This Pizza Sells Out 3 Months In Advance!! HOW?
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- čas přidán 27. 05. 2024
- This video has been sponsored by Factor75.com. Use code UPFLIP50 to get 50% off your first Factor box at bit.ly/3p3CSWO!
It’s one thing for a pizza shop to sell out, but have you ever heard of a pizza place being booked three months out? That’s the kind of hype Moto Pizza has generated. You’ll learn how they built their reputation as the best pizza in Seattle in this interview.
Lee Kindell and his wife started out in the hospitality industry. When the pandemic closed their inn, they had to pivot to find a new way forward. Lee learned how to make pizza in the Roman style as a hobby and decided to run with that as a new business model. This proved to be a very profitable decision, and today Moto Pizza has 4 locations across the city to meet the incredible demand for their pies.
Lee’s pizzas are far from traditional, and the same is true of everything in his business. They converted a house into their first location instead of buying a commercial property. We’ll hear why Lee chose the spot he did and how much it cost to get his pizza shop up and running. He’ll also walk us through Moto’s new locations and share the challenges and advantages of growing a restaurant to multiple locations.
Maybe the most impressive thing about Moto Pizza is how quickly they’ve built a following and customer base-and that they did it without spending tons of money on advertising. Lee explains how he uses social media to grow his brand and the best free ways to attract customers to a pizza restaurant.
If you want to learn how to start and grow a pizza shop, this is a video you won’t want to miss! And make sure to check out some of our past interviews with entrepreneurs in the restaurant industry:
Don’t Open a Restaurant Business Until You Watch This! ►
• Don't Open a Restauran...
$54K/Month Food Truck Business (What Did It Cost to Start?) ►
• $54K/Month Food Truck ...
Resources
xoxomoto.com/ - Learn more about Moto Pizza on their website
www.upflip.com/academy - Start, Build & Grow Your Business
www.upflip.com/podcast - Hear more interviews with business owners and leaders on the UpFlip podcast
www.upflip.com/blog/how-to-st... - See more advice on how to open a 7-figure restaurant on the UpFlip blog
www.upflip.com/equipment-list - UpFlip's Premier Equipment List
Timestamps:
00:00 - START
00:23 - Meeting Lee
02:20 - Popularity of his pizza
02:42 - Startup costs
03:38 - Traditional equipment
04:00 - Unique product idea
05:23 - Stadium location
07:12 - New Belltown location
08:43 - What makes Moto unique
10:26 - Valuation with 4 locations
11:05 - Converting a house into a business
13:40 - Early mistakes made
15:17 - Fan blitz
16:32 - Customer interactions
17:31 - Attracting customers
18:32 - Generating excitement for a business
19:47 - Building a distinctive brand
20:46 - Social media tips
21:23 - Mindset shift and business advice
22:42 - Key equipment
24:39 - Making a pizza
26:02 - Numbers by location
28:14 - Overcoming low points
29:46 - Hours worked per week
31:36 - Outro
#pizza #bestpizza #foodreview
This video has been sponsored by Factor75.com. Use code UPFLIP50 to get 50% off your first Factor box at bit.ly/3p3CSWO!
problem is sold out online - so they have a big problem, why is it sold out? horrible marketing problem
Factor... Cool concept. I live in Canada and nowhere does it say it doesn't deliver to my area but I had to download, sign up and then you say I can't.... Your business is awesome!!
@@obertscloudlive u❤
@@cguyslove you❤
he never ate the pizza.
The dude is legit - he's not putting on a show for the cameras. I've met him 3-4 times while picking up pizza. The first time I picked up, I had the KISSD pizza which comes with hot honey. When I mentioned this to him, he asked how I enjoyed the honey, and when I told him it was good and asked if it was local, he ended up walking me to the backyard behind the little shop and showed me his beehive which supplied the honey. Insane customer service there.
Cool story bro.
That’s awesome
I saw the 🐄 for the cheese , legend
That beehive definitely not up to code..
