With Excitement allow me to introduce to you today's guest, Owner of two 17st BBQ locations, The Warehouse event Center, OnCue Consulting and Co-author of Peace, Love and Barbecue and Praise the Lard, Amy Mills. Barbecue heiress Amy Mills, daughter of barbecue legend Mike Mills, is considered the industry’s go-to girl for all things barbecue. She is the James Beard Award-nominated author of Peace, Love and Barbecue, a television personality, and a branding, marketing and PR pro. Her company, OnCue Consulting, offers premiere barbecue industry education and she consults with restaurants and barbecuers world-wide. Amy divides her time between Boston, Southern Illinois and barbecue destinations across the country. She always wanted to be a glamorous heiress. Little did she dream her fortune would lie in barbecue.

Check out Start With Why by Simon Sinek as mentioned in today's episode!

Check out Shopify and Goldbelly as mentioned in today's episode.

Show notes…

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Favorite success quote or mantra:

"Generosity is a recipe for success."

In today's episode with Amy Mills we will discuss:

BBQ in Missouri
BBQ competitions
Food competitions in your town will boost the entire community's economy
Good marketing
Hiring best practice
Advice on writing and publishing a book
Retail and merchandise
Multiple channels of revenue
Visual branding

Today's sponsor:

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Knowledge bombs

Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
- Cheerfully flexible
What is your biggest weakness?
- Holding grudges
What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?
- The servant heart; the giver, not the taker.. How will you recover when dealing with a difficult guest
What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
- Recovering from the pandemic, findingnstaif and keeping team members happy through staff shortages
Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
- All for the team
What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
- The greeting and the goodbye. Make people feel seen and thanked.
What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
- This Is Marketing by Seth Godin
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
  GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM
What's one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough?
- Pay attention to food cost
Name one service you've hired.
- Robin Insley - Communication and Branding
- Meridith Paulhus - Graphic Design and Food Styling
- Arthur Agency in Carbondale, Illinois - Graphic Design
What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influence operations?
- Toast
- 7Shifts
If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be?
- BBQ is a culture not a concept
- Shine a light on your region
- Create a legacy and loyalty in a community

Contact info:

Instagram: 17thstreetbbq

Email: amy@17bbq.com

Website: 17bbq.com

Thanks for listening!

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Huge thanks to Amy Mills for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

810: Amy Mills Owner of 17th Street BBQ, The Warehouse, and OnCue Consulting

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

810: Amy Mills Owner of 17th Street BBQ, The Warehouse, and OnCue Consulting