Posted:13-January-2021
Interview with Abhishek Sachdeva of Papa John's, St Helens
Franchisee: Abhishek Sachdeva
Territory: St Helens
Franchise: Papa John’s
Why did you go down the franchise route? And why did you choose a Papa John’s franchise?
I used to be a Shell forecourt franchisee so understood the franchising model. I had always been impressed with Papa John’s from the other side of the counter and I was a regular customer in Swindon for several years. The product is superior; using only 100% fresh dough definitely gives a better flavour. I firmly believe in the brand and concept of ‘better ingredients, better pizza’, so the choice was simple!
What did you do before taking up a franchise?
Before launching a Papa John’s franchise business, I used to be a Shell forecourt franchisee.
How did you raise the finance?
I was able to finance the franchise from a combination of savings and a business loan. In addition, we were able to take advantage of the incentive scheme recently launched by Papa John’s. It is designed to help franchisees in the early stages of growing their businesses so it includes discounted royalty fees, a contribution towards marketing spend plus free equipment for new stores opening certain the enterprise development zones such as the North. This really did provide significant savings when setting up.
What training and support did you receive initially and ongoing?
Papa John’s training is excellent. I attended the intensive head office training course. However, training staff is an ongoing commitment and can be challenging, our recruits got a head-start, accessing the Company’s online learning system and this was followed up with ten days in-store with a Papa John’s dedicated trainer to ensure everyone was ready to serve up the best pizza in town on our opening day!
What is a typical day for you as a franchisee?
I spend the part of the day working on admin, marketing and also planning our new store openings. Then I spend time in-store at our St Helen’s franchise, overseeing staff and helping out during our busiest times. It’s a long day but rewarding as it’s our own business.
What challenges have you faced?
To be honest, setting up was made as straight forward as possible with help from Papa John’s staff. For the new outlets we have planned, securing the location and making sure everything is ready for the opening day is probably one of the biggest tasks.
Has becoming a franchisee changed your life, if so how?
Becoming a franchisee has been immensely beneficial to my life. Being my own boss means my family and I are directly rewarded for the effort we put in. This is particularly motivating! I also now work with my partner Kanika, so we get to spend more time together.
What marketing/promotional tools do you use to grow your franchise?
Our St Helens Papa John’s has a great city centre location which has attracted a high footfall right from the first day of opening. The customer response and feedback so far has been amazing and within one day we had 500 ‘likes’ on our facebook page! We also use leafleting locally and Papa John’s has recently started a national advertising campaign.
What differentiates your franchise from the competition?
What differentiates Papa John’s from the competition is that, I believe, the quality of the pizza is quite simply better! Fresh ingredients combined with our commitment to great service means our customers always come back for more!
In your opinion, what makes a successful franchisee?
To be a successful franchisee you need to be committed and to work hard. You also have to believe in the franchise brand you represent.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of buying their first franchise?
If you are considering becoming a franchisee, it is important to choose an industry which you will enjoy working in. A growing sector is necessary from a financial point of view and the figures absolutely have to stack-up. You also need a franchisor who is supportive in order for you to achieve success.
What are your plans for the future?
We are really excited about the future with Papa John’s. Papa John’s now has more than 280 stores in the UK and the Company has a solid growth strategy and we are very much looking forward to being part of that expansion. We have already signed up to open four further Papa John’s outlets in the North West within the next 18 months.
Would you do it again?
Yes, absolutely!
Interested and want to know more about Papa Johns?
The Papa Johns basic profile outlines aspects of their franchise opportunity
