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Smart Takes

Smart Takes

Hosted by Store By Store

Episodes

12

Latest episode

Jul 2025

Language

EN

About the show

Brought to you by our restaurant leadership team at Store By Store, St John, and Nectar. Simply put, we thrive on driving growth for restaurant brands everyday.

Listen to episodes

12 recent
July 28, 2025Episode 1213 min

#12 Lukumades from Melbourne, Australia to Dubai - Now Open For US Franchising!

Jenifer Harmon talks with Mark Vanderloo, Lukumades franchisee for the first location in the US, about growing the brand in Florida and beyond. St John is proud to be the AOR for Lukumades.

May 7, 2025Episode 1123 min

#11 Effective Creative Sells A Story & Delivers on KPIs

Jenifer Harmon, EVP St. John & Store By Store, and Jen Domaradzki, ACD St. John, discuss creative storytelling, work that moves the audience and drives intent and sales for restaurant brands like Zaxby's and Metro Diner, as well as state agencies like the Florida Lottery and Florida Prepaid College Board. Effective creative delivers solid KPI performance.

April 15, 2025Episode 1012 min

#10 QSR Value Meal Wars 2025

Kristen Bankert, ACD St. John, and Jenifer Harmon, EVP St. John & Store By Store, talk value meal success across the QSR landscape...deals driving guests and SSCS right now for Taco Bell, McDonald's and Wendy's, offering not just price but variety.

December 9, 2024Episode 912 min

#9 Harness the Power of Yelp To Grow New Users

Rachel Travisano, Community Director for Yelp, shares how to utilize Yelp effectively for restaurants and retailers alike. She discusses tapping into the power of positive Yelp reviews by reaching out to your local Yelp Community Directors. Let Yelp guide a super positive brand outcome by connecting through your local Yelp Elite leaders. Transform reviews in 2025.

November 11, 2024Episode 817 min

#8 Great Storytelling + Craveability Drives Restaurant Fans

Lessons from 2024 that can transform messaging, your value approach, collaboration and audience outreach to spring forward fast in 2025. Discussion with Kristen Bankert, Associate Creative Director at St John.

May 10, 2024Episode 716 min

#7 Strategies for Success at Zaxby's & Huddle House with Malinda Grimes Reddie, Brand Marketing Manager at Huddle House

Jenifer Harmon talks with Malinda Grimes Reddie about working together as the AOR for Zaxby's for 16 years. And about Malinda's work to help create new relevance for legendary diner, Huddle House. Huddle House is refreshing the brand for today's consumer. St. John produced breakthrough creative and strong media plans that drove Zaxby's from 110 locations to over 900 and increased SSCS for 15 years, culminating in a $2B sale to Goldman Sachs.

May 10, 2024Episode 617 min

#6 Growing Restaurants With Franchising

Whether a legacy brand or a startup, there is nothing better for restaurant growth than franchising. It must be done with all stakeholders in mind. Franchisees must walk together with the franchisor. This episode discusses the benefits of a strong franchise model and the critical franchisee relationship balance for long-term brand value.

February 27, 2024Episode 539 min

#5 Growing Fans & Franchisees with Don Fox, Former Chairman & CEO of Firehouse Subs - Part 2

Don Fox, former chairman and CEO, talks with Jenifer Harmon about the calculated growth he led for Firehouse Subs, culminating in 1,200+ locations and a $1B sale to Restaurant Brands International (RBI). The discussion focuses on his start with the concept in 2003, the importance of respecting the franchisees, the complexities of competition, and what he feels like is the biggest challenge in the restaurant industry...the current business model. These two episodes are packed with actionable strategies and how to generate incredible returns for all stakeholders.

February 27, 2024Episode 430 min

#4 Growing Fans & Franchisees with Don Fox, Former Chairman & CEO of Firehouse Subs - Part 1

Don Fox, former Chairman and CEO, talks with Jenifer Harmon about the calculated growth he led for Firehouse Subs, culminating in 1,200+ locations and a $1B sale to Restaurant Brands International (RBI). The discussion focuses on his start with the concept in 2003, the importance of respecting the franchisees, the complexities of competition, and what he feels like is the biggest challenge in the restaurant industry...the current business model. These two episodes are packed with actionable strategies and how to generate incredible returns for all stakeholders.

November 15, 2023Episode 321 min

#3 Growing Restaurant Loyalty & Traffic

Historically, restaurant leaders lived or died on same store comp sales (SSCS) performance. But multiple price increases forced by the cost of goods increasing since COVID have made SSCS almost insignificant. Today, restaurants depend on growing traffic with new audiences, increased frequency and long-term loyalty. If a restaurant is not growing traffic, it is not increasing in value. Today, traffic is king.

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