SEAT YOURSELF Podcast Links

5.25.20 On The Frontlines - David Otto/Tovari BV - Holland

5/25/2020

In this week’s episode of Seat Yourself and our mini-series On The Frontlines, we circle back around to catch up with David Otto from Tovari to get an update on the Dutch hospitality market and where it stands as it begins to open up.

Additionally, we discuss with David the projects that Tovari has been working on during the lockdown period, including a gorgeous new catalog, a brand-new Amsterdam showroom and a concept that David is calling "100% European-Made"

While the hospitality business has been quiet these past 2-3 months, the team at Tovari has been very active and we are not at all surprised.
#TabletopMatters

Subscribe here:
iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seat-yourself/id1440853976?mt=2
Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/seat-yourself
Google Play - https://play.google.com/music/m/Irdxqugvj64e3omfefbwgbhajoe?t=Seat_Yourself
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/1CMEk3rELOap74ui3BfXso?si=nnhoZRrqRoCtqlWxKzTd4g
TuneIn - https://tunein.com/podcasts/Business--Economics-Podcasts/Dave-Turners-SEAT-YOURSELF-Podcast-p1320455/
I Heart Radio - https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-seat-yourself-30927514/

5.18.20 On The Frontlines – Your Host, Flying Solo

5/18/2020

In this week’s episode of Seat Yourself and our mini-series On The Frontlines, our host Dave shows his agility after some last minute schedule changes forces him to fly solo for this episode.

This unique opportunity gives Dave a chance to recap some of the key learnings of the previous 9 weeks of On The Frontlines and to offer up his ideas on timelines for what the future will bring for the tabletop category and hospitality sector.

Dave also talks about the 2 principle areas of focus for companies to concentrate as we find our way through the remainder of this year. He finishes up with the main ingredients that will be necessary for success in the both the near-term and beyond.
#TabletopMatters

Subscribe here:
iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seat-yourself/id1440853976?mt=2
Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/seat-yourself
Google Play - https://play.google.com/music/m/Irdxqugvj64e3omfefbwgbhajoe?t=Seat_Yourself
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/1CMEk3rELOap74ui3BfXso?si=nnhoZRrqRoCtqlWxKzTd4g
TuneIn - https://tunein.com/podcasts/Business--Economics-Podcasts/Dave-Turners-SEAT-YOURSELF-Podcast-p1320455/
I Heart Radio - https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-seat-yourself-30927514/

5.11.20 On The Frontlines - Michael Butler/Hyatt Hotels F&B - Zurich

5/11/2020

In this week’s episode of our Seat Yourself podcast and our (still new) mini-series On The Frontlines, we catch up with Michael Butler, the Zurich based F&B expert with Hyatt Hotels. Butler started in food & beverage in the UK and his area of responsibility with Hyatt spans the European continent and into India.

In our conversation, Michael talks about making sure we keep the concept of hospitality and the guest experience top of mind as we begin to re-open foodservice and hospitality, even while promoting a safety-first approach.

Michael Butler also has recently launched a new LinkedIn group devoted to the entire area of hospitality Food & Beverage and we get into what that is all about and what his plans are for the future for this fast-growing group.
#TabletopMatters

Subscribe here:
iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seat-yourself/id1440853976?mt=2
Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/seat-yourself
Google Play - https://play.google.com/music/m/Irdxqugvj64e3omfefbwgbhajoe?t=Seat_Yourself
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/1CMEk3rELOap74ui3BfXso?si=nnhoZRrqRoCtqlWxKzTd4g
TuneIn - https://tunein.com/podcasts/Business--Economics-Podcasts/Dave-Turners-SEAT-YOURSELF-Podcast-p1320455/
I Heart Radio - https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-seat-yourself-30927514/

5.4.20 On The Frontlines - Josh Blitstein/No. Calif; Hawaii; No. Nevada

5/4/2020

In this week’s episode of Seat Yourself and our mini-series On The Frontlines, we travel out to the west coast of the U.S. to have a conversation with manufacturers’ sales representative Josh Blitstein. Armed with a portfolio of world-class tabletop, buffetware products and top-quality cookware, Blitstein and his company – The Action Group - are a leading conduit to business of mid-luxury operators of all types in Northern California, Hawaii, and Northern Nevada.

In our conversation, Josh outlines the current state of the COVID-19 coronavirus in his sales area, along with what both his customers and the manufacturers that he represents are doing to prepare for the coming opening of the dining-in business.

