Running Restaurants

Are you ready to supercharge your restaurant's marketing game? In this episode, Jamie Oikle dives deep with marketing maestro Jackie Bebenroth , Principal at Muse , to uncover how strategic branding can skyrocket your restaurant's success. Jackie shares her expertise in brand strategy and content marketing, drawing from her vast experience working across the food system and her personal insights a...

Are you ready to turn up the heat in your restaurant business? In this episode, Jamie Oikle welcomes back David (The DELO) DeLorenzo , the mastermind behind Bar and Restaurant Insurance . But we’re diving deeper than just insurance today. Delo, who’s a seasoned player in the hospitality industry, shares his unique insights into the current landscape and reveals how he’s leveraging cutting-edge tec...

In this episode, we host Brenton Thomas, founder of Twibi , in a conversation about effective digital marketing strategies for restaurants. Brenton advises starting with Google and Facebook ads due to their high return potential and suggests focusing on conversion tracking and consistent messaging across platforms. He recommends search campaigns and performance max campaigns for targeting high-int...

In this quick hit episode, Jason Brooks, Founder & CEO of HospiVation and author of the new book "Every Leader Needs Followers" provides a guide for conducting effective one-on-one meetings with team members. Brooks stresses the importance of listening over speaking, recommending a 35% speaking to 65% listening ratio for managers. Meeting should be divided into three parts: the first for the t...

This is a short snippet from a recent webinar we hosted with Roger Beaudion of Restaurant Rockstars. Roger discusses how he used his "Difference Dollars" program to creating a culture of appreciation. Used in his restaurants for two decades, Difference Dollars rewarded employees for exceptional performance, fostering a positive culture. It encouraged a culture where excellence was recognized, moti...

In this episode,  RunningRestaurants.com  founder Jaime Oikle hosts  Jason Brooks , the founder and CEO of HospiVation, who shares his expertise on leadership in the restaurant industry from his book,  Every Leader Needs Followers . Brooks discusses the importance of understanding KPIs, the benefits of systematic leadership, and the need for effective delegation. He emphasizes...

In this episode RunningRestaurants.com , founder Jaime Oikle interviews Tony Smith , CEO and Co-founder of Restaurant365 . They discuss the state of the restaurant industry, touching on concerns about a potential recession, the impact of inflation, and the ongoing labor challenges. They delve into the role of AI and data intelligence in restaurant management, including forecasting, inventory, and...

This is a short snippet from a recent webinar we hosted with Roger Beaudion of Restaurant Rockstars. Roger discusses the vital role of job descriptions in the restaurant business. He explains that clear, detailed job descriptions are crucial for setting expectations and ensuring employee accountability. Roger highlights the lack of comprehensive job descriptions in many restaurants, leading to emp...

This is a short snippet from a recent webinar we hosted with Roger Beaudion of Restaurant Rockstars. Roger tells an almost unbelievable story of poor service that should open any operator's eyes. The clip highlights the fact that what your employees say & do can absolutely sabotage your business - so hire and train accordingly... More from Roger & Jaime at https://restaurantrockstars.com/?...

In this episode of the Running Restaurants.com podcast Jaime Oikle interviews Ashley Bray about the Bar and Restaurant Expo in Las Vegas this upcoming March. They discuss the expo's events, education, exhibit floor, and networking parties. Ashley highlights several trends including: culinary cocktails with savory and functional ingredients, the rise of non-alcoholic beverages for wellness, as well...

In this episode of the Running Restaurants.com podcast Jaime Oikle interviews Jonathan Rosa, president at Moura CFO. Jonathan shares his experience growing up in a restaurant family and working at Burger King headquarters. He discusses the financial challenges restaurant owners face and offers strategies to improve profitability, such as reviewing financial reports, managing costs, and calculating...

In this episode of the podcast, Jaime Oikle of RunningRestaurants.com interviews Tom Rutledge, Managing Partner at RDMS Group. Tom is a former chef turned restaurant consultant. They discuss the challenges of restaurant management, including balancing costs, utilizing data, and adapting to the digital world. Rutledge emphasizes the importance of prime cost management, effective use of data, and cr...

