Her chain of vegan restaurants is worth $100 million

As the owner of a chain of vegan restaurants Slutty vegan — and former TV producer — Pinky Cole knows the value of attracting attention. After all, her restaurant’s menu includes items like “Slutty Fries” and the “Fussy Hussy” vegan burger.

Cole’s authenticity and real connection with his audience played a key role in Slutty Vegan’s success. She believes that individuals don’t just buy her meatless masterpieces – they buy her story, personality and mission.

“People can feel authenticity, [and] I’ve had a lot of success in my career because of it,” says Cole Shawn Walchefhost Restaurant influencers.

WITH Maury’s show from producer to founder of a popular restaurant brand, she paved her own path and triumphed over adversity.

“One thing I know how to do is bring people together,” Cole says. “I know how to bring people together. I know how to meet people where they are.”

Cole’s road to entrepreneurial triumph was not without its share of difficult turns and steep climbs, some of which seemed insurmountable. However, today it stands at the top of the brand valued at $100 million.

I hope you fail

Challenges are one of the many reasons why Cole published her second book, I hope you failin 2023. She emphasized that accepting failures and things beyond our control might be a catalyst for growth.

“I hope you fail because it is in moments of failure that true growth and success can be found,” he says. I would like you to do this every day. I would like you to fall on your face. I would like you to hit the speed bump. I would like you to get into trouble. I would like it to seem like it isn’t going to work out for you, because it adds a layer of texture to the story you are writing in real time.”

Cole’s belief in the power of failure comes from her own experience: In 2016, her first restaurant, a Jamaican restaurant in New York City, burned down.

“I was devastated, man,” she says. “And I never admitted to being depressed in my life, but it felt like depression… I felt like a failure. I’m not someone who fails. I’m too ambitious for that. But losing the restaurant was out of my control, and everyone knows that when you’re an entrepreneur and you don’t have control, it bothers you.

But you can’t fail if you don’t give up.

In the aftermath of the fire that reduced so much hard work to ash, Cole experienced a pivotal moment of clarity.

“It was the best thing that could have happened to me because it really redirected my energy and focused on something else,” he says. “If it weren’t for that fire, it probably never would have happened.”

That’s when Slutty Vegan was born. Cole describes this inspiration as a “light bulb moment” that came to her through the haze of grass smoke in her small apartment.

“Now I’m dealing with one of the hottest ideas in the country and I’m proud of it,” she says. “Was it easy? NO. There are days when I won’t lie to you, I think to myself: I don’t want to do this anymore. This is difficult“

The most vital lesson Cole learned is the importance of focusing on talent and building a strong team, not only chasing money. He considers his two longest-serving employees, Angel and Miesha, to be the “left and right brains” of his company. It’s not one one who runs a company; it takes a team.

“Talent is essential to a company’s growth and success, so you should definitely hire people who are smarter than you, who are just as hungry if not more hungry than you, and who have the same ethos and mindset as you. If it’s not there, it won’t work,” Cole says.

In addition to her unwavering determination and willingness to take risks, Cole also recognized the critical role that media and public relations played in her business success.

“If you don’t have a publicist, you go backwards,” he says. “You need someone who will be able to expose and strengthen your brand. You need someone to tell you about all your donations and the new menu items you have.”

When the chain first arrived in Brooklyn in 2022, people camped outside to try it out. This would not be possible without spreading this information.

“The media is my friend,” Cole says. “A lot of people don’t realize that a publicist can put you in all the trade magazines for people who need to see it to see it.”