What do you get when you combine an IT director with a regional facilities manager for a technology company?
Successful
Bakers Delight business owners!
For Carolyn and Steve Tait, franchisees at Bakers Delight St Leonards NSW, a love for Bakers Delight bread helped in their decision to buy a franchise.
“We’d been customers at Bakers Delight for many years and loved the atmosphere in the
bakery and the quality of the bread,” explains Carolyn.
“At the time, we were both working nine to five – which was more like seven to seven – and we decided that we could get more fulfilment by becoming small business owners rather than working for someone else.”
Carolyn and Steve knew that franchising would provide them with greater security and less risk than buying an independent business. Franchising offered the support they needed to hit the ground running. After exploring a variety of franchise networks, they just couldn’t go past Bakers Delight.
“Bread is a staple, and we felt secure knowing that there would always be demand for our products. We didn’t want to be exposed to the risks of buying into a passing fad and suffer when the next craze hit the market,” says Steve.
“Bakers Delight had also won the Franchise Council of Australia’s ‘Franchise of the Year Award’ two years’ running and we knew that a franchise network with the history and proven track record that Bakers Delight had, would provide us with the best possible opportunity for success.”
While Carolyn and Steve admit that they are masters of their own destiny, the couple acknowledge they couldn’t have achieved their small business ownership dreams as quickly as they have without the support from head office.
“On the ground, our business consultant from head office, meets with us regularly to provide us with feedback on the operation of our business and how we can work towards our goals,” says Carolyn.
“The marketing support provided by head office is fantastic. We love the campaigns, and more importantly, they really appeal to our customers. This is something we know we wouldn’t be able to do at such a high level by ourselves,” adds Steve.
“We also have access to training for our staff which is invaluable for a small business. If this wasn’t coordinated by head office, we’d have to manage it ourselves which would be more costly and of less relevance to our business.”
Carolyn and Steve’s decision to move into franchise ownership has provided them with the flexibility to really enjoy life.
“We have two young children, aged four and two years old, and it’s important to us to spend quality time with them,” says Carolyn.
“Between the two of us, we roster our shifts so that one of us is always at home with the kids. This is a lifestyle we know we just couldn’t have working in the corporate world,” adds Steve.
After owning and operating their franchise in St Leonards for five years, the Tait’s advice to other franchisees is to love what you do.
“If you’re motivated, enthusiastic and dedicated and desire the flexibility and opportunities that running a small business will provide – then a Bakers Delight franchise is for you,” concludes Carolyn enthusiastically.
7-Jan-2008