Layla Ruffino, owner of Blue Highway Pizza in Florida, shares her experience running two successful pizzerias. The original location, in a small town, has been thriving for 20 years, while the newer location in a growing area has seen rapid growth. Leila emphasizes the importance of taking care of her team, offering generous benefits and creating a positive work environment. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:07 Building a Successful Pizzeria in a Small Town

04:43 The Challenges of Operating in a Small Town

07:01 Taking Care of the Team

13:27 Menu and Offerings

15:31 Homemade Recipes and Quality Ingredients

17:03 Exploring Different Types of Ovens

22:05 Pros and Cons of the Toast Point of Sale System

27:23 Expanding with a Vintage Pizza Truck

31:14 The Importance of Networking

MY OTHER SOCIALS:

🎙 My podcast Smart Pizza Marketing where I interview entrepreneurs, creators and other inspiring people -   

🌍  My website / blog - https://www.smartpizzamarketing.com

🐦  Twitter - https://twitter.com/spmpod

📸  Instagram - https://instagram.com/smartpizzamarketing

📱  TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@smartpizzamarketing

👨‍💻  Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/smartpizzamarketing

🎥  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/smartpizzamarketing

Learn from us:  https://www.smartpizzamarketing.com/mastermind

Work with us: https://www.smartpizzamarketing.com/work

Giovanni Chez, part owner and general manager of King Umberto's pizzeria, joins the podcast to discuss his experience in the pizza industry. He talks about the history of the restaurant, their expansion during COVID, and their plans for revamping their indoor dining room and expanding their bakery production. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

01:24 Expansion and Revamping

03:10 Perfecting Recipes and Pizza Styles

04:36 Sharing Knowledge and Helping Others

07:17 Marketing and Product Diversification

10:31 The Decision to Not Offer Delivery

18:56 Influence of Scar's Pizza and Nostalgia

23:00 Learning from Other Pizza Makers

26:53 Passion and Motivation

29:36 Property Ownership and Stability

Chris Black shares his journey of starting Red Rocket Pizza Company during COVID-19. He transitioned from being a nightclub DJ to a pizza maker and began by making pizzas in his garage. He eventually upgraded to a larger brick oven and started inviting friends and acquaintances to try his pizzas. 

Chapters

00:00 Starting a Pizza Business During COVID-19

02:13 Pop-Up Events and Donations

08:22 Focus on Brewery Partnerships

10:43 The Challenges of Being a One-Man Operation

13:12 Navigating the Complexities of Licensing

20:43 Sustainability and Scaling Back

23:00 Finding Investors and Determining Business Value

28:11 Creating a Unique Customer Experience with a Custom-Built Pizza Trailer

MY OTHER SOCIALS:

🎙 My podcast Smart Pizza Marketing where I interview entrepreneurs, creators and other inspiring people -   

🌍  My website / blog - https://www.smartpizzamarketing.com

🐦  Twitter - https://twitter.com/spmpod

📸  Instagram - https://instagram.com/smartpizzamarketing

📱  TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@smartpizzamarketing

👨‍💻  Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/smartpizzamarketing

🎥  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/smartpizzamarketing

Pizza Champ STL is a pizza joint in St. Louis that specializes in big 18-inch, 72-hour fermented sourdough pizzas. They share a space with Side Project Brewing, a brewery, in a small 900 square foot building. The seating area is a covered patio, and they also have a drive-through window for pickup orders. The owner, Chris, pivoted to pizza during the COVID-19 pandemic and found success with his unique style of pizza.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview of Pizza Champ STL

03:01 The Unique Concept and Shared Space

05:51 The COVID-19 Pivot and Success

09:00 The Philosophy Behind Pizza Champ STL

12:08 The Style of Pizza in St. Louis

23:23 The Challenges of Running a Restaurant

25:23 The Benefits of Saying No and Online Ordering

34:18 Exciting Experiments with Dough and New Menu Items

38:37 The Importance of Customer Satisfaction

MY OTHER SOCIALS:

🎙 My podcast Smart Pizza Marketing where I interview entrepreneurs, creators and other inspiring people -   

