What I Learned about Marketing from Gordon Ramsay

Gordon Ramsay—does the name ring a bell with you? Perhaps you know him from his television shows Hell’s Kitchen or Kitchen Nightmares. Maybe you have visited one of his award-winning restaurants in New York, Los Vegas or around the world. Or it could be that you know him because of his reputation for demanding perfection from his staff and his tendency to use a large amount of colorful language in his work. Gordon Ramsay is one of the best known of the celebrity chefs and for many, he is a household name.

However, did you ever think about his abilities as a marketing guru? In actuality, he is quite smart at what he has done by turning himself into a “brand.” Consider some of the great marketing tricks you could learn—if you just pay attention to Mr. Ramsay outside the kitchen.

• Presentation Matters – While he harps on this in the kitchen—encouraging his staff to prepare food that is as beautiful as it is delicious—he has also made it abundantly clear he means this in his business life too. Every restaurant he opens has a unique look, he is always impeccably dressed when doing interviews and he demands this level of perfection from his staff as well.
• Don’t Be Afraid to Show Your True Colors – Would Gordon Ramsay be Gordon Ramsay if he wasn’t a bit of a hothead? He has made it a point to not hide his true personality when he is on this TV show. This shows you that consumers want honesty and genuineness from business owners. Don’t be afraid to let your customer or potential customers get to know you.
• Work with Only the Best – Gordon Ramsay will not accept second best in his kitchen, or in his life. You should feel the same way. Whether you are hiring someone to clean your building, build a website or you want to hire technical writers, you should take the time to find the very best person for the job.
• Promote Yourself – You will always be your own best ally for promotion. Never let a chance slip away from you to promote your company, your brand or even yourself. If you don’t do it, no one else will.

Gordon Ramsay is an interesting television personality—and his skills as a chef cannot be denied. However, after you start watching him outside the kitchen, you will realize that he is someone you should model your own marketing practices after. Just don’t get carried away and start yelling at your staff for making a lousy risotto!