E315: From Sandwiches to Success: Gregg Majewski's Franchise Masterclass

Entrepreneurs Circle

Shaking up the restaurant game since day one - that's Gregg Majewski for you. From Jimmy John's to now heading up Craveworthy Brands, Gregg has a proven track record of taking concepts to the next level through passion, hard work, and old-fashioned hustle.

In this episode, Erik Cabral chats with Gregg, who drops franchise wisdom as the undisputed Jedi Master of restaurants. Gregg shares invaluable insights on building unique concepts, empowering teams, and turning businesses around through grit and hustle. Some of the key lessons? Always lead with humility, equip your team, and embrace failure as a chance to grow stronger.

Here are some power takeaways from today’s conversation:

• Lead with humility and empower your team through example

• The four walls of a successful restaurant business

• Build community through partnership, not dictation

• Focus on exceptional food and a crave-worthy experience

• Embrace failure as an opportunity to learn and grow stronger

• Dream big and motivate others through relentless passion

Episode Highlights:

[02:01] Leading by Example and with Humility

Gregg knows real leadership means empowering your crew, not being top dog. Lots of people saving struggling spots think they're the only answer, but that'll cause issues. Gregg says get in there and get your hands dirty from the jump by cooking, cleaning, and joining the team as an equal. This builds trust and respect to motivate change since younger folks want a peer, not just a boss. Leading with the team from the start earns respect and sets up for success.

[10:02] The Four Walls of a Successful Restaurant Business

Gregg stresses having solid systems and rules as the foundation of any restaurant business. He calls these the "four walls." You’ve got to have strong procedures to ensure consistency between locations. Setting up robust systems from the jump is key to keeping everywhere on the same page.

1. Food quality - Ensuring consistent, high-quality food is a must. This is non-negotiable.

2. Speed of service - Whether it's fast casual delivery or quick dine-in turnover, efficiency and timely service are critical.

3. Cleanliness - Maintaining clean, sanitary facilities is a baseline requirement for any restaurant.

4. Customer experience - The overall experience from the moment a customer walks in until they leave determines return visits and word-of-mouth marketing.

Getting the basics solid should be the priority before expanding or pushing growth. Gregg says you’ve got to have all the foundations on lock before leveling up the rest.

[22:42] Why Adhering to the Playbook is Critical for Franchise Brand Protection

If a franchise location goes off-script, it causes big problems. Not following the playbook leads to inconsistent customer experiences depending on location. That lack of reliability isn't good - people want the same vibe everywhere. Plus, one bad apple can ruin the whole bunch if customers lose faith in consistency company-wide. Franchises gotta stick to the plan to protect the brand and keep customers feeling confident.

Resources Mentioned:

www.craveworthybrands.com/

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