find new employment. Utilize social media to share your story about how you are adapting to the hard times and what your guests can do to help. The measure to which we've adapted already to overcome this challenge being so impressive and promising. Talk to the local representatives and make sure they know how important it is that we lobby for potential aid. Resources mentioned in this Chronicle: Get in touch with your elected official here.

Mar 17, 202022 min

701: Jae Kim on Food Trucks and Loyalty Programs

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Jae Kim got his start in the food and beverage industry as the owner of a coffee shop -- while in college! Unfortunately, that business failed, but it left him with a burning desire to try again. In 2010 Chi'Lantro was founded. Chi'Lantro started as a food truck serving a fusion of Korean and Mexican cuisine. Today, there are eight restaurants, two food trucks, and two trailers under the Chi'Lantro brand in Austin, Texas. Check out Business Plan Pro as mentioned in today's episode. Show notes… Calls to ACTION!!! Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!) Favorite success quote or mantra: "To be dedicated, to be authentic, to be resilient, and be thankful." In today's episode with Jae Kim we will discuss: From a food truck to 8 brick-and-mortar locations EOS - Entrepreneur's Operating Systems Location is key Stay focused Take the leap Take action, stop dreaming Business plans The power of planning and physically writing things down You must reach out to mentors Food truck start-up advice The potential power and impact of social media Loyalty programs - Kim's opinion on the three best: Paytronix Thanx Loyalty3 Realities of food trucks Inventing a food item - Kimchi fries Shark Tank TV show Learning from mistakes Franchising Consulting - should you hire outside? Discipline Today's sponsor: BentoBox empowers restaurants to own their presence, profits and relationships. The hospitality platform disrupts third-party services that come between the restaurant and the guest. BentoBox puts the restaurant first and offers tools that drive high-margin revenue directly through the restaurant's website. BentoBox is trusted and loved by over 5,000 restaurants worldwide including Union Square Hospitality Group, Eleven Madison Park, Gramercy Tavern, Lilia and more. Restaurant365 is a cloud-based, all-in-one, restaurant-specific accounting and back-office platform that seamlessly integrates with POS systems, payroll providers, food and beverage vendors. It generates accurate real-time reporting and analysis in user-friendly dashboards, facilitating immediate, data-driven decision making. Restaurant365 eliminates manual, error-prone processes and is designed to help restaurant businesses grow with functionality that helps optimize labor costs, reduce food costs and increase revenue. P&G ProfessionalTM offers innovative total foodservice solutions featuring trusted brands such as Dawn® Professional, Cascade® Professional, Spic and Span® and Comet®. We are unique in that our total solutions are founded in customer and patron understanding, superior products that help save time and cut overall costs, and a five-star service group that is compensated based on customer satisfaction, not commissions. Visit www.pgpro.com for the latest information about P&G Professional's solutions and services. Knowledge bombs Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success? Grit What is your biggest weakness? Organization What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview? Culture - do they fit your culture What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it? Growth Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team. Dedicated, authentic, resilient, thankful What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff? Customer first always What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner? GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of NIKE by Phil Knight The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned From 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company by Bob Iger Principles: Life & Work by Ray Dalio Name one service you've hired. Interior Designer Kim Lewis - Austin, TX - www.kimlewisdesigns.com What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influenced operations? Restaurant 365 Google Docs If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be? Have fun Live in the moment Love Contact info: Chi'lantro BBQ website Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Jae Kim for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time! Restaurant Un

