Cuppy’s Coffee Franchise System Managers – Your Coach, Your Mentor, Your Best Friend!

Calling into a company to get answers can sometimes be a daunting task itself, from being put on hold or being shuffled around the office to get the correct answer. Maybe you reach a person only to find out the information given you is not the right answer you were seeking. Medina’s Franchise Systems Managers (FSM) are here to make sure that doesn’t happen to you.

The advantages may not be easily recognizable at first, but your FSM will work to your benefit. The FSM’s are trained in every aspect of the franchising process and will guide you through from beginning to end. One advantage of having a personal FSM is that you only have to make one call; speak to one person to get the answers you need. This is a key factor in saving you time and trying to remember which department or person you need to reach. FSM’s realize that you have enough contacts to keep track of and as a business owner your time is valuable. Everyday your FSM works towards being your “one stop shop” for all the questions and answers that arise while opening your store. Another advantage is the relationship you and your FSM establish will lead to a long lasting friendship. A friendship developed by working closely together to see your dreams come true.

Your personal FSM is the angel on your shoulder from coordinating with your Real Estate Specialist and Elite Project Managers to your building delivery. Need answers about purchasing, marketing or field training your FSM is trained to get you the correct information you’re looking for. Your FSM will be there every step of the way to answer your questions and concerns.   During the process of opening your business questions, problems or unforeseen events may arise, your FSM is your “go to person”.

Communications plays a key factor in your relationship with an FSM. Being in constant communications with your FSM will ensure that you’re always in the loop regarding new marketing ideas, new products and exciting events happening in the franchising community. Importantly, being open and honest will help assist you in areas that you feel are important as well as keeping the amount of information flowing in both directions to getting your store open successfully.

New CFO Joins Medina Enterprise Executive Branch

Medina Enterprises, a Fort Walton Beach based holding company, announced today the newest addition to its executive management team with the hiring of Don Ochsenreiter as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Ochsenreiter brings significant financial and operational leadership to Medina Enterprises. With Medina anticipating tremendous future growth, Ochsenreiter’s primary objectives are to establish optimal capital structure for the company to facilitate its imminent growth, and to help Medina achieve this growth building a solid financial foundation.

Before joining Medina, Ochsenreiter was President and CEO for Burton Golf, Inc. for the past 13 years. At Burton Golf, Ochsenreiter repositioned and grew the leading golf bag brand to the number one market share position in golf course shops worldwide. Before recently selling the company to a strategic buyer, he managed every aspect of the company through operational and industry change. Ochsenreiter holds a B.A. in economics from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.B.A. from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas.

Cuppy’s Coffee: Pitfalls To Avoid In Business

  Running a successful business can be daunting. Several factors play a key role in the success of your business such as patience, passion, knowledge of your industry and determination. There are others, but there are more ways to fail than there are to succeed. Take a look at the following pitfalls and the subsequent topics to follow, and see if they may apply to you . Any one or combination of these pitfalls will be reflected daily in your attitude and the way you approach the next day’s business.  If you find yourself party to any of these pitfalls, don’t worry, we have a way for you to turn it around.

Conversation Curses    

Having the wrong conversation can do more harm than good in making you feel better. As humans it is our nature to want to vent our frustrations from the highest mountains we can find. And while on that mount the wrong words can be like a rolling stone on an unending hill to disaster. Today’s society tends to relish all that is wrong or negative. The effect is contagious and detrimental to most businesses just as in this example. In the 80’s a certain franchise, which we won’t mention here, gained national notoriety in the press from the conversations and correspondence that occurred between disgruntled franchisees. It took that company years and cost millions of dollars to regain the respect of the public for its brand. These franchisees had a bad case of ‘Loose Lips’ which eventually led to many of them closing their doors, not to mention, losing their hard earned investments. This downward spiral even damaged the franchisees that were making a financial windfall and had no party to negativity that was unleashed by others. That was not the intention but once the cat was out of the bag it was hard for many of them to recover. Another example how negative press and today’s events can hurt your business, how many of you will check your toys for the label “Made in China”?    

Your company image and brand is, and should be, very important to you. How do you want your target market, customers and your community to perceive your franchise? Protect it. Talking or corresponding negatively about your experiences or hardships will result in a decline of customers walking through your doors. With the invention of the internet, email and text messages a shot can now be heard around the world faster than you can say “Loose Lips Sinks Ships”. Speaking negatively with your employees will not only lower their moral they too will become discouraged and not give the customer service you expect hurting your business further.     

The effects are numerous. So to counter that, it is wise to always build up your business by giving positive comments, correspondence and attitude even when things seem their worst.  You only hurt yourself when you speak negatively of your company, vendors and customers. Name recognition will have a lot of weight on the success of your location. You can be a part of the success or that shot heard around the world. 

Bad or No Customer Service    

     The enthusiasm has worn off. You look at your customers more like a life line than a person. Without realizing it you’ve stopped noticing the very people who are making your business successful. It’s become a JOB. You’re wondering why you can’t make ends meet or why it that you don’t have more customers. 

      The answer may be in you and your employee’s customer service skills. Taking a few minutes each day with each employee and explaining the importance of customer service can turn this pitfall around. A simple smile, a warm thank you or maybe an acknowledgement of their presence are simple techniques that will make anyone feel comfortable in your store. And more importantly make them want to return with their friends. Your customers will reward you by telling their friends and neighbors about the wonderful experience they received at your store. Are you providing your customers with the service they need? If you know who the customer is, call them by name. Are you building a loyalty relationship between you and your customer? Offer your customer a discount or reward for sending a friend in to sample your wares. Create a service award program or contest among your employees. Want your baristas to give great service? Reward great service. Create the legends, spread the word. When your employees see praise and rewards for great service, pretty soon they are trying to one-up the others and become the next service legend. What will your customer say? “Wow! See you tomorrow!”