@@AnonymousGameWarden haha yeah I was a bit surprised but didn't ask questions
24 USD an hour is incredible. He really takes care of his employees. This will also make them feel apreciated be loyal and always do a great job for him. Fantastic!
24 USD is just enough to get by alone where they’re at 😂😂😂 if he cared they’d be on a salary
@@blank1778 someones always gotta complain
lol cause he charges $25 for two bites of pizza
@@KelvChencan't make everyone happy always someone bitching freal 😂
@@retahdude always the broke ones too🤣
Man, what a cool guy! His vibe is great. I hope he continues to be successful.
Wow! So cool that his vibe resonates with you. Thank you for the support!
You know you're deep into the youtube game when one of the channels you subscribe to comments on another lool
no karl thats american gourmet pizza scam
This guys energy makes me happy
Yes! My first impression was how he has amazing energy that exudes positivity, light and cheerfulness! It's definitely infectious.
He's appears to be a seasoned business professional. Likely had a few other ventures in the past, but hit it out the park with this one. And well done to him and his team, best of luck in the future!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts @ShadowJedi007. It's always inspiring to see individuals and their teams achieve success. Thanks for watching!!! ❤
He said they had a hotel prior to.
Lies again? Grab Food FNB Money
@@NazriB why are you like that
"A small boutique 'hotel' " .. that went under because of covid lol. he did say likely had a few other ventures in the past, but hit it out the park with THIS one. @@jackiemyers2773
He was right about employees… pay them good and you don’t have to worry anymore. Rather than paying cheap but with struggling to find employees.
Exactly. Too many restaurant managers think "well these workers are replaceable and it's easy to train a new person".... they don't see the INTANGIBLE costs of ruining their employee culture and morale by treating employees like dirt.
This guy is amazing, he has one hell of a personality. He didn't even need this promo he could do his own show/content and absolutely blow up. He deserves his success good for him.
It's always inspiring to see talented individuals achieve their goals and make a name for themselves in their respective fields. ❤
24$ an hour. His right the turn over rate for a company i was working for was crazy. They were spending 5k per employee in training, paperwork, drug testing just for them to quit 2 weeks later. If you dont have enough employees you have to also pay overtime becuase you cant really produce what you need to complete the work load. This guy spending 24$ helps him retain employees probably doesnt worry to much about someone not showing up.
Plus tips.
The 24$ is W2 and the tips are cash in the pocket which goes a long way at the end of the week. Potentially make 200$ in tips in a week.
Through the year after taxes, they be bringing home almost 48k.
This is exactly what's happening to Chipotle. It's 11 an hour and all the employees are highschool kids working their first job who quit in under a month when they start to know better.
5000 per employee is not even true lol! I have a restaurant. 11 years now. In no way do I spend that kind of money fir ANY employee. Stupid figures. Tell the truth if you are going to comment
@@lq4657it’s a hidden cost. If you went through it you’d be surprised.
@@lq4657They talked about the company they worked for, not the restaurant in the video.
THIS IS AMAZING. I am not even from the states and from the video I can conclude this guy is so genuine and so wholesome to have a conversation. DUDE is living the dream doing what he loves. God bless you both man. It was really a good video I enjoyed it you gained a subscriber :)
I'm a local and Lee is exactly how he is in this video. High Energy, kind, always willing to listen.
OMG, banana ketchup is sooo Filipino!!! I hope I get to try his pizza someday. This was a really great story. More people of this generation need more aspirational people like him who is dedicated and really understand the importance of putting in the work and time building something.
From other videos I have seen, his product is similar to Detroit-style pizza (sauce on top, square, etc.) I love his business model, the product offerings, and his employee culture angle. His recommendations to other businesses are great - I hope others are inspired by his success! Kudos to him and the whole team
Detroit style FTW
Detroiter here! It's absolutely Detroit style, you can check out Buddy's Pizza for a comparison :D
As a native/proud Detroiter I said that the second I saw it 😂❤
He left off the biggest reason for his success… HIM!!!!! He has such an electric personality you can’t help but to like him! Congrats on all the success!
