I love that. Although I did not want to focus on COVID-19 in this interview, it is difficult to ignore its impact on the restaurant community as well as franchisees in general. Because sure, the smoothies sell well and all, but did you know about the Chipotle Chicken Club flatbread sandwich? We consider ourselves to be an approachable, healthier option for the average American, and our customer loyalty system-wide continues to climb. In support of National Nurses Appreciation Month in May, we have also pledged to donate $100,000 to the American Nurses Foundations COVID-19 Response Fund upon reaching our goal of giving away 1,000,000 smoothies. Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Mark serves on the board of the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives. So that would be my thoughts. No Place Like Home: Home Service Franchises Enjoy Continued Growth During Times Of Financial Difficulty, Little Caesars Pizza Franchise Set To Relaunch In The UK, The Importance Of Having A Franchise Exit Strategy. For the fiscal year 2021, these End-Cap and In-Line Tropical Smoothie Cafe Restaurants typically ranged in size from 1,200 to 1,900 square feet. I joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe in 2010 as the Vice President of Franchise Development and, in 2016, became the Chief Development Officer, where I was responsible for all aspects of the development of the brand. Weve been in partnership with them for over 10 years now. Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC, 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite W200, Atlanta, GA 30338. Watson:"When COVID-19 struck the restaurant landscape in mid-March, we closed all dining rooms and shifted our focus to drive-thru, curbside pickup, and delivery where available. He's no stranger to franchise development, nor is Charles Watson an outsider, having served four years as the company's Chief Development Officer in addition to his prior role as VP of Franchise Development. I have a lot of people that inspire me daily, but I really do think that my parents inspired me to be the leader I am today. The company's goal is to . In July 2018, I was named interim CEO, and then permanent in December 2018.". 770-580-2333 770-580-2333, Bold Women in the C-Suite: Cheryl Fletcher, Connect with People Who Have More Experience: Interview with Charles Watson, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Tropical Smoothie Cafe Celebrates Spring With The Return Of Superfruit Smoothies. Cheryl Fletcher joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe in July of 2017. As reopening guidelines are being determined, we plan to move forward with an abundance of caution. Jan 2010 - Nov 20155 years 11 months. Every day is a day to celebrate at Tropical Smoothie Cafe, with all the success were having. Mark serves on the board of the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives. Watson:"We were in a good place! Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO Charles Watson has been with the company for more than 10 years and is passionate about supporting the franchise systems sustainable growth, the success of its franchisees, and the execution of the brands Inspire Better mission. In short, franchisees needed to know that there was a formal mechanism of their peers that was constantly feeding back to us at the Support Center. Our company sells about 200 franchises, opens over 120 cafes a year, and has more than 500 locations in the pipeline. Occhiogrosso: What are some of the additional support initiatives you put in place for your franchise community during the pandemic? Were right, exactly where It was a little bit of a step back in 2020, but in 2021, our year-to-date comparative sales are [up] almost 30%. We consider ourselves to be an approachable, healthier option for the average American, and our customer loyalty system-wide continues to climb. See where were looking to grow to meet the incredible demand. charles watson tropical smoothie net worth We like to call it chopping wood, meaning you dont decide when quitting time is; you simply get the work done. Occhiogrosso: During the current COVID-19 crisis, what steps have you taken to ensure that Tropical Smoothie Cafe supports the local community? Successfully taking the reins on an existing franchise company can be a daunting task, but in the case of Charles Watson, he continues, as their franchise website claims, to create waves for a brand that started on the beach. charles watson tropical smoothie net worth. Here's how CEO Charles Watson did it. wills o' nats last of the summer wine. The chain plans on opening an astonishing 200 locations this year alone, which will mean its opening its 1000threstaurant. CEO Charles Watson says that the company is "99.9 percent franchise," which means that most of the locations are owned independently. SUCH REGISTRATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE APPROVAL, RECOMMENDATION OR ENDORSEMENT BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CORPORATIONS NOR A FINDING BY THE COMMISSIONER THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HEREIN IS TRUE, COMPLETE AND NOT MISLEADING. Again, the franchising, especially in Tropical Smoothie, it is a local business. shin numbness after acl surgery; first friday phoenix vendor application; benton high school baseball roster; surprise message link for boyfriend Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC . Prior to Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Mark served as Chief Marketing Officer with Floor Coverings International where he was responsible for driving the brands digital transformation and leadership position in service-based franchising. Right next to that is our relationship with our Franchise Owners. . 