The North Essendon Bakers Delight franchise team

Before Steven Giles became a part of the Bakers Delight franchise family, he had four years of spending much of his working life travelling interstate for his pharmaceutical career. He sought a change of lifestyle that he and his wife could control.

Central to the change of lifestyle for Steven and his wife Debbie a legal secretary, was the decision to own their own business, preferably a franchised one.

“As a family we wanted to spend more time together and decided that a franchised business could deliver the lifestyle we sought after,” said Steven.

“There are so many franchises on the market today but after researching different options we choose Bakers Delight because of the franchise support network and it delivered the best return on investment if managed correctly,” he said.

“We purchased North Essendon Bakers Delight in September 2005 and haven’t looked back since,” Steven said.

Debbie believes that bakery franchise’s overall success stems largely via the strong working relationships between baking franchisees and the sharing of Bakers Delight franchise intelligence.

“In twelve months of being in the chain, we’re amazed by the support, and training that’s been passed onto us by head office and other franchisees. No wonder the company has been so successful over 25 years,” she said.

Steven and Debbie were also grateful to be introduced to Henri Camellieri, who owns three bakery franchise outlets and became a mentor to the two.

“Meeting Henri and observing how he handled 18 – 25 staff per store and how he constantly reinvented himself was invaluable. He was someone who had already succeeded and he gave my wife and I the confidence to do the same,” Steven said.

Steven also relishes the fact that he gets to work with his wife everyday at their North Essendon bakery franchise, although from time to time he needs to remind her of starting times.

“It’s very funny because my wife has a habit of turning up late which is something we’re working on. I continually tell anyone who wants to listen that the best job in the bakery is the franchisee’s wife!

Steven’s advice to interested baking franchisees:

“Be positive and passionate about your business, stay calm and above all, strap yourself in for the ride of your life.”