Graduate and ex-Office Manager, Gemma Thorne, explains why she chose the ChariSnack franchise back in 2005....

After completing a BA Hons Business Studies Degree and Post Graduate in Entrepreneurial Practice and then subsequently taking on an Office Manager role within the marketing sector, Gemma found that despite her success, she was struggling to meet her long term career aspirations and decided the time was right to look for an opportunity to take on greater challenges and run her own business.

Through considerable research, Gemma decided that franchising would be a great way to achieve her goals as she would have the independence to run her own business but would also have support from an experienced Franchisor to help guide her through the daunting prospect of setting up on her own and also help with the future development of her business.

Gemma was initially drawn to the ChariSnack franchise as healthy eating was a concept which interested her:

“Being able to provide this service directly to the public is a great concept, plus knowing that my work helps the National Blind Childrens Society is an extra bonus.”

Gemma also enthuses on the supplementary Sweet Support confectionary, scrumptious flapjacks and delicious 100% pure fruit smoothie ranges which are available to all ChariSnack franchisees:

“They are excellent ideas, the flapjacks have generated a large demand and I’m sure that with the recent introduction of the smoothie range, these will prove to be extremely popular too. The Sweet Support confectionery is a steady and constant range which helps supplement my core turnover and also offers a more diverse choice for my customers. As well as offering a healthier option, I can also offer my customers ’a bit of what they fancy’ too! The continuous introduction of new product ranges is extremely important for the business as it creates a new interest for the customers, which importantly generates an increase in sales.”

Gemma’s previous experience of working as an office manager has certainly helped to establish excellent customer service skills which she has been able to apply to her business and aid her proactive attempts to establish new sites and make a success of her business.

Having invested in the Cardiff franchise territory for ChariSnack in 2005, Gemma reflects on what she most likes about running her own business and more importantly, explains her plans for the future:

“My ChariSnack business has been very fulfilling in terms of my career ambitions. The variety of my work as I complete on functions of the business, getting out there meeting people and having the independence of working for myself are all reasons why I am still running a successful franchise operation to this day.

The number of sites I have exceeds 260 which generates a healthy weekly turnover, and I have plans to increase that considerably over the next 6 months and continuously in the future. There are still big opportunities to increase the customer base in my territory even further through box sitings and retail opportunities. I am looking forward to seeing my business go from strength to strength!”