2020, 2019, and 2018 average, median, highest, and lowest net revenues, number of stores, and number and percentage of stores that surpassed the average net revenues in the category for the top 10%, top 25%, . Charles is a graduate of The Hotel School at Cornell University and holds a Master of Business Administration from The Terry College of Business at The University of Georgia. In her role as Chief Development Officer, Cheryl drives the brands franchise development sales, real estate and design and construction. I would say Im absolutely not opposed to being in all 50 states. The chain plans on opening an astonishing 200 locations this year alone, which will mean it's opening its 1000th restaurant. ", Charles Watson was named CEO in December 2018. Tropical Smoothie Cafe has deals in place . If you don't have a Tropical Smoothie Cafe near your home yet, just wait a bit. Occhiogrosso: How do you feel about franchise advisory councils? Paul Marsden oversees development and execution of financial strategies to support the companys business plans. So I think theres a misconception with some brands that, for example a Slurpee, its not at all a Slurpee, its absolutely whole real fruit, ice, water, very basic items. In a highly competitive segment, we're one of the fastest-growing quick-casual brands, opening 124 new locations in 2019 alone and singing 213 development agreements to open hundreds of businesses over the next few years.". A shift leaders hourly wage is an average of $11. When asked about developing people skills with a generation used to communicating online, Its an opportunity for us as managers and Franchise Owners to teach the staff how to greet people, look them in the eye, and ask how may I serve you today? Its our job to teach the next generation. Areas we wanted to attack immediately with our rapid growth were direct franchisee support as well as technology support and menu innovation. At the end of the day, we are a restaurant company and how great our food and smoothies are determines [success]. It hopes to keep all its new customers. Your results may differ. In this role, Mark leads brand, marketing, product, and digital innovations core functions of delivering the remarkable guest experience that drives Tropical Smoothie Cafes success. Previously with Papa Johns International as the Vice President, Global Digital Technology, Michael is a seasoned technology executive with vast engineering and operations expertise, leadership, and a deep understanding of digital technology and guest experiences. Passion is key in everything. Its getting involved in the local community. Really trying to understand how to see the world through a different stakeholders' eyes is something I still work on.". It is, however, a "darn good chaser," he said and . So weve been able to do that. Because 99% of Tropical Smoothie Cafe's system is franchisee-owned and operated, it was my goal to maintain consistency for them and move the company forward in the right direction, with a lot of reverence and respect for the past. So I think a great franchisee base, and products and innovation that people want. Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO Charles Watson has been with the company for more than 10 years and is passionate about supporting the franchise systems sustainable growth, the success of its franchisees, and the execution of the brands Inspire Better mission. Watson will lead us through our next phase of strategic growth. CEO Charles Watson, . . Watson discusses how and why the brand has seen a Q3 same-store sales jump of 19.5% during the pandemic Tropical Smoothie Cafe on franchisee success during COVID-19 | Nation's Restaurant News No credit card required. And so I think thats only going to fuel our continued growth going forward. . As reopening guidelines are being determined, we plan to move forward with an abundance of caution.". Right now Im on a Mango Berry Cosmo kick. When our franchisees are successful, the brand is successful. In my experience, making franchisee success and profitability the priority is the key to the longevity of any franchised brand. CALIFORNIA DISCLAIMER: THESE FRANCHISES HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE FRANCHISE INVESTMENT LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. Under his leadership, the Tropical Smoothie Cafe system grew from 265 open units to 725 open units. Well, we just talked about Camp Sunshine and we have a smoothie called the Sunshine Smoothie that is orange and mango based. Charles Watson is Chief Executive Officer at Tropical Smoothie Cafe Corp. See Charles Watson's compensation, career history, education, & memberships. Mark Montini joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe as Chief Marketing Officer in October 2019. Its a fantastic organization that weve enjoyed immensely being part of. Weve implemented various franchisee support initiatives, including decreased royalties by 50%, ongoing support with PPP loans and real estate deferrals and abatements, rolling out curbside delivery systemwide, deployed hyper-local marketing strategies to drive business within a 12-mile radius of cafes, among many others. Watson has been with Tropical Smoothie Cafe for many years now, so he has seen the growth up close. And what we were able to do is to take a smaller organization that was scrappy, just like Tropical Smoothie Cafe, and really build their endowment and really serve a lot of families. Call now and speak to a franchise development leader. Our relationships are founded on trust and respect for the unique talents of our teams, franchisees, and vendors alike. Tropical Smoothie Caf works to keep its momentum. Total investment for a new cafe opening ranges between $246,500 and $580,500. My mentality and passion for what I do has remained consistent at every stage of my career, carrying over to when I first started with Tropical Smoothie Cafe in 2010, as the brands first vice president of franchise development. Watson has more than 10 years of experience with Tropical Smoothie Cafe and led our franchise development efforts since 2010. Tropical Smoothie Cafe's primary competitors include Del Taco, Jack in the Box, El Pollo Loco and 19 more. In July 2018, I was named interim CEO, and then permanent in December 2018.". I was born with a strong work ethic. CEO Charles Watson, along with his leadership team, will be hosting an informative event at the franchised Tropical Smoothie Cafe in Dallas-Fort Worth, located at 760 Airport Freeway, Suite 400 . The first thing is to be a business partner. Charles Watson has been the CEO since . With extensive experience in the food service industry, Paul comes to Tropical Smoothie Cafe from Popeyes, where he served as the