The Growth Edit

Holly Formosa Consulting
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Marketing
  • Updated Biweekly

Hosted by marketing consultant Holly Formosa, The Growth Edit dives into the ideas, strategies and stories driving Australia’s food, wine and tourism industries forward. From building brands and shaping service culture to navigating DTC, digital and events, each episode offers clear thinking, sharp insight and real-world advice from people who have actually done it. If you are a winery, restaurant, venue or tourism operator looking to grow in a more meaningful way, this is your edit.

  1. Aug 6

    Ep 18: Agency, Freelancer or Consultant with Holly Formosa

    The single most common mistake I see isn't a bad campaign or a dodgy website. It's businesses reaching for the wrong type of outside help at the wrong time.There are basically three types of people you can bring in to help with your marketing. A freelancer, an agency, or a consultant. And most business owners, even the very experienced ones, don't really understand the difference between them. By the end of this episode you will.In this episode: Why a freelancer's job is to execute on your brief, not to write it and what happens when the brief was wrong in the first placeAn honest look at how agencies pitch, from someone who has been in those rooms writing themThe feedback I gave a wine business within the first thirty minutes of a conversation. It wasn't comfortable to give, but it was the most valuable thing I could have saidThe four objections I hear most about bringing in a consultant, answered properly Three questions to ask yourself:1. Do you know exactly what you need? Could you sit down right now and write a clear brief for someone?2. Is your growth stuck and you can't explain why?3. Does your whole team know what they're working toward?If you know what you need and you just need someone to do it, hire a freelancer, or hire the full kitchen brigade and get an agency. If you're not sure what you need, growth is stuck, or the team isn't aligned, start with a consultant.If your marketing has felt like it's going around in circles, it's probably not because you hired the wrong people. It's because the match between what your business needed and what you hired for was off. And that is a completely fixable problem.Mentioned in this episode: The written guide, Agency, Freelancer or Consultant → It's not gated, there's no form, you don't have to give me your email.The growth readiness diagnostic → It takes about seven minutes and asks all the questions I ask before working with any business.Book a call → I love these conversations. It's where we start to work out together what's really happening.If this episode resonated, share it with another business owner in your world. A winery neighbour, a fellow restaurateur, someone you know who's been frustrated by their marketing and isn't sure why. hollyformosa.com · Growth Insights Hub · The Growth Edit on Apple Podcasts

  2. Jul 3

    Ep 17: The Leadership Gap with Angie Bradbury

    Leadership gets thrown around a lot in hospitality. But what does it mean when you're running the floor, managing the team, and trying to grow a business at the same time? Angie Bradbury has spent three decades working inside hundreds of wine and hospitality businesses across Australia. She knows what good leadership looks like and what it costs when it's missing. In this episode we talk about the symptoms of a leadership gap, why staff retention is a leadership problem, how to develop people without a traditional promotion pathway, and what it takes to build the foundations for a business that can actually scale. Angie is the co-founder of the Collective Foundation and the driving force behind the Future Hospitality Academy — a new centre of leadership excellence delivered through Monash University, built specifically for our industry. In this episode: The number one symptom of a leadership gap — and why jumping back on the floor is almost always the wrong callHow to know if you have a leadership problem (honest self-assessment)Why staff churn is costing you more than you think — and how to measure itHow to develop your people without a traditional promotion pathwayThe foundational building blocks every business needs before it can scaleWhat the Collective Foundation is doing to close the leadership gap in Australian hospitalityThe Future Hospitality Academy Leadership Excellence Program — what it is, who it's for, and how to get in Links mentioned in this episode: Collective Foundation — collectivefoundation.org.auFuture Hospitality Academy Leadership Excellence Program — collectivefoundation.org.auEmail the Collective Foundation — info@collectivefoundation.org.auAngie Bradbury on LinkedIn — linkedin.com/in/angie-bradbury Free resources from Holly: Take the Growth Readiness Diagnostic (free, 7 minutes) — hollyformosa.com/diagnosticBrowse the Growth Insights Resource Library — hollyformosa.comBook a complimentary 30-minute Growth Call — hollyformosa.com Connect with Holly: Instagram — @hollyformosa_consultsLinkedIn — linkedin.com/in/holly-formosa About The Growth Edit: The Growth Edit is the podcast for food, wine, hospitality and tourism businesses that want to grow. Each episode brings together practical insights, honest conversations and real-world experience to help operators make better decisions and build stronger businesses.

