Social Restaurant Podcast: Moe's Southwest Grill Did the Harlem Shake

Social Restaurant Podcast: How Moe’s Southwest Grill Did the Harlem Shake

You’ve already heard of the Harlem Shake meme. It seems everyone has these days.

Perhaps maybe you’ve even pulled out those crazy costume props leftover from last year’s Halloween party, called your friends and produced your own version of the 30 second clip that has dominated YouTube in the previous months.

But as a marketer, would you be willing to take the risk of getting your brand involved?

Would you be brave enough to ask your customers to join you?

How would you go about making the case to management that it was safe, and actually a good idea for your brand to participate in the popular meme sweeping the web.

The Social Restaurant Podcast: Episode #1
Lauren Barash on How Moe’s Southwest Grill Did the Harlem Shake

This week, my friend and fellow restaurant marketer Lauren Barash joins me for the inaugural episode of a new Podcast I’m launching that will explore marketing trends and technology that are impacting the multi-unit restaurant industry.

Lauren is responsible for leading national promotions, interactive and digital marketing, public relations, internal communications and social media for Atlanta-based Moe’s Southwest Grill, a FOCUS Brands concept.

FOCUS Brands Inc. is the franchisor and operator of over 3,300 Carvel, Cinnabon, Schlotzsky’s, Auntie Anne’s, and Moe’s Southwest Grill locations, and is the franchisor of Seattle’s Best Coffee on military bases and in certain international markets.

In this episode, we’ll discuss:

Lauren’s background in improve comedy and how that plays into her role with the brand.
How Moe’s Southwest Grill decided to join the Harlem Shake meme.
The process for getting approval to produce the Harlem Shake video.
How Moe’s Southwest Grill involved customers in the shoot.

Start by watching the official Moe’s Southwest Grill Harlem Shake video below to get some context around the conversation and then click play on the audio player below the video.