Chief Accounting Officer and spent nearly two decades working in the brands financial and accounting departments. Are there misconceptions about smoothies you want cleared up? And we actually drove our comparative sales versus 2019 by 7.5%. Richard Key serves as the Chief Operations Officer, responsible for overseeing the operations team and its support and training of the Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise community. The best smoothie in terms of sales actually going on right now is our Mango Berry Cosmo. Whats the best piece of advice that other restaurant executives should hear? Tropical Smoothie Cafe's Profile, Revenue and Employees. At the start of his career, Michaels ambitious spirit led him to develop a point of sale system, Hot Sauce. Is there a smoothie that you personally are thrilled is on the menu, but just dont enjoy yourself? Watson: "Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a national fast-casual cafe concept inspiring healthier lifestyles with more than 850 locations in 44 states. Prior to joining Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Pete served as the Deputy General Counsel and Chief Compliance/Risk Officer at Popeyes for over 10 years and has extensive experience handling corporate transactions, both in-house and in private practice. Smoothie King to Open More Than 100 Stores in 2023 February 3, 2023 Crisp & Green Inks Largest Multi-Unit Deal in Company History with 40 Units Sold February 2, 2023 Dine Brands International Expands with Dual-Brand Locations in the Middle East January 31, 2023 Charles is a graduate of The Hotel School at Cornell University and holds a Master of Business Administration from The Terry College of Business at The University of Georgia. The most common Tropical Smoothie Cafe email format is [first_initial] [last] (ex. As a brand, we strive for excellence in service and creating a culture of hospitality for our business no matter which location you visit, and this year we're prioritizing them even further by enhancing pillars of our hospitality-centric culture and the technology we use to create convenience for our guests in order to reinforce our position as the leader in our segment. Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO Charles Watson Tells Us Everything About The Franchise - Exclusive Interview. 770-580-2333 How are we purpose-driven? And were rolling that out under our tagline of Inspire Better. Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC, 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite W200, Atlanta, GA 30338. When I became CEO, I launched a formal franchisee advisory council, known in our organization as the Tropical Franchisee Council (TFC). John Joseph Dallier, 61, passed away suddenly at home after severe health complications. I wont lie, it was a blow to the ego at first, but it taught me what being a role player means and how important every role is to the bigger picture. He was previously Tropical Smoothie Cafe's Chief Development Officer since 2016, after serving as VP of Franchise Development since 2010. And it has been a fantastic partnership because we can see the benefit of the dollars that were putting in. For more information about owning a Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise, complete our form! So in cities where you see a lot of brand-awareness and a lot of units, we will have moved into the core center-city demographics, but we typically work outside in. "Tropical Smoothie Cafe is in a perfect position for the future. we dont want to go to Manhattan and open 30 locations. Its doing more than just being in business to sell food and smoothies. Michael brings 20 years of foundational IT skills and core functions of digital knowledge critical to shaping our journey to reach guests via innovative technologies. F-9894), New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite W200 If your Franchised Business includes a drive-thru, the additional expense (including the cost of leasehold improvements, restaurant fixtures and equipment, and other costs) would be approximately $35,000 to $45,000. Prior to joining Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Richard was the Vice President of Operations, West Division, for Papa Murphys International where he was responsible for field operations and marketing. Charles is a graduate of The Hotel School at Cornell University and also holds a Masters of Business Administration from The Terry School of Business at The University of Georgia. While we had always involved franchisees, I felt it needed to be formalized and more visible to our franchise system. Michael Lapid joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe in October of 2019 to the role of Chief Information and Digital Officer. Watson has been with Tropical Smoothie Cafe for many years now, so he has seen the growth up close. We're a healthier, quick . The smoothie-and-food chain has been a strong grower for years and turned on the jets so far in 2021. Mark serves on the board of the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives. There is no assurance that you will do as well. It is for information purposes only. Occhiogrosso: What challenges, if any, did you face in getting "buy-in" from the existing franchise community once you became CEO? But we want to also have a higher calling of what were doing to be great individuals and great corporate citizens. . At the start of his career, Michaels ambitious spirit led him to develop a point of sale system, Hot Sauce. TropicalSmoothie.com. The TFC works hand-in-hand with Tropical Smoothie on all facets of the business from operations, IT, marketing, construction, and beyond, and their genuine feedback continues to establish the open communication we strive for, helping us to enhance our business model on an ongoing basis. Thatll come down over time, but were going to open 130 cafes on top of that. Ivebeen with Tropical Smoothie since 2010 and was [first] our vice president of franchise development, he told Mashed. 770-821-1928, and a Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise development leader will reach out to you with more information. In these roles, Charles was responsible for all development of the Tropical Smoothie Cafe brand.