We’re pleased to add Zesco.com’s Annie Zoll to our roll call of Top Young Tabletop Talent for the hospitality industry. While Annie started working in her family’s business earlier, she started working in outside sales in 2011. Annie’s current role at Zesco.com is Senior Design Executive and Tabletop Specialist – you have to love it!
Earlier this year, she told Indystar.com her mantra was “Eat local. Support local. Work hard. Respect your peers and elders.” We love that simple approach to our favorite category and we’re quite certain that if you look up the word “passion” in the dictionary…Annie Zoll’s picture will be there.
We caught up with Annie recently and here’s what she had to say about our industry and the hospitality tabletop category:
Q: You’ve grown up in the hospitality supply business and often children seek their own pathways. Having your family so involved in this business …. has that been a help? Or a hinderance?
A: Without a doubt, it’s been a giant help! I am so proud of their success and core values and definitely use what they’ve taught me as a guide down my own creative pathway. Bouncing ideas off my father and uncle plays a vital role in my process.
A: Family owned businesses in general are becoming a more endangered species. I hope that we can stand as an example to help change that tide.
Q: You seem to have such passion for the tabletop category …… where does that come from?
I fell in love with my first install experience that happened to be using a coupe plate. I saw a young, talented chef light up with excitement as he finished plating what was going to be the independent’s restaurants, most featured entree. I understood how a beautiful and quality coupe plate presents a visual experience. The thrill I felt while having this experience spoke loudly to me.
Q: Please tell our readers about your most memorable tabletop sale …. and why it’s the most memorable.
A: I got to show a special client new lines that were put together and being shown. She took my lead and wanted all the gorgeous plates for her new, innovative restaurant that was going to open in 2014. The application involved mixing and matching the awesome patterns of vintage prints, textured prints and all in different sizes of plates!
Q: What words of encouragement would you give to someone who is today in college to come into the hospitality tabletop business?
A: If you like the challenge and enjoy a hunt, tabletop design can be incredibly fun and rewarding! The tabletop business is a wonderful way to showcase creativity in this industry.
Q: What would you tell other young people – already in our business – the keys to success in hospitality tabletop are?
A: Take the time to understand your client and their needs. Leave no stone unturned when finding a source or a solution for your customer. Be a good listener and watch for new trends and sources in the industry! Have fun always!!!
Q: Social media seems to be hot right now in the restaurant and hospitality business …. where do you see social media headed and what role can it play in tabletop?
A: Instagram is great because of the simplicity of the visual element at play. I definitely use social medial a lot because it is an efficient way to plug into what is trending in our industry. I like the business to business dynamic of twitter, and Facebook has been great for local presence indeed. Social media as a whole is important because it’s engaging and interacts. For tabletop specifically, I really enjoy Instagram and think you guys do a great job with all you do!
Q: With hospitality tabletop evolving from basic place settings a few years ago to “anything goes” now ….. what is the role that you feel tabletop has today in the restaurant guest dining experience? And, in the future?
A: I feel that tabletop has an incredibly important role. Tabletop can set the stage for the main star, which is the food. Be it minimal, or a bit over the top with colors or textures, tabletop’s role is not going anywhere and is only to become more important as our chefs roles become more important. Tabletop design is a way to pay homage to the skilled efforts and talents of the chef and the kitchen. I feel that people are starting to pay more attention to this and it is very exciting to see and be a part of! Q: You deal with many tabletop manufacturers and products of all types and sizes ….. what makes a great tabletop company? Any examples you care to mention?
A: A tabletop company that understands who their end user is has always spoken to me. If a product is superior than their Customer Service should always support this. Manufacturers that I have experienced all with are Churchill, Rosenthal, Libbey, American Metalcraft, and Lucaris to name a few.
Q: Most people we know who are passionate about their work have other areas in their life they are equally passionate. What is the area of your life that people might not guess that you are passionate?
A: I really enjoy fishing. It helps me decompress and gives me a visual of what start and finish should look and feel like. I am a proud participant of “catch and release” which is another way I try to support sustainability. 
