TJ Abrams

CMOs have long served as chief dot connectors, and they can use the strength of their cross-functional and often cross-geographic relationships to help drive effective change. CMOs have always had accountability for the brand promise, and the challenge has been to deliver that brand promise across a customer journey owned by many other functions — from supply chain to customer care. The reality causes marketers to adapt as leaders and become strong integrators of experience across the organization. The nature of a CMO’s job requires strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration, preparing them uniquely as leaders for broader transformation efforts. #chiefdotconnector #transformation #leadership

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In our latest episode of #imPRessions, David H. Dancer talks with co-hosts Jennifer Lewis and Kalli Vetrano about how to rebrand flawlessly. Having led iconic rebrands across industries, David shares the do's and don'ts of revamping a brand. From communicating changes to customers instead of surprising them to phasing in modifications, Dancer's advice is truly 💯. In this episode, David breaks down famous fails like Twitter/X and wins like Dunkin shedding "Donuts." Are you feeling inspired to modernize your business? Tune into this episode before starting your revamp. #Rebranding #BusinessBranding #MarketingStrategy #MarketingPodcast #BusinessPodcast #LinkedInMarketing #podcast The Pollack Group

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Loyalty programs are so important. Think about Starbucks program or this new CAVA program. I’ve had loyalty programs before where I bank rewards and then they disappear or can’t use them. Who could an emerging brand use to help create the best loyalty programs?

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Today I was honored to serve as a guest on @The Daniella & Derick Show to discuss key concepts from my book, "The Purposeful Growth Revolution: 4 Ways to Grow from Leader to Legacy Builder." Please take a listen as I review highlights from my career journey and the pivotal moment that led to the creation of my LEAF Growth Model that serves as the foundation for leading The Purposeful Growth Revolution. https://lnkd.in/dcr-BtNb The new world of work is changing... on Purpose. Today, people don't want to be managed and required, they want to be led and inspired. It's time to put the "Human" back in Human Resources... all we need is LOVE! For Leaders to grow into transformational "living" Legacy Builders, we need to demonstrate LOVE to our team members: Listen Observe Value Empower The tired, old "Command & Control" management style is OUT... The Purposeful Growth Revolution is ON! Are You IN? #purpose #growth #development #leadership #humanresources #love

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Hold onto your frappuccinos, folks—Starbucks just brewed up a bold new blend in their executive suite. Tressie Lieberman has been appointed as the coffee titan's new executive vice president and global chief brand officer. Yes, the same Lieberman who was over at Yahoo trying to remind everyone that it's not just that email account you use for spam. After a year of serving as Yahoo's Chief Marketing Officer (yes, Yahoo still has a CMO), Lieberman is packing her bags for the rainy vistas of Seattle. She'll report directly to Brian Niccol, who himself only recently swapped burritos for venti lattes when he took Starbucks' helm in August. Niccol and Lieberman are basically the dynamic duo of fast-food-to-caffeine crossovers, having previously tag-teamed at Chipotle Mexican Grill where she was vice president of digital marketing and off-premise—which is corporate speak for making guacamole extra appealing online. Lieberman's resume reads like a who's who of quick-service giants: Snap Kitchen, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut. If it involves carbs and a drive-thru, she's been there, marketed that. Now, she's bringing her seasoned expertise to Starbucks, where her responsibilities will include marketing, product development, digital innovation, creative direction, and turning data analytics into something that actually makes sense. Part of Niccol's master plan to revive Starbucks involves repositioning the brand amid slumping sales. The Wall Street Journal spilled the beans that he's focusing on "selling handcrafted, premium coffee"—a revolutionary concept for a company that built its empire on, well, selling handcrafted, premium coffee. "Starbucks is a brand people love. It's time to tell our story again and reintroduce Starbucks to the world," Niccol proclaimed, possibly while sipping a triple-shot soy macchiato. "Tressie is the perfect person to help us do that." But not everything is frothy and smooth. At least three execs have exited the Starbucks building since Niccol took over, perhaps deciding they preferred their coffee without the corporate shake-up. Lieberman won't be flying solo in this mission. Starbucks recently handed its U.S. creative duties to WPP, which is assembling a bespoke unit to caffeinate the brand's image. Because nothing says "we're hip and with it" like a custom-built marketing team. Let's not ignore the elephant in the room—the one sipping a $6 latte. Starbucks' U.S. comparable sales declined 2% during fiscal Q3 2024, with a 6% drop in traffic. People aren't just tightening their belts; they're brewing their own coffee. Shocking. So here's to Tressie Lieberman, the new czar of caffeine and creativity. Can she reignite our collective obsession with complicated coffee orders and spell our names right on the cups? Only time—and perhaps a few double espressos—will tell. Laxman Narasimhan Mellody Hobson Rachel Ruggeri Brady Brewer

