Digital Hospitality Shawn P. Walchef

Many of the Rising Tide LinkedIn Live Room regulars took to the road to converge on the National Restaurant Association Show 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. The annual trade show brings together the best and brightest in the hospitality industry to learn, network, and build.



A previous Rising Tide Room discussed best practices as it pertains to attending industry events large or small, but after being a part one of the largest restaurant shows, participants returned home with amazing stories. 



In yesterday’s LinkedIn Room, they shared these stories, which included landing face time with the great Robert Irvine!



Listen to the replay of yesterday’s conversations, and be sure to join us every Wednesday and Friday at 10am PST.



Key Quotes:



“Energy is a hell of an awesome currency, and I loved trading currency with a lot of these people in the room at the show, magical energy is a currency.” - Jason Berkowitz



“One of my key learnings from it was just realizing even more so that people buy from people, they don't buy from companies.” - Justin Ulrich



“until you speak those stories and share those stories, people make up their own story. And if you don't control your story, someone else will control it for you.” - Michael Unargo



“Tell people what you want. Tell this community what you need. Tell people what you're working on. Tell people your ideas for whatever the fuck it is. Because we want to help.” - Troy Hooper



“It's amazing how showing up every day does that. So show up, raise your hands high, put everything you can into it every single day, and you will be absolutely amazed at where you're going to be.”  - Charlie Eblen

Cali BBQ and Cali BBQ Media Founder, Shawn Walchef spoke on The Restaurant Growth Show powered by Dynpricing to discuss dynamic pricing and restaurants greatest fear. He also spoke to hosts Gordon Paterson and Jose Albis about incentivizing customer loyalty.



Cali BBQ, have garnered national attention for implementing dynamic pricing. Often misunderstood as "surge pricing," Walchef clarifies the distinction between the two. Dynamic pricing involves adjusting prices based on supply and demand, a concept familiar to the restaurant industry. By partnering with tech companies like Juicer, Walchef ensures dynamic pricing benefits everyone, creating loyal customers through strategic pricing adjustments.



Walchef is careful to make the distinction between the two pricing strategies. 



“Dynamic incremental pricing is something that, as you guys know, we've been doing in restaurants since the beginning of time with happy hour and with early bird specials.” he explains. “We don't want to be cheated. No one wants to be cheated. And I think when you say the word surge, you think of 2X the price, 3X the price. That is surge pricing.”



Addressing the core concerns of restaurateurs, Walchef highlights the dual fear of being overly scrutinized or completely overlooked. Despite the growing national spotlight on Cali BBQ, the focus remains on serving their local community and leveraging technology to build trust and prioritizing doing the best job within their community while using technology to share their knowledge with other restaurateurs around the world.



"It's literally the greatest fear that every restaurant and every business owner has is that everyone's going to be talking about you or no one's going to be talking about you. And ultimately, it's somewhere in between everyone."  he says. “All we can do is do the best job that we can in our village, in our space, but also leverage technology to teach other restaurateurs and other people that believe in us.”



While acquiring new customers is crucial, retaining them is paramount for sustained success. Walchef and Cali BBQ have teamed up with Incentivio to create a custom app for their new Navy location, aiming to incentivize repeat visits. By gamifying rewards and creating meaningful incentives, Walchef aims to foster a loyal customer base that returns time and again, benefiting both the business and its patrons.



Walchef describes his vision for dynamic pricing and loyalty programs: "In my mind, that is what dynamic pricing is. Loyalty is really the key differentiator for how do you incentivize people to come more often?”



Walchef's appearance on The Restaurant Growth Show sheds light on the nuanced approach to dynamic pricing, the importance of local focus amidst national attention, and innovative strategies for customer retention. His insights are invaluable for restaurateurs looking to leverage technology and foster loyal customer relationships.



Cali BBQ Media



Digital Hospitality is an interview-based video podcast hosted by business owner Shawn P. Walchef (@shawnpwalchef) and produced by his Cali BBQ Media company sponsored by DAVO Sales Tax (@davosalestax) and Marqii (@getmarqii) The weekly digital series explores the ways successful businesses and entrepreneurs have merged old and new with innovative digital strategies that harness the power of the Internet and social media. Shawn is the founder of Cali BBQ Media and creator of the Restaurant Influencers podcast on Entrepreneur Media.



