Name: Shashi Patel
Company Name: D J & C Foods Ltd
Became Franchisee: 1996
Number of Outlets: 10
Cheshire Oaks
Stretford
Mansfield
Runcorn
Ellesmere Port
Liverpool
Meadowhall (Sheffield)
Sheffield
Stockport
Warrington
Business Goal: to reach 20 stores by mid-2008.
Number of Employees: 125
Serving: 20,000 customers a week
background
Shashi arrived from India when he was 17 and was joined two years later by his wife, Mina. He started his first convenience store in 1981 and, over the next 15 years built a very strong business. However, it meant long hours and no holidays, so the couple decided that they would sell their store and look for an equally lucrative, but less stressful, business.
why choose BB’s?
Shashi, then in partnership with his brother, decided on a franchise business and attended the Franchise Exhibition where he met Phil Abbott, who had just started to sell the BB’s franchise. There were no outlets open but Shashi was wowed by Phil’s enthusiasm and went over to Australia to see the operation there. That experience made up his mind for him and on his return the company took on their first outlet in Bury – the fourth BB’s to open in England.
In 2001, Shashi and his brother demerged to set up separate businesses, allowing Shashi the freedom to implement his own ideas of building the business. Shashi is an enthusiastic, self-motivated individual who is determined to be a successful businessman and in BB’s he has found the vehicle by which he can achieve his goals.
motivation
Shashi wants to be the best businessman he can be and to build a sound, successful company within the BB’s franchise. He and Mina are very hands on in the business, although he now has an area manager, who supervises the managers of the cafés.
“You don’t need a degree to do well,” says Shashi “just passion and dedication. I know this business inside out and for the first 18 months we were always in one of the cafés. Today I am able to stand back and run the business but with the same – or better – amount of knowledge as my staff.”
running the business
Shashi works from a home office – “You don’t need an elaborate head office, and my staff know they can call me anytime.&rdquo. All his cafés are within a 1 ½ hour drive from his home so that if there are problems, he can be there quickly to put things right – and mix the muffins if necessary!
To run the business efficiently, two Area Managers report into a General Manager. Each of them have responsibility for a number of cafés. Each café is run as a separate entity, with daily reports going to the Area Managers who provide Shashi with a weekly summary. The Area Managers and General Manager train the Café Managers, who in turn train their staff.
challenges
Getting the right people working in his BB’s cafés is Shashi’s greatest challenge. He encourages them to stay by keeping communications open so they have a clear understanding of what is expected with them and by creating a family atmosphere. He shares his plans with them so they are enthusiastic about expansion and see where they fit into the business.
key business philosophies
- Communication: with staff and with customers.
- Knowledge: knowing the product and procedures so that you can serve the customers with the best food and drinks in a friendly way.
- Dedication: determination to be the best.
- Keeping close to the figures: making sure that you always know how the business is doing, so that food and labour costs stay within budget.
- Training: training well to ensure staff know what they are doing and then standing back and allowing the managers and staff to do their job.
summary
Shashi Patel feels that BB’s was definitely the right business decision for him. He believes that the concept has the right mix of menu offer, together with high quality and good value for money. The cafés offer a relaxed atmosphere for customers who can enjoy freshly made food and drinks as a break from shopping or work.
“BB’s has two great things going for it - the concept perfectly fits the English weather and the business is simple to operate,” says Shashi.
 back
|
