Ep 03: Working at a Sports Entertainment Startup with Dan Holm, CMO of Tom’s Watch Bar
When you think about your local sports bar, a premium viewing experience doesn't necessarily spring to mind. While there might be great food and cheap drinks, the sport-watching element can often be sub-par. The same with going to a stadium. Although the atmosphere may be electric, without top-quality seats, you often just watch the game from the screen anyway. Tom's Watch Bar seeks to bridge the gap between the conventional sports bar and being at the stadium to create an interactive experience that goes beyond passive watching. Leading this innovative startup’s marketing is Dan Holm, who started his career as the marketing coordinator for Outback Steakhouse.
After this, he worked in a variety of roles across the Bloomin’ Brands portfolio before finally leaping into the startup space in his first CMO role at Tom’s. In this episode, we learn more about Tom’s Watch Bar and how they are creating an elevated viewing experience. Dan shares how his previous experience has prepared him for his executive position and why his experience in digital changed his view on marketing completely. He also sheds light on the startup culture and how the higher tolerance of failure has allowed him to be more creative and make decisions quicker. Dan is an avid learner and he has carried this over in his role as CMO, where he instills an attitude of learning in his team. We loved having him on the show, and we look forward to watching the brand grow from strength to strength.
Key Points From This Episode:
Tom’s Watch Bar’s founding story, the genesis of the company, and their current locations.
Some of the ways that Tom’s Watch Bar tries to replicate a stadium-like experience.
How Tom’s Watch Bar handles scheduling and multiple events at their locations.
Learn more about Dan’s professional background and the various roles he has worked in.
Two of Dan’s main accomplishments as head of marketing for Carrabba’s.
How Dan has seen the role of marketer evolve over time to become more all-rounded.
The importance of marketing having a seat at the table for a variety of decisions.
Find out about the interest-based marketing strategy that Tom’s is currently using.
Some of the major changes that have happened in marketing over the past 10 years.
The big difference Dan has noticed between working at a startup versus a big company.
Which brands Dan looks to for marketing inspiration.
The composition of Tom’s teams and insights into Dan’s leadership philosophy.
Speed round with Dan: Facebook, Google My Business, and Instagram.
Tweetables:
“It’s born from this idea or this desire of really being the best place to watch sports. Premium viewing experience. Premium food. Premium drink in an environment from a real estate standpoint positioned near sports areas.” — @DanHolm [0:04:34]
“You can win consumers over by solving problems for them.” — @DanHolm [0:10:40]
“Marketing and operations have to be really locked hand in hand to make an impact.” — @DanHolm [0:17:40]
“If you have a mindset of being eager to learn and eager to shift and being comfortable being wrong, then I think there’s a lot of opportunity.” — @DanHolm [0:25:38]