We often have such a clear vision for what our lives and our businesses will look like before we open. And then the flood comes and we’re so busy trying to survive that we forget to thrive. We forget why we got into this to begin with. And that “why”, for most of us, was love. Love of community, love of food, and love of revelry. Meet Mark Bitterman, a man who’s never forgotten his why and, no surprise, it’s served him well. Today we chat about finding our true North, holding on to it, and building a business to last. For more information on The Meadow, visit https://themeadow.com/
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Full Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.

We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:

Yelp for Restaurants Podcasts

Restaurant expert videos & webinars

I’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I’ve spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter, more successful businesses.

In this episode, I break down why focusing on frequency instead of foot traffic is the key to long-term profitability.

We’re diving into the power of customer data—how to capture it, segment it, and use it to create marketing that actually works. Because guess what? Not all customers are created equal. Once you know who your best customers are and why they keep coming back, you can stop throwing money at broad marketing and start making strategic moves that drive real growth. If you’re looking to maximize revenue without constantly hustling for new guests, this one’s for you.

Takeaways:

• Your fastest path to growth isn't new customers.
• A 5% increase in repeat customers boosts profitability by 25%.
• Reminding customers that you exist is crucial.
• Acquiring customer data is essential for retention.
• People value status and access over discounts.
• Role-playing can help staff feel comfortable selling.
• Segmentation of customer lists increases marketing effectiveness.
• Personalized communication makes customers feel valued.
• Focus on existing customers for quicker revenue growth.
• Implement frequency-based campaigns to drive repeat visits.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Restaurant Profitability
02:07 The Importance of Customer Frequency
05:00 Capturing Customer Data
07:52 Segmentation for Effective Marketing
10:12 Conclusion and Call to Action

If you’ve got a marketing or profitability related question for me, email me directly at josh@joshkopel.com and include Office Hours in the subject line. If you'd like to scale the profitability of your restaurant in only 5 days, sign up for our FREE 5 Day Restaurant Profitability Challenge by visiting https://joshkopel.com.

It’s one thing to grow a restaurant group. It’s another to grow one that thrives across categories, cities, and economies. David Morton has done exactly that—without taking on debt, overextending his team, or compromising his values. As co-founder of Episcope Restaurants, David has engineered a scalable system that pairs creative vision with financial discipline. In this episode, we break down his approach to market selection, capital efficiency, weekly P&Ls, and the real difference between restaurants that survive and those that lead. If you want a playbook for building a restaurant business that lasts, this is it.

Takeaways:

• Profitability is the key problem for restaurant owners.
• David Morton aims to make a difference in the restaurant industry.
• The restaurant industry lacks leadership and standards for excellence.
• A conservative approach to business modeling can lead to success.
• Mistakes are part of the learning process in the restaurant business.
• The future of dining is influenced by social needs post-COVID.
• Managing balance sheets is as important as P&L statements.
• Openness to change is crucial for restaurant success.
• The restaurant industry must adapt to rising development costs.

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Full Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.

We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:

Yelp for Restaurants Podcasts

Restaurant expert videos & webinars