What’s your favourite place on the Northern Beaches?
Has to be a sunset at Manly harbour side.
Is there something about you that would surprise people?
3 Northern Beaches high schools politely asked me to move on.
What’s something everyone should do at least once?
Work in hospitality. It gives a great understanding of the effort that goes into providing service, and shapes how you respond to those providing service across all forms of retail, travel and hospitality.
It’s Sunday afternoon, where do we find you?
This time of year – watching my son play rugby.
If you were down to your last $50 what would you spend it on?
One of those $50 flight specials from my mates at Jetstar (no affiliation, I promise). But big thanks to the team over at Jetstar the home of all day every day low fares. Jetstar, when things haven’t gone wrong according to plan.
Business
How did Pocket Pizza happen? How long have you been working in the business?
We started in 2015, almost 11 years ago. After owning and operating two bars, I saw various holes in the offering;
a) we have predominately a 2 x week drinking culture
b) drinks can typically only be consumed on real estate you’re paying for, therefore the ceiling is limited
c) Australians aren’t big on going out in poor weather. Couple of weeks of rain can change your profitability for the month
Solution: Pizza
Who eats it? Everyone
Where can they eat it? Everywhere
When? Everyday
Cold? Still eat it
Hot? Yeah, F&ck it, will still eat it.
Best business experience?
The first 3 and a half years without a profit.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing?
Helping others open up hospitality businesses.
Best part of about your job?
Genuinely providing a good time for those who choose to dine with us. Seeing the culmination of years of work, ups, downs, pandemics and everything under the sun result in someone having a great time, leaving the restaurant full & happy.
Most stressful part of your job?
Well there’s car accidents, staff turnover, appliances malfunctioning, navigating council, lawyers, google reviews, Avalon What’s on FB group, restaurants catching on fire, but i’d have to say it’s the antithesis of Q13 when we fall short.
What’s the best part of working on the Northern Beaches?
Community. I tried to go to school here (see Q6), have friends here & have built a life here. Now my kids are growing up here. It has to be one of the best places on Earth to live and raise kids.
Personal
What would you rate 10/10?
My wife (Borat voice).
What is the beat advice you’ve received?
There’s nothing more expensive than a cheap lawyer.
Greatest strength?
Not knowing when to quit.
Greatest weakness?
Not knowing when to quit.
Does anything scare you?
Cable cars. Seriously, why do they exist? I’d rather just walk and not be suspended 100m off the ground by some cable and a box of death that looks likes it’s just balancing on there.
Most treasured possession?
Possessions will posses you. Actually my boat.
What’s your idea of absolute happiness?
Doing something difficult. The drinking a cold beer to celebrate the completion of said difficult thing while regaling to my kids how difficult the thing was.
How do you switch off?
I have a weekend dumb phone. No emails, no whatsapp & I don’t have social media accounts at all.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Beer. It’s really good. Try it (no affiliation, promise) Beer – for when things didn’t and did go according to plan.
Who’s your personal hero?
Sandra Good.
If you were an animal, what would you be?
Most likely a hippo.
How would you like to be remembered?
As a good father, solid husband and OK pizza guy.
If we could ask you one more question, what would it be and what’s your answer?
Who’s Sandra Good. My mate’s mum. A real Local Legend.