In this episode of the podcast, Jaime Oikle of  RunningRestaurants.com  speaks with Ho Chan Jang (CJ), the Co-Founder and Exec Chef of Balance Grille. In this fast-paced episode, the two bounce around to a number of key restaurant operations topics, including: The backstory and journey of Balance Grille Challenging the stigma surrounding Asian food and offering affordable options Financi...

Join Jaime Oikle from RunningRestaurants.com as he speaks with Zack Oates, the Founder and CEO of Ovation . Zack's energy, enthusiasm, and passion are off the charts in this episode. So, what's the answer to the question posed, "What is the surprise way to drive sales and profits for restaurants?" It all starts with FEEDBACK says Zack. Listen in as we dig deep into: ●     ...

In this episode, Jaime Oikle of RunningRestaurants.com dives into the importance of implementing effective management systems in restaurants with Darren Denington and Alison Anne from the Restaurant Management 201 Workshop . They highlight the significance of trust, open communication, and accountability in building a successful management team. Darren breaks down different categories of syst...

In this episode Jaime Oikle of RunningRestaurants.com has the pleasure of hosting Adenah Bayoh, the founder of Brick City Vegan, who shared her inspiring journey from Liberia to Newark, New Jersey, and the lessons she's learned along the way. Adenah's passion for providing great vegan food and options for urban communities drives her vision for the restaurant. We also discuss how Adenah communicat...

In this episode of the podcast Jaime Oikle of RunningRestaurants.com welcomes Seek Hannemann, the owner of Seven Brothers Burgers. Seek shares the story of how his family started the business in Hawaii and discusses their emphasis on the concept of aloha and creating a family-like atmosphere for customers. The two hit on various topics and shared a number of insights and lessons including... - Sto...

In this episode of the podcast Jaime Oikle of RunningRestaurants.com interviews Christine Shindler, the co-founder and CEO of PathSpot, a health and safety operating system for restaurants. Christine shares her background in biomedical engineering and how she became interested in improving hand hygiene in the restaurant industry as well as the future of food safety. Be sure to check out the episod...

In this episode Jaime Oikle of RunningRestaurants.com delves into the secrets of effective restaurant management with Darren Denington & Alison Anne and what it takes to develop strong leadership at your restaurant. They talk about the crucial traits and skills needed for success in the restaurant industry. You'll discover the power of effective leadership in creating a positive and profitable...

In this episode Jaime Oikle of RunningRestaurants.com interviews Megan Rosen, Chief Development Officer of Next Brands. While traditional real estate can be economically challenging for restaurant expansion, Next Brands twist on locations and build out is working well by transforming shipping containers into successful quick-serve restaurants. Highlights from their conversation include... - Develo...

Join Jaime Oikle from RunningRestaurants.com as he speaks with Dom Diana, the CEO and founder of Slice Factory, the family-focused and welcoming Chicago-based pizza franchise and home to Chicago's original jumbo slice. We discussed the history of Slice Factory, its expansion and franchising plans, and the competitive pizza market in Chicago. Highlights from their conversation include: The history...

Are you struggling to keep your restaurant staff motivated and happy? In this episode restaurant consultant and author Roger Beaudoin of Restaurant Rockstars shared his insights on creating a positive company culture and incentivizing employees. Roger believes that a strong culture goes beyond a mission statement and includes the vibe & camaraderie of good people. To achieve this, he suggests...

Roger Beaudoin of Restaurant Rockstars runs through a number of ways to easily boost your restaurant's sales & profits. Every time we go through this topic in our webinars I'm reminded of the staggering amount of money left on the table by most restaurants!!! You've got a CAPTIVE AUDIENCE eager to BUY...make sure your staff is taking full advantage of every sales opportunity... Your bottom lin...

Join Jaime Oikle from RunningRestaurants.com as he speaks with Brendan Sweeney , the CEO & Co-Founder of Popmenu , about all the cool stuff they're doing for restaurants. They discuss the importance of having all marketing touchpoints in one place, the frustration with PDF menus on restaurant websites, and the evolution of restaurant websites. Brendan emphasizes the importance of utilizing tec...

Join Jaime Oikle from RunningRestaurants.com in a great chat with Lucy Logan of MenuCalc about where their business is today and how they are helping so many restaurants with their menus. The pair hit on a lot during a fun talk, including: ●       How to increase sales and profits by targeting menu & dietary preferences ●      &n...