Q&A with Noel Montemayor, owner of two Yogurt Spot Franchises

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Ben Baggett

28 year old Noel Montemayor is the owner of two small yogurt franchises, The Yogurt Spot, in Houston, TX. Having recently opened his second TYS location in Houston, TX, Noel capitalized on the fact that although the "fro-yo" market was rapidly growing, few companies were targeting the South.  The young business owner took a gamble by going with a smaller name franchise and focusing more on customer relations.  

"What sets you apart from the others is not only being able to offer a great product, but an ongoing rapport with your patrons.  Located in areas that cater heavily to families and students, we like to know what is going on with our customers and the community so that we can offer our support."

Franchise Gator was delighted to ask Noel more about his business and the future of the Yogurt Spot.

How was The Yogurt Spot originally conceived and started? 

One of my friends offered me an opportunity to invest in the yogurt franchise. 

What was your original vision for The Yogurt Spot and how has that changed over time? 

I have 2 stores.  One has been open for a year and a half the other just about 3 months.  So my vision for my company is still the same.  Provide great customer service, a great product, and continue to reach out to the surrounding community.

What do you believe is the single most important factor when choosing a franchise? 

Making sure that they provide you the necessary support you need to succeed as well as a great product to sell and company branding.  

Why should someone choose The Yogurt Spot over other similar franchises? 

They are not as strict as other franchises and let your business try many other options to grow the business. 

What makes your industry attractive? 

In this day and age families, couples, individuals are more concerned with what they put in their body.  Yogurt is a very healthy product and provides many health benefits for consumers.  Also with the state of the economy, everyone is watching their wallet so with self serve shops customers pay for what they want.

Why has your franchise model been successful? 

We Work hard and are always willing to try new things to be successful.

Where do you see The Yogurt Spot in 5 years and 10 years? 

Hopefully still being a prominent player in the yogurt industry. 

What is your favorite advice for new franchisees to help them succeed? 

Be ready to work.  Owning your own business is not as easy as it seems.

On average, how long does it take to start a new Yogurt Spot from the franchisees point of view? 

It takes about 2 months including training.

What was your background and experience before founding this franchise?

 I worked for an oil services company as an auditor.