In this episode, I break down what I’m seeing inside the store right now as we move from growth mode into adjustment mode. Sales are up, momentum is real, and we’ve made solid progress from Period 1 to Period 3. But better sales do not always mean a healthier business. That is the real conversation here.

I talk through the questions I’m asking as an operator right now. Where is the growth really coming from? Which days are carrying the week? How much of that top-line growth is tied to third-party delivery, and what does that mean for margins, profitability, and long-term sustainability? I also share why my next move is not chasing random sales, but making smarter adjustments that build a stronger pizza business.

We get into first-party online ordering, loyalty and rewards, email and text marketing, bounce-back offers, ticket average, strategic bundles, weekday sales strategy, and why catering may be one of the biggest growth opportunities for pizzeria owners who want stronger sales and better margins. This episode is a real look at pizzeria operations, restaurant growth strategy, direct ordering, customer retention, and how to use your numbers to make better decisions every week.

I also share what I’m posting inside Pizza Pro Circle, where I’m giving weekly scorecards, real store updates, lessons from the numbers, and honest behind-the-scenes insight into what we’re testing, what’s working, and what still needs to improve. If you are a pizzeria owner, operator, or manager trying to grow sales, improve profit, and build a stronger operation, this one will hit home.

Follow for more real-world insights on pizza leadership, pizzeria operations, and restaurant growth.

Join Pizza Pro Circle:
https://www.skool.com/tyrells-group-9324/about

Check out my PMQ articles:
https://www.pmq.com/category/contributors/tyrell-reed/

Tools I recommend:
SPM Pro: https://spm.circle.so/checkout/spm-pro-group?affiliate_code=9ea4d9

WookAI: https://lddy.no/1oadh

Thrive POS: https://www.thrivepos.com/pizzaking

Support the show

Join our free community on Skool

https://www.skool.com/tyrells-group-9324/about

Free Tools and Courses for Pizzeria Owners & Managers

Email: info@tyrellreed.com

Upcoming events and appearances:

Pizza Expo Las Vegas
On the show floor recording podcast episodes

In this episode of the Pizza King Podcast, Tyrell Reed sits down with Mike Pitera of Pizza a Modo Mio in Charleston, South Carolina for a real conversation about what it takes to grow a modern pizzeria. Mike breaks down how he went from washing dishes in New York pizzerias, to corporate sales leadership, to building a pizza business that now offers seven styles of pizza across multiple locations.

They talk about simplifying operations, training a team to handle multiple pizza styles, using one master dough to create consistency, and balancing craftsmanship with smart business systems. Mike also shares how his food truck days helped him test markets, build local demand, and create the momentum that led to brick-and-mortar growth.

This episode is packed with value for pizzeria owners, operators, and managers who want to grow without losing control of quality. You’ll hear lessons on leadership, team morale, menu strategy, catering, customer experience, and why the best operators never stop learning.

Connect with Mike Pitera
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pizzamodomio/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mike.pitera/

Follow Pizza A Modo Mio
Website: https://modomiopizza.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pizzamodomio/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pizzamodomiosc/

Welcome to the Fresh Patch Podcast where we talk about everything, from dog...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts

Support the show

Join our free community on Skool

https://www.skool.com/tyrells-group-9324/about

Free Tools and Courses for Pizzeria Owners & Managers

Email: info@tyrellreed.com

Upcoming events and appearances:

Pizza Expo Las Vegas
On the show floor recording podcast episodes

In this Takeout Tip episode, Tyrell Reed breaks down a hard truth that every pizzeria owner, partner, and investor needs to hear. Respect from your team does not come from ownership. It comes from leadership. If you think putting money into the business should automatically earn loyalty, trust, or influence, this episode will challenge that fast. Tyrell shares why staff respond to consistency, humility, support, and real value, not titles, ego, or ownership percentages. This is a strong message for pizza shop owners, restaurant operators, and leaders who want to build trust, lead better, and create a stronger team culture inside their store.

Support the show

Join our free community on Skool

https://www.skool.com/tyrells-group-9324/about

Free Tools and Courses for Pizzeria Owners & Managers

Email: info@tyrellreed.com

Upcoming events and appearances:

Pizza Expo Las Vegas
On the show floor recording podcast episodes

In this episode of the Pizza King Podcast, Tyrell Reed sits down with Adam Marks, known online as I Am Pizza Adam, for a conversation about pizza from a different angle. Adam is not building a pizzeria, chasing a pop-up model, or trying to turn pizza into a full-time business. He is a true pizza enthusiast, someone who makes pizza because he loves the craft, loves the process, and loves sharing the experience with others.

That is what makes this episode valuable for pizzeria owners and operators. When someone makes pizza for the love of it, you get a clear view of passion, curiosity, and creativity without the pressure of labor, overhead, and margins. Tyrell and Adam talk about backyard pizza making, learning through trial and error, using simple ingredients and accessible tools, and why authenticity still connects with people. It is also a good reminder that great pizza starts with care, attention, and pride in the process.

Follow Adam Marks, I Am Pizza Adam:

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/iampizzaadam/

TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@iampizzaadam

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@iampizzaadam

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/adam.marks.1654/

Welcome to the Fresh Patch Podcast where we talk about everything, from dog...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts

Support the show

Join our free community on Skool

https://www.skool.com/tyrells-group-9324/about

Free Tools and Courses for Pizzeria Owners & Managers

Email: info@tyrellreed.com

Upcoming events and appearances:

Pizza Expo Las Vegas
On the show floor recording podcast episodes

If your store runs smooth when you’re there, then falls apart when you leave, this episode is for you.