🌍  My website / blog - https://www.smartpizzamarketing.com

🐦  Twitter - https://twitter.com/spmpod

📸  Instagram - https://instagram.com/smartpizzamarketing

📱  TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@smartpizzamarketing

👨‍💻  Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/smartpizzamarketing

🎥  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/smartpizzamarketing

Learn from us:  https://www.smartpizzamarketing.com/mastermind

Work with us: https://www.smartpizzamarketing.com/work

Bruce Irving is a guest on Alex's podcast, Pie to Pie, where they discuss marketing strategies for pizzerias. They cover topics such as magazines, YouTube, Pizza Expo, and Dave Portnoy. Bruce emphasizes the importance of consistency in marketing and recommends focusing on one social media platform to start. He also suggests leveraging YouTube for long-term content and using TikTok for live streaming. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview

10:40 The Importance of Consistency in Marketing

12:33 Leveraging YouTube for Long-Term Content

15:31 Choosing the Right Social Media Platform

25:38 Prioritizing Business Operations

28:05 Using TikTok for Live Streaming

35:28 Building a Following and Leveraging Social Media

36:24 Dealing with Online Criticism and the Importance of a Strong Following

38:03 Starting a Podcast to Learn from Others in the Industry

41:33 The Value of Sharing Business Failures

43:29 The Realities of Opening a Pizzeria

46:42 The Allure of Entrepreneurship in the Social Media Age

49:05 The Importance of Lower Expectations

50:09 The Need for More Seminars on Failures and Real Experiences

55:39 The Challenges of Growing a Podcast

57:24 The Value of YouTube and Content Creation

01:03:02 The Three Most Important Tools in Running a Successful Pizza Shop

01:09:09 The Greatest Band of All Time

MY OTHER SOCIALS:

🎙 My podcast Smart Pizza Marketing where I interview entrepreneurs, creators and other inspiring people -   

🌍  My website / blog - https://www.smartpizzamarketing.com

🐦  Twitter - https://twitter.com/spmpod

📸  Instagram - https://instagram.com/smartpizzamarketing

📱  TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@smartpizzamarketing

👨‍💻  Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/smartpizzamarketing

🎥  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/smartpizzamarketing

Learn from us:  https://www.smartpizzamarketing.com/mastermind

Work with us: https://www.smartpizzamarketing.com/work

Mike Friedman, owner of Pizza Delicious in New Orleans, shares the journey of starting a pizzeria and the challenges of building a successful brick-and-mortar business. From pop-up beginnings to the development of a New York-style pizza recipe, Mike's story is a testament to hard work, dedication, and the value of community support.

Chapters

00:00 The Journey of Pizza Delicious: From Pop-Up to Brick-and-Mortar

07:55 Crafting the Perfect New York-Style Pizza Recipe

14:02 Challenges of Building a Brick-and-Mortar Pizzeria

23:01 The Evolution of Pizza-Making Resources

25:36 Exploring the Culture of New York Pizza

30:06 Challenges and Considerations in Running a Pizza Business

36:48 Menu Planning, Pricing, and Adapting to Industry Changes

43:43 The Impact of the Pandemic on the Pizza Business

48:08 Evolving Nature of the Pizza Industry and Staff Management

MY OTHER SOCIALS:

🎙 My podcast Smart Pizza Marketing where I interview entrepreneurs, creators and other inspiring people -   

🌍  My website / blog - https://www.smartpizzamarketing.com

🐦  Twitter - https://twitter.com/spmpod

📸  Instagram - https://instagram.com/smartpizzamarketing

📱  TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@smartpizzamarketing

👨‍💻  Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/smartpizzamarketing

🎥  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/smartpizzamarketing

Learn from us:  https://www.smartpizzamarketing.com/mastermind

Work with us: https://www.smartpizzamarketing.com/work

In this conversation, Bruce interviews Christian from Ooni, a company that produces portable pizza ovens. They discuss how Ooni revolutionized the pizza-making industry by creating affordable and efficient ovens for home use. Christian shares his background and how his passion for making better pizza at home led to the development of Ooni ovens. 