Along with a good dose of reality, Blitstein reiterates throughout our conversation his strong belief in the resilience and creativity of our foodservice and hospitality industry to not only survive but to eventually thrive.
#TabletopMatters
Subscribe here:
iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seat-yourself/id1440853976?mt=2
Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/seat-yourself
Google Play - https://play.google.com/music/m/Irdxqugvj64e3omfefbwgbhajoe?t=Seat_Yourself
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/1CMEk3rELOap74ui3BfXso?si=nnhoZRrqRoCtqlWxKzTd4g
TuneIn - https://tunein.com/podcasts/Business--Economics-Podcasts/Dave-Turners-SEAT-YOURSELF-Podcast-p1320455/
I Heart Radio - https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-seat-yourself-30927514/

4.27.20 On The Frontlines - Greg Kirrish/Redux

4/27/2020

In this week’s episode of Seat Yourself and our mini-series On The Frontlines, Chicago-based Greg Kirrish returns for a different type of discussion. Some listeners may recall that Greg joined us approximately a month ago to talk about what was happening on the street in hospitality in the greater Chicago area.

This week, we asked Greg to join us to talk about the various restaurant re-opening protocols being discussed as cities around the world begin to open or consider when they will reopen for business. There are lots of considerations and none of them will be either easy or fast.

Then, in our second segment, we take on the issue of mom-and-pop restaurants and their possibilities for survival versus the chains. Can these individual restaurants regain success and, if so, how will the dining out experience differ from large regional and even national chains be?
#TabletopMatters

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seat-yourself/id1440853976?mt=2
Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/seat-yourself
Google Play - https://play.google.com/music/m/Irdxqugvj64e3omfefbwgbhajoe?t=Seat_Yourself
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/1CMEk3rELOap74ui3BfXso?si=nnhoZRrqRoCtqlWxKzTd4g
I Heart Radio - https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-seat-yourself-30927514/

4.20.20 On The Frontlines - Brian Wood/Rabco Foodservice - Canada

4/20/2020

This week, we head north to Canada as we catch up with and have a conversation with Canadian foodservice expert Brian Wood.

For the past 30+ years, Brian has been fully engaged in the Canadian hospitality sector from a wide variety of perspectives, now as CEO of his own foodservice agency selling to dealers from coast to coast. Knowing the market from the ground up, Brian is closely tied to both dealers and operators throughout Canada and he fills us in on the current situation there. He also sheds light on issues importers can be having with their global supply chain.

As always, our intention in each of our On The Frontlines conversations is to get expert commentary and thoughts on what is happening in a particular market or region of the world. And we also want to understand what these thought-leaders like Brian Wood and his colleagues at Rabco Foodservice are doing now to prepare for their eventual return to normal business conditions. Along with that…. more and more we are also discussing what that “new normal” may look like.

Throughout each and every one of these conversations, it seems quite apparent that – in hospitality, whether you are a supplier, a supply chain player or an operator…we all are realizing we’re all in this situation together. That idea of #inthistogether is fast become one of the things that we love most about this challenging situation.
As the world begins to pivot towards re-opening, we’d now also add passion to the common themes we have mentioned earlier of resilience, creativity and optimism that remain fully embedded with the frontline “warriors” we have been speaking to.

Thank you for joining our podcast this week on Seat Yourself’s “On The Frontlines” mini-series, featuring this week’s guest – Brian Wood, CEO of Canada’s Rabco Foodservice.
#TabletopMatters
https://www.seatyourselfpodcast.com/

Subscribe here:
iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seat-yourself/id1440853976?mt=2
Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/seat-yourself
Google Play - https://play.google.com/music/m/Irdxqugvj64e3omfefbwgbhajoe?t=Seat_Yourself
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/1CMEk3rELOap74ui3BfXso?si=nnhoZRrqRoCtqlWxKzTd4g
I Heart Radio - https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-seat-yourself-30927514/

4.13.20 On The Frontlines - Zander Lauritzen Hansen/Scandic Bar

4/13/2020

This week, we stay in Europe as we catch up with Copenhagen’s Zander Lauritzen Hansen from his business Scandic Bar. Zander is closely tied to the bar and restaurant sector throughout the Scandinavian region and fills us in on the current situation there.

As always, our intention in each of our On The Frontlines conversations is to get expert commentary and thoughts on what is happening in a particular market or region of the world. And we also want to understand what these thought-leaders are doing now to prepare for their eventual return to normal business conditions. Along with that…. more and more we are also discussing what that “new normal” may look like.

