Chef Deb Oxman | SHARPEN

Public RelationsFood & BeverageGraphic Design
Written By Bridget Newsome
VISIT Chef Deb Coacing

Problem

After building Savor Culinary, a successful private chef and catering company in Fort Worth, TX, and becoming a nationally recognized leader in the private chef industry, Chef Deb Oxman saw a significant gap in professional development for culinary entrepreneurs. While private chefs excelled in the kitchen, many struggled with leadership, operations, profitability, marketing, and scaling their businesses.

Chef Deb envisioned SHARPEN as a first-of-its-kind educational experience that would bring together executive chefs, culinary entrepreneurs, and industry partners to learn from one another while building stronger, more sustainable businesses. 

In its 10th year, the challenge was attracting new and existing clients year-after-year, establishing immediate credibility to new chefs, and generating attendance from busy culinary professionals across the country.

Solution

ShuBu Creative Group partnered with Chef Deb to develop the SHARPEN 10th Annual Conference brand and execute a strategic marketing and public relations campaign designed to position both Chef Deb and SHARPEN as leaders within the culinary business community.

The campaign focused on:

  • Positioning Chef Deb as a nationally recognized business coach and thought leader for culinary entrepreneurs.

  • Building awareness and excitement leading up to the inaugural SHARPEN conference.

  • Developing strategic messaging that differentiated SHARPEN from traditional culinary conferences by focusing on business growth, leadership, and profitability.

  • Promoting the event through digital marketing, strategic partnerships, social media, email marketing, public relations, and thought leadership opportunities.

  • Leveraging Chef Deb's growing media presence and industry expertise to establish credibility with chefs, culinary business owners, and organizations serving the private chef industry.

Rather than simply filling seats, the strategy focused on building a movement around culinary leadership and creating a long-term platform that would extend beyond a single conference.

Impact

The 10th inaugural SHARPEN conference welcomed more than 100 executive chefs, culinary entrepreneurs, and industry partners from across the private chef industry, immediately establishing the event as a premier educational experience for culinary business owners.

The campaign helped elevate Chef Deb's visibility as one of the industry's leading business coaches while creating meaningful opportunities for continued growth.

Results included:

  • 100+ executive chefs and culinary industry professionals attended SHARPEN.

  • New coaching and advisory clients generated following the conference.

  • Increased visibility and credibility for Chef Deb as a culinary business strategist, keynote speaker, and industry thought leader.

  • Expanded relationships with strategic partners serving the private chef and culinary business community.

  • Media visibility through outlets including ABC, NBC, CBS, Authority Magazine, Indulge Magazine, Fort Worth Business Press, Entrepreneurial Chef, and additional industry publications.

  • Established the foundation for SHARPEN to grow into one of Chef Deb's signature programs supporting culinary entrepreneurs nationwide.

Today, SHARPEN serves as a cornerstone of Chef Deb's coaching ecosystem, helping culinary leaders build stronger businesses while reinforcing her reputation as one of the nation's leading voices in culinary entrepreneurship, including other workshops, webinars and retreats throughout the year before and after SHARPEN.

Bridget Newsome
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