With the growing market for Instagram Reels, TikTok and YouTube Shorts, restaurants have begun to invest in quality video that can set them apart from their competitors. In just a few years’ time, we’ve seen restaurants have virtually zero social media presence beyond the occasional still image, to managers dabbling with video on their iPhones, to studying Instagram Reels and TikTok trends and, finally, hiring professionals to make video that goes beyond their prior capabilities. The digital age is consistently expanding and restaurants are beginning to catch on.
Contrary to popular belief, owning a restaurant does not mean you have to do everything yourself. After all, if your content is coming out lackluster, why not turn to somebody who knows what they’re doing? If the views are down—which does matter—why not fix it?
If I open Instagram right now, I’ll see 10 to 15 Reels from restaurants within a minute of scrolling. Some look great—focused shots and sleek editing—while others look cheap and thrown together. As time goes on, more restaurants and businesses in general are beginning to outsource their video. And in New Jersey, they turn to TRBO Media.
The TRBO Media Concept
Brothers Mike (left) and Chris (right) Gerbino
TRBO (pronounced tur-bo) Media is a social media marketing agency that specializes in video production, photography, and brand awareness. Brothers Mike and Chris Gerbino spearhead the company.
“At TRBO Media, our mission is to be the driving force behind your brand’s success in the digital age,” Mike tells me. “We are a dedicated social media marketing agency, specializing in brand awareness and content creation, with the core purpose of elevating your business to new heights.”
The duo understands the power of social media in today’s world, and they leverage that power to uplift businesses. The digital space is crowded and it’s crucial for a business to stick out in order to remain relevant.
TRBO Media
However, TRBO Media’s content isn’t just for social media. Professional equipment and experts behind it ensure that content produced by TRBO Media is multi-functional. “It’s [our content] designed to seamlessly integrate into your email campaigns, advertising tactics, website design, Google business profile and much more.”
The Beginning
It started way back in 2014 when Mike Gerbino discovered a passion for photography and video through an unlikely medium: cars and motorcycles. “I had a deep passion for the two,” he tells me. Just a young teen at the time, Mike bought a camera and began photographing his passion. This snowballed, leading him to start a YouTube channel where he would create videos centered around cars and motorcycles—diving into the tech of it and even getting in front of the camera himself. It was a natural fit.
TRBO Media handles photography, video and more
By 2015, Mike found himself working in kitchens for some cash to support his hobby. Quickly, he found that cooking was something else he loved. And then one day, it dawned on him: why not combine his love for video production and his passion for the kitchen? The idea marinated for a bit and by 2019, his video skills were honed enough to dive in. He purchased his LLC and TRBO Media was born.
TRBO Media Rises to the Top
TRBO Media’s early days started with an iPhone and an old Nikon. The name comes from Mike’s love for cars, but also from his ability to deliver high-quality media fast. It was essentially a one man show and a majority of the work was done for small businesses at a low rate, but Mike knew that consistency and hard work would get the company to where it needed to be. Then, 2020 happened and it brought everything to a halt.
He put the dream on pause and landed a job with Vespa doing marketing. All things considered, it was a silver lining as he picked up valuable marketing experience that would only aid his return to his own business. “By 2022, I knew I couldn’t let my dream die. I knew my entrepreneurial tendencies would win,” he tells me.
Mike turns to his younger brother Chris, who he admits is the “people person” of the duo and also the one with management experience. The sibling duo put their heads together and got to work.
TRBO Media helps to strengthen a restaurant’s visibility
“I’ve worked with various companies, managing client expectations and delivering results,” says Chris. “When my brother needed someone to handle our client’s projects, I jumped at the opportunity to help our company grow. Capturing a business’s passion through my lens has become my true calling,” Chris continued.
One of their earliest clients was Emilio’s Wood Fire Pizza in Nutley—a Neapolitan-style pizzeria owned by Rafael Ruiz. Emilio’s was a budding restaurant looking to break onto the NJ dining scene, and TRBO Media had exactly what the pizzeria needed: a vision. Video and photos were conducted and through quality execution, Emilio’s was able to take off with TRBO’s aid. It was a mutually beneficial relationship that helped each party immensely.
In 2023, TRBO Media continued their steady climb to the top. NJ Restaurateur Jamie Knott (Cellar 335, Kinjo, Saddle River Inn, etc.) noticed the quality of work that the Gerbino brothers were putting out and began to work closely with the brand. TRBO Media became one of Knott’s secret weapons for content production and others quickly saw the vision.
The TRBO Media team
Then came Marcus Samuellson for his new American Dream restaurant, Marcus Live. The list of notable restaurant clients kept on growing and TRBO Media finds themselves at a point today that feels almost like a dream.
In the digital age, it can prove difficult for a business to keep up. With a million things on their plate, a restaurant or shop owner’s last worry should be dabbling in a field that is hard to master. The algorithm constantly changes, and trends evolve by the hour, but by utilizing professionally developed content, you start at an advantage. For Mike, he just wants businesses to know that they’re there for you. “Let’s face it, as a business owner, you should focus on what’s most important and that is your day-to-day business. Let us showcase your passion the right way,” he says.
That’s what TRBO Media has been about from the beginning. It starts with a vision. Once that’s established, the rest just flows.
About the Author/s
Peter Candia is the Food + Drink Editor at New Jersey Digest. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Peter found a passion for writing midway through school and never looked back. He is a former line cook, server and bartender at top-rated restaurants in the tri-state area. In addition to food, Peter enjoys politics, music, sports and anything New Jersey.
