Domino is a game in which small tiles are stacked on end in long lines. If one domino is tipped, it causes the rest of the line to tip over, and so on. The result is a cascade of increasingly larger and more complex structures. The term domino is also used to describe a series of events that starts with one simple action and leads to much greater-and sometimes catastrophic-consequences. This idea has led to the popular use of the phrase “domino effect,” which is applied to situations in which one action initiates a chain reaction that affects many people and things.
The most basic domino set consists of square tiles marked with a pattern of dots, or “pips,” on one side and blank on the other. Each pips is matched to another tile in the set that has the same number of pips. Dominos are typically arranged in straight or curved lines, but many players create more elaborate layouts. Some even create sculptural designs with the pieces.
Lily Hevesh has been playing with dominoes since she was a kid. Now she’s a professional artist who makes incredible domino setups for movies, TV shows, and even events like the release of Katy Perry’s album. She has created complex, beautiful arrangements that involve hundreds of thousands of dominoes. Hevesh says one physical phenomenon is crucial to her success: gravity. Gravity pulls each knocked-over domino toward the ground and causes it to crash into and knock over the next domino in the line.
A Domino’s Pizza CEO uses this concept of the domino effect to guide the company. He is credited with helping Domino’s turnaround from a slump in its sales to an impressive rise in profits and market share. After he took over in 2010, Domino’s was a profitable and growing company.
Doyle’s leadership focused on a few key areas. First, he emphasized customer service and revamped the company’s training programs for employees. He also talked with workers to find out what they wanted Domino’s to do differently.
In addition, Doyle focused on improving Domino’s delivery. Domino’s invested in purpose-built vehicles designed to quickly deliver pizzas, as well as experimenting with drone delivery. While there is substance to these initiatives, they are also clearly part of a public image campaign that Domino’s has undertaken to modernize its brand and appeal to young consumers.
The first Domino’s location was established in Ypsilanti, Michigan, in 1960. Franchise locations soon followed, and the company began expanding its reach. In order to make sure Domino’s delivered on its promises to customers, it prioritized placing locations near college campuses. This allowed the chain to reach young adults who most needed pizza and wanted it fast. It was a winning strategy. The chain continues to grow today, with over 11,000 locations worldwide. Its corporate offices are in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Its stock is trading at $391 per share, up from its initial public offering of $8.