Most brands invest in screens. Very few turn them into revenue drivers.

This episode breaks down why most digital experiences fail and what actually moves customer behavior in-store.

Michael Beck and Chad Horn sit down with Jason Adams from CRI to unpack how digital signage, data, and customer psychology come together to drive real ROI. From eye-tracking insights to retail media networks, this is a behind-the-scenes look at how physical spaces are becoming programmable, measurable, and massively more profitable.

Jason shares how brands are seeing measurable lift, why static signage is a missed opportunity, and how convenience stores are quietly evolving into media platforms.

If you operate in retail, QSR, or hospitality, this is the playbook for turning attention into revenue.

Topics covered:
• Why most digital signage fails
• How eye tracking changes menu design
• The real ROI of moving from static to dynamic
• Why C-stores are becoming media companies
• How retail media networks unlock new revenue streams
• The role of data and AI in physical experiences

Guest: Jason Adams, CRI

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#DigitalSignage #RetailMedia #QSRMarketing #CustomerExperience #CStore #MarketingStrategy #GTM #AIinRetail #HospitalityTech

The conversation delves into the rethinking of the restaurant industry, focusing on the intersection of technology, loyalty, and real-world operations. It explores the cost and economics of online ordering, the consumer experience and adoption, the future of delivery, and concludes with key takeaways and a call for kindness.

Takeaways

• Rethinking the restaurant industry
• The intersection of technology, loyalty, and real-world operations

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Pickup Game
• 06:27 Cost and Economics of Online Ordering
• 18:16 Consumer Experience and Adoption
• 24:34 Fulfillment and Future of Delivery

The conversation covers a range of topics including leadership, team empowerment, customer and team member experience, personal branding, stress in business, and the reconciliation of personal values with business results. Greg Creed, former CEO of Yum Brands, shares insights on marketing philosophy, leadership attributes, and the impact of personal brand on modern businesses. The conversation also delves into the importance of vulnerability in leadership, the role of courage in leadership, and the impact of internal values on business leaders. Additionally, the discussion highlights the organization Prosper and its appeal to business leaders. The conversation with Greg Creed covers the impact of the Accelerator program, the importance of addressing negative stories and focusing on the positive impact of AI, and the significance of critical thinking in AI-driven marketing. Greg shares insights on the opportunities and impact of the Accelerator program, the need to address negative stories and highlight the positive impact of AI, and the importance of critical thinking in AI-driven marketing strategies.

Takeaways

• Leadership and team empowerment
• The impact of personal brand on modern businesses Opportunity and impact of the Accelerator program
• Addressing the negative stories and focusing on the positive impact of AI
• The importance of critical thinking in AI-driven marketing

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Guest Tease
• 06:10 Leadership and Team Empowerment
• 12:52 Personal Brand and Modern Businesses
• 20:36 Stress in Business and Internal Values
• 28:08 Prosper and Taking a Stand
• 39:05 The Importance of Critical Thinking in AI-Driven Marketing
  
  #marketingstrategy #leadership #brandbuilding #AIinbusiness #customersuccess #growthstrategy #restaurantindustry #culturematters

The conversation covers various topics related to Coco Robotics, including its launch event, capabilities, impact on food delivery, design, scalability, government approvals, deployment, tipping points, impact on restaurants, expansion into other verticals, growth and partnerships, PR and brand trust, upcoming events, and rapid fire questions.

Takeaways

• Coco Robotics is revolutionizing the last-mile delivery industry with its autonomous delivery robots.
• The company's focus on quality, sustainability, and efficiency is driving its success in various cities and markets.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Work Culture
• 05:47 Coco Robotics Impact on Food Delivery
• 10:54 Coco Robotics Scalability and Expansion
• 18:00 Coco Robotics Tipping Points
• 23:44 Coco Robotics Growth and Partnerships
• 32:02 Closing Remarks

Most restaurants aren’t losing on strategy. They’re losing in the middle of a Tuesday lunch rush.

Mary Pillow Thompson breaks down why frontline execution, not planning, is where profit is won or lost. From wasted product to misaligned teams, this episode exposes the hidden inefficiencies killing margins inside restaurant operations.

Mary, co-founder of Zignal (acquired by Miso Robotics), explains how AI, automation, and better shift-level clarity are transforming how restaurants actually run. Not in theory. In real time.

