Esquires Coff ee CLARE SMITH
Clare bought Esquires’ Durham branch as a resale and is now a regional developer for North East England.
What did you do before franchising and what prompted you to make the change? I was a registered general nurse in the NHS and then an occupational health practice nurse working for a local council. My husband and I wanted to be together as we both were in professions where we spent a great deal of time working apart.
How did you fi nd out about franchising and Esquires in particular? We researched lots of different businesses and business ideas. None of them fi tted the profi le of what we wanted to do. My husband’s admiration of coffee guided us into looking for work in the coffee industry. Fortunately, we came across Esquires Coffee Durham for sale.
Describe the process for getting on board – how long did it take? We made contact with Esquires and set up various meetings, viewing some of their stores along the way. The whole process took about 12 weeks.
What attracted you to this franchise opportunity? Due to Esquires having a team behind the brand, any complex issues could be resolved.
How was trading in the beginning and how is business today? Trading was successful and enjoyable, however it took us a few months to adjust to different ways of working. Now, the business is growing from strength to strength and we will soon be expanding across the North East.
Any standout moments so far? We are now the regional developers for North East England.
How have you found being a woman running her own business? I think it has been a challenge at times.
DID YOU KNOW?
However, I feel that I have been able to resolve any issues raised by approaching them diplomatically.
What qualities do franchisees need to work within this sector? I feel that customer service is top of the list and you have to have a strong passion for coffee.
What are your plans for the future? We are already there! My future is in regional development.
Would you recommend franchising to others, and to women in particular? Defi nitely! Franchising offers a chance to be your own boss while making decisions around your business needs and valuing a woman’s ability to lead a successful business.
Any other advice for aspiring franchisees? To have a successful business you have to remain positive and work hard to reap the rewards. l
of franchised units in the UK are operated by women
30%
1.5 million There are over
self-employed women in the UK
£60 billion Boosting female
entrepreneurship could add
the UK economy
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