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Lee Brian Schrager has a knack for turning curiosity into groundbreaking concepts.
Because the Chief Communications Officer and Senior Vice President of Company Social Duty at Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, Lee Schrager can be the founding father of the South Seaside and New York Wine & Meals Festivals (powered by The Meals Community). His newest brainchild, FoodieCon, is reshaping the meals pageant expertise by integrating social media influencers and staying forward of business developments.
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“I keep in mind standing at our New York pageant two years in the past and simply speaking to some folks and saying to myself, ‘Wow, what’s that lengthy line of individuals at Capital One’s tent?'” he instructed Restaurant Influencers host Shawn Walchef of Cali BBQ Media. It turned out that they have been that includes a number of influencers who have been well-known within the meals house. “I stated to myself proper then and there, we actually have to do one thing with influencers. And I stated, we should always name this FoodieCon if the identify’s accessible. That was on a Saturday. By Monday, I already owned the identify.”
Regardless of the preliminary uncertainty, FoodieCon, which is part of his wine and meals festivals, has since offered out, proving the idea’s immense enchantment. Within the quickly evolving panorama of social media, Schreger emphasizes the significance of listening and adapting, a mindset that has allowed his occasions to remain related and modern, leveraging platforms like Instagram and TikTok to attach with audiences.
Increasing the Wine & Meals Competition
Lee Shrager’s flexibility and strategic mindset have been additional highlighted when plans for a Los Angeles pageant shifted focus to New York. Initially getting ready to launch a pageant in LA, Schrager pivoted underneath his boss’s course to prioritize the New York market, which Southern Glazer’s was coming into. This shift paid off, because the New York pageant has thrived in one of many traditionally hardest markets.
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“We have been seconds away from launching in LA, so I used to be completely happy to sort of refocus my vitality into New York, one of many hardest cities to do something,” he notes. “The New York pageant simply celebrated its sixteenth 12 months in October.”
The latest inception of FoodieCon is a testomony to Schrager’s intuitive considering and proactive method.
Whereas overseeing the New York Wine and Meals Competition, Schreger seen a vendor sponsor drawing elevated visitors by implementing notable social media figures, corresponding to GrossyPelosi and Brunch with Babs. Schrager shortly realized the potential of an occasion centered round influencer engagement.
Lee Brian Schrager’s journey with the Wine and Meals Festivals and FoodieCon exemplifies his skill to remodel insights into impactful initiatives. “To be able to be communicator, you might want to hearken to folks,” he asserts. “I feel you might want to be open to criticism. I feel you might want to be open to recommendations on the right way to do it in a different way. You should be open to vary. I feel change is actually essential simply to remain present with the developments.”
By integrating influencer tradition, implementing strategic pivots, and having a deep understanding of efficient communication, Schrager continues to set new requirements of excellence and forward-thinking.
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