The Franchise Update

Would someone from California please explain Pinkberry Frozen Yogurt to me? We just got our first one in this state and no matter what time of the day or night I drive by the people are lined up around the block. There's very few things worthy of that kind of wait. Someone told me that all frozen yogurt is actually based on the same formula, so I am very curious about the Pinkberry allure - but not curious enough to wait in line to see. So someone just tell me already.

Anyway, that Pinkberry ended up in the exact spot that we had initially identified for The Franchise, which makes me feel like I must have a good instinct for location. As I have discussed here, the second option was in the swanky little shopping district with the independent store that sells the same product as The Franchise. Well - I couldn't be more happy we didn't go that route. In that same area, there is an independent frozen yogurt store. Then, a frozen yogurt franchise store opened ON THE SAME BLOCK. I understand through the grapevine and from my friends who operate a little gift store right next to the independent yogurt place that this turn of events has been DEVASTATING to the little independent store. Interesting that the people in that area balk at franchises coming in, but frequent them rather than the independent store when they have the choice.

I was furious on behalf of the independent store. How could the yogurt franchise do that to our friends at the independent place? That's when I realized my Franchise couldn't do that, that I couldn't be that type of business. We had to find a different place. We've identified another location as our top choice and did the traffic count (which was fantastic) this past weekend.

The financing has hit a bit of a snag - I'll leave that at that. But we're in a holding pattern right now.

Also, I really want to focus on hiring people that need a break to work in The Franchise store. (Women leaving abusive relationships, teenagers that have rough home lives) I remember when I first got divorced how hard it was to make ends meet for all of the expenses for me and me son. It was hard on a lawyer's salary (I was working at a very small firm paying my dues, so it wasn't great pay, but it was okay pay), so I can't even imagine how women do it on smaller incomes. If I can get a store with a decent amount of space in the back, I would love to make it so that women with young children can work at the store and bring their children. I know that child care expenses can almost make it impossible to justify working. I dunno if that can even be done - but its my hope to focus my employee searches that way. I understand the risks, but the rewards if I am able to do that would be huge.