Franchise Update Magazine Issue IV, 2011 | Page 13
since my childhood. I remember that
as a child I liked being around happy
people and seeing good things take
place. I love to do things that can help
people. That’s why I love franchising.
It’s the only business I know of where
you can be an ambassador of the business and introduce more people into
the entrepreneurial world. There is a
multitude of positive things that our
franchisees/entrepreneurs bring to the
world: they provide jobs for the community, they propel small business entities
that are among the highest collective tax
contributors for our country, and they
provide a pleasant environment for our
guests to enjoy with their families. What
is there not to like?
Personal
What time do you like to be at your
desk? Usually 8:30 a.m.
Exercise in the morning? Wine with
lunch? Generally I do not consume
alcohol. I exercise at night and my day
spans from 8:30 to around midnight, 7
days a week.
Do you socialize with your team after
work/outside the office? Not as much
as I would like to. I’m still trying to find
more time for those things. I believe
that socializing with the team is fun as
they are great people
We do not
just sell
yogurt, we
provide an
experience
that is
complete and
flawlessly
fun.
Menchie’s
will provide
guests with
the most
interactive
environment
in the frozen
dessert
category.
and sometimes just the simple things
can warm one’s heart.
What technology do you take on the
road? I take my BlackBerry, my laptop,
Favorite company product: I am a
and my iPad.
“cookies and cream” man in all my heart.
How do you balance life and work?
Bottom Line
Most would say that I don’t balance those
two. In my view, I am one of those lucky
people who is able to enjoy every minute
of their work, and when you love your
work you won’t work a day in your life!
Long-term goals for the company?
We are going to be the next McDonald’s, and put smiles on people’s faces
around the world.
Favorite vacation destination: Europe.
Has the economy changed your goals
for your company? Not at all. It en-
Favorite occasions to send employees
notes: Birthdays, significant accomplish-
couraged them. We are a living and
breathing proof that when things are
done right and come from the right
ments, celebrations, family occasions,
place that even in tough economies
companies can make it.
Where can capital be found these
days? Good companies should have no
problem to source capital. The banking
environment is becoming easier. We have
our own personal resources.
How do you measure success? By
how many people we made smile.
What has been your greatest success? Seeing our franchisees bring their
business ownership dreams to life, and
helping in making them smile.
Any regrets? Yes, we should have started
franchising in the ’90s.
What can we exp ect from your company
in the next 12 to 18 months? First, you
can expect us to continue to make our
guests smile. We are a guest-experiencefocused company, so you can expect us
to advance and innovate our Menchie’s
in-store experience. We do not just sell
yogurt, we provide an experience that is
complete and flawlessly fun. Menchie’s
will provide guests with the most interactive environment in the frozen dessert
category. It’s not only about the product,
it’s about coming into our stores and
leaving with a big smile.
We are in the process of innovating and reinventing our product line,
placing community before commerce,
and focusing on the highest quality out
there, ensuring that we have the leading
product and experience in the marketplace. From a positioning standpoint,
we will become the largest self-serve
frozen yogurt retailer worldwide by
June 2012. There will be a lot of international expansion in the next year, with
openings in more than 10 countries.
Our guests can expect improved guest
care programs with further interactive
features and guest touch points in our
stores that will make them smile even
more. Bottom line: the Menchie’s instore experience will only get better in
the year to come! n
Franchiseupdate Issue I V, 2011
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