It's tropic time. Occhiogrosso: How do you feel about franchise advisory councils? As reopening guidelines are being determined, we plan to move forward with an abundance of caution. 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. final four 2022 euroleague tickets. charles watson tropical smoothie net worth - blantyremalaria.org 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. A presentation for a board is focused on very different things than a franchisee roadshow. Jul. . Tropical Smoothie Caf is a Georgia LLC organized on June 25, 2012. 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. In these roles, Charles was responsible for all development of the Tropical Smoothie Cafe brand. So that would be my thoughts. And the other misconception, whether you think its uber healthy or not so healthy, is that you, the consumer, the guest have all the choice in the world. Those franchisees are serving our guests on the front lines I can't run this business without their candid feedback.". Husband-And-Wife Team Inspire Better | Tropical Smoothie Cafe 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. Charles also serves on the boards of the International Franchise Association (IFA) and the Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) program. Right now we have a BLT quesadilla. Watson: "I'm a huge advocate for franchise advisory councils, specifically when nearly 60% of all franchise agreements at Tropical Smoothie Cafe come from existing franchisees. For me, my entrepreneurial passion really came from my parents. The success of our brand is about the talent and drive of our talented executives and Support Center team. In a franchise system, without broad franchisee buy-in, you cannot move as efficiently and effectively as is required in today's business environment.". NET WORTH * LIQUID CAPITAL/CASH AVAILABLE FOR INVESTMENT * *All fields required. Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota (File No. Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Our annual tactics are focused around delivering those results.". 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. 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. Total revenues were $58 million while expenses were only $41 million, indicating a healthy profit margin of around 30%. We gathered that feedback and used it to set goals and action plans for the company. Our company sells about 200 franchises, opens over 120 cafes a year, and has more than 500 locations in the pipeline. Charles Watson named Tropical Smoothie CEO Ill start with the fact that I believe that convenience is king. I think the biggest shift will take place for those restaurants that can't be open right now. An Interview With Tropical Smoothie Cafe's CEO, Charles Watson - Forbes 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. 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 that, she spent 22 years at BBDO Worldwide, where she was executive vice president and senior director for the global advertising powerhouse, leading campaign strategy and execution for many large national brands. Fast CasualAn interview with Tim Tang of HughesDecember 2, 2019. Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC, 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite W200, Atlanta, GA 30338. So Ive got to get them in while I can. And at Tropical Smoothie Cafe, we really focus on the fresh ingredients. Today's post focus' on that topic in an interview with Charles Watson, the CEO of Tropical Smoothie Caf. In this role, he is responsible for the brand's strategic vision and overall franchise performance. 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. When I became CEO, I launched a formal franchisee advisory council, known in our organization as the Tropical Franchisee Council (TFC). What were the one or two unique challenges that you faced upon taking over as CEO? Tropical Smoothie Cafe's Competitors, Revenue, Number of - Owler Tropical Smoothie Cafe chases big dreams, pandemic or not Other common Tropical Smoothie Cafe email . He was previously. It posted its ninth consecutive year of positive same-store sales, with 2020 same-stores up 7.5%. Our franchisees and their teams are the faces community members see daily, and the dedication from them is truly whats given us so much success in recent years. Complete the form or call 770-821-1928, and a Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise development leader will reach out to you with more information. 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.". Chief Development Officer since 2016, after serving as VP of Franchise Development since 2010. Always number one, what I am focused on, is unit-level economics for our Franchise Owners. Were now seeing a big acceleration in the business in 2021, much of that is attributable to our franchisees, really working hard to stand up digital channels. We like to call it chopping wood, meaning you dont decide when quitting time is; you simply get the work done. A veteran franchise professional, Charles has worked for several hospitality-related companies including Intercontinental Hotels Group and US Franchise Systems. Tropical Smoothie Cafe Franchise Review - Average, Median, Highest, and To what factors do you attribute the growth of the chain in recent years, and to its staying power? That ultimately is our vision for Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Building off this momentum, in 2019, we celebrated the openings of our 750th and 800th locations, but taking over during such a monumental time for our brand certainly brought opportunities to improve. So I would say our Island Green Detox is not my go-to, but I understand that should be my go-to from a health perspective. See where were looking to grow to meet the incredible demand. And I dont think enough people know that you can go off script to substitute or to take out, etc. Whats your favorite cuisine outside of Tropical Smoothie? A veteran hospitality professional . 