    Ep 17: The Leadership Gap with Angie Bradbury

  3. Jun 20

    Ep 16: Mastering Meta Ads with Christine Pietersz

    This week I'm joined by Christine Pietersz, paid ads strategist and founder of Seed & Story, for a practical conversation about Meta ads for food and wine businesses. We cover why boosting a post is rarely a real strategy, how to structure a campaign for a one-off event, and why your email list, not Meta, is where the actual sales happen. If you've ever run your own Facebook ads and wondered whether they did anything, this one is for you. Christine Pietersz is a paid ads strategist and founder of Seed & Story, working with lifestyle and hospitality brands across Facebook and Instagram. She brings both agency and in-house experience, including years running social and digital for Brown Family Wine Group. 👉 BOOK THE META ADS WORKSHOP28 July, Melbourne CBD, 9.30am to midday. Early bird tickets on now:https://www.hollyformosa.com/store/p/metaadsworkshop The workshop is for operators already running their own Facebook ads who want a sense check and some quick wins they can apply straight away. Perfect for owner operators running Facebook themselves, or marketing staff who want to sharpen up. In this episode: Boosting vs Ads Manager, and why control beats convenienceHow to warm an audience before a one-off event like a wine dinner or festivalWhy your website, not Eventbrite, should catch the trafficThe role each channel plays: Meta for discovery, email for sales, cellar door for loyaltyWhat the Andromeda update means for targeting, and why creative now does the workChapters: 00:00 Welcome and introducing Christine 02:18 Organic vs paid, and whether boosting is ever worth it 04:25 Why bring creative into Ads Manager instead of boosting 07:51 Running a campaign for a one-off event 12:17 The biggest mistakes operators make with event ads 14:12 Selling direct, and where Meta fits with email and the cellar door 20:05 What good alcohol advertising looks like, personas and creative 22:42 The Andromeda update and letting creative do the targeting 25:38 The 28 July workshop 27:00 Quick fire questions If you found this useful, follow The Growth Edit so you don't miss an episode. Book the workshop: https://www.hollyformosa.com/store/p/metaadsworkshop Website: ⁠https://www.hollyformosa.com⁠

  4. Mar 21

    Ep 15: Community that Converts with Tresna Lee

    If you think your Instagram followers are your community… this episode might change your mind. I’m joined by Tresna Lee, co-owner of Gemini Wine Bar and one of the most experienced community builders in hospitality. With 15+ years of experience (including launching Yelp in Australia), Tresna shares how community actually works in a business and how it drives real growth, not just engagement. In this episode, you’ll learn:• Why followers ≠ community• The difference between audience building and community building• How simple ideas (like move clubs + book clubs) create real connection• How community drives repeat visits, referrals and spend• Why existing customers are your biggest growth opportunity• How to measure community (frequency, spend, word of mouth)• How to approach community for destination vs local businesses• Why hiring for culture matters more than skill• Where to start (without overcomplicating it) If you run a hospitality, wine or tourism business, this is a must listen. Free Growth CallIf your marketing feels reactive, I offer a free 30-minute growth call where we unpack your biggest challenge and map out what to focus on next. Book here: hollyformosa.com/contact Find Tresna + Gemini:Instagram: @geminimelbourneTresna: @tresnalee

