Nitin Verma is the sole franchisee of a Jamaica Blue store in the Sydney suburb of Hurstville. He has long been a loyal Jamaica Blue customer and jumped on the opportunity to invest in his own store.  

Nitin says the decision to invest in a franchise was quite simple, really.

“The current retail environment is challenging so I wanted to make sure I invested my future into a product/brand that would not only last, but succeed.

“Being a part of a franchise means I don’t have to blindly making the tough decisions, as I am supported by a very experienced network. As a part of the Jamaica Blue franchise I can rest assured I have the right suppliers, right position and high-quality products,” he explains.

He chose Jamaica Blue upon careful analysis of the brand’s business model, and it also helped that he was already an avid fan of its food and coffee.

“When the opportunity arose for me to open my own Jamaica Blue store, I compared the brand and business model to the qualities I was looking for in my business and it was a pretty simple decision.

“Jamaica Blue is a trusted Australian-owned and operated brand with more than 20 years of experience in delivering fine food and some of the best coffee in the world,” he says. 

Nitin was surprised by how much time he gets to spend conversing and interacting with customers.

“I love having the ability to make them happy and provide them with much needed “me time” to relax and rejuvenate.”

Nitin Verma aims to provide his customers with quality food and beverages.
Image: facebook.com/jamaicabluecafes

Rather than sit-back and watch his business operate from afar, Nitin takes more of a hands on approach.

“I work full-time in the business. I interact a lot with my customers and ensure they are enjoying the full in-store experience. This includes delicious coffee, fine food and exceptional customer service,” he says.

Jamaica Blue offers an extensive training program, says Nitin.

“[It] includes a mix of hands-on in-store training for one week, along with two weeks of training and a coaching workshop at head office. The training covers every aspect of business, including online training and in-store support.”

Nitin’s has two simple goals for the business  – to provide all his customers with fresh, quality products and exceptional service. He also offers discounts for seniors.

“I appreciate all of my senior customers and like to support the senior’s community by offering a seniors discount on not only coffee, but all products sold in my store,” he says.

While he only opened his store in September 2012 and is a relatively new franchisee, Nitin is already reaping the benefits from the business.

“Franchising has provided me a strong base from where I can build on my hard work and deliver solid economic benefits to me and my family,” he says.