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716: Danielle Rosse on Live and Die by Your Budget

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Release Date: 05/21/2020

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Danielle Rosse was just 22 and recently widowed when she first opened Oceans 234 in 2001. In 2013 She purchased the restaurant to become the sole owner of the establishment and in 2015 she underwent a massive $1.8-million-dollar renovation on the property elevating the guest experience.

In addition to Oceans 234 in 2007, Rosse launch The Whale Raw Bar, A neighborhood New England Raw bar in Parkland. After six years of successful business ownership she sold in 2013.

Grounds Zero Bootcamp a guided online Bootcamp dedicated to helping restaurants rebuilding their  business.

Check out episode 437 with David Scott Peters about menu engineering as mentioned in today's episode.

Check out Tripleseat Sales and Event Manaent Software as mentioned in today's episode!

We interviewed the Founder of Tripleseat. Check out that episode here.

Show notes…

Calls to ACTION!!!

Favorite success quote or mantra:

"A goal without a plan is just a wish."

In today's episode with Danielle Rosse we will discuss:

  • Mentors
  • Budgeting
  • Labor costs
  • Recipe costs
  • Relinquishing control of aspects of your business
  • The 2008 recession
  • Preparing to sell your business
  • Inventory best practices
  • Toast POS and why she uses it
  • Hand-held tablet ordering and how to integrate it into you restaurant
  • COVID-19 reactions and plans; transitioned into a grocery store
  • We must stay relevant, especially during COVID-19
  • Ground Zero Bootcamp; what is it?

Today's sponsor:

Restaurant365 is a cloud-based, all-in-one, restaurant-specific accounting and back-office platform that seamlessly integrates with POS systems, payroll providers, food and beverage vendors. It generates accurate real-time reporting and analysis in user-friendly dashboards, facilitating immediate, data-driven decision making. Restaurant365 eliminates manual, error-prone processes and is designed to help restaurant businesses grow with functionality that helps optimize labor costs, reduce food costs and increase revenue.

Toast - A POS built for restaurants by restaurant people Adapt fast with Toast's cloud-based restaurant POS system that updates to evolve your POS along with changing industry trends and guest expectations. Toast is built exclusively for restaurants of all shapes and sizes, with over 2/3 of our employees having restaurant experience to serve you better. Online Ordering - Let guests easily order directly from your restaurant for pickup or contactless delivery to keep revenue flowing during these uncertain times. Toast Delivery Services Dispatch local drivers through an on-demand network to keep your community fed and revenue coming in.

 

Knowledge bombs

  1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
    • "Sense of responsibility"
  2. What is your biggest weakness?
    • "My people skills"
  3. What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?
    • "Sense of responsibility"
  4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
    • "Being open with down revenue"
  5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
    • "Everything matters"
  6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
    • Empathy
  7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
    1. The Culture Solution by Matthew Kelly
    2. Restaurant Prosperity Formula by David Scott Peters
    3. GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM 
  8. What's one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough?
    • Budgeting
  9. Name one service you've hired.
  10. What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influenced operations?
  11. If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be?
    • Use time, talent, and resources to give back to your community
    • Care about your team
    • Create the life you want for yourself

Contact info:

Email: danielle@oceans234.com

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below!

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Huge thanks to Danielle Rosse for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

 

Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!