Press & Media
Upping Your Game
Jan 12th
In Chapter 11 of my book, I talk about how important it is to Make Improvements – Before and After.
Remember to never stop assessing, enhancing, and learning all you can about your creations. My grandfather used to say, “You learn, and you learn, and you learn, and then you die…and when you stop learning, you die.
My friend Mitch Modell of Modell’s Sporting Goods is a great example of a businessman who never stops learning and improving. He oversees the nation’s oldest family-owned and operated retailer of sports goods, sports apparel and athletic footwear, a near 150 store chain.
Even after he recently spent a fortune revamping his flagship store in Times Square, Manhattan, New York, he asked me what changes I would make. Putting his ego aside, he not only listened to my recommendations but immediately implemented them. He has been rewarded with a major improvement in sales.
View the Stores article about the improvements to Modell Sporting Goods and also a letter from Mitch Modell about the results.
Happy Birthday to Sean Rodriguez
Apr 26th
I’d like to wish a very Happy Birthday to Sean Rodriguez from the Tampa Bay Rays. I had the great pleasure of spending yesterday afternoon with Sean Rodriguez, Johnny Damon (players for the Tampa Bay Rays) and their families as we took them on an extensive tour through our laboratories at Schussler Creative. Later I met them for dinner at Zelo Italian Restaurant in Minneapolis to celebrate Sean’s Birthday. Sean and Johnny are in town for the next couple of days as they play the Minnesota Twins in a three game series.
Steven Schussler: ‘I’m not one who gives up’
Jan 16th
Steven Schussler: ‘I’m not one who gives up’
Creative stunts helped Steven Schussler launch his career and later get Rainforest Cafe off the ground.
By WENDY LEE, Star Tribune
Before Steven Schussler created and sold the Rainforest Cafe, his neighbors thought he was into black magic.
Schussler spent nearly $400,000 turning his St. Louis Park home into his concept, with sound systems, waterfalls, 40 tropical birds, two 150-pound tortoises and other exotic animals.
He painted his ceilings black, so that when the greenery couldn’t cover all parts of the wall the rainforest facade would look more real. He spent nights crying and at times, even he questioned whether he was psychotic.
read more…http://www.schusslercreative.com/press_articles.html
Minnesota Business Back Talk Issue – Steven Schussler Interviews Dan Lowe, Managering Partner of Red Development
Jan 6th
The Business of Shopping [Centers] by Steven Schussler
The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes (Maple Grove) and Woodbury Lakes are among the more forward-thinking Twin Cities shopping destinations. Dan Lowe is managing partner and one of the founding partners of the developer behind both: RED Development, LLC, which develops, leases and manages a total of 30 shopping centers nationwide. The company primarily focuses on open-air lifestyle centers and destination retail and entertainment developments. Lowe’s development responsibilities include project coordination, financing, budgeting, equity structure, due diligence, governmental relations, lease review and legal aspects for each project.
Visit Schussler Creative Website to read the full article
2011 Who’s Who of Franchising’s Elite
Jan 4th
Franchise Times – 20 to Watch 2011 Who’s Who of franchising’s elite. Every year Franchise Times consults our Ouija Board to predict who will be the industry’s top movers, shakers and money makers. Some will have a banner year, while others–not so much. We don’t have time or space to do justice to these 20 notables, but we expect their stories will unfold on our pages over the next several months. And by year-end, you’ll have a complete picture.
Number (7) on Top 20 List to Watch
Betty & Joe’s™ Baker & Coffee Baker™ You Can’t Have One Without the Other™
Hot Dog Hall of Fame™ Frankly the Best Hot Dogs, Sausages, Dumplings and French Fries in the World!™
The people who brought us elaborately themed restaurants like Rainforest Cafe® and T-Rex Cafe® (life-size mechanical dinosaurs) are plotting their foray into franchising with their smaller, but equally quirky, concepts. Betty & Joe’s Baker & Coffee Maker™ and Hot Dog Hall of Fame™. One unit of each has been opened for around two years, Jeff Bornmann, CFO, said. Betty & Joe’s will pair traditional coffee offerings with better food, while the hot dogs are painted with gourmet mustards. Steven Schussler’s Creativity should spice up the franchise front. So coffee franchises and dogs beware. Franchise Times January 2011
ROI Leader Forum Announcement for January 14, 2011
Dec 23rd
ROI Leader Forum Announcement for January 14, 2011
Topic: “A Guide to Entrepreneurial Success”
Speaker: Steven Schussler, Founder and CEO of Schussler Creative, Inc.
Entrepreneur, Motivational Speaker and Author of the National Bestseller “It’s A Jungle In There” Inspiring Lessons, Hard-Won Insights and Other Acts of Entrepreneural Daring.
