Can giving back to your community really drive explosive business growth? In this episode of the Local Marketing Lab, Carl Comeaux, CEO of Crust Pizza, reveals how his company grew from a few locations to 30 stores—with 15 more opening this year—by making community engagement their top priority.
Community first: The blueprint for local success. Learn how dedicating just 2-4 hours weekly to strategic community engagement can transform your business. Carl shares a proven system for building relationships with schools, churches, and local organizations that drive sustainable growth through genuine connections.
Turning crisis into opportunity. When natural disasters struck their community, Carl’s team responded by serving thousands of discounted pizzas. Discover how authentic community support during challenging times can create unprecedented customer loyalty and drive record sales, even for new businesses.
Creating a systematic approach to community engagement. Success in local marketing isn’t random—it’s methodical. Get access to insights from Crust Pizza’s comprehensive community engagement playbook, including how to organize spirit nights, leverage team sponsorships, and build authentic connections that turn customers into passionate advocates.
Whether you’re a small business owner or managing multiple locations, this episode delivers actionable strategies to drive growth through genuine community engagement. Learn how putting community first can create sustainable success in any market, regardless of your industry.
Key Takeaways
Here are some topics discussed in the episode around putting your community first:
Effective local marketing playbook for business growth
Building lasting relationships with schools, churches, and local organizations
Leveraging crisis situations to demonstrate community support
Implementing systematic community outreach programs
Developing franchise support systems for local marketing
Our number one value for local marketing is commitment to give back to the local communities we live in.
CARL COMEAUX
