Part of the Club

Brad Jacobs (left) and Andy Lucas (right) with Verne and Wendy Wilson and their daughter Amy

After 15 years with The Coffee Club, this franchisee couple tell us what they love about it

If you’re in business for 15 years, you get used to the fact that the economy has its ups and downs. That’s something Verne and Wendy Wilson know well – it was just before the GFC in 2008 when the couple made the decision to give up their day jobs and buy The Coffee Club franchise in Palmerston North. Since then they’ve successfully navigated all the highs and lows, including Covid, and say that the support of the franchise smoothed out the bumps and enabled them to enjoy the ride.

‘The Coffee Club is a global brand with incredible buying power and really strong system processes and procedures,’ says Wendy. ‘They are market leaders and are constantly on top of things such as food trends, technology and IT developments. Their knowledge is outstanding.’

Gone from strength to strength

Verne and Wendy had been keen to embark on a business journey together when they first came across The Coffee Club in Brisbane. They could immediately see its popularity and, when a prime location became available in Palmerston North’s CBD, they leapt at the chance to buy the franchise. Today, even after all these years in the business, Verne and Wendy still get a buzz out of being busy and seeing the café filled with people.

‘We’ve seen too many other cafés in Palmerston North come and go over the years, while we have gone from strength to strength,’ says Wendy. ‘That’s thanks to a number of things: the brand itself; our loyal, hard-working team at the café; our faithful customers; the business support team at The Coffee Club; and the co-directors of the franchise in New Zealand, Brad Jacobs and Andy Lucas. They really care about their franchisees and have backed us every step of the way over the years, including during our café’s refurbishment in 2021.

‘And while we have the experience to handle day-to-day stuff ourselves now, it’s good to know that the franchise support team is just a phone call away if we need to call upon their expertise.’

Long-term approach

What is it really like to run such a busy and successful franchise?

‘You’ve got to be prepared to roll up your sleeves and do the hard yards to begin with,’ explains Wendy. ‘You can’t master everything overnight, so it’s important to take a long-term approach. With time, the business will allow you to have an excellent lifestyle.

‘It’s also important to support and value your staff because they are your greatest asset. Train them well, look after them and appreciate them – over time, they really do become part of the family. We have team members who’ve been with us for seven years and customers appreciate seeing familiar faces who know what they like.

‘When you’re closing the café after a busy day, it feels particularly fulfilling to know that you’ve satisfied all those happy customers.’

Community focus

Owning The Coffee Club means that Verne and Wendy have a lot of involvement with the local community. ‘We feel it’s very important to give back to the community which has helped make us successful,’ says Wendy.

The strength of their business has enabled them to give back by supporting a number of organisations at a grass roots level including Netball Manawatu, Manawatu Cricket, a local golf club, schools and other clubs. ‘We even backed one of the school robotics teams that went to the World Championships,’ she says proudly.

A positive future

Despite almost reaching retirement age, both Verne and Wendy still enjoy a business which allows them to have such an enjoyable lifestyle. Verne still remembers his days as a tradesman, out working in all weathers, and he much prefers the café’s cosy environment with the smell of coffee and food being prepared by their baristas and chefs.

Thinking ahead, though, they are working closely with the franchise office on a succession plan that will one day allow their daughter, who is already well-versed in the running of the café, to buy into the franchise.

‘That’s proof of just how good this franchise is,’ says Wendy. ‘The entire business is built on rock-solid relationships, between us and our staff, with our customers, and with The Coffee Club itself. If you’re in business for the long term, these are the things that matter.’

A range of options

The Coffee Club has opportunities for franchisees in high growth areas throughout the country, with investment levels ranging from $350,000 to $400,000 +gst.

Andy Lucas says, ‘As Verne and Wendy have shown, this is a proven, successful business model that can deliver excellent returns and an enjoyable lifestyle over many years. We have a range of options to suit different locations, and are always on the lookout for the right people to join our family of franchisees and deliver The Coffee Club experience to customers throughout New Zealand.

If you have a passion for good food, great service and excellent coffee, and a determination to cater to the needs of your local community, contact us today.’

Advertiser Info

The Coffee Club

www.thecoffeeclub.co.nz

Contact Brad Jacobs

P 0-9-304 0008 M 0275 263 333

b.jacobs@thecoffeeclub.co.nz