Thank you so much for watching!
I agree, aside from the unique flavors, it's his personality, his creativity, overall good energy
Yes! He's a whole brand!
Wow, this was so interesting! This might be the best business owner you've interviewed so far - love his attitude and passion.
Great interview! His attitude, transparency and passion is just amazing! Even honesty around costs, working your way up and dealing with some business challenges! Inspiring!
We're glad that his attitude, transparency, and passion resonated with you. We hope that this interview has provided you with valuable insights and inspiration for your own endeavors. Good luck!
Fantastic customer service and a great product can't be beat. I worked at a a bookstore; we had the same product every other store had. But we also had employees who loved books and loved to talk about the new books in the genre they loved. This was a Borders store. Other Borders floundered, but until Borders closed all their stores, our store did great.
His success is a fruit of his Vibe!
Absolutely! Played a significant role in his achievements. 🔥
I love this guys energy and excitement not only for his product but his treatment towards his employees as well.
Not only does he possess a genuine passion for his product, but he also extends that same enthusiasm toward his employees. We really appreciate you for watching. ❤
Loved when he talked about pay, high starting pay plus tips and then insurance coverage. That's a true and great American business and we need more of that.
The endurance in this gentlemans voice is whats gotten him so successful/ Its not the pizza, the experience or the money. He Genuinly loves his voice. Powerful LEADERSHIP
respect to this guy for paying his employees decently. deserves to be profitable.
His attitude is infectious. Bravo 👏 👏 👏
Indeed!
Truly cool. "Who do I have to talk to to get my pizza in the stadium?" and he said "me." Love it
We love that, too! Thank you for watching. ❤
Love Lee's attitude. Love his concept. Love the artwork he has in the restaurants and boxes!
I appreciate this guy. He understands the ramp up time for new people and retention. It is *severely* missed by just about every company. If you have to question that, then you do no know.
Hes so into it, You can tell his heart is in it. Bless him and his loved ones !
Appreciate your kind words! Were you inspired by his passion for business? 🙂
This just goes to show that a great attitude and excellent product can get you where you want to be in life. You can tell he loves it and cares but he's also well versed in business. You have to work to make it happen and work hard. That's life, a lesson everyone needs to get down.
I love this guy's attitude, and personality. Imagine if you were like this or around this type of person all the time. It would be pretty damn inspiring.
We totally agree! This person's positive attitude and infectious personality are truly inspiring. Being around someone like that can really uplift and motivate you to be your best self. It's amazing how much of an impact someone's energy can have on those around them.❤
He's very passionate. i believe that was his real key to success here.
Thinking Creatively vs. Competitively GENIUS!
this guy is gonna be huge. if he wants to. congrats to him, amazing energy
He's not?
I’m so happy and proud of Lee’s pivot. He’s doing a different approach in business mixed with his creativity while caring about his staff by giving them livable wages.
This is the best episode I have seen. So magical. Thanks!!!!
Glad you liked it!!
I love this guy...
He seems like a great boss and he seems super super sharp.
Wish him much more success. He definitely deserves it.
This interview is life changing one can learn so much from this interview hats off to the owner for sharing all the secrets tips and tricks❤
Besides the fact that it would have been physically impossible for him to get that house for 60k while the two neighbors are in a bidding war and the fact he put it all on a credit card.
His tips on maintaining the business is good but how he got his start is just painfully stupid and most likely not true.
What?? The story of how he got his pizzas into the stadium is just a testament to the fact that the universe conspires to bring you your every wish. You just set it in motion by starting. Also the thing he said about thinking competitively vs. creatively 👌👌
I think this is my favorite upflip video so far. Super legit business model and seems like a wonderful human being.
We're glad to know that you enjoyed this video. Thank you for watching!!!
