We were lucky to catch up with Jessica Cavanaugh-Huang recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jessica , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

Crafting a company name involves a multifaceted process that intertwines meticulous research, astute analysis, boundless creativity, and unwavering alignment with the brand’s identity. In my case, the genesis of “Restaurant Marketing” sprouted from a deep-rooted passion I have for the hospitality industry. I also wanted a name that effortlessly conveyed our purpose, sparing potential clients the burden of trying to figure out our expertise. As the company has continued to grow and evolve, the name has served its purpose effectively: communicating clearly that we offer marketing solutions for the vibrant and ever-evolving restaurant industry.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

When I made the choice to venture into food marketing in 2015, I had already accumulated considerable experience in the tech industry. Navigating career transitions can prove to be quite challenging, which is why I embarked on a new endeavor alongside a business partner at the time. Together, we established a marketing agency with the goal of constructing an impressive portfolio that focused on restaurants specifically graphic design and food photography.

Naturally, the early days of our company presented us with obstacles, particularly in the area of client acquisition. We persevered, willing to go the extra mile by offering our services at significantly reduced rates, and sometimes even providing them free of charge. It wasn’t long before we secured our first few clients, marking a significant milestone in our journey.

As our business expanded, I transitioned my full-time career from the tech industry, where I had been employed at Salesforce.com, to a dynamic role at Postmates. This shift not only provided me with an invaluable opportunity to immerse myself in the ever-changing food delivery space but also allowed me to merge my passion for both food and technology. This experience not only enriched my understanding of the restaurant industry but also facilitated valuable connections within the field and provided in-depth insights into the operations of prominent Quick-Service Restaurants (QSRs).

In 2019, following a fruitful four-year collaboration with my business partner, an exciting chapter of rebranding unfolded, giving rise to the birth of Restaurant Marketing in 2020. Restaurant Marketing combines experience in technology and the food and beverage industry to help hospitality businesses beautifully and effectively communicate their brands through food photography, social media, marketing strategy, website design, email marketing, and more.

Having successfully operated my business for a span of three years, I have been fortunate enough to collaborate with esteemed brands such as Yogurtland, The Halal Guys, Wood Ranch, Finney’s Crafthouse, and a multitude of other renowned names both within Orange County and throughout the nation.

Any advice for managing a team?

I think that in business and in life, the most important yet difficult choice one has to make is choosing between what is honest and ethical versus what is convenient and comfortable. Leadership, to me, comes from having introspection and understanding of the local and global effects of one’s own actions, the empathy to elevate the needs of others above your own, and the courage to bear the cost of unpopular or uncomfortable decisions. In my career, I have been part of organizations that lack strong leadership, where compromise in values and ethics has led to the rewarding of bad actors and attrition of good ones.

Ever since I decided in 2020 to focus full-time on my own business, I have put honesty and integrity at the top of my core values as a leader and as a keystone of my company culture. Through this, I have maintained longevity in my existing relationships and find great ease in quickly strengthening new ones. I know that this is good leadership because I am often complimented on this by my peers, my clients, and most importantly, my employees.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Highlighting that I established my business from the ground up is important, but it is crucial to emphasize the profound influence that my childhood has had on fueling my drive and ambition.

Growing up, I was raised by a single mother who possessed little material but did her best to nurture and provide for me. My mother was given up for adoption weeks after she was born, and in her adoptive home, faced a lot of unfortunate trauma. During my youth and into my teens, my mother tried to cope with and silence her trauma through drugs. It was against this backdrop that I found my escape in school, a weekend job, and cheerleading.

After high school, I enrolled in community college, and from there, transferred to Cal State Fullerton, where I majored in Communications. During my time in college, while I took great joy in being immersed in the subject matter of my studies, the economic pressures of being a young adult without any financial support had always been at the forefront of my mind.

I graduated in 2010 and I have no regrets about the difficult decisions I had to make in my early 20s to survive. Having witnessed my mother go through her hardships and experiencing my own from growing up in difficult environments, I know that survival is in my veins and it is in my heritage. Today, I am a successful self-made businesswoman who has proven in the last decade her tenacity, integrity, threshold for discomfort, and resourcefulness—none of this could have been achieved without the sacrifices made by my younger self.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://restaurantmarketing.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/restaurantmarketinginc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/restaurantmarketinginc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/restaurant-marketing-inc/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/foodiemarketers
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Restaurantmarketinginc