Nancy Kuemper is the founding principal interior designer and creative director at Mabel Design Co. based in Halton Hills, which is located within the Greater Toronto Area.

Similarly to the approach KRG Hospitality takes to projects, Nancy's approach to interior design is transparent, structured, bold, and client-driven. As you'll learn during this episode of the Bar Hacks podcast, she's enamored with the idea of telling the story of a client's project.

You'll also hear about the phased structure Mabel Design Co. brings to each project, when to bring on an interior designer, how to maximize the relationship, design trends Nancy thinks will be popular in 2025, and more. Cheers!

Notes

Mabel Design Co. website: https://www.mabeldesignco.com

Mabel Design Co. IG: https://www.instagram.com/mabeldesignco/

Mabel Design Co. Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/mabeldesignco/

Mabel Design Co. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mabel-design-co/

Bar Hacks IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/barhacks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/krg.hospitality/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://krghospitality.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

David Klemt IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/david.ex.machina/

On the second episode of Bar Hacks: ReFire, host David Klemt (KRG Hospitality) and co-host Bradley Knebel (Empowered Hospitality) chat about three real-world restaurant and bar situations.

The duo discuss guest perception, F&B influencer culture and marketing, "firing" problematic customers (a distinction is made between guest and customer), and more through the analysis of three stories pulled from various platforms.

Cheers!

Notes

Bar Hacks IG: ⁠⁠@barhacks⁠⁠

David Klemt IG: ⁠⁠@david.ex.machina⁠⁠

Bradley Knebel IG: ⁠⁠@sommfabulousguy⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality IG: ⁠⁠@KRG.Hospitality⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality website: ⁠⁠KRGHospitality.com⁠⁠

Empowered Hospitality IG: ⁠⁠@empoweredhospitality⁠⁠

Empowered Hospitality website: ⁠⁠EmpoweredHospitality.com⁠

Welcome to the first episode of Bar Hacks: ReFire! We've changed the standard Bar Hacks format to address real-life hospitality industry issues. We're also introducing a co-host to help provide different insights and perspectives: Bradley Knebel, client services director at Empowered Hospitality. Bradley has 20 years of experience in hospitality, including ten years with Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group.

On this inaugural episode David and Bradley discuss giving a second chance to a part-time employee hired to join a small culinary team; a bartender who may be experiencing imposter syndrome but who was also only given a single training shift at a high-end venue; and owners, operators, and leadership team members pulling pranks on staff.

Notes

Bar Hacks IG: @barhacks

David Klemt IG: @david.ex.machina

Bradley Knebel IG: @sommfabulousguy

KRG Hospitality IG: @KRG.Hospitality

KRG Hospitality website: KRGHospitality.com

Empowered Hospitality IG: @empoweredhospitality

Empowered Hospitality website: EmpoweredHospitality.com

Social media can seem daunting to some people. Where do you start? How often should you post? What kind of posts should you put out there? And what channels do you need to use?

To answer these questions (and more), we asked Zachary Helsel if he'd come on the podcast.

Zack will be the first to tell you that he's made all the mistakes one can make when building their social media presence. However, he learned from those mistakes, has sought expert advice, and led his whynot_ride motorcycle page to more than 466,000 engaged followers. He also operates his own social media marketing agency, complete with a digital creator community.

During this conversation, host David Klemt and Zack talk platforms, strategy, mistakes and myths, the importance of learning the fundamentals, two key acronyms Zack has coined, why he's not afraid to pay for expert advice, the services he provides as a social media marketer, and more.

Also, for the riders out there, he's giving away a 2023 Honda Grom and a 2024 CF MOTO Papio. Check out the giveaway on his whynot_ride IG page and Why Not Ride community. Cheers!

Notes

whynot_engage IG: https://www.instagram.com/whynot_engage/

whynot_ride IG: https://www.instagram.com/whynot_ride/

Why Not Ride Skool community: https://www.skool.com/whynotride/about

Engagement Academy signup: https://www.engagementacademy.org/opt-in

Bar Hacks IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/barhacks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/krg.hospitality/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://krghospitality.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

David Klemt IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/david.ex.machina/

Just weeks after speaking with design legend Roger Thomas we were given the opportunity to speak with Alex Woogmaster. Alex is one of Roger's protégés, and the former creative director for Wynn Resorts.

Toward the end of 2019, Alex founded Woogmaster Studio, the design agency for which he is also creative director. Interestingly, Las Vegas wasn't on his radar. In fact, neither was interior design; he was studying architecture initially.

On this episode of the Bar Hacks podcast you'll hear about how Alex found himself in Vegas, working for one of the most influential and successful gaming and hospitality brands in the world; the Woogmaster Studio "gentle manifestos"; his approach to interior design; maximizing the relationship between operator and designer; and more. Cheers!

Notes

Woogmaster Studio IG: https://www.instagram.com/woogmasterstudio/

Woogmaster Studio website: https://woogmasterstudio.com/

Bar Hacks IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/barhacks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/krg.hospitality/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://krghospitality.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

David Klemt IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/david.ex.machina/

Psychotherapist, soon-to-be organizational psychologist, and former bartender Laura Louise Green drops by the Bar Hacks podcast to talk about a very important topic: burnout.