➤ Restaurant Influencers — https://link.chtbl.com/RIpodcast➤ Business Coaching — https://forms.gle/cnQ3sefMcAxQXbKa6➤ Cali BBQ Content — https://content.calibbq.media

Just keep going.



That adage has one that speaks to the persistence necessary to find success in life.



In this week’s Rising Tide LinkedIn Live room by Cali BBQ Media, participants discussed stories and lessons learned surrounding the idea of persistence in business. What transpired was an inspiring conversation and the sharing of impactful stories from hospitality industry leaders.



Take a listen to the replay and be sure to join us on Fridays and Wednesdays at 10am Pacific Standard Time for more insightful storytelling.



Rising Tide LinkedIn Live Room Friday, May 17: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7196850561856503808/about/



Key Quotes:



“Be your authentic self. Give without expectation, and the results will, but they will always take longer. The opportunities that go away will come back. Better opportunities will replace them 100% of the time. You will be rewarded ten fold. Whatever you think the opportunity is today, it will come to you.” -Troy Hooper, Hot Pallette America



“Stop praying for as fast as possible and start praying for as long as it takes. It's another one of my favorite quotes. I think the persistence part is, I will not lose if I do not quit. I will not lose if I do not quit.” -Shawn Walchef, Cali BBQ Media



“The answer is no if you don't ask.” -Laura Wilber, Dinova



“The idea of patience and resilience and good things who come to those who wait is something that we probably don't talk about enough. And I think it's a brilliant expression.” -Richard Liverman, Richer Solutions“Focus on momentum, not results. Just make sure you're moving in the right direction. The results will come.” -Jordan Silverman, Starfish

Jason E. Brooks, an entrepreneur, author, speaker, coach, and founder of Hospivation LLC, has a passion for the hospitality industry, and is dedicated to empowering leaders through his book, "Every Leader Needs Followers." 



His book provides a roadmap for transformation, offering ten actionable keys to success while preserving individuality. 



"I've been trying to find how can I truly give back?" Brooks shares with host Shawn Walchef. “That's one of the main reasons why I wrote this book. “



Reflecting on his own journey, Brooks recalls the profound impact of a mentor early in his career. The exemplary leadership style from an early mentor left a lasting impression, teaching Brooks the essence of true leadership. His mentor’s deep connection with his team and customers laid the foundation for Brooks' understanding of effective leadership and the importance of knowing one's numbers.



"He was the mayor of 4000 sqft," Brooks recalls. “I kid you not, he knew every single person to the t.” 



When it comes to personal branding, Brooks focuses on growth and resilience. He stresses that personal branding isn't about perfection but rather about embracing growth and learning from failures.



"Personal branding...is just about growth," Brooks asserts.  "It's about getting better. It's about failing forward." Jason E. Brooks' insights and experiences offer valuable guidance for aspiring leaders and entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry and beyond.



Cali BBQ Media



Digital Hospitality is an interview-based video podcast hosted by business owner Shawn P. Walchef (@shawnpwalchef) and produced by his Cali BBQ Media company sponsored by DAVO Sales Tax (@davosalestax) and Marqii (@getmarqii) The weekly digital series explores the ways successful businesses and entrepreneurs have merged old and new with innovative digital strategies that harness the power of the Internet and social media. Shawn is the founder of Cali BBQ Media and creator of the Restaurant Influencers podcast on Entrepreneur Media.



➤ Restaurant Influencers — https://link.chtbl.com/RIpodcast➤ Business Coaching — https://forms.gle/cnQ3sefMcAxQXbKa6➤ Cali BBQ Content — https://content.calibbq.media

How do you navigate large industry events?



In preparation for the upcoming National Restaurant Association show in Chicago, this week’s Rising Tide LinkedIn Room was all about best practices while attending large events. 



Industry expos and conferences can be exhausting and frustrating if not approached correctly. The consensus in the room was if funds are going to be allocated to events, they should be valuable to business and individuals. 



Walchef provided a great example of how to capture content at events when he visited the The International Pizza Expo & Conference.



Every Wednesday and Friday at 10am PDT, Shawn Walchef hosts the Rising room on LinkedIn. Leading voices in hospitality, and otherwise, from near and far join to discuss all things business and much more. 



