Every restaurant owner and operator is looking for an edge over the competition. For most of us, the answer is hidden in plain sight. That answer, ironically enough, is the very reason we got into this industry. In this episode, Josh Kopel and Anthony Hamilton discuss how the level of hospitality we offer our guests is the ultimate competitive advantage and what that looks like in practical application. ____________________________________________________________ Restaurant Marketing School...

There is a way to establish accountability within our teams without demotivating them. It’s a proven process which has become commonplace in countless industries. In this episode, Josh Kopel and Anthony Hamilton discuss how to bring those processes into our restaurants and kitchens, ensuring our teams are held accountable but feel supported at the same time. ____________________________________________________________ Restaurant Marketing School is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In...

A restaurant is made up of many parts but, in order to achieve the highest levels of success, these individual parts must work in concert with each other. In this episode, Josh Kopel, a Michelin-rated restaurateur and Anthony Hamilton, an award winning chef, sit down to discuss the proven tactics they’ve used to bring front of house and back of house employees together. ____________________________________________________________ Restaurant Marketing School is brought to you by Yelp for...

Maximizing performance is a two-way street. If we want to get the most out of our teams, we have to give them everything they need to succeed. In this episode, Josh Kopel and Anthony Hamilton look at the tools leaders can use to support their teams as they strive for excellence. ____________________________________________________________ Restaurant Marketing School is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to...

We spend so much time staring at our financial statements without an inkling of how to improve the numbers we see. Those days are done. In this episode, Josh Kopel and Anthony Hamilton provide winning strategies for managing your costs and scaling your restaurant’s profitability. ____________________________________________________________ Restaurant Marketing School is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to...

As entrepreneurs and restaurant owners, we are in a constant state of improvement. This process, though necessary, can exhaust us and our teams. In this episode, Josh Kopel and Anthony Hamilton discuss how these improvements can be adjusted to inspire our teams instead of wearing them down. ____________________________________________________________ Restaurant Marketing School is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our...

In our industry, labor is the killer of most businesses and most of that labor is being absorbed by the back of house. In this episode, Josh Kopel and Anthony Hamilton illustrate how innovations in menu engineering can streamline your restaurant’s operations and scale profitability. ____________________________________________________________ Restaurant Marketing School is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is...

Everything you need to move product and create profit is within reach. In this episode, Josh Kopel and Anthony Hamilton discuss how a chalkboard and a little salesmanship can transform your restaurant into a money making machine. ____________________________________________________________ Restaurant Marketing School is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with...

No one becomes a restaurant owner because they’re passionate about marketing. Having said that, it has become painfully obvious that marketing is no longer optional within our industry. In this episode, Josh Kopel and Anthony Hamilton offer a step by step guide to planning and executing a winning marketing campaign. ____________________________________________________________ Restaurant Marketing School is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed...

It’s easy to feel defeated when we look at the marketing campaigns of the big box restaurants that so many of us compete with. Having said that, the market is clamoring for new ideas and they want to hear what you have to offer. In this episode, Josh Kopel and Anthony Hamilton discuss how independent restaurant owners and operators can position themselves as a more attractive option for savvy consumers looking for what’s new and what’s...

One of the greatest hurdles in our industry is the day to day frustration that we face in attempting to achieve a level of success that so few do. The path to success is not one we can travel alone and, as much as we need great people by our side, those people need a great leader at the helm. In this episode, Josh Kopel and Anthony Hamilton discuss the right and wrong way to set expectations for yourself and your team. ____________________________________________________________ Restaurant...

In an industry where a positive company culture has always felt like a “nice to have,” it has become painfully obvious that it is a “need to have.” To ensure the survival of the hospitality industry, we must borrow the best practices from other industry leaders. In this episode, Josh Kopel and Anthony Hamilton discuss the essential elements of a positive company culture as well as tools and tactics that will improve culture without breaking the...

The only sustainable cure for ending the restaurant industry’s labor crisis is to maximize employee retention. Turnover is the biggest threat to both our restaurant’s profitability and our ability to scale. In this episode, Josh Kopel and Anthony Hamilton offer simple, proven strategies for ensuring that you keep the employees you currently have inspired and focused. ____________________________________________________________ Restaurant Marketing School is brought to you by Yelp for...

