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Two stores in two years for this Jamaica Blue franchisee

Sarah Stowe

Western Australian franchisee Terry Feng has found his future with the Jamaica Blue chain, opening not just one but two outlets in as many years.

Here he shares his journey…

What did you do before Jamaica Blue?

Before opening my first cafe, I was involved with international logistics. It’s certainly been a career change, but one that was worth it.

Why did you decide to invest in a franchise?

As a Jamaica Blue franchise owner, I was given the freedom to develop a cafe with my own personality, and a menu selection depending on local tastes and seasonal produce. This is what really attracted me to investing in a Jamaica Blue cafe.I knew having this freedom would help my cafe stand out in the market from other coffee franchises. It’s quite an innovative approach.

What made you pick the hospitality sector?

My family used to run a restaurant in China, so I’m used to the hospitality environment and really enjoyed my time working in the restaurant back then. Although I had a career in international logistics, the experience of running a family restaurant always stayed with me.

Was your first store an existing or greenfield site?

My first store was an existing store, a Jamaica Blue cafe that I run in Halls Head. I took over the Halls Head store in 2016, and the quick success and proven franchise model is what has enabled me to set up a second store in such a short time afterward.

When did you know you were ready to open a second store?

When I heard Mandurah Forum was under renovation, I knew there was an opportunity to open a second franchise. Mandurah Forum is set to be the largest shopping centre south of Perth, so it felt like a great investment.

Also on my end, I was looking for something new and challenging, something that a second site will be sure to provide. And I was confident to open a second store, because I knew my Foodco support operations and marketing team would be there for me when I needed them. As a business owner, it’s important to keep challenging yourself because that’s how you and your team grow.

What are you expecting from this second outlet?

With the knowledge and experience from opening and successfully running Jamaica Blue Halls Head, the team and I are experiencing smoother operations, and a shared customer base. Working with Jamaica Blue has impressed us so much that we are looking forward to a long term and prosperous partnership that will hopefully see us extending our portfolio even further.

At the end of the day, we want recognition of our hard work, so we can reap the rewards later.

How are you restructuring your business to cope with the second outlet?

To prepare for my second outlet, I hired new staff ahead of time and trained the new team in my first store. This proved effective, as come opening day, the new team were transferred to the new store, knowing exactly what to expect. Utilising the Foodco head office and support team on the ground made it effortless to start up.

What have been the significant changes to your life since becoming a franchisee?

Since becoming a franchisee, all my time and effort has been shifted to the business, which is a lifestyle change in itself. However, I’m learning and finding new ways to have that work-life balance even while running two sites.