podcast ·Oct 06, 2026

Restaurant Marketing, Franchising & Building Community Through Sales | Kristen Corral

In Episode 219 of Call The Damn Leads, Drewbie Wilson sits down with restaurateur and entrepreneur Kristen Corral to talk about creative marketing, franchising, leadership, and what it really takes to scale a successful business.

Kristen shares how a simple customer feedback email offering free tacos generated over $70,000 in restaurant sales in less than two weeks. From launching a pet care business with just $500 to growing seven restaurant locations and expanding into franchising, Kristen breaks down the systems, mindset, and relationship-building strategies that helped her scale.

This conversation dives deep into restaurant marketing, customer loyalty, community engagement, franchising realities, and why relying only on social media is one of the biggest mistakes businesses make today.

If you're an entrepreneur, business owner, franchise operator, or someone looking to build a stronger brand through authentic connection and smart marketing, this episode delivers actionable insights you can apply immediately.

What You'll Learn In This Episode

How a single email campaign generated $70K in sales
Why building an email list matters more than chasing viral content
The importance of local media and community outreach
How Kristen scaled from one restaurant to seven locations
What franchisees need to understand before investing
Why systems and processes are critical for business growth
The role loyalty programs play in customer retention
Common mistakes entrepreneurs make when scaling
How to identify your ideal customer profile
Why human connection still wins in business and sales

About Kristen Corral

Kristen Corral is a restaurateur, entrepreneur, and franchise leader behind TacoTarian, a growing vegan Mexican food brand. Before entering the business world, Kristen spent 10 years as a Las Vegas showgirl before launching a successful pet care company with only $500.

Today, she helps lead multiple restaurant locations while building franchise systems designed for long-term growth and operational excellence. Kristen is passionate about creative marketing, customer loyalty, and helping entrepreneurs build businesses rooted in community and service.

Connect with Kristen Corral

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekristencorral/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-corral/

Website: https://eattacotarian.com/

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Call The Damn Leads
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Frequently Asked Questions

How did one email bring in $70,000 for Kristen Corral's restaurants?

Kristen sent a feedback email to her list of 30,000 people and offered a free taco to anyone who answered, good or bad. 400 people replied, so she gave away 400 tacos. Her team tracks who comes in after reading an email, and that one send brought in $70,000 in less than 2 weeks. That's what a list you own can do!

Why does Kristen say email beats chasing viral on social media?

If you run a local business, most of a million followers will never walk into your restaurant. And social media could go away tomorrow (we watched it nearly happen with TikTok). Kristen's point is that you're renting those people. So move them onto your email list, then send tips and things they want to read, with the pitch kept light. You stay in front of them for the day they're ready to buy.

How can a small business get free local news coverage?

Kristen got to know local reporters back when she was doing animal advocacy work. A lot of the big restaurant spreads you see on the news are pay to play. Story-driven segments are free, and field reporters have to fill them every single day. In her words, "They're desperate for content." Pitch a timely story, like tips for walking your dog in the heat, help them out, and they'll keep coming back to you.

What do new franchisees get wrong about buying a franchise?

Most people Kristen talks to come in wide-eyed, often leaving tech, medicine or a job they're sick of. They don't realize how strict franchising is. You can't change the name or the menu, and every location has to look the same. TacoTarian also expects owners to work in the business. Discovery Day is a decision for both sides, because as Kristen put it, "we're going to be married to them for at least 10 years." Set those expectations before anyone signs.