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How many Starbucks locations can one city handle? ☕️✨ This past weekend, I was catching up with some friends, and we noticed something interesting... We passed three Starbucks locations, each just a block or two apart! 🤔 It made us wonder… how many Starbucks locations are actually in New York City? I didn’t have the answer on the spot, so I did a quick search (thanks, Google). Here’s what I found: - NYC has a whopping 241 Starbucks locations. - The city spans 302 square miles. - That means there’s about 1 Starbucks for every 1.25 square miles! With one Starbucks for every 35,000 people in NYC, it seems like there’s no limit to how much coffee this city can handle. And with so many locations, Starbucks is all about staying in touch with customers by responding to guest surveys to keep the experience top-notch. What do you think? Can there ever be too many Starbucks locations? ☕️  (Spoiler: Definitely not when they keep listening to their customers!) #starbucks #coffeelovers #caffineoverload #restaurants #restauranttech

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A great read about the McDonald's journey that so many have travelled and are traveling via The Washington Post by Garrett M. Graff. “That transition from worker to leader is one McDonald’s has carefully mapped and analyzed — not surprising given that it’s 2.2 million employees make it one of the world’s largest employers. It begins with a two-part test: Does a worker aspire to do something more? Then comes the hard part: Can the employee make the mental shift needed to go from peer to coach?” “The McDonald’s human resources experts say they never expect someone to be fully ready to become a boss, because the only foolproof preparation for leadership is doing it. “No one is 100 percent perfect,” says Shannon Mullaney, the dean of Hamburger University, the chain’s corporate training camp. “‘Are you 80 percent ready?’ is normally what we say when we’re looking at the shift leader.” (H/t Morgan O'Marra)

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Listen to our CEO Alison Patt of Thomas Cuisine, who shares her unique insights on leadership, inclusivity, and work-life balance. Discover profound lessons on improving both work and family life through REAL FOOD. Don't miss this inspiring episode! #ThomasCuisine #Leadership #Inclusivity #WorkLifeBalance #RealFood

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The push for lower prices often leads to short-term gains, but it can undermine brand loyalty. Today’s consumers are looking for more than just a meal—they seek an experience that resonates with their values and lifestyle. The value equation includes community engagement and social responsibility. Brands that demonstrate genuine commitment to these aspects can foster deeper connections with their customers. Technology plays a key role in speed of service through kiosks, mobile apps & AI for drive-throughs. Finance has a greater job as strategic partners understanding consumer trends for marketing and decision data for operations. Adapting to these changing expectations is essential for survival in any consumer facing brand. Those that innovate and prioritize customer experience will likely thrive, while others risk becoming obsolete. What specific strategies do you think brands should implement to better align with these expectations?

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Mike Kostyo and I spend a lot of time reviewing, assessing and absorbing food trends to create recommendations and presentations that help our clients and the industry have a clearer understanding of where we're headed to make more impactful strategic decisions. But as many of you have heard us say, at Menu Matters LLC we place significant emphasis on understanding trends beyond food - travel, fashion, beauty, pop culture, geo politics, economy, etc. - to have a stronger and more well-rounded understanding of how and why consumers' relationship with food and beverage will change. Why do we do look outside food? This article from Food & Wine on Chipotle's partnership with Wonderskin Premium Skincare (https://lnkd.in/e7KWMmJZ) a great example of precisely why it's important to understand non-food trends. For years, we've seen increased crossover between the beauty industry and the food/ beverage industry. Most of that has largely been beauty brands borrowing on-trend ingredients but it was only a matter of time before we saw food and beverage brands dip into beauty. Are you and your team spending time understanding trends beyond food to fully understand the opportunities that may be available to your brand? Reach out to either Mike or to me and we'll be happy to help you evaluate and prioritize what's next. #trends2024 #innovation #consumerbehavior #consumerinsights #foodandbeverageindustry #foodservice #cpg #beauty #trends #restaurants

