VoyageMIA Hidden Gems Interview

VoyageMIA took the time to interview our CEO and Owner, Sebastian Stahl, check out the full interview:

Hi Sebastian, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.

The idea for Breadth came from having been in the restaurant industry for a long time and getting to truly understand the business. Before Breadth, I owned and operated restaurants and then I became the head of marketing for a restaurant group that grew from 2 small restaurants to a hospitality group with multiple units and brands. We faced many challenges, one of them being the digital transformation and restaurants not being up to speed with that. We also worked with some agencies but there was a lack of direct experience in the industry which is essential to creating marketing strategies that truly work. Having an intricate knowledge of the business and a very strong strategic mindset, I found that I could provide restaurant groups with what they really needed to have an impact on the development of their brands. We are different in that we really know what we are talking about cause we’ve been there, we are strategic and take the whole business into account, not just the marketing side of things. This is the key to our success and why our clients work with us., we are now working with various multi-unit brands, franchisees, and independents. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

Smooth? lol I don’t think there is such a thing in business. There are always so many moving pieces and things that don’t go as planned. Our growth has been steady but with many unforeseen things that have happened and of course, has not been easy at all. Lots of testing, reviewing, and pivoting. Leading a team is also always a challenge, especially in our world which requires so much attention to detail. Learning to be candid with each team member but at the same time have empathy and patience, understanding that everyone is different and has different ways of learning. The question I ask myself is how can we bring out the best in each of our team members. The key in business in my opinion is being emotionally intelligent, I know this phrase is now used a lot, but simply for me is learning how to remain emotionally stable and balanced in the midst of uncertainty and situations that can cause a lot of fear. This is the only way you can remain objective and make sound decisions that are not driven by fear. Also, I would say that asking for help and getting regular feedback from your team and others is invaluable. 

We’ve been impressed with Breadth, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

We are a non-traditional marketing agency with over fifteen years of experience in the hospitality industry. We work with multi-unit brands in creating strategies to help them grow and develop their brands. We are fortunate to be working with some amazing brands in South Florida, including Novecento, Suviche, Swarm, Wynwood Marketplace, Padrino’s, Fresh Dining Concepts, and others. Having been on the restaurant’s side before our approach is different. We speak their language and truly understand the restaurant’s needs. We help develop brand-centric strategies driving revenue that works both short term and over the long term by growing revenue and brand value without sacrificing margins. 

From strategic planning to branding, web design, social media, SEO, email marketing, review management, and digital ads, we offer a 360-marketing solution, we are fanatical about delivering excellence in everything we do. 

Over the 2 years, we have been in business we have had a 100% retention rate with our clients. This I think speaks a lot to what we do and how we do it. We have great relationships with our clients and go above and beyond to help them grow. 

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?

Books there are many, but I am into spirituality which really has helped me maintain that emotional balance and keep things in perspective. Some of these include A New Earth, Power of Now, Untethered Soul. I actually read a lot, but have found that there are only a few things that truly make an impact in my life and that I have made part of my daily life. It’s more about learning to rely on and learn from my own experience and learning to trust myself. This has been a process for sure, and still in the works. 

Business-focused books I’ve read so many but off the top of my head, I would say: 

Dare to Lead 

Turn the Ship Around 

The 4-Hour Workweek 

-Seth Godin 

– various marketing books which are great. 

-Setting the Table, Danny Meyer 

-Kitchen Confidential 

Recently I have been part of a mentorship group called 7 Figure Agency with Josh Nelson, and I can say they have delivered a lot of value. Lots of great stuff. 

Podcasts I like 

-Unlocking us 

–Brenee Brown 

-Gary Vee 

-Tim Ferris Show