We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tyler Kotch. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tyler below.
Hi Tyler , thanks for joining us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.
Opening a Pizza restaurant during covid was defiantly a risk, but with any large risk there is a large reward. Taking the risk I did allows me to navigate my own schedule and run my business on my terms. I was fed up with working for others, producing income for the companies, and only getting a little slice of the pie. Now, I take the slice I deserve for my efforts, and I have the ability to share the rest with my team and the people around me. I worked for Johnson & Johnson prior to owning PIE.ZAA and i can confidently say the risk and pay cut was well worth in Happiness I can bring to people with Pizza.
Tyler , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I was a medical sales professional for about a decade of my life. Jumping from different cities for the greater part of my adult career. When i settled in Asheville, Nc I was getting out of the hospital really late and I could not find a food option that wasn’t Wendys or cookout. I had no background in the restaurant business so I relied on my marketing degree to hopefully have a successful go at the pizza game. When I started, I needed a lot of help. I relied on consultants and friends to help curate what PIE.ZAA is today. After opening, and seeing the reaction to what I created, I soon realized I had created not just a marketable brand, but I made some really good pizza in the process. PIE.ZAA only does 5 options and we do it well. Using high end ingredients, and everything made from scratch daily, PIE.ZAA took off. We don’t make substitutions or changes to our menu items and the only desserts we have are over sized cookies. Each of our locations (Charlotte 2024 & Asheville) have local beers at each location. What It Dough!
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Owning a business is consistant resilience. If your not self motivated, dont own a business. If you cant problem solve, dont own a business. If you are an emotionally charge human, dont own a business. Hardest part to be resilient about is that everyone around you wont want it as much as you do.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I pivot everyday. Owning a business in a nutshell is a constant pivot. If you dont pivot your business will die.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.piezaapizza.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pie_zaa/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/piezaapizza
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/pie-zaa-pizza-asheville
- Other: TIK TOK : https://www.tiktok.com/@pie.zaa
Image Credits
@mallorypaigephotography