Mar 16, 20201h 22m

700: Mario Del Pero on 3 Ways to Scale Culture

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Mario Del Pero grew up in his family's meat processing business. He would go on to study International Relations at the University of Southern California and was on the path to becoming a career lawyer. Instead, he took a job at a Mexican grill where he started as a barback's back. Eventually, he became the Director of Operations at that Mexican grill. In 2005, Mario, along with his wife, Ellen Chen, opened Mendocino Farms Sandwich Market in Southern California. 15 years later they've grown their business to 17 locations. This is my second interview with Mario Del Pero. CLICK HERE to get caught up with Episode 414! Check out Episode 613 with Horst Schulze where we discuss his "24 standards of service" as discussed in today's episode! Check out Episode 632 with Nick Marsh as mentioned in today's episode! Check out The Lean Startup by Eric Ries as mentioned in today's episode. Show notes… Calls to ACTION!!! Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!) Favorite success quote or mantra: "If it was easy everyone would be doing it." "Good is the enemy of great." In today's episode with Mario Del Pero we will discuss: Restaurant success is a team sport Many people are good, few people are great Looking back to look forward What we can learn from greatness (even professional athletes) Your competitors are essential to your own success The "unstoppable" mindset Surround yourself with people who compliment you "Evolve of die" You must mingle with you fellow restaurant owners The 3 ways to scale culture Recruiting and assimilating the right team Living the rituals Coaching Mario Del Pero's new book "The Coaching Cure" Retain the magic while scaling Staying IN your business The difference between city and suburban dining when scaling Franchise or no franchise? Reasons against franchising for Mendocino Conscious capitalism Today's sponsor: BentoBox empowers restaurants to own their presence, profits and relationships. The hospitality platform disrupts third-party services that come between the restaurant and the guest. BentoBox puts the restaurant first and offers tools that drive high-margin revenue directly through the restaurant's website. BentoBox is trusted and loved by over 5,000 restaurants worldwide including Union Square Hospitality Group, Eleven Madison Park, Gramercy Tavern, Lilia and more. Restaurant365 is a cloud-based, all-in-one, restaurant-specific accounting and back-office platform that seamlessly integrates with POS systems, payroll providers, food and beverage vendors. It generates accurate real-time reporting and analysis in user-friendly dashboards, facilitating immediate, data-driven decision making. Restaurant365 eliminates manual, error-prone processes and is designed to help restaurant businesses grow with functionality that helps optimize labor costs, reduce food costs and increase revenue. P&G ProfessionalTM offers innovative total foodservice solutions featuring trusted brands such as Dawn® Professional, Cascade® Professional, Spic and Span® and Comet®. We are unique in that our total solutions are founded in customer and patron understanding, superior products that help save time and cut overall costs, and a five-star service group that is compensated based on customer satisfaction, not commissions. Visit www.pgpro.com for the latest information about P&G Professional's solutions and services. Knowledge bombs Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success? Inspiring others What is your biggest weakness? Not paying attention to the downside What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview? Asking about their coaching styles What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it? Not watering down your "whys" Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team. Selling happy. Don't do standard food. Living a higher purpose of creating transformative relationships. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff? Can I make some talking room What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner? GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM Fundamentals: 9 Ways to Be Brilliant at the New Basics Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business The Fred Factor: How Passion in Your Work and Life Can Turn the Ordinary into the Extraordinary Conscious Capitalism: Liberating the Heroic Spirit of Business Talent is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else What's one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough? Stay hungry, don't reinvent themselves, get beyond mediocrity Name one service you've hired. Michael Antochi - third party vendor/purchaser Architects What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influenced operations? Facepay - in the future Virtual Drive-

Mar 12, 20202h 13m

699: Kyle Gordon on How To Become Investable

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As a student at the University of Texas, Kyle Gorden developed a romance... with quesadillas. In 2006, At the age of 23, Kyle decided to pursue his dream to open his own restaurant-- not just any restaurant-- a quesadilla restaurant. He did what I would advise anyone to do; he sought out a mentor and employment with a high-performing restaurant team. For Kyle, the high-performing team was Raising Cane's. Kyle went on to spend 7 years with Raising Cane's before leaving to open his dream quesadilla restaurant, Dillas in 2013. Today, Dillas has scaled to 4 locations and two additional locations on the horizon. Check out Episode 513 with Paul Tuennerman as mentioned in today's episode! Check out Contagious Culture by Anese Cavanaugh as mentioned in today's episode! Show notes… Calls to ACTION!!! Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!) Favorite success quote or mantra: "Leap and the net will appear." In today's episode with Kyle Gordon we will discuss: Fear is the obstacle Making quesadilla's the main course of a restaurant Underserved markets Intentionally seeking out a mentor Everyone has ideas; it's not enough to have an idea; you must be able to execute Interview best practices Tough on standards, easy on people Systems Strong focus with complicated/elaborate menu items Scaling "Flow cooking" Efficiency Listening to customers to form your menu Family investors Opening struggles "Phase training" Fix your current problems before expansion Stay humble Today's sponsor: BentoBox empowers restaurants to own their presence, profits and relationships. The hospitality platform disrupts third-party services that come between the restaurant and the guest. BentoBox puts the restaurant first and offers tools that drive high-margin revenue directly through the restaurant's website. BentoBox is trusted and loved by over 5,000 restaurants worldwide including Union Square Hospitality Group, Eleven Madison Park, Gramercy Tavern, Lilia and more. Restaurant365 is a cloud-based, all-in-one, restaurant-specific accounting and back-office platform that seamlessly integrates with POS systems, payroll providers, food and beverage vendors. It generates accurate real-time reporting and analysis in user-friendly dashboards, facilitating immediate, data-driven decision making. Restaurant365 eliminates manual, error-prone processes and is designed to help restaurant businesses grow with functionality that helps optimize labor costs, reduce food costs and increase revenue. P&G ProfessionalTM offers innovative total foodservice solutions featuring trusted brands such as Dawn® Professional, Cascade® Professional, Spic and Span® and Comet®. We are unique in that our total solutions are founded in customer and patron understanding, superior products that help save time and cut overall costs, and a five-star service group that is compensated based on customer satisfaction, not commissions. Visit www.pgpro.com for the latest information about P&G Professional's solutions and services. Knowledge bombs Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success? Enthusiasm, energy, great listener, genuine heart What is your biggest weakness? Procrastination What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview? Eye contact, smile What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it? Staffing Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team. Professionalism, integrity, language, maturity What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff? Attention to details What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner? The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM What's one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough? One-on-one's and operational audits Name one service you've hired. Nick Ouimet - Bird Dog Supple Chain What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influenced operations? Oracle POS Jolt - Operations Platform If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be? Be unconditionally happy Happy them where they are Invest your time; don't waste it Contact info: [email protected] Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in th