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%, . 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 . 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. charles town entries So that was helpful! Early in his career, Mark served the franchise industry as a supplier, delivering innovative technology-enabled marketing strategies to help emerging franchise concepts rapidly scale and grow revenue through local-level marketing and sales. 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. Unresolved: Release in which this issue/RFE will be addressed. So I actually see myself very much like our consumer who wants to make better choices, but you know what? In conclusion, I believe the growth of Tropical Smoothie Cafe over the last two years demonstrates Mr. Watson's steady leadership and a clear understanding of building on the momentum that has made the brand a leader in its category. 2~10() . Those franchisees are serving our guests on the front lines I can't run this business without their candid feedback.". I love a good pot roast with mashed potatoes, green beans and corn. Previously, Cheryl held a 17-year tenure with Popeyes, during which she served as Vice President of Franchise Development, Vice President of Development Strategic Planning, and Director of Investor Relations and Finance. Tropical Smoothie Franchise Cost & Profit for 2023 Explained - Vetted Biz At the start of his career, Michaels ambitious spirit led him to develop a point of sale system, Hot Sauce. Atlanta, GA 30338 Under his leadership, the Tropical Smoothie Cafe system grew from 265 open units to 725 open units. I was lucky enough to work with the founders of the business (and still do as they are board members) as well as work under our first CEO, who did an amazing job. Charles has the tenacity, vision and passion this brand needs to continue our upward trajectory and will ensure the success of our franchisees is at the center of every decision we make, said Scott Pressly, Chairman of the Board, Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Occhiogrosso: What are some of the additional support initiatives you put in place for your franchise community during the pandemic? It hopes to keep all its new customers. And that really got us down this road of: What is our purpose? What are some of your interests outside of work? We had a high level of mutual trust and respect for each other that existed before I assumed the role of CEO. Luckily in my first two years as CEO, we continued to expand the footprint of the brand, and increase brand awareness, drive profitability for our franchisees and drive our comp sales. What was the condition of the company before you were named CEO? Charles Watson is Chief Executive Officer at Tropical Smoothie Cafe Corp. See Charles Watson's compensation, career history, education, & memberships. "I think when taking over any brand where you worked alongside your predecessor, there's a certain level of pressure to continue carrying the torch, but also to make necessary changes to the brand to evolve with the changing economy and consumer trends. 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. These early experiences in the workforce are what ignited my entrepreneurial spirit. Total investment for a new cafe opening ranges between $246,500 and $580,500. Charles Watson is currently an Atlanta-based correspondent for Fox News Mediacovering the southeastern portion of the United States. F-9894), New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Such filing does not constitute approval by the Department of Law. Vice President Franchise Development. Excludes non-traditional locations and Restaurants that were not open for at least 357 days in 2021. Its tough. Not the Charles Watson you were looking for? This information appears in Item 19 of our Franchise Disclosure Document. 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. charles watson tropical smoothie net worth And was one in place already? This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. We can go to camp, we can be counselors. Mark serves on the board of the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives. CALIFORNIA DISCLAIMER: THESE FRANCHISES HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE FRANCHISE INVESTMENT LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. I learned through watching them success shouldnt be measured in hours worked, but rather in getting the job done right. Well, we just talked about Camp Sunshine and we have a smoothie called the Sunshine Smoothie that is orange and mango based. And it has also driven franchise development and growth, so more units coming out. Tropical Smoothie Cafe Puts Franchisees, Community First During Crisis . Our annual tactics are focused around delivering those results.". But the Mango Berry Cosmo has overtaken it. Next year marks 25 years since the brands founding. That created a kind of blueprint that served as the foundation for me to take the reins and lead the company the way I felt was best. Based on our fiscal year ending 12/26/2021 and includes 768 Restaurants that were open