The hospitality industry has been taking strides to address many of the challenges that affect hospitality professionals' physical, mental, and emotional health. Burnout is one of the many dangerous issues we all face, yet we don't always acknowledge.

Among other important conversations we need to have that are long overdue, Green has been taking on burnout head-on. On this episode, she defines burnout, shares symptoms, explains the truth and myths about burnout, offers some ways to heal from it, and much more.

Notes

Laura Louise Green IG: https://www.instagram.com/laura.louise.green/

Healthy Pour IG: https://www.instagram.com/our.bestwork/⁠

Healthy Pour Website: ⁠⁠https://healthypour.org/⁠⁠

Healthy Pour Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/healthypourconsulting

Bar Hacks IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/barhacks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/krg.hospitality/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://krghospitality.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

David Klemt IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/david.ex.machina/

Real Las Vegas royalty stopped by the Bar Hacks podcast! That's not hyperbole: Roger Thomas truly changed the face of Las Vegas and how people approaching gaming around the world over his 40-year career.

While Roger has made "cameo" appearances on projects for clients here and there, he really worked for a single client, building the Mirage, the Bellagio, and Wynn and Encore resorts and casinos in multiple markets across the globe.

During this conversation, Roger shares how he got his start in interior design in hospitality, his approach to luxury design, how he has mentored other designers, some of his favorite design features, his new book Resort Style: Spaces of Celebration, tips for hiring and working with interior designers, why designers flock to Las Vegas, and so much more. Cheers!

Notes

Roger Thomas IG: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/rogerpthomas/⁠

The Roger Thomas Collection: https://therogerthomascollection.com/

GoTab Facebook: ⁠www.facebook.com/GoTabInc/⁠

Bar Hacks IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/barhacks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/krg.hospitality/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://krghospitality.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

David Klemt IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/david.ex.machina/

Let's tech and point-of-sale systems! Adam Howe, solutions engineer at GoTab, popped in to talk to host David Klemt about what the platform can do for operators.

GoTab is a feature-rich, operator- and guest-focused POS that, interestingly, can run on basically any operating system. That means that it's very likely an operator looking to switch POS platforms already has hardware that can run GoTab, and that translates to savings.

It's the company's transparency, ease of use, and cost-saving measures that convinced KRG Hospitality to choose GoTab as a preferred partner. In this episode, Adam shares GoTab's mission and focus, the time it takes to get their system up and running at a given venue, new features, and much more. Cheers!

Notes

GoTab IG: ⁠https: www.instagram.com/gotab.inc/

GoTab website: ⁠gotab.com/

GoTab YouTube: ⁠www.youtube.com/c/GoTabInc

GoTab LinkedIn: ⁠www.linkedin.com/company/gotab/

GoTab Facebook: www.facebook.com/GoTabInc/

Bar Hacks IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/barhacks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/krg.hospitality/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://krghospitality.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

David Klemt IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/david.ex.machina/

Marybeth Shaw is the chief creative officer at Wolf-Gordon, an American design company that provides wallcoverings, wall protection, upholstery, paint, and more. Shaw has achieved an MBA from NYU Stern, an M. Arch. from the Ecole d’Architecture de Paris-Belleville, an MCP from MIT, and, most recently, an MBA. Further, she earned the HiP Award for Creative Direction from Interior Design in 2017, and serves on the Board of the Wallcoverings Association.

For the past couple of years, Shaw has curated intriguing design installations for HD Expo, held in Las Vegas. It was the first installation, HI > AI, that grabbed Bar Hacks host David Klemt's attention. Since then, he has wanted to have her stop by the podcast. Finally, the two made that happen!

Shaw stops by the discuss wallcoverings, wall protection, sustainability, finding and nurturing the careers of designers, her own journey through the worlds of hospitality and commercial design, design trends (some that she'd like see go away), and much more. Cheers!

Notes

Wolf-Gordon IG: https://www.instagram.com/wolfgordon

Wolf-Gordon website: https://www.wolfgordon.com/

Wolf-Gordon YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLIKcT8xteXsT8NDckgdjmg

Wolf-Gordon Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/wolfgordon/

Bar Hacks IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/barhacks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/krg.hospitality/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://krghospitality.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

David Klemt IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/david.ex.machina/

When we were given the opportunity to speak with a guest about sake, we jumped at it. Ryan Johnson is the head sommelier at Umu, a Michelin Starred Japanese restaurant in London. He looks after an inventory of more than 140 sakes while also remembering the preferences of guests who expect high-level service.

During this conversation Ryan shares how he went from commis sommelier to head sommelier; achieving his kikisake-shi certification; sake service; and myths about sake. Cheers!

Notes

Ryan Johnson IG: https://www.instagram.com/xryanmj/

Umu IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/umurestaurant/

Umu website: https://www.umurestaurant.com/

Bar Hacks IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/barhacks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/krg.hospitality/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://krghospitality.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

David Klemt IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/david.ex.machina/