Mar 9, 20201h 32m

698: Chef Iliana de la Vega on Political Unrest and the Restaurant Industry

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Iliana and Ernesto married in Mexico City and shortly after moved to Oaxaca, where Iliana had deep family roots and where she wanted to open a restaurant specializing in Oaxacan cuisine. The restaurant flourished until 2006, when the community experienced a period of political unrest, causing Iliana and Ernesto to sell their restaurant and move to the United States. Not long after their arrival to Austin, Ernesto began planning the El Naranjo trailer as a first step to learn about the Austin market and its culinary scene. In May 2012, El Naranjo Restaurant & Bar finally opened, and they've consistently been recognized as one of the best traditional Mexican Cuisine restaurants in Austin. In 2014, the Mexican Government granted de la Vega with the prestigious Ohtli Award in recognition of her work in furthering Mexican gastronomy. The Ohtli is the greatest award given by the Mexican Government to Mexican citizens living abroad. In the same year, she was named the Hispanic Female Entrepreneur of the Year by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Show notes… Calls to ACTION!!! Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!) Favorite success quote or mantra: "Hard work. Be true to yourself. Be honest." In today's episode with Iliana de la Vega we will discuss: Growing up cooking in Mexico Importance of partners Business partnership with your spouse Oaxacan cuisine Early mistakes and how to fix them Presence in the kitchen as an owner Turmoil in Mexico in the early 2000's Political upheaval and strikes interrupting business Moving to the USA as a Mexican Testing a market Retaining staff Training staff Patiently educating you customers Rising costs Today's sponsor: BentoBox empowers restaurants to own their presence, profits and relationships. The hospitality platform disrupts third-party services that come between the restaurant and the guest. BentoBox puts the restaurant first and offers tools that drive high-margin revenue directly through the restaurant's website. BentoBox is trusted and loved by over 5,000 restaurants worldwide including Union Square Hospitality Group, Eleven Madison Park, Gramercy Tavern, Lilia and more. Restaurant365 is a cloud-based, all-in-one, restaurant-specific accounting and back-office platform that seamlessly integrates with POS systems, payroll providers, food and beverage vendors. It generates accurate real-time reporting and analysis in user-friendly dashboards, facilitating immediate, data-driven decision making. Restaurant365 eliminates manual, error-prone processes and is designed to help restaurant businesses grow with functionality that helps optimize labor costs, reduce food costs and increase revenue. P&G ProfessionalTM offers innovative total foodservice solutions featuring trusted brands such as Dawn® Professional, Cascade® Professional, Spic and Span® and Comet®. We are unique in that our total solutions are founded in customer and patron understanding, superior products that help save time and cut overall costs, and a five-star service group that is compensated based on customer satisfaction, not commissions. Visit www.pgpro.com for the latest information about P&G Professional's solutions and services. Knowledge bombs Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success? Honesty What is your biggest weakness? Don't get enough sleep What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview? Eye-contact and honesty What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it? Make the restaurant happen for REAL, success Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team. The best service is the one you don't notice What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff? Know the menu perfectly, must know all terms and meanings What's one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough? Be present in the restaurant Name one service you've hired. Tabulate accounting What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influence operations? Open Table If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be? Work hard Study Be open to learn more Contact info: El Naranjo website Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of t

Mar 5, 20201h 9m