This pizza brand is going to be the next big pizza brand in the usa, congratulations 🎊
no it wont .. hell do better doing what he does.. a 3 month wait isnt a commercial success.. which is fine im sure he makes an exceptional product but 3 months to wait for a pizza ....most places would go out of business if that was just a normal pie..not hating on him at all i thinksa hes brilliant and wish him nothing but success
@@johnstecich7990 This is still just his start, he's expanding so that 3 month frame will eventually get down. the stadium location most likely will be open for order at the game. if you watched the video hes mainstreaming some of the process with the new technology machine. 3 month wait isn't going to be forever and as he was being interviewed he's willing to adapt and love new technology.
@@johnstecich7990 Like he mentioned, the first business had a lot of failures and it's better to fail on a small scale. It's most likely because of the small oven, not being able to upgrade or add another oven bc of the power grid and the limited space to hire more employees to keep up with the flow. Even with all the limitations, managing to keep the hype and stay sold out 3 months in advance is crazy.
History has shown, it's not going to be the next big thing. It's on a hype train, and opening 100 stores is a death sentence. Give it 2-3 years, and he will go bankrupt. And you will never hear of this backed pie with random stuff on it, never gain
It's Detroit style pan pizza, it already available in most area. He better doing it as he is right now to his customer base.
This man is so genuine and down to earth. He is willing to teach his team the ropes. I wish him all the luck in the world
If you look at each and every layer of his business model and juxtapose it against other businesses in his domain. He essentially is the antithesis of those other models. pound for pound, hour for hour he is just Kiiiilllllin it. He is going to change the way others look at their business models and how the status quo is not going to work. Hats off to Moto Pizza.
This men is amazing. I love his story and he is very motivated.
I rarely watch anything this long on youtube but this guy has such great vibes and sharing his experience got me hooked! I wish you great success and keep on smiling!
We're glad that this video caught your attention! Did you learn anything interesting from the video?
@@UpFlip I've learned a lot!
JOSEPH BROOKS is killing it with the art in there. Not to mention the delicious pizza!
Yessss the art is 🤌🔥
We need an episode on THIS CHANNEL. I’ve seen you guys grow from 60k followers to 700k . 🎉 I’d love to know the mile stones and the revenue you guys make and how it changes based on subscribers / views
Asking this question for the 85th time
I would also love to know!
We do have that in the plans, but at this time its just impossible because everyone on the team still works remotely ;) And we do share our revenue numbers in one of our blog posts on the starting and growing CZcams channel, check it out!
The passion, the vision, the pride, the joy in his tone, body language says it all!! Such a great business man ❤❤❤ I will definitely visit MOTO pizza when I go to settle. Thank you for sharing some wisdom 🙏🏽
So happy I was able to grab a pie last week from there. Very insightful video, so props on the owner for being so transparent. 🎉
This guys energy is unmatched! I wish you more success
Brilliant. I love his understanding of the lessons he encounter while building his business.
This guy is onto it. Genuine passion for what he does.
Love the vibe of his pizza joint. Pizza looks good. Bring one to CA!
naw they need to come to NYC
It's one thing to come up with an idea but another to actually start working on it.
Kudos to this passionate and hardworking man.
Fantastic episode. So many valuable lessons from Lee! Thank you for filming this. And Lee, thank you for sharing so much about your business story!!
It's great to hear that you found it valuable and enjoyed hearing from Lee about his business story. We're glad that we could bring you this content and appreciate your support.
The secret sauce is his personality. The other is his mindset.
💯
Congratulations, great story, great energy he has. You literally feel the passion 🍕
Thanks for all the great footage of the mural and design work I did at Moto! 😎
The guy is hard working and honest .. that is something you do not find in your typical boss .........fair play to him!!!!
Those traits are definitely not common in all bosses. Thanks for sharing your thoughts @atanas todorov!
Right off the bat, I guessed this must be in the Pacific Northwest to be on a waitlist 3 months out.
Lee is an achiever. He would succeed at whatever he attempts. Love it.