It seems like we may have hit a ceiling when it comes to raising prices, especially with a recession on the horizon. In this episode, Josh Kopel and Anthony Hamilton discuss how to win the battle against ever-increasing costs by using proven techniques to improve efficiencies and eliminate waste. ____________________________________________________________ Restaurant Marketing School is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for...

Chef Anthony Hamilton has more than 20 years of restaurant and hospitality working experience, ranging from quick-service outlets to full-service catering to fine dining. He has held positions in all areas of the restaurant industry with most notably chef de cuisine, executive chef, corporate chef, chef/consultant, and director of operations. As a chef instructor and restaurant consultant, Hamilton offers a wealth of information gained through first-hand successes and failures in the...

It’s rarely discussed in our industry but there is an art to knowing when to sell your business and how to ensure that you get the most money for your restaurant. In this episode, Shaun de Vries and Josh Kopel discuss selling their own restaurant concepts and the lessons learned from those experiences. For more information on Shaun and his company, visit https://www.openpantryconsulting.com/. ____________________________________________________________ Restaurant Marketing School is...

Over the last year, it’s become clear that food delivery isn’t going anywhere. In this episode, Shaun de Vries and Josh Kopel discuss all of the ways restaurants can maximize their delivery revenue without cutting corners. For more information on Shaun and his company, visit https://www.openpantryconsulting.com/. ____________________________________________________________ Restaurant Marketing School is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed...

If the pandemic taught us anything it’s that we must make money in more than one way to ensure the solvency of our industry. In this episode, Shaun de Vries and Josh Kopel discuss all of the ways that restaurants are leveraging their brand equity to bring in more revenue in more ways. For more information on Shaun and his company, visit https://www.openpantryconsulting.com/. ____________________________________________________________ Restaurant Marketing School is brought to you by Yelp...

Everyone wants to know what the future holds for our industry and, though the future is impossible to predict, Shaun de Vries and Josh Kopel do see trends emerging. In this episode, they discuss the concepts that are clearly winning the competition for butts in seats. For more information on Shaun and his company, visit https://www.openpantryconsulting.com/. ____________________________________________________________ Restaurant Marketing School is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants:...

A restaurant’s greatest marketing tool is its menu. In this episode, Shaun de Vries and Josh Kopel discuss winning strategies to weaponize your restaurant’s menu to drive new business and increase customer frequency. For more information on Shaun and his company, visit https://www.openpantryconsulting.com/. ____________________________________________________________ Restaurant Marketing School is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for...

It’s impossible to run a great company when you’re not living a great life. The mass exodus from our industry was the result of the unsustainable pace with which this industry requires us to work. But, as it turns out, it doesn’t have to be that way. In this episode, Shaun de Vries and Josh Kopel share the tactics and tools of successful owners and operators who have figured out how to achieve balance and offer a balanced life to their teams. For more information on Shaun and his company,...

The biggest hurdle within the restaurant industry is people. The search for great people and the efforts involved in keeping those people have made headlines internationally. In this episode, Shaun de Vries and Josh Kopel discuss how accountability can serve as our greatest tool to inspire great people to join our teams and how those practices can ensure we retain our existing team members. For more information on Shaun and his company, visit...

Many times, the difference between making money and losing money comes down to doing the boring work. In this episode, Shaun de Vries and Josh Kopel discuss how taking inventory in a specific way can scale your restaurant’s profitability overnight. For more information on Shaun and his company, visit https://www.openpantryconsulting.com/. ____________________________________________________________ Restaurant Marketing School is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few...

The restaurant industry has been heavily influenced by “big data” over the last few years. More and more, owners and operators are dependent on technology to guide the trajectory of their businesses. An essential tool in that arsenal is their point of sale system and, in today’s episode, Shaun de Vries and Josh Kopel discuss what one should look for when trying to find the right POS for their business. For more information on Shaun and his company, visit...