Listen to the replay of the latest Rising Tide LinkedIn Live room where the participants discussed everything from what to wear to setting meetings. Follow Cali BBQ Media to keep up with the latest and join the rooms to tell your story and have your voice heard.



Key Quotes



“When you come to these big shows where all of these incredible people are there, the other best advice that we can say is to plan who you're going to meet with and when you're going to meet with them. It is way too big of a show to think that you're just going to go.” -Shawn Walchef, Cali BBQ Media



“If there's somebody that you want to meet or see, speak, plan your schedule accordingly, because restaurant leaders will be on various stages or, you know, sitting in the corner of the floor with, you know, seats set up for the audience.” -Laura Wilber, Dinova 



“Reach out to everyone, all of your prospects, all of your clients ahead of NRA if you're going and tell them you're going to be there. I've been able to get meetings with prospects that haven't answered me in three, four months.” -Jordan Silverman, Starfish



“Set up meetings in advance, if you can, and then make sure you hit those and then let the rest of it just, you know, happen.” -Jesse Turner, JJT Design 



“Be strategic and have a purpose…But I always try to focus on what's the best return we can produce with the time we spent, because you're taking it away from your family, your friends, and your business. So come back with something more important.” -Michael Ungaro, San Pedro Fish Markets

No one is coming to tell your story.



Storytelling is a vital tool for any brand looking to grow and create a loyal customer base. Many leaders struggle with out to do so consistently and effectively.



Every Wednesday and Friday at 10am PDT, Shawn Walchef hosts the Rising Tide live room on LinkedIn. Leading voices in hospitality, and otherwise, from near and far join to discuss all things business and much more. 



Listen to the replay of the latest room where the participants discussed Telling Your Story and follow Cali BBQ Media to keep up with the latest and join the rooms to tell your story and have your voice heard



Join today's room to join in on these important conversations.



Key Quotes



“What resonate means is that somebody's going to feel something. People don't remember what you say. People don't remember what you do. But like Maya Angelou said, people will remember how you make them feel. If you can make them have an aha moment or a tearful moment or a, yeah, I've been there. I lived that. That is a problem that I face every day or I have faced before. If you can get those moments elicited in the conversation, in the storytelling, then it is a worthwhile story to tell because it's going to impact somebody.” -Troy Hooper, Hospitality Guru



“For me to just simply ask or just say, how does this relate to you? What's your one word? When does just a little bit more to translate it to? I'm telling you something of my experience so that you can internalize it and recognize it and identify your experience. So we continue to learn. Just always ask that question. So what?” -Jason Berkowitz, ArrowUp Training, Founder



“If that story resonates enough in you that you feel compelled to share it, then I think it takes the pressure off yourself to try to think for a thousand people and just talk like you're speaking to an audience in one.” -TJ Void, Writer/Author



“The lessons that I've learned over the last three years is, you know, simply do the work, put in the effort. Tell your story. I would never be where I'm at today if it wasn't for being uncomfortable and listening to other people's points of view and doing things that I never would have done before I started this brand and met the people in this room. So get uncomfortable, put in the work, tell your story, and even if you don't feel like you're doing a good job of it, somebody is watching, somebody is listening, and it will resonate with someone and you can make an impact far greater than you would ever imagine.” -Charlie Eblen, Single Tree BBQ, Founder



“There's nothing more important than being able to tell your story because it allows you to really hone in and focus on the things that are the most important for you.”  -Kristopher Groves, PassPass, Dir. of Business Development



Digital Hospitality



Digital Hospitality is an interview-based video podcast hosted by business owner Shawn P. Walchef (@shawnpwalchef) and produced by his Cali BBQ Media company sponsored by DAVO Sales Tax (@davosalestax) and Marqii (@getmarqii) The weekly digital series explores the ways successful businesses and entrepreneurs have merged old and new with innovative digital strategies that harness the power of the Internet and social media. Shawn is the founder of Cali BBQ Media and creator of the Restaurant Influencers podcast on Entrepreneur Media.➤ Restaurant Influencers — https://link.chtbl.com/RIpodcast➤ Business Coaching — https://forms.gle/cnQ3sefMcAxQXbKa6➤ Cali BBQ Content — https://content.calibbq.media