Our conversations from our On The Frontlines mini-series continue to point out that, no matter where we are in this world, our situations within the hospitality sector remain similar. And, it seems quite apparent that – in hospitality, whether you are a supplier, a supply chain player or an operator - we are realizing the we’re all in this situation together. That’s part of the greatness of the hospitality industry.

Resilience, creativity and optimism remain common themes which are great to see in our conversations, as well.
Thank you for joining our podcast this week on Seat Yourself’s “On The Frontlines” mini-series, featuring this week’s guest – Zander Lauritzen Hansen.

4.6.20 On The Frontlines - David Otto/Tovari

4/6/2020

This week, we travel to Europe as we speak with David Otto from Holland’s Tovari company. In our conversation with David, we discuss the current COVID-19 situation in Holland and the surrounding European countries, along with what David and his colleagues at Tovari are doing to prepare for when the HoReCa business returns.

You may recognize David and Tovari from our interview that we did last year with him and Tovari owner Ivar van Riel. Their company represents some of the very best hospitality tabletop products and does an especially great job at merchandising in both their own catalogs and brochures, along with their showrooms and trade fair stands.

Once again, our intention in each of our On The Frontlines conversations is to get expert commentary on what is happening in a particular market or region of the world. And we also want to understand what leaders are doing now to prepare for their eventual return to normal business conditions – whatever “normal” may mean then.

The reason we’re sharing ideas on actions others are taking is so that we can all learn from each other. After all, we are ALL in this together.

That’s the greatness of the hospitality industry. Now, more than ever, we continue to stand together.

Thank you for joining our podcast this week on Seat Yourself’s “On The Frontlines” mini-series, featuring this week’s guest – David Otto.
#TabletopMatters

3.30.20 On The Frontlines - Greg Kirrish

3/30/2020

This week, we move to the great city of Chicago and catch up with Greg Kirrish to discuss life on the front lines of the hospitality industry.

You may recognize Greg’s name from our other podcast Every Other Thursday and we are excited to have Greg bring his perspective as to what is happening on the streets in the Windy City region of the USA. Greg’s wide-ranging background makes him uniquely qualified to discuss the COVID-19 virus situation in foodservice & hospitality from nearly all angles. You’ll particularly appreciate his “think small” approach for what operators – and salespeople - can do during these unprecedented times.

Greg’s experience working for the NRA Show also allows him to weigh-in on the future of that show – and trade shows, in general – so you won’t want to miss that conversation.

Once again, our intention in each of our On The Frontlines conversations is to get the view of what’s happening in a particular region or sector, but we also want to learn what can be done and is being done as operators and sellers as we all fight our way through this current COVID-19 situation.

And, we’re sharing what ideas on actions others are taking so that we can all learn from each other. After all, we are ALL in this together.

That’s the greatness of the hospitality industry. Now, more than ever, we are standing together.

Thanks for joining our podcast this week on Seat Yourself’s “On The Frontlines” mini-series, featuring this week’s guest – Greg Kirrish.
iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seat-yourself/id1440853976?mt=2
Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/seat-yourself
Google Play - https://play.google.com/music/m/Irdxqugvj64e3omfefbwgbhajoe?t=Seat_Yourself
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/1CMEk3rELOap74ui3BfXso?si=nnhoZRrqRoCtqlWxKzTd4g
I Heart Radio - https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-seat-yourself-30927514/

3.23.20 On The Frontlines with Bunny Johnson

3/23/2020

This week, we want to welcome you to a very different format for Seat Yourself.

Given the very difficult and uncertain times everyone in our industry is going through, it really didn’t seem appropriate at this time to continue on with our standard format for our weekly podcast.

So, beginning with this week’s episode of Seat Yourself, we are starting a mini-series that we’re titling “On The Frontlines”
In our new On The Frontlines series, we’ll be speaking with people from all corners of our audience and with people who are, indeed, on the frontlines of the foodservice and hospitality industry. And, like all of us, they’re fighting for survival.
Our intention in these conversations with these frontline warriors will be to get their views of what’s happening in their particular region but also we want to learn what are they doing to fight their way through this current situation for themselves, their teams and perhaps, most especially – their customers.

Along with ideas for keeping their own teams together and remaining positive, we’ll also be sharing what ideas they have for helping others. After all, we are ALL in this together.

That’s the greatness of the hospitality industry. Now, more than ever, we are standing together.

Our first On The Frontlines conversation is with Bunny Johnson.

Bunny is a top manufacturer’s representative who, along with her teammates at her company Hospitality Dining Solutions is on the frontlines in the Washington DC/Virginia/Maryland area of the United States.

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