718:Kristina Zhao on The Pivot to 3rd-party-less pickup/delivery

Kirstina Zhao calls San Antonio, TX home. Prior to taking over the family restaurant, Sichuan House, Kristina was being groomed for the medical field... that didn't happen. Zhao ended up at the University of Texas where she studied Communications and Public Relations. Next, she went into the wireless industry on the B2B side. In 2015, Kristina came back home to San Antonio to help her father with the family restaurant. It didn't take long for her to get her millennial hands knuckle deep into the day-to-day operations. 5 years later she runs the show.

Kristina came on my radar by way of Anna Tauzin. Anna is my go-to authority for all things delivery and take-out. So, when she tells me I need to get someone on the show-- I listen. Today we're here to make an example of Zhao's solution for delivery and take out. We share how she came up with her idea and what tools she's using.

Show notes…

Check out Blinkist: Big Ideas in Small Packages as mentioned in today's episode!

Check out Toast POS as mentioned in today's episode!

Check out Summer Glen Creative as mentioned in today's episode!

Check out Re-turnz app as mentioned in today's episode!

 

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Favorite success quote or mantra:

• "Rule your mind or it will rule you."
• "Happiness is a state of mind, a way of living; it is not a destination."
• " Don't take 'no' for an answer."

In today's episode with Kristina Zhao we will discuss:

• Online ordering during COVID-19
• The pivot to online ordering - best practices
• The only person you can control is yourself
• Proving yourself to your parents/mentors
• Immigrating to the US (immigrant parents)
• Communication is key
• Empathy
• Food as medicine
• Mentors
• The benefit of having a little experience when entering the industry
• Why Kristina chose Toast POS
• Using built-in iOS technology to forward your telephone to your cell phone. This allows you to text your guest.
• How Kristina is using Summer Glen Creative for website hosting and web design. This is just for their landing page. Currently offering complimentary landing pages if you use their hosting***
• Using Re-turnz app as their delivery component
• Social media
• COVID-19 best practices

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.

 

Contact info:

The Sichuan House Instagram: @sichuaneats

Kristina's Instagram: @xtinazeeeee

Thanks for listening!

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Huge thanks to Kristina Zhao 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!