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.