Innovation
Latest Episode

Revolutionizing Quick Service

with Tom Ryan

Discover insights from Tom Ryan on innovation, food industry, entrepreneurship and learn actionable strategies for building successful businesses.

Revolutionizing Quick Service

Full Content

Lucrative: Creating Marketable Innovations

From the podcast:

The world is full of solved problems. I dont think like that. I think theres always an opportunity. — Tom Ryan

Why it matters: Understanding market desires directly informs product innovation. Innovators like Tom Ryan prove that insights about customer preferences lead to profitable new product lines. This method increases revenue through understanding consumer value drivers.

Action Step:

  1. Identify two pain points in your target market.
  2. Brainstorm ten innovative solutions to those problems.
  3. Select one idea, and create a prototype for testing.

Innovative: Disrupting Established Norms

From the podcast:

I try to get inside the mind of an ambitious 32-year-old. They have money and taste but are still open-minded. — Tom Ryan

Why it matters: This mindset allows innovators to focus on creating products that resonate with target demographics. By addressing the intersection of taste and accessibility, innovative products can break into saturated markets.

Action Step:

  1. Research your target demographic's preferences and adjust your offerings accordingly.

Fun: Embracing Creative Freedom

From the podcast:

Innovation isnt just about the product; its also about the mindset of the teams behind it. — Tom Ryan

Why it matters: Fostering a fun, open culture boosts team creativity and leads to new ideas. When employees feel comfortable experimenting, they are more likely to contribute unique perspectives that drive product innovation.

Action Step:

  1. Hold a brainstorming session where all ideas are welcomed.
  2. Encourage teams to share their most outrageous ideas.
  3. Implement a fun challenge to prototype their favorite concept.

Easy: Simplifying Product Development

From the podcast:

It took effort to create the cheese-filled crust without burning it. — Tom Ryan

Why it matters: Streamlining the process of product innovation saves time and resources. By simplifying workflows, entrepreneurs can focus on refining creative ideas without getting bogged down in complexities.

Action Step:

  1. Map out the current product development process.
  2. Identify three areas that can be simplified or restructured.
  3. Implement changes and monitor for improvements over the next month.

STAT

Products with customer-focused innovation strategies are 80% more likely to succeed.

Understanding that customer-centric approaches yield higher success rates highlights the importance of aligning product development with consumer desires. By putting the customer first, businesses can ensure they meet market demands, resulting in a better chance for profitability.


RECS

  • Tool: Trello — Trello helps you organize brainstorming sessions and track product development stages.
  • Read: Design Sprint — Learn how to accelerate product design processes and gather customer feedback quickly.
  • Listen: How I Built This — Gain insights from successful entrepreneurs about innovative thinking and market success.

About the Guest

Tom Ryan is a renowned food innovator known for creating iconic items like the McGriddle and stuffed crust pizza. With a career spanning decades, he is hailed as the godfather of food science, blending creativity and market insight.

Topics Covered

Innovation
Food industry
Entrepreneurship
Startup Growth
Business Strategy

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