564: Why It's Not the Bricks, It's the Mortar! w/ Mike Cosentino of Big Peach Running Co.

564: Why It's Not the Bricks, It's the Mortar! w/ Mike Cosentino of Big Peach Running Co.

Author: Chris Deferio September 29, 2025 Duration: 1:00:36

Knowing all the information and having all the coolest and best gear does not means your shop will succeed. For the purpose of todays conversation let's just say all the things we assemble under the roof of out shop are just the bricks. What's the mortar that holds t all together? People!

Today we get to chat all about how to focus on people to fuel the best retail experience for both staff and customers alike w/ Mike Cosentino!

Mike Cosentino, CEO of Big Peach. Big Peach is one of the largest and most recognized specialty retailers in North America, with business units spanning the Specialty Running (Big Peach Running Co.) and Bicycling (Big Peach Ride + Run) retail segments. Headquartered in Atlanta, the company serves athletes and fitness enthusiasts of every level beyond its brick-and-mortar locations through a dynamic e-commerce platform (BigPeachRunningCo.com) and innovative mobile retail experience (Big Peach On-Wheels).

His new book, It's Not the Bricks, It's the Mortar: Optimize Your Retail Business for Lasting Success offers a battle-tested framework for service-driven retail organizations… from a current operator. No formalities. No fluff. This is not content from an academic researcher, industry consultant or ghostwriter. This is entrepreneur Mike Cosentino sharing powerful lessons from decades of experience, while still leading his own retail enterprises.

Whether accelerating growth or withstanding the unexpected, his systems favor the confident empowerment of others – – while disfavoring the constant oversight often required by most leaders. The book includes two life-altering personal events that every reader will relate to, reminding us that success in this industry can't be achieved on hustle alone.

KEY HOLDER COACHING GROUPS! 

Are you a coffee shop owner looking to join a community of other owners to help bring perspective, insight, encouragement, and accountability in a well curated setting? 

Then you need to apply to join Key holder Coaching Groups! 

Applications are now open for fall 2025 Cohort: Click below to learn more: APPLY TO KEY HOLDER COACHING GROUPS


 

KEYS TO THE SHOP ALSO OFFERS 1:1 CONSULTING AND COACHING!

If you are a cafe owner and want to work one on one with me to bring your shop to its next level and help bring you joy and freedom in the process then email 

chris@keystothshop.com

of book a free call now: 

https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min 

 

 


SPONSORS

Want a beautiful coffee shop? All your hard surface, stone, Tile and brick needs! 

www.arto.com

Visit @artobrick


The world loves plant based beverages and baristas love the Barista Series! 

www.pacificfoodservice.com

 

 


Running a coffee shop is about so much more than pulling great shots. It's a complex dance of craft, culture, and commerce that demands a unique kind of leadership. That's the space where Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders lives. Hosted by Chris Deferio, this podcast digs into the real, often unspoken challenges faced by owners, managers, and aspiring leaders in the specialty coffee world. Each conversation moves beyond abstract theory to deliver concrete, usable strategies you can apply directly to your operation. You'll hear from a diverse range of voices, including seasoned coffee professionals and insightful experts from other fields, all focused on the practicalities of building a thriving business. Episodes tackle the full spectrum of running a shop, from daily systems and financial health to fostering a positive team environment and developing your own skills as a leader. The aim is to provide a genuine resource for growth, whether you're looking to refine your barista program, improve your shop's profitability, or scale your vision thoughtfully. Tune in for honest discussions that equip you with more than just inspiration-they offer the tangible keys to building a better, more sustainable coffee business. This podcast understands that your passion is for coffee, but your success depends on mastering the craft of leadership.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Podcast Episodes
594: Encore : Don't Get Stuck: Retraining Staff on New Standards [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:05
It is easy to become stuck in the ways that you first learned to do things. Especially if those ways have brought some degree of success. We take comfort in the familiar to the degree that even if it is not working, we w…
SHIFT BREAK: Cupping is Overrated [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:53
I love cupping coffee. It is a great way to assess a coffee and learn how to identify defects, attributes, and nuances that allow you to make decisions about buying coffee and how to maintain consistency in roasting. But…
593: Why You Should Not Manage Gen Z [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:50
The favorite past time of many an owner is to gripe about their younger Gen Z staff. Before them it was millennials. Before them it was Gen X, before them...well, you get the idea. For as long as coffee shops have hired…
SHIFT BREAK! Become Immune to Fear-Based Coffee Marketing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:27
"Don't get left behind!" It feels like every post trying to sell you on a product relies on fear in order to make the sale. The idea of marketing to "pain points" as they say in the biz, is not entirely wrong since we do…
592: The Criteria For The World's Best Coffee Shop [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:51
Ranking the best coffee shops in the world is a task that sounds like a neat idea! That is until you realize the sheer impossibility of such a task not to mention the cognitive dissonance required to pretend like the res…
591: The Problem w/ Focusing On The Numbers vs The Guest Experience [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:05
Focusing on numbers above guest experience may actually prevent you from achieving the numbers you need to sustain your business long term. Yet still people insist on creating environments in the shop that turn customers…
SHIFT BREAK! Why You Need To Be A Content Creator [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:06
Today we are surrounded by content and it is expected of every customer facing brand to strive to create a brand persona and content to reinforce your values and attract others who share those things. The bi-product of t…
SHIFT BREAK! What We Lose When We Don't Listen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:11
Feedback is all around us. From the customers, staff, and the business itself, we can only make great decisions for the coffee shop when we practice listening to understand. Trouble is we often avoid listening for fear o…