Sprockets

03/10/2024

🎳 How do you find employees who bring fun and energy to your business?

In the latest episode of , our CEO/Founder, AJ Richichi, sits down with Meagan Francisco, Talent Acquisition Manager at Bowlero Corporation, the company behind over 350 "eat-ertainment" centers across North America!

Meagan shares her secrets on:

- Recruiting for a company that thrives on creating exciting, engaging experiences.

- Finding employees who match Bowlero’s fun culture by hosting unique hiring events—where candidates bowl, enjoy food, and interact with others, showcasing their engagement and energy.

- How creative job descriptions and recruitment processes help them attract candidates who thrive in a vibrant, fast-paced environment.

🎧 Watch the full episode to learn how Bowlero builds teams that keep the fun rolling: https://sprockets.ai/hourly-podcast-episode-36/

25/09/2024

Can kindness be the secret ingredient for business success?

In the latest episode of The Hourly Podcast, our CEO/Founder AJ Richichi sits down with Christie Schatz, Chief People Officer of Sonny's Franchise Company, to explore how they’ve made kindness the cornerstone of their culture at Sonny's BBQ. ❤️

Christie shares how the company doesn’t just talk about kindness—they live it, from their leadership team to the frontline staff. Whether it's through daily interactions or company-wide initiatives, Sonny's BBQ has created a warm, welcoming environment where every guest feels valued. 🌟

🎧 Tune in on Spotify or YouTube to hear how they took a deep dive into their core values and embody a mission that’s all about "spreading the spirit of BBQ." 😋

19/09/2024

🔄 Getting “Back to the Basics” in Episode 34 of

Katie Marzolf, HR Director for Georgia Oil Company, shares her candid thoughts on why hiring practices need a shift.

During the pandemic, many companies were forced to hire anyone willing to work, but Katie emphasizes that it's time to get back to the basics—focusing on behavioral-based interview questions to find the right fit for each team. It’s not just about filling a position; it’s about ensuring long-term success and culture alignment.

Hear Katie's insights on reducing turnover by hiring for the right personality traits and skills in this can't-miss episode.

🎙️Watch now: https://sprockets.ai/hourly-podcast-episode-34/

17/09/2024

🎙 In Episode 33 of , our CEO/Founder AJ Richichi interviewed a real jerk... A Soda Jerk! 😆

In all seriousness, the latest episode was incredible with Steve Ransone, VP of Talent and Organizational Capability at White Lodging, who talked about the critical role of talent acquisition, development, and succession planning in the hospitality industry. 🏨

Steve shares his inspiring journey from an hourly worker to an executive, offering valuable insights on creating environments where employees can thrive. He also discusses how White Lodging focuses on improving the quality of life for its team members, including innovative programs like the Career Journey, designed to support career growth and retention.

🎧 If you’re passionate about building a strong, engaged workforce, this episode is a must-listen!

13/09/2024

Strong communication drives better business outcomes, but maintaining that connection across multiple locations can be a serious challenge. That's why we recently acquired HourWork!

We're thrilled to offer HourWork's powerful communication tools, which QSR Mag just featured in an article with Renzo Bassanini, CPO of Bluemont Group, LLC (a Dunkin' franchisee with over 80 locations).

In the article, he shares how he's able to keep team members engaged, informed, and valued. He's lowering turnover and ensuring every team member feels connected.

“HourWork has provided us with an avenue to connect with team members and take care of challenges immediately... Our turnover curve keeps going down.”

Want to learn more? Check out the full article here: https://www.qsrmagazine.com/sponsored_content/capitalize-on-the-merge-of-two-successful-solutions/

Sponsored by Sprockets Restaurant operators often face challenges in understanding and meeting the needs of employees. True success comes from aligning staff experiences with the company’s goals.  Achieving this requires open, clear communication between operators and their teams, ensuring employ...

10/09/2024

🏓 In the latest episode of , our CEO/Founder, AJ Richichi, sits down with Jorge Barragan, CEO of The Picklr, to discuss the rapid growth of his indoor pickleball facility franchise (the fastest-growing brand in America's fastest-growing sport). 📈

Jorge shares how his passion for the sport and the need for dedicated indoor spaces led to the creation of The Pickler, which now boasts hundreds of locations across the US.

