Julie Wade on Loyalty Programs & The North Star of Successful Restaurant Marketing
In this episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg, “The Restaurant Guy,” and Jimmy Frischling, “The Finance Guy”, sit down with Julie Wade, Chief Marketing Officer at Taziki’s Mediterranean Café.
With a passion for personalized hospitality and a strategic eye for marketing, Julie leads a brand that merges premium quality with accessibility. Her experiences, enriched by years in diverse industries, has shaped her belief that connecting with guests on a personal level creates lasting loyalty. At Taziki’s Mediterranean Café, it’s not just about serving meals—it’s about offering an elevated fast-casual experience where every guest feels known and valued. Julie’s focus on creating these meaningful connections, combined with Taziki’s commitment to fresh, high-quality ingredients, is helping to build a brand that thrives on authenticity and hospitality.
Key Takeaways:
• Julie touches on Taziki’s focus on personal connections as a core part of their customer loyalty and brand identity.
• Julie explains that the premium products offered at Taziki’s are unique and cannot easily be found elsewhere for the same price point. This is an important value proposition—customers are getting high-quality, fresh ingredients that are typically found in more expensive full-service restaurants but at a competitive price.
• Jimmy emphasizes that despite the focus on tech, the heart of the restaurant industry remains the same – food, beverages, people, and hospitality. He makes the point that technology should enhance these elements but not replace them.
• Julie discusses how the industry is moving toward personalized marketing, where brands engage with customers in a way tailored to their preferences and habits. She describes personalized marketing as Taziki’s "North Star"—their long-term goal to stay competitive by meeting customers where they are.
• Breaking News: Taziki’s is set to open its first store in Detroit in November, marking its entry into a new market. Additionally, a new franchise group has signed on in San Antonio, Texas, signaling further expansion in the state, following recent openings in Texarkana and Dallas.
• In the "Talking Back" segment, Julie asks Jimmy and Schatzy to reflect on their biggest failure and the lessons they’ve learned.
Jimmy, Shatzy, and Julie jump into discussions like “Branded Qucik-fire” and other fun and engaging games.
Restaurant Transformation , Hospitality Strategies , Brand Experience , Hospitality Insiders , Hospitality Stories , Hospitality trends , Success in hospitality , hospitality insights , hospitality success , hospitality , connecting players , funny food stories , hospitality insiders , success in hospitality , hospitality stories . hospitality podcast, Custom business solutions, restaurant technology, restaurant promotions, restaurant ownership, culinary topics, food customs
Episode Credits:
- Produced by: Branded Hospitality Media
- Hosted by: Michael Schatzberg, JImmy Frischling
- Producer: Julie Zucker
- Creative Director: Adam Levine
- Show Runner: Drewe Raimi
- Post Production: Three Cheers Creative
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