Betting On the Pizza Business with Tom Bennett of Tom's Extreme Pizza
Release Date: 02/14/2024
The Art Of The Jingle With Paul Loomis
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Charity and Podcasting with Jourdan Derouen
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With David Lewis
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From Marketing to Philanthropy: Emily Sham's Community Journey With The Red Cross
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In this episode of Buttoned Up, Andrew Allen talks with Emily Sham, the regional philanthropy officer for the , and shares her journey from Madison, Mississippi, to the Gulf Coast. She discusses her background in marketing and event planning, her impactful work at , and her passion for community engagement. Emily details the Red Cross's diverse efforts, disaster relief, home fire response, blood drives, and military family support, emphasizing the need for local involvement and volunteerism. The conversation highlights the unique spirit of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and ways listeners can...
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Finding Your Voice and Special Olympics Mississippi with Monica Daniels
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In this episode of Bottled Up, host Andrew Allen chats with Monica Daniels, Executive Director of . Monica shares her personal journey into the nonprofit world, inspired by her daughter's experience with Magnolia Speech School. She explains how the Special Olympics empowers athletes with intellectual disabilities through competitive sports. She discusses the history of the Special Olympics, its focus on inclusion and unified teams, and highlights how athletes now compete at high levels with dedicated training and support. Monica also talks about the organization's year-round events, the...
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Inside the Culture of Allen Beverages With Jeff Weatherford and Mike Hinton
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In this episode of Bottled Up, host Andrew Allen sits down with Mike Hinton and Jeff Weatherford, two longtime leaders at Allen Beverages. With over 50 years of combined experience, they share how they worked their way up from trainees to management, recall how technology and the soft drink business have evolved, and highlight what makes their workplace culture feel like family. From hilarious stories of soda mishaps to practical advice for new hires, Mike and Jeff stress the importance of building relationships, adapting to new challenges, and supporting each other. Whether you’re curious...
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Family, Community, and Nostalgia: Inside the Frosty Mug with the Gollotts
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Inside the World of MS Sneaker Culture with Randy Richardson and John Carter
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In this episode of Bottled Up, host Andrew Allen chats with Randy Richardson and John Carter, co-founders of MS Sneaker Culture. They dive into the world of sneakers, discussing their passion for collecting, trading, and customizing sneakers. Randy talks about his long-time love for sneakers and how he has around 150 pairs in rotation. John shares how he got into sneakers with Randy's influence, now owning about 70 pairs. The episode also explores the origin of MS Sneaker Culture and its fast-growing sneaker conventions. They discuss the details of their events, emphasizing an upscale,...
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From Family Roots to Radio Waves With Rip Daniels
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In this episode, Andrew Allen chats with Rip Daniels, CEO of WJZD Incorporated. Rip shares his journey from growing up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast to becoming a successful entrepreneur and radio station owner. With deep family roots in the area, Rip discusses his family's history of entrepreneurship, which inspired his desire to start his own business. He recounts his early endeavors, from working in construction to becoming an announcer and eventually launching in 1994. Rip emphasizes the importance of community involvement and how the station remains dedicated to serving their local...
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Infinity and Beyond: Exploring Mississippi's Space Legacy with Michelle Anderson
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In this episode of Bottled Up, host Andrew Allen chats with , CEO and Executive Director of the . They discuss Michelle's background, including her education and journey to the Science Center. Michelle shares the history and development of the Infinity Science Center, starting from its early days as the Stentosphere to its grand opening in 2012. They talk about the center's relationship with NASA's Stennis Space Center, its major fundraisers, and future plans. Michelle touches on exciting new exhibits and her favorite one. They also highlight the center's role in both public education and...
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In this Bottled Up episode, host Andrew Allen sits down with special guest Tom Bennett, owner of Tom's Extreme Pizzeria in Ocean Springs, to delve into the world of running a successful business. Tom shares the challenges of finding reliable employees and navigating increasing costs, all while maintaining a casual, friendly environment at his pizzeria. They discuss the importance of quality, fresh ingredients, and the art of making the perfect pizza, including Tom's 31 specialty options. From bonsai trees to plans for franchising, they cover it all. So grab a slice of your favorite pizza and a Pepsi and join us for an insightful and delicious conversation on Bottled Up!
3 Key Episode Takeaways
1. Quality and Variety Matter: With 31 specialty pizzas and a commitment to using fresh, local ingredients, Tom emphasizes the importance of quality in attracting and retaining customers. His dedication to crafting unique, flavorful pizzas sets his pizzeria apart in a competitive market.
2. The Power of Reliable Employees: Tom values the contributions of his core team, recognizing the impact of having a trustworthy and dedicated staff. He emphasizes the significance of building strong relationships within the business and the challenges of finding and retaining exceptional employees.
3. Balancing Growth and Quality: Tom prioritizes maintaining consistency and excellence across locations as he considers expanding through franchising. His focus on ensuring the success and proven processes of the business before offering franchises highlights his dedication to upholding exceptional standards.
Show Overview
01:48 Grateful for the relationship and mutual promotion.
06:11 Tom tasted famous pizza recipe, added more salt.
09:08 Fellow plant lover admires impressive banzai collection.
12:39 Product costs have increased due to COVID.
14:31 Identifying long-term employees, adding necessary supervisors.
19:04 Grateful for great reviews, considering franchise expansion.
26:04 Considering DoorDash, but currently managing deliveries in-house.
This episode is made possible by Allen Beverages
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