Absolutely! His dedication and drive will undoubtedly help him achieve great success in life. ❤
That is the kind of guy that you can’t help but root for. Cheers to all of your success! 🍕
Love Lee's attitude and approach! While not the same industry -- or era -- he reminds me of a modern day pizza version of Joe Girard. I've not visited that part of America yet, and even though I don't each much pizza, I'd make sure I'd visit his place when I do get up there.
Really enjoyed this episode! Love his motivations and approach to it all.
hes a racist tho.. he has no black employees
I love this guys energy! He knows what he wants and how he treats people seems amazing!
His energy is seriously contagious! Such an awesome dude. 😄
We live near the West Seattle location and we’ve been a regular since near the beginning, and I will say Lee is one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. I am so happy his business is expanding so quickly, he deserves it.
Host is not good. He doesn't seem excited and happy interviewing
I would say he was letting the guest shine, but hey it would be a boring world if we all thought the same :)
Hard work, learn from your mistakes, never give up, listen to your employees, hire slow fire fast, advertise your product and interact with your customers. Those are all the recipes for success no matter what kind of business you run. This guy would be successful in anything.
This is why McDonald's is so successful!
He had a great vision and a good mindset for making his business a successful business. He also has a great attitude👌 they say love what you do. He exactly doing that. Especially when he said he feels like he's not even working.
This owner is amazing, great personality, genuine guy, and knows how to market himself and his products 😊
What a positive attitude he has. Wish him all the best.
Thank you for sharing your positive thoughts. We're sure he would appreciate your kind words and well wishes. 😊
3 month wait list means that while he probably makes a world class pizza he needs help in preparation as his orders are outpacing his production. Meaning he probably has to hire more people but this may come with a downside of quality loss which is maybe a reason not to expand. Still it doesn't make much sense for it to be backorder that long but myself I will not wait 3 months for a pizza hell 30 minutes late is too much 😅
It's a marketing strategy.
I’m new to this channel and I love the questions you asked about this man and his business. These questions are very important to be asked by any business person and the answers he gives are amazing and insightful.
I’m gluten free, so I would probably die if I ate any of this guy’s pizza, but his energy is so heartwarming that I can’t help but root for his business.
I don't know how he learned all the business techniques, but he is right on. It shows he is primed with all the experiences he has had and never fell into depression. Absolutely marvelous to hear him. And thanks for the interview.
probably his time with his businesses pre covid. all his points are pretty spot on though. proof is in the result. some people would call it luck that he met the people at the stadium management.
Sir.. if you happen to read this, i really hope you can make even more varieties on your pizza, and have the opportunity to open franchise for others. I truely feel your uniqueness in everything, from packaging and your pizza for sure. Feels like Home! But still have that kind of Vibe. Wish you, All the best Sir!! Nothing is impossible !!!
Don’t believe the BS, foodie, chef, pizza nut, and Seattleite here. His success is the marketing. That is NOT the up house. The Up house is in the Ballard area in downtown Seattle this is in West Seattle he purposely created that aesthetic for his business. The art is from a local artist called ten hundred. The pizza is simply Detroit style with a Filipino flair. And the secret? The marketing which starts with what I have described and ends with exclusivity. The whole three month thing is a bullshit tactic to sell more pizza. He creates that lag purposely for exclusivity. It’s what gives his business so much exposure. I’m not doubting the pizza is good. But I doubt it’s anything special, especially when considering it’s Filipino cuisine inspired which means it’s food that is either too salty, to bitter, or too sweet. Don’t believe me? There is a reason you see 50 Thai restaurants for every one Filipino restaurant.
@@mrselfdestruct1180 Exactly my thoughts. It's ironic how these guys will say "the recipe for success is a dream and hard work". A good business plan is important but the most important thing nowadays is marketing.
Why so much hate, He is just wishing Him luck for His business.🙄🙄🙄
The guy has crazy ideas, and his craziness gives him results 🔥
This interview was sooo inspiring! Boy, I wish I could have his ear for one hour!!
I randomly found this video im so happy, this has inspired me to think ahead of my already existing business plan, plan to build a unique pizza company iv learnt a thousand things in here my mind is energised into doing it!