Time:
7:30 a.m. – 7: 45 a.m. Continental Breakfast
7:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Presentation and Networking
Location: Lurie Besikof Lapidus & Company LLP
2501 Wayzata Blvd., Minneapolis, MN 55405
COST: Free!
To reserve your place at one of these seminars, please contact Jean LaPlante.
Passion and imagination—two of the most powerful engines of success—combined with persistence and an unwavering belief in his dreams, has compelled Steven Schussler for decades. Well-known as the creator of the Rainforest Cafe ®, A Wild Place To Shop and Eat™ launched at the Mall of America in 1994, Schussler and his team have built 45 Rainforest Cafes in seven years on three continents winning more than 40 awards in the process! A premier branding expert™, he founded Schussler Creative in 2000 and has recently published his inspiring lessons, hard-won insights, and other acts of entrepreneurial daring in a national bestseller, “It’s a Jungle in There.” Come listen to his tales about being a restaurateur, branding expert and creative consultant, as well as a speaker and author. Leave with insights into the Five P’s for Business Success: Personality, Product, Persistence, People and Philanthropy.
STEVEN SCHUSSLER, started his entrepreneurial career at age 9 with a paper route. He became a television and radio executive, and eventually embraced his passion for conceiving theatrical environments that appeal to the masses—in his restaurants, retail attractions, and entertainment venues worldwide. A living example of entrepreneurial social responsibility, Schussler is dedicating 100% of the authors sales benefit Smile Network International, a non-profit organization and their mission of surgically repairing cleft lips and palates of impoverished children and young adults worldwide. In addition, he teaches an entrepreneurial class at the UMN Carlson School of Business Management, and writes a monthly column, “Back Talk,” for Minnesota Business Magazine. For further information, visit www.schusslercreative.com.
Money Matters: Rainforest Cafe Founder Gives Tips on Starting Business
Dec 2nd
If you pick Steven Schussler’s brain, the entrepreneur, founder of Rainforest Cafe, and author says it’s a jungle in there.
“Everyone told me ‘great idea!, call us when you’re open’. You could see eyes rolling behind their head.”
He grew used to skeptics when describing his themed restaurant, thick with tropical birds and featuring endangered species.
“It becomes easier to tell other people about it,” says Schussler. “Then you need to create a business plan, that you use as a guide. Anybody that wants to own a business that doesn’t have a business plan is making a huge mistake.”
As part of Schussler’s plan he decided investors needed to see to believe in his vision. He transformed his home into his idea of the Rainforest Cafe, by holding a dinner party one evening.
“They would call me two to three hours after leaving my home and asked me if I actually live there. They couldn’t believe that I would immerse myself into a concept and I put that much into it.”
He says his display of personality and persistence is what eventually hooked investors. Schussler adds, there are also two must-have characteristics of new entrepreneurs.
“You need to bring concept to fruition. Disney likes to say imagination is king, so it’s really important to embrace what you want to create then learn as much as you can about it. You need to become the expert in your field.”
His nugget of an idea developed into 45 restaurants. Now he’s helping inspire other entrepreneurs to paddle through those early rough waters, to reach smooth sailing ahead.
http://www.myfoxlubbock.com/content/money/matters/story/Money-Matters-Rainforest-cafe/A70DLoICREWH1RwfhIK4wQ.cspx
Steven Schussler Interviews Andy Lansing, President & CEO of Levy Restaurants in the Minnesota Business Back Talk December Issue
Dec 1st
Q&A With a Concession Stand Visionary by Steven Schussler.
Steven interviews Andy Lansing, President & CEO of Levy Restaurants in the Minnesota Business Back Talk December 2010 Issue.
An Innovative and award-winning company specializing in restaurants and premium sports and entertainment dining, including concessions at the Xcel Energy Center. Andy Lansing is a guy who understands partnership and leadership. Link here to read full interview…http://www.schusslercreative.com/press_articles.html
Business Cast – The Podcast for Entrepreneurs
Nov 30th
Business Cast – The Podcast for Entrepreneurs – Robert Gold and Andrew Brown…”Robert and I have interviewed dozens of business leaders, media insiders and business thought leaders. But, we’ve rarely spoken to an entrepreneur who has as much unbridled passion for entrepreneurialism as Steve Schussler. That‘s why for BusinessCast #177, we interviewed Steve who is best known for founding the wildly successful Rain Forest Cafe restaurant chain. Steve‘s newest venture is a book entitled, It‘s a Jungle in There that somehow effectively captures great stories of entrepreneurial daring, key lessons for today‘s business leaders and much of Steve‘s passion and homegrown wisdom.”
Listen to BusinessCast #177 and you will get a flavour for Steve‘s secrets of success.