In this Takeout Tip, Tyrell Reed breaks down a simple truth. The dinner rush is not the problem. Your lack of readiness is. When the team gets slammed and starts scrambling for sauce, boxes, printer paper, backups, or a stocked line, the rush exposes every missed step from earlier in the day. That chaos turns into slower ticket times, mistakes, refunds, comps, team tension, and that dreaded 911 call that pulls you back into the shop.

You’ll learn a practical daily system called “Ready for Customer.” A short pre-rush checklist and a quick walk-through in a fixed order. Front of house first, then the line, then ovens and backups. You will hear what to put on the checklist, when to run it (before lunch and before dinner), and how to train junior managers to own it so the store can operate without you.

This episode is focused on pizzeria operations, leadership systems, shift readiness, rush prep, manager training, ticket times, service consistency, and building a store that can handle peak periods without the owner.

Want to connect? Join me for free on Skool

https://www.skool.com/tyrells-group-9324/about

Learn More By Visiting ThrivePOS.com/PizzaKing

Support the show

Request my weekly P&L template
Email: info@tyrellreed.com

Download the free Lead the Shift 21-Day Workbook https://tyrellreed.com/leadtheshift-page

Apply for the March Leadership Accelerator cohort
https://tyrellreed.com/leadership2

Learn more about my work, tools, and events
https://tyrellreed.com

Upcoming events and appearances:

New York Restaurant Show
Javits Center, March 7

Pizza Expo Las Vegas
On the show floor recording podcast episodes

In this episode of The Pizza King Podcast, Tyrell Reed sits down with Rob Te Braake of Insight Matters, a fractional CFO and accounting firm, for a practical conversation on the numbers that keep a pizzeria alive.

Rob breaks down why most owners get in trouble, not because they work hard, but because they stay too optimistic and avoid the weekly discipline of forecasting and review. You will learn what to track (gross profit, net profit, and cash flow), why revenue can be a vanity metric, and how to spot money leaks like overstaffing, unused tools, payment fees, and expensive financing.

They also dig into real-world decisions pizzeria owners face, like when outside funding makes sense, why predatory lenders can crush your cash flow, how third-party delivery fees can turn “busy” into “broke,” and how much of the financial picture to share with your team without creating fear.

If you want a simple way to tighten operations, protect cash, and make better decisions faster, this episode gives you a clear playbook you can start using this week.

Learn More By Visiting ThrivePOS.com/PizzaKing

Support the show

Request my weekly P&L template
Email: info@tyrellreed.com

Download the free Lead the Shift 21-Day Workbook https://tyrellreed.com/leadtheshift-page

Apply for the March Leadership Accelerator cohort
https://tyrellreed.com/leadership2

Learn more about my work, tools, and events
https://tyrellreed.com

Upcoming events and appearances:

New York Restaurant Show
Javits Center, March 7

Pizza Expo Las Vegas
On the show floor recording podcast episodes

Tyrell Reed is back with a Takeout Tip and a real store update from the Pizza King turnaround. He shares why taking a break matters before burnout hits, then gets into the numbers, the moves, and what your shop can copy this week.

You will hear the last three weekly results, including sales around $8.6K to $8.9K, and a strong week at about 12.9% profit. Tyrell breaks down what is driving the change, including daily deal emails, weekend SMS, and a loyalty program update built to reward repeat visits faster with simple cash rewards.

He also talks ops. Product specs, prep consistency, recipe compliance, and why “close enough” costs you money. Plus, the prime cost target, labor focus, and menu cleanup ideas to reduce waste. If you are a pizzeria owner or operator who wants more profit, tighter systems, and better weekly control, this one is for you.

Learn More By Visiting ThrivePOS.com/PizzaKing

Support the show

Request my weekly P&L template
Email: info@tyrellreed.com

Download the free Lead the Shift 21-Day Workbook https://tyrellreed.com/leadtheshift-page

Apply for the March Leadership Accelerator cohort
https://tyrellreed.com/leadership2

Learn more about my work, tools, and events
https://tyrellreed.com

Upcoming events and appearances:

New York Restaurant Show
Javits Center, March 7

Pizza Expo Las Vegas
On the show floor recording podcast episodes

You hire teenagers. You coach teenagers. You lead teenagers. So this episode matters.

I sit down with Coach Tony Le from egelloC (Eagle Lock), a former UC Berkeley admissions reader who has reviewed over 10,000 applications.

tony-le-x-pizza-king-podcast He breaks down what actually moves the needle in college admissions, and what families waste time overthinking.

We get into the real pillars that drive outcomes, GPA versus course rigor, activities that show direction, and why the college essay is where strong students still lose.

tony-le-x-pizza-king-podcast Then Tony gives a simple time management system that helps students stop reacting to the week and start running a plan.

If you are a pizzeria owner or manager, this is also a leadership episode. Tony shares how adults can support high school workers with clarity, routines, and accountability, without turning into the “nag.”

College admissions strategy. UC admissions insight. Application review. Essay coaching. Extracurriculars. Major exploration. Parent support. Teen time management. Accountability systems. Leadership development for young employees.

Guest Links, Coach Tony Le
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachtonyle/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@collegeadmissionsecrets

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoachTonyCAS/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachtonyle/?hl=en

Welcome to the Fresh Patch Podcast where we talk about everything, from dog...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts

Support the show

Join our free community on Skool

https://www.skool.com/tyrells-group-9324/about

Free Tools and Courses for Pizzeria Owners & Managers

Email: info@tyrellreed.com

Upcoming events and appearances:

Pizza Expo Las Vegas
On the show floor recording podcast episodes