🎉 Welcome to the 600th episode of the Smart Pizza Marketing Podcast! In this special edition, Bruce takes you behind the scenes of the most memorable pizzerias he visited in 2025. These aren’t just great pizza spots — they’re masterclasses in community, craft, and unique operations. Whether you're a pizza lover or business owner, you're going to walk away inspired.

Geoff is leaving the tech world behind to open a wood-fired pizza shop in Ellicott City, Maryland — and he’s putting everything on the line to make it work. In this brutally honest consultation, Bruce (Smart Pizza Marketing) challenges his assumptions, reviews his business plan, and digs deep into whether this dream is built to last. From rent, to oven choice, to carryout strategy — nothing is off limits.

Thinking of opening your own pizzeria? This episode is a masterclass in what to do and what to avoid.

👉 Want to get a free consultation with Bruce? Visit https://www.smartpizzamarketing.com/marketingcall

In this episode, Bruce reveals the exciting plans for 2026, including his monthly travel schedule to pizzerias across the U.S., the return of marketing call episodes, and a major push on YouTube. He also discusses why most pizza shop owners struggle with marketing — and what to do about it. If you're a pizzeria owner looking for inspiration, strategy, and accountability, this is your episode.

Work with us: https://smartpizzamarketing.com/consulting/Thinking about opening a pizza shop in 2026? Bruce has been in the business for 25+ years, visited over 100 pizza shops in 2025, and interviewed 700+ people in the pizza world. In this video, he shares the exact blueprint he’d follow if he were opening a new shop today. From choosing your pizza style to avoiding delivery and building in public, this is your no-BS guide to running a profitable pizza shop without burning out.

Are you constantly repeating yourself to your team? Frustrated that no one seems to retain what you teach? In this episode, Bruce from Smart Pizza Marketing breaks down the real reason why employees don’t follow through—and the mindset shift that will change everything for your pizza shop (or any business). Inspired by a conversation with Andy from Andy’s Pizza, this short but powerful episode is packed with insights on leadership, training, and how to truly build a team that delivers.

💥 Sponsored by Cheese Hog – the best cheese shredding machine in the game. Learn more at cheesehogmachine.com

In this solo episode, I share what I’ve learned after visiting over 10 pizza shops, why I walked away from two potential deals, how Andy’s Pizza is scaling without investors, and why I created PizzaShopListings.com — a new resource to buy and sell pizza shops. Plus, what I’m planning for 2026 and why simplicity is key in my next pizza business.

https://www.PizzaShopListings.com

https://www.youtube.com/@SlicePlatform

Most pizza shops don’t fail because the pizza’s bad — they fail because the owner has no idea what’s really going on. In this episode, I’ll show you how to check the health of your pizza shop in under 10 minutes using just four numbers: sales, food cost, labor, and repeat customers. No fancy software. No spreadsheets. Just a simple weekly habit that’ll keep your shop profitable and your stress low.

In this episode of the Smart Pizza Marketing Podcast, Bruce tackles 10 powerful questions from listeners that every pizzeria owner should hear. From low-budget marketing advice to the launch of a new Pizza Shop Marketplace, Bruce shares practical, no-BS insights to help you grow your business. Whether you're trying to add 50 daily orders, stop relying on brokers, or finally make TikTok work for your shop, this episode has it all.

The Pizza Weekly: https://www.instagram.com/thepizzaweekly/

In this solo episode, Bruce from Smart Pizza Marketing shares what he learned during a recent visit to a struggling Florida pizzeria. From lacking basic checklists to chaotic kitchens, Bruce uncovers the root problems and offers actionable strategies every pizza shop owner should hear before trying to grow. He also talks about exciting tools like Boostly, Stanislaus Tomatoes, and Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses for training. If you're a pizza operator trying to stabilize or scale, this is a must-listen.

Boostly: https://www.boostly.com/

In this episode, I’m hanging with Shane from Boostly. We’re talkin’ real strategies for text marketing, SEO, and AI that actually help you get more customers in the door — without spending all day glued to your phone or computer.

This isn’t some sponsor fluff. Yeah, Boostly sponsors the show, but I only work with companies I’d use myself. This episode is packed with solid info that’ll help you grow your shop, track your results, and stop wasting time on marketing that doesn’t move the needle.