I love this for him and his family. Congratulations you've done it and you made a great delicious decision.
Thank you so much! Your support means the world to us.
Very inspiring! I've worked a corporate job my whole career. Would love to do something like this.
It was fulfilling just watching this. Great idea, great opportunity and great business practice that benefits the community and its employees. This is what success looks like! Way to go Moto Pizza!
It's one thing to dream but another to actually start to work on it.
Kudos to this passionate and hardworking man.
Agree! Thanks for your kind words
This dude is amazing his pizza is awesome too. I wish him so much success. People forget to take care of other people especially when they are part of their dream. By sharing you will succeed.
We fully agree that sharing and supporting each other is key to achieving success. Let's continue to uplift and celebrate those who make a positive impact in our lives. Thanks for your feedback @Silencio!
There's probably one busy day where one or a couple big groups booked the whole restaurant 3 months in advance. That doesn't say much.
food looks bussin tho
I love his passion and clarity! Then I loved him more knowing he wore a Seiko Turtle!
Amazing advice. Thank you so much.
Seems like a likable guy. Their pizza is great. Nice interview.
Glad you liked it!
His energy is great, website looks great, branding is great but I don't get one thing; I can order a pizza online and they'd have enough pies but no pies for the walk in customers? I think it's kind of his way of creating excitement/scarcity about his pizzas.
I guess that he probably has a bigger kitchen prep for online customers, while the on-site kitchen is probably smaller tailored just for the small amount of customers the place can hold
6 months im betting ----there was another multi million $$$$ same conceot b gone
Thanks you factor for selling me "Canned" instead of frozen food. Truly a hero of marketing wording.
I guess you caught them, like I did, because we are not Americans. I also guess the "organic" term wouldn't sell in Europe as well. Sadly Americans love to believe in fairytales.
“I don’t think competitively” “I think how can I do it better and how can I do it faster”
😂
@UpFlip You guys should do 550 Pizzeria in Laredo, Texas next! Janet Zapata's story is similar to Lee's and still went ahead on opening a pizza restaurant during COVID that led to her winning 1st place in the World Pizza Championships at the 2023 International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas in just three years, offering items on her menu that relate to the South Texas region's unique cuisine identity, such as the Chicken Choriqueso pizza. Go check them out!
That up house was known to hold out, cause people were trying the developers were trying to buy the land. I think they owner thought they would offer a lot more. They eventually decide to build next to them. I think the owner might've regretted it, cause he sold it to a small pizza owner.
Or maybe he was glad to sold it to someone who won't go to the developers the next day, but keep the house as it was. Not everything is about money.
He's the best guest on this show by far. Knows his stuff. I want to talk to him and learn.
Love this guy's ambition, awesome episode!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the video!
The art work on this business is also beautiful! Done by Washington artist Joseph Brooks!!
Legend! Deserves every bit of success. Amazing to see so much passion
It's a great reminder that dedication and perseverance can truly lead to great achievements. Thanks for sharing your thoughts @Milan Milosevic!
I like this man, he seems honest with good heart, All the best man. thank you for sharing.
Man, you have a passion for food, quality, and taste, that's why you are a success.
I love this guy's energy. If I'm ever in that area I'm stopping by
Wow, that's great to hear! Thank you for your support.
I really enjoyed watching this just him telling and breaking down his story makes me want some of this pizza
Its called Detroit style pizza. It is baked in a tool pan. It is way different than other styles of pizza and taste real good . He greets customers and calls his regular customers by their first names . Few restaurant owners do this , its usually '' give me your money and get out''
He’s a rare gem! Look where his passion got him. 🙌
I love this guy, love the look and feel of the place, and am super impressed at first glance... but waiting three months for your pizza doesn't make sense to me. First come, first serve, in a pickup type of a space kind of makes sense, but to be told you'll be waiting for months??? Nope, I wouldn't place that order. Maybe I'm missing something?
What made him successful in his business is that he has a humble heart and a lot of faith 🙏
Spot on! Thanks for the support!