They explore the expansion of the franchise and how The Pickler has built a community-driven, membership-based model that prioritizes the love of the game.

If you’re curious about , franchise management, or the growing pickleball movement, this episode is a must-listen!

🎧 Tune in on Spotify or YouTube to learn how The Pickler is creating dedicated spaces for pickleball enthusiasts while building a strong sense of community.

05/09/2024

🎙 Throwback to Episode 20 of featuring Katie Turner, GM at Perkins American Food Co. in Memphis, TN!

One of the most powerful lessons from this episode? The importance of communication in leadership.

🔑 "You always have to have an open line of communication with your staff."

Katie’s approach to leadership is all about creating a culture where team members feel heard, valued, and supported. In this episode, she shares how actively listening to her employees helps her tackle challenges, foster a positive work environment, and keep her team motivated.

🎧 Catch the full conversation now on Spotify or YouTube!

03/09/2024

🎙️ New Episode Alert: “Painting the Picture” for Frontline Employees! 🎙️

In the latest episode of , AJ Richichi sits down with TJ Schier, CEO & Founder of SMART Restaurant Group, to delve into the heart of building a guest service culture that resonates from the frontline to the customer experience.

TJ shares invaluable insights on how aligning employee culture with guest expectations can drive higher performance. He emphasizes the role of strategic incentives and the importance of active marketing to position your business as an attractive place to work.

🎧 Tune in now on Spotify, YouTube, or the Sprockets website!

28/08/2024

Our CEO/Founder AJ Richichi recently had a VERY special guest for the milestone 30th episode of — Jim Taylor, Founder and CEO of Benchmark Sixty Restaurant Services. Jim is a major thought leader in the restaurant industry, and his insights are a game-changer for anyone in the business.

In this episode, Jim shares critical advice that every restaurant leader needs to hear. One highlight? He draws an eye-opening comparison between restaurant management and professional sports, explaining how restaurants can learn from sports teams in managing workloads to prevent burnout.

If you want to optimize your restaurant’s operations and drive profitability while keeping your team satisfied, this episode is a must-listen.

🎧 Tune in now on Spotify or YouTube!

26/08/2024

In case you haven’t heard, Sprockets officially acquired HourWork, and to celebrate, we're bringing you an insightful conversation with Geoffrey Genova who recently joined our team from HourWork! 🕒

🎙 Geoffrey talks about the critical role of two-way communication between employees and leadership, ensuring everyone feels heard, supported, and engaged. It also has a significant impact on retention when workers are able to share any concerns directly with leadership and get them resolved. After all, a lot of turnover is preventable, but managers often lack the tools or time to conduct regular check-ins with every employee. HourWork makes it easy.

🎧 Check out the episode now for more on HourWork and how, together, we enhance the entire employment journey for the hourly workforce!

23/08/2024

🌟 New Episode of with Renzo Bassanini of Bluemont Group! 🎙️

Renzo shares his inspiring journey from an hourly team member to Chief People Officer, leading a team of nearly 90 Dunkin' locations. He dives into the importance of recruitment, creating a clear value proposition for employees, and the often overlooked nuances of staffing for drive-thru roles.

Renzo also reveals his approach to reducing turnover, which he cut in HALF in just 3 years! (Hint: Engagement surveys are huge for addressing small issues that can have a big impact on retention.)

21/08/2024

🌟 New Episode Alert: 🌟

In episode 28, our CEO AJ Richichi sits down with Sharpston, People Operations Manager at MWB Restaurants (A Whataburger Franchisee), to dive deep into the world of hiring and retaining hourly workers in the restaurant industry.

Preston shares invaluable insights on making the hiring process seamless for candidates and empowering leaders with the tools to make informed hiring decisions. He emphasizes the power of a strong culture in attracting and retaining top talent, especially in multi-unit settings where managing different micro-cultures can be challenging.

Tune in to learn how MWB Restaurants is navigating the high volume of applicants, wowing candidates, and measuring success at the critical 90-day mark.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify or YouTube and gain a fresh perspective on the strategies that drive success in the restaurant industry!