He felt that being a business owner would present the energy level he enjoyed and the opportunity to create a unique culture. Mac had a strong desire to build a family atmosphere where all team members cared about and committed themselves to a common goal.
He researched buying an existing business. He also had a couple of ideas that he thought he could use to start a business from scratch. I met Mac soon thereafter and introduced him to the world of franchising.
While Mac had gained valuable operations and management experience during his career, he had spent little time in sales and marketing. Mac was excited about the growth experience of building a successful business while having the support of a national organization to help him in his areas of opportunity. Mac knew that eventually he wanted a relatively large business to manage. His desires led me to consider a Regional Developer opportunity. (The Regional Developer is a franchisee who grows a territory by awarding sub-franchisee contracts within that territory and then supports those sub-franchisees in their efforts.)
When I asked Mac about his business interests, he said, “I will look at anything except a food business.” You can imagine his surprise when one of the options I presented was Apple Spice Junction, a box lunch delivery/corporate catering business. After contemplating the idea, Mac began to understand that he was not as opposed to food as he was to the 24/7/365 lifestyle of a food operation. Once he learned that Apple Spice Junction had a different food service model, his interest grew. He became even more excited by the news that he could develop most of Virginia and the eastern half of North Carolina. Finally, he realized that both the local operation and the region would give him distinct teams to build and nurture over the years. It appeared to be a nice fit.
With 2 ½ years under his belt, Mac passed on the following message: “Wow, what a ride! Congratulations on your decision to explore the joys and perils of business ownership. As you consider franchising, think about the aspects of running the business that make you nervous. Explore the franchise’s ability to support you in those areas. Although I felt confident I could build something, I can’t tell you how many times I was happy to have someone with more experience a phone call or email away to help me with an issue. The sense that I was not alone was invaluable.
When you join a franchise, you join a group of people who are in the same boat. They have a proven and established process. They have learned lessons and can share the benefits of their mistakes. They have a system that will help you quickly maximize your strengths and will, at the same time, support you in your weaknesses. The structure of a franchise is not for everyone, but you should consider its advantages as you make your decision. Best of luck!”
Apple Spice Junction specializes in the delivery of box lunches and catering to businesses. It looks to meet all the food needs of the business with the very best in food quality and customer service. It is pleased to offer services for the small business breakfast/lunch, the enormous corporate picnic, and everything in between. Mac’s location services most of the greater Richmond area. You can reach Apple Spice Junction on the web at www.applespice.com, by phone at 804-249-3888, by fax at 804-249-9960, or by email at mac@applespice.com.
