How Tom Gozney Turned A Backyard Pizza Oven Into A Powerhouse Global Brand | Forbes Talks Shop

Key Concepts

• Gausny Brand Evolution: Transitioning from a pizza oven brand to a premium outdoor cooking brand.
• Product Design Philosophy: Combining heritage with modern innovation, inspired by brands like Apple.
• Entrepreneurial Journey: Overcoming addiction and personal challenges to build a successful business.
• Creative Process: Nurturing ideas through unstructured time, travel, and personal reflection.
• Work-Life Integration: Balancing demanding work with family life and personal well-being.
• Personal Routines: Morning rituals, work habits, and evening wind-down strategies.
• Productivity Tools: Utilizing technology and analog methods to manage focus and ideas.
• Wellness Practices: Incorporating cold plunges and saunas for stress relief and rejuvenation.

Gausny: From Pizza Ovens to Premium Outdoor Cooking

Tom Gazny, founder of Gausny, discusses the brand's journey and future aspirations. While Gausny has been in operation for approximately 15 years, the brand itself was officially launched in 2017. Gazny is currently at an "exciting juncture" in its growth, with new product evolutions and a strategic expansion into new verticals, specifically outdoor cooking, aiming to become the "defining premium outdoor cooking brand."

Entrepreneurial Origins and Personal Transformation

Gazny's path to entrepreneurship was unconventional. After struggling with addiction and being expelled from school, he entered rehab at age 21. Upon recovery, he sought community and found solace in cooking. The creation of a brick pizza oven in his garden became a turning point, transforming his social dynamics and providing a sense of purpose. This experience led to the realization of building a business around sharing the "social energy" generated by wood-fired cooking.

Product Innovation and Design Philosophy

The Gausny "Dome" product, launched in 2021, is highlighted as a significant achievement. Gazny describes its design as a fusion of "Apple and a 300-year-old Neapolitan oven," aiming for a modern, innovative, yet heritage-rooted aesthetic. The Dome achieved remarkable success, generating $8 million in sales on its first day through a viral Instagram launch. The design intent was to create a product that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing, intended to be "left on show." A key design goal was to create a universally appealing product, and Gausny has achieved a 40% female customer base, which Gazny considers a success in his role as a designer.

The next evolution of the Dome, "Gen 2," is launching soon, featuring increased size, enhanced features, and refinements based on consumer feedback. The Dome is Gausny's best-selling product, with mini versions called "Arcs" following closely. Gazny expresses particular enthusiasm for the "Gen 2" Dome, using it nightly for various cooking applications.

A notable innovation is the "controlled air kit," which integrates with wood-fired cooking, providing "wood fire with the ease of like gas controls." This feature aims to make wood-fired cooking more accessible and less intimidating for consumers, while preserving the sensory experience of wood fire.

Daily Routines and Productivity Strategies

Morning Routine: Gazny prioritizes 10 minutes of quiet time upon waking. His morning ritual, stemming from his recovery program, involves an ingrained practice of gratitude. He also practices "somatic tracking," a technique for processing stress and anxiety by sitting with bodily sensations. This is accompanied by a cup of tea. He then takes on the role of "internal family barista" for his three children and makes tea for his wife before heading to the gym and then starting his workday.

Work Environment: Gazny primarily works from an office in the UK, though the company also has an office in Utah. He prefers an open-plan office environment, often working from hot desks to remain "in the mix" with his team. The office features an R&D lab, an internal restaurant, and recreational areas. He emphasizes the importance of interacting with his team to understand their challenges and foster culture.

Productivity Tools: Gazny identifies as having undiagnosed ADHD and seeks tools to manage distractions. He uses a "Remarkable" tablet, described as a digital notebook for illustrators, which allows for idea generation and sending information out without receiving notifications. This helps him focus on problem-solving by minimizing interruptions from his phone.

Work Attire: Gazny avoids suits, preferring "elevated streetwear" for smarter occasions. He incorporates "loud shoes" like Off-White Vaults in bright colors to maintain a sense of "respectfully irreverent" style, a core value of the Gausny brand.

Travel Essentials: Organization is key for Gazny's travel. He uses "Ramoa" suitcases and a "Rains" brand bag as his "command center," with everything systematically placed in specific compartments to reduce stress. This includes his passport, iPad, and computer.

Fueling Creativity and Inspiration

Gazny's creativity is often sparked during unstructured moments. He finds solo travel beneficial, listening to hip-hop with his AirPods while in airports or lounges, often with his hood up to create a sense of personal space. His "Remarkable" tablet is also a constant companion for capturing ideas. He notes that his best ideas emerge while driving, walking alone in the woods, or reflecting, rather than through scheduled creative sessions. He emphasizes nurturing life with his kids and doing the work, then carving out time to "wander off alone."

Music Preference: Hip-hop is a significant source of creative inspiration for Gazny.

Content Consumption: He finds consistently ingesting content overwhelming. Instead, he surrounds himself with inspiring people and asks targeted questions. He prefers shorter-form content and listens to podcasts at 2x or 3x speed, only committing to longer formats if the value is exceptionally high. He can hyperfocus on books when a topic requires deep understanding but reserves extensive reading for future, less demanding periods.

Hobbies and Downtime

Gazny and his family own a house in the woods on the south coast of England, which provides a sanctuary for outdoor activities. He engages in "fun jobs for the kids," such as climbing trees to hang swings and building bonfires. He enjoys riding quad bikes with his son in the woods, emphasizing reconnecting with nature and his children without the distraction of phones. He refers to rubber boots as "wellies" in England.

Stress Relief and Recharging: Gazny has recently discovered the benefits of cold plunges and saunas. He uses a high-end, wood-fired sauna from "Out of the Valley" located in the woods, which includes a cold shower for contrast therapy. He finds this practice highly beneficial for unwinding and recharging.

Evening Routine: Evenings involve managing the demands of putting three young children to bed, which can involve a prolonged period of requests. Around 8:00 PM, he and his wife, Laura, relax and discuss their "wider aspirations and goals," including future travel adventures with their children.

Future Vision and Notable Achievements

Gazny envisions Gausny becoming the "defining brand of the garden," applying Apple's product and ecosystem methodology to create a unified range of beautiful, innovative outdoor cooking products.

Celebrity Endorsements: Gausny ovens have been used by notable figures such as LeBron James and Jay-Z. Gazny recounts a surreal experience of having lunch with LeBron James, experiencing significant imposter syndrome.

Chef Collaborations: Gausny has cultivated strong relationships with a network of chefs who serve as brand ambassadors. Key figures include Chris Bianco (Pizzeria Bianco), Frank Pepe (Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana), Matty Matheson, and Bradley Cooper.

This or That: Gazny's Preferences

• Weekends: Unplugged
• To-do List: Pen and paper
• Pizza Topping: Anchovies (his go-to pizza is tomato-based with anchovies)
• Cheese: Just a dash
• Fuel: Wood
• Watch: Statement watch (his father's watch)
• Travel: Direct flight
• Audio Content: Audio book
• Greeting: Hug
• Dining: Street food
• Communication: Voice note
• Projects: DIY with the kids
• Wellness: Ice bath