Chapters

00:00 The Uni Journey: Revolutionizing the Pizza Industry

02:53 The Rise of Home Pizza-Making Businesses

11:08 Challenges and Opportunities in the Pizza Industry

21:01 Global Presence and Oven Models

25:36 Cooking Tips and Pizza Style Recommendations

MY OTHER SOCIALS:

🎙 My podcast Smart Pizza Marketing where I interview entrepreneurs, creators and other inspiring people -   

🌍  My website / blog - https://www.smartpizzamarketing.com

🐦  Twitter - https://twitter.com/spmpod

📸  Instagram - https://instagram.com/smartpizzamarketing

📱  TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@smartpizzamarketing

👨‍💻  Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/smartpizzamarketing

🎥  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/smartpizzamarketing

Learn from us:  https://www.smartpizzamarketing.com/mastermind

Work with us: https://www.smartpizzamarketing.com/work

Bruce Irving shares his experience at the National Restaurant Expo in Chicago, discussing the pros and cons, the tech he found, and the pizzerias he visited. He also highlights the challenges faced by independent pizzeria owners at the expo and provides insights into various products and technologies showcased at the event.

Chapters

00:00 Exploring the National Restaurant Expo: Pros and Cons

04:31 Tech Discoveries at the National Restaurant Expo

06:25 Challenges Faced by Independent Pizzeria Owners at Industry Events

12:09 Innovative Products and Technologies at the Expo

MY OTHER SOCIALS:

🎙 My podcast Smart Pizza Marketing where I interview entrepreneurs, creators and other inspiring people -   

🌍  My website / blog - https://www.smartpizzamarketing.com

🐦  Twitter - https://twitter.com/spmpod

📸  Instagram - https://instagram.com/smartpizzamarketing

📱  TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@smartpizzamarketing

👨‍💻  Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/smartpizzamarketing

🎥  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/smartpizzamarketing

Learn from us:  https://www.smartpizzamarketing.com/mastermind

Work with us: https://www.smartpizzamarketing.com/work

Summary

In this conversation, Bruce Irving interviews Charlie Anderson, a YouTuber with a focus on making pizza at home. They discuss the challenges and rewards of creating content for YouTube, the impact of YouTube on discoverability, the role of sponsors and advertisers, the process of making pizza videos, and the potential of opening a pizzeria. Charlie shares insights into his journey as a creator and the value of relatable, personable content on YouTube. They also touch on the impact of platforms like Instagram and TikTok on restaurant marketing.

Chapters

00:00 The World of YouTube Content Creation

04:32 The Art of Making Pizza Videos for YouTube

11:47 Diving Deep into the Perfect Pizza

MY OTHER SOCIALS:

🎙 My podcast Smart Pizza Marketing where I interview entrepreneurs, creators and other inspiring people -   

🌍  My website / blog - https://www.smartpizzamarketing.com

🐦  Twitter - https://twitter.com/spmpod

📸  Instagram - https://instagram.com/smartpizzamarketing

📱  TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@smartpizzamarketing

👨‍💻  Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/smartpizzamarketing

🎥  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/smartpizzamarketing

Learn from us:  https://www.smartpizzamarketing.com/mastermind

Work with us: https://www.smartpizzamarketing.com/work

Myke Olsen, owner of Mike's Pizza in Mesa, Arizona, shares his experience running a wood-fired pizzeria inside a bar called Cider Core. He discusses his Neapolitan-inspired pizza style and the symbiotic relationship between his business and the bar. Myke emphasizes the importance of focusing on the financial side of the business and the benefits of delegating tasks.

MY OTHER SOCIALS:

🎙 My podcast Smart Pizza Marketing where I interview entrepreneurs, creators and other inspiring people -   

🌍  My website / blog - https://www.smartpizzamarketing.com

🐦  Twitter - https://twitter.com/spmpod

📸  Instagram - https://instagram.com/smartpizzamarketing

📱  TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@smartpizzamarketing

👨‍💻  Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/smartpizzamarketing

🎥  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/smartpizzamarketing

Learn from us:  https://www.smartpizzamarketing.com/mastermind

Work with us: https://www.smartpizzamarketing.com/work