In this episode, I chat with Darius Aram from Slice Street Pizza about the real challenges of running a pizzeria. We cover everything from managing delivery drivers to handling customer expectations and using third-party services. If you're a pizza operator looking for practical advice, this conversation is packed with insights to help your business thrive. Like, comment, and subscribe for more tips on running a successful pizzeria! Get on Slice: http://slicelife.com/smartpizza Work this us: https://smartpizzamarketing.com/pro Buy and Ooni Oven: https://smartpizzamarketing.com/ooni Buy a Baking Steel: https://smartpizzamarketing.com/bakingsteel Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction & Welcome 1:10 - Moving from California to Texas 3:30 - Opening a Pizzeria in a New Market 6:00 - Managing Delivery Drivers 9:45 - The Pros and Cons of Third-Party Delivery Services 13:20 - Handling Customer Expectations 17:05 - The Reality of Running a Pizzeria 21:00 - Struggles with POS Systems 26:30 - Balancing Cost and Quality in Pizza 31:00 - Marketing Strategies for Pizzerias 36:15 - The Role of Social Media in Pizza Business 42:00 - The Importance of Email and Text Marketing 48:00 - Advice for New Pizza Owners 54:00 - Future Plans & Final Thoughts 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

In this episode, Bruce welcomes back Ilir Sela, CEO of a leading platform dedicated to helping independent pizza shops thrive. Discover how Ilir and his team are revolutionizing the industry with innovative solutions for online ordering, point-of-sale systems, and discounted supplies. Get exclusive insights into the challenges and successes of modern pizza operations and learn how these game-changing strategies can transform your business. Don't miss this deep dive into the future of pizza with one of the industry's top visionaries.

Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:30 - Welcoming Ilir Sela 01:03 - Overview of the platform's products 02:36 - Solving the storage and distribution problem for pizza shops 03:55 - Service areas and expansion 06:06 - The challenge of running multiple locations 07:01 - Launching a point-of-sale system specifically for pizza shops 09:47 - Cost and benefits of the point-of-sale system 10:56 - Trends in the pizza industry 15:17 - Differentiating from third-party platforms 16:17 - The importance of service and customer retention 18:07 - Maximizing the value of existing customers 19:56 - Effective email and text marketing strategies 21:22 - Automated marketing tools provided by the platform 25:12 - Collaboration among pizza shops 29:20 - Customer behavior and loyalty 32:25 - Advice on viewing competitors as collaborators 33:17 - The trend towards self-delivery in pizza shops 35:31 - The benefits of self-delivery over third-party delivery 37:08 - Closing remarks and where to find more information

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

In this episode of the podcast, Bruce sits down with Andres Maldonado Fuertes, the innovative mind behind Nona Street Pizza. They delve into the journey of launching a unique pizza concept in Orlando, from building a custom food truck to creating a menu that blends Neapolitan and New York styles with inventive twists. Andres shares the challenges and triumphs of starting the business, the importance of social media in their success, and their exciting plans for the future. Tune in to hear how Nona Street Pizza is setting itself apart in the crowded food scene.

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

Chapters for YouTube

0:00 - Introduction 0:53 - Meet Andres Maldonado Fuertes 1:18 - The Concept Behind Nona Street Pizza 3:30 - Unique Pizza Offerings and Fried Calzones 5:45 - Building the Custom Food Truck 9:00 - The Pizza Ovens and Cooking Process 12:00 - Developing the Perfect Pizza Dough 14:45 - Creative Pizza Toppings and Ingredients 16:15 - The Role of Social Media in Success 19:45 - The Importance of Influencers and Local Foodies 23:00 - Challenges and Learnings from the First Year 25:00 - Expanding to a Second Location 27:30 - Long-Term Vision and Continuous Improvement 30:00 - Favorite Pizza Places in Orlando 32:10 - Closing Remarks and Where to Find Nona Street Pizza

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