This isn’t about replacing humans. It’s about finally telling them how to win.

What you’ll learn:

• Why up to 40% of fries get wasted and how to fix it
• The biggest mistake restaurants make with AI and automation
• How giving employees a simple goal can transform performance
• Why most teams are running a different store than they think
• The real role of robotics like Flippy in modern kitchens
• How to reduce chaos during peak hours without adding headcount

Mary also shares how Zignal acts as an “AI shift manager” giving frontline teams clarity on what matters right now, not after the fact.

If you care about restaurant ops, GTM, or applying AI in the real world, this one hits.

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Takeaways

• AI in the restaurant industry
• Impact of automation on QSR workers Efficiency in the restaurant industry can lead to significant cost savings.
• Understanding the current state of a restaurant's operations is crucial before implementing new technology or automation.

Chapter Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:42 Who is Mary Pillow Thompson
04:31 What Zignal actually does
06:19 Turning employees into a winning team
07:15 Robots as team members (Flippy)
09:06 Why Miso acquired Zignal
12:09 The real value of data + AI in restaurants
17:36 The shocking level of food waste
19:22 The future of QSR workers
24:22 How to adopt automation the right way
29:07 The one thing every operator should fix
34:04 What Mary looks for in a struggling store
35:41 Biggest mistake with AI in restaurants
37:10 Lightning round

The conversation covers the topics of brand authenticity, innovation in marketing, and unique advertising modes. It delves into Brandon Rhoten's marketing strategy at Dave's Hot Chicken, the use of humor and authenticity in marketing, user-generated content, managing growth and marketing allocation, scaling a distinct brand voice, spice levels and guest experience, and innovation in marketing and advertising modes. The conversation covers a range of topics related to brand building, marketing strategies, and leadership style. Key themes include the importance of impact over efficiency, the significance of consistency over humor, and the value of doing thorough homework in marketing. The chapters explore contrarian brand building, the role of technology in guest experience, injecting personality into risk-averse brands, consumer attention and strategy, leadership style and collaboration, advice for junior marketers, social media missteps, and more.

Takeaways

• Brand authenticity
• Innovation in marketing Impact over efficiency
• Consistency over humor

Chapters

• 00:00 Unique Advertising for Dave's Hot Chicken
• 31:31 Injecting Personality into Risk-Averse Brands
• 39:30 Advice for Junior Marketers
• 44:31 Immediate Change in Marketing Teams

The conversation covers the introduction of the podcast, the mission behind Power Soul Cafe, the need for safe food for people with celiac disease, building a movement, the drive to succeed, and scaling the business and guest experience. The conversation covers various themes including customer experience, tech solutions, influencer engagement, Shark Tank experience, brand awareness, franchising, and personal insights. Power Soul Cafe's unique approach to franchising and the importance of educating people about food are highlighted takeaways.

Takeaways

• Certified gluten-free fast food concept
• The importance of safe food for people with celiac disease and food sensitivity Brand awareness is crucial
• Power Soul Cafe's unique approach to franchising
• Educating people about food is important

Chapters

• 00:00 Scaling the Business and Guest Experience
• 26:07 Customer Experience and Constructive Feedback
• 31:57 Shark Tank Experience and Business Beliefs
• 39:47 Rapid Fire Q&A and Personal Insights

Most franchise brands lose what made them special when they scale.

This is how one pizza brand is refusing to.

Carl Comeaux, CEO of Crust Pizza Co., breaks down what it actually takes to grow a restaurant brand without sacrificing quality, culture, or unit economics.

From turning down private equity to building custom tech and obsessing over prime cost, this episode is a masterclass in disciplined growth.

Carl didn’t start with pizza, he built multiple businesses before spotting Crust as a customer. Now he’s scaling it toward 250 locations with a clear philosophy: protect the soul, or the brand dies.

Inside this episode:

• Why private equity can destroy emerging brands
• The #1 lever that makes or breaks restaurant profitability
• How to find (and filter) the right franchisees
• Why most brands focus on the wrong “customer experience”
• How AI is reshaping restaurant operations right now
• The real reason pizza brings people together (and why it matters)

If you’re building, scaling, or investing in a brand—this one hits.

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#FranchiseGrowth
#RestaurantBusiness
#Entrepreneurship
#UnitEconomics
#GTMStrategy
#FoodBusiness
#StartupScaling
#Hospitality
#AIinBusiness