  5. Feb 8

    Ep 14: The Business of Bars with Jason Williams

    What does it really take to run a successful bar in today’s market? In the first episode of Season Two of The Growth Edit, Holly Formosa sits down with Jason Williams from House Made Hospitality in Sydney to unpack the realities behind the bar. They explore moderation as a structural shift, how Gen Z is reshaping drinking culture, and the tough decisions operators are making as costs and wages continue to rise. Jason also shares practical insight into protecting margins, designing experiences that bring people back, and the thinking behind launching Vitelli’s Upstairs, opening 10 February. If you work in food, drink or hospitality, this one’s worth your time. For more practical growth insight, watch the video interviews and explore the Growth Insights Hub at hollyformosa.com.You can also book a free 30-minute chat via hollyformosa.com.

    Ep 14: The Business of Bars with Jason Williams

  6. 12/21/2025

    Is Your Winery Ready for Ecommerce with Holly Formosa

    🎯 Are you really ready for e-commerce? Book your FREE growth call now → https://www.hollyformosa.com/contact In this end-of-year episode, Holly Formosa answers one of the most common questions winery and drinks brand owners ask: “Are we strategically, operationally, and financially ready to run D2C e-commerce?” This isn't just about having a website. It’s about building a full sales channel, from digital storefronts to fulfillment and retention systems, that works. 🔥 What you’ll learn:• How e-commerce compares to wholesale• Key readiness questions every winery should ask• The real costs, tools, and team needed for success• Benefits of D2C (if you’re truly prepared)• Challenges to plan for (and how to overcome them)• A 5-step checklist to move forward confidently 💡 If you're curious about launching or scaling your e-commerce arm in 2026, this episode is your roadmap. Holly shares practical insights, honest truths, and a clear path forward. 📞 Book your free 1:1 Growth Call for January now → https://www.hollyformosa.com/contact

    Is Your Winery Ready for Ecommerce with Holly Formosa

  7. 12/07/2025

    Stop Drifting and Design 2026 with Holly Formosa

    In this episode of the Growth Edit, Holly Formosa delves into the often-overlooked six-week window between mid-December and late January. Discover why this period is crucial for businesses in the food, wine, hospitality, and tourism sectors. Holly shares mindset shifts and practical strategies to transform this time into a powerful planning phase for 2026. Don't miss the opportunity to book a free 30-minute call with Holly at hollyformosa.com, or join her Growth Insights Community for more tools and ideas. Embrace this window as a chance to choose your direction for the new year. You've got this!

    Stop Drifting and Design 2026 with Holly Formosa

  8. 11/16/2025

    Behind the Good Food Guide with Emma Breheny

    How the Good Food Guide is Shaping Australia’s Dining Story with Emma Breheny In this episode, Holly chats with Emma Breheny, Co-Editor of the Good Food Guide, about how the publication continues to shape Australia’s dining scene and what it really takes to be featured. Emma shares how the Guide has evolved post-pandemic, the thinking behind the new Critics’ Pick symbol, and the launch of the Good Food app. She also offers practical advice for venues and explains why value is now such an important part of the dining experience. 🎧 Have questions about managing media, awards or restaurant PR as part of your growth strategy?Holly has eight complimentary discovery chats available between now and Christmas to help you navigate these challenges and elevate your brand.👉 Book your free call now at hollyformosa.com/letstalk

    Behind the Good Food Guide with Emma Breheny
See All (17)

About

Hosted by marketing consultant Holly Formosa, The Growth Edit dives into the ideas, strategies and stories driving Australia’s food, wine and tourism industries forward. From building brands and shaping service culture to navigating DTC, digital and events, each episode offers clear thinking, sharp insight and real-world advice from people who have actually done it. If you are a winery, restaurant, venue or tourism operator looking to grow in a more meaningful way, this is your edit.

Information

  • Creator
    Holly Formosa Consulting
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Holly Formosa Consulting
  • Show Website
    The Growth Edit

You Might Also Like