Birthday Cake Program
Pre-asked birthday cake delivered to every employee's store, every year.
Job application asks 'what's your favorite cake?' Cake type is stored against employee record. On the employee's birthday, that exact cake is delivered to their store with a sing-along. Scales to 1,800 employees because the answer is captured at intake, not improvised.
- Capture the data at intake, not the moment of need.
- Specificity (their favorite cake, not a generic cake) is the signal.
- Public ritual (sing-along, phones-out, photos) multiplies the felt impact.
Started early when Patrick still knew everyone's name; survived to 1,800 employees by being systematized at hire rather than performed by the founder.
Source · VIDEO
Patrick Terry on School of Hard Knocks (full episode)