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My OG hometown paper just published the most thorough feature of Globowl as a brand, not just as a contestant on #FoodStars. I hope ALL the South Florida moms, dads, parents-to-be, grandparents and preschool educators read it. I am really excited by how much info is in here, and I hope it helps people make the right decision re: their child's nutrition. https://lnkd.in/e3jVkKKx

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Dine Brands Global, the force behind beloved chains like Applebee's Neighborhood Grill + Bar’s and IHOP, is embracing the current trend of offering enticing promotions to cater to diners seeking great deals. Their initiatives not only aim to bring in more customers but also prioritize the profitability of their franchisees. With successful promotions like Applebee’s $1 margarita deal leading to increased customer spending, the company's proactive approach to attract budget-conscious consumers is generating optimism among analysts. As they continue to refine their promotional strategies and capitalize on market opportunities, Dine Brands is poised for sustained growth and success in the competitive food industry. Read More Here: https://lnkd.in/e-wUUtS7 Branded Hospitality Ventures #socialnetworking #marketing #technology #hospitality #innovation Scott Gladstone John Peyton Matt Ryan David Trujillo Susan Nelson Lili Tomovich Jessica Jackson

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👇 Check out this list of #jobs #marketingjobs and more.

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As Chick-fil-A continues to innovate in the fast-food industry, their latest drive-thru prototype marks a significant leap forward in meeting the increasing demand for efficiency and convenience. ➡️ The prototype features four drive-thru lanes – two designated for traditional drive-thru customers and two for mobile-order-ahead customers, including delivery drivers. ➡️ The restaurant was intentionally designed to meet high demand; the kitchen is twice as big as a standard Chick-fil-A kitchen and the food transport system allows a meal to be delivered to a team member every six seconds. ➡️ “We believe it can do 2.5-to-3x the volume of a normal Chick-fil-A.” In a world where speed and convenience are increasingly important, Chick-fil-A's forward-thinking approach could very well set a new standard in the industry. The success of this prototype will likely influence future designs and could be a game-changer for quick-service restaurants.

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As mentioned in a previous post, Chipotle's sales have been increasing as steadily as its prices. McD's? Not so much. The reason is simple: BRANDING. Chipotle's brand is built on fresh, quality ingredients. That's their value proposition. McDonald's value proposition is...well, the price/value of their fast food. It's a good place to take your kids & fam when you want a fast, cheap meal. But when input costs start inflating...and those costs are passed along to McD's customers...look out below!

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12 Restaurant Chains Closing Locations In 2024. A mix of underperformance issues, financial pressures from inflation, strategic realignments, changing consumer trends and overall cost-cutting objectives have all contributed to the recent wave of location closures across several restaurant chains in 2024. Restaurants simply don't have the staff to make it through normal shifts, and cutting back on open hours is truly necessary. But other times, business owners reduce hours just to cut costs, a defensive strategy that forfeits critical revenue in the process.

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👍 Do you classify yourself as being tech oriented? 👍 Are you a people person? 👍 Do you like it when you have clear direction? ME TOO! So when Bryan Meredith asked me if would join him on stage to talk about all 3 of them together at the National Restaurant Association show in Chicago, I said HECK YEAH!! Saturday, May 18 • 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM Location: Room S405 - South Building - 4th Floor Title: Blending Technology With Your People and Processes Description: Embracing technology is critically important to survive in this competitive market. However, in order to ensure it’s the right fit for your business you must also consider all the people it will impact and your current processes. How do you know what tech is best? How do you integrate new tech with your existing processes? Gain best practices in determining which technology meets the needs of both your people and your processes. Learning Objectives: *Understand the impact new technology can have on current business processes – both positive and negative. *Explore how to identify technology that can improve your bottom line. *Create a successful work environment for your people, giving them the resources they need to deliver a better guest experience. CTA: Put this on your calendar please. #revsmarketingtips #restaurantbusiness #restauranttech #restaurantowners #restaurantmarketing #restaurantindustry #restaurantowner

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