for at least 12 months as of 12/26/2021. Glad Tidings: Are Seasonal Franchises A Good Investment? At the end of the day, we are a restaurant company and how great our food and smoothies are determines [success]. The guests who support local businesses in and around their communities are the ones we give the credit to because their loyalty to our cafes is what has ultimately maintained our ability to serve. Richard has served in a franchise operations capacity for more than 20 years with brands such as TCBY, Carvel, and Moes Southwest Grill. The range is based on estimated costs for End-Cap or In-Line Tropical Smoothie Cafe Restaurants, which include those located in or at strip style retail shopping centers but does not include drive-thrus. We gathered that feedback and used it to set goals and action plans for the company. Charles is directly responsible for selling more than 800 franchises during his tenure. Why The IFA Convention Is A Cant-Miss Event For Anyone In Franchising, The Automated Dumpling Restaurant Franchise That Could Turn Quick Service Dining On Its Head. Jan 2010 - Nov 20155 years 11 months. Show all. In my experience, making franchisee success and profitability the priority is the key to the longevity of any franchised brand. Charles Watson CEO. Management can grow a company without having to invest too much money, and . Were implementing a new point-of-sale system that acts as a hub and enables all third-party delivery, white label delivery, online ordering, etc. As CEO, Watsons goal is to achieve $1 billion in sales and more than 1,500 cafes by 2023. Occhiogrosso:What was your plan for the first 90 days? Then I was our chief development officer and Ive been our CEO for about three years now. Find restaurant equipment and suppliers. Now were really taking the lead from our franchisees and building out DMAs organically from outside them. John Joseph Dallier - Worldnews.com Early in his career, Mark served the franchise industry as a supplier, delivering innovative technology-enabled marketing strategies to help emerging franchise concepts rapidly scale and grow revenue through local-level marketing and sales. We want to capture both the head and the heart of our consumers. charles watson tropical smoothie net worth Excludes non-traditional locations and Restaurants that were not open for at least 357 days in 2021. And so I think thats only going to fuel our continued growth going forward. Weve been in partnership with them for over 10 years now. Again, the franchising, especially in Tropical Smoothie, it is a local business. At the start of his career, Michaels ambitious spirit led him to develop a point of sale system, Hot Sauce. We have three tenets in how we serve our Franchise Owners. Our relationships are founded on trust and respect for the unique talents of our teams, franchisees, and vendors alike. 770-580-2333, NRN Editors Discuss Digital Engagement with CMO Deborah von Kutzleben, In Her Own Words: Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchisees gain Cheryl Fletchers support, Tropical Smoothie Cafe Opens First Double Drive-Thru Location. 5 Questions with Tropical Smoothie CEO Charles Watson I love that. Chief Executive Officer @ Tropical Smoothie Cafe; . Charles Watson, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe was a recent attendee at the Fast Casual Executive Summit in Austin, Texas. 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. Here's how CEO Charles Watson did it. 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. Tropical Smoothie Cafe. It is for information purposes only. Right next to that is our relationship with our Franchise Owners. 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 He is directly responsible for selling more than 800 franchises. 770-580-2333 Show them that we care. This information appears in Item 19 of our Franchise Disclosure Document. How Much Do You Make Owning A Tropical Smoothie. An offering can only be made by prospectus filed first with the Department of Law of the State of New York. If you dont have a Tropical Smoothie Cafe near your home yet, just wait a bit. Pete Ward advises Tropical Smoothie Cafe on all legal and business matters, including franchising, real estate, labor and employment, litigation, intellectual property, licensing, and other commercial matters. So I was compelled to ask Mr. Watson his thoughts on the pandemic and the company's response. We decreased royalties and deployed hyper-local marketing strategies to drive business within a 1to 2-mile radius of cafes. Gary Occhiogrosso: Tell us a little about your background before joining Tropical Smoothie? Its the high quality ingredients. Watch the complete interview here or start your journey in becoming a Tropical Smoothie Cafe Franchise Owner by completing our form. 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. The role employees play in setting the customer experience in the restaurant. Tropical Smoothie Cafe drives strong development - Nation's Restaurant News 13, 2021, 08:36 AM. Then we determined two focus areas, giving back to the community and prioritizing support for our franchisees. Tropical Smoothie Cafe Appoints Charles Watson as New Vice President of Charles recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. Every day is a day to celebrate at Tropical Smoothie Cafe, with all the success were having. Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC, 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite W200, Atlanta, GA 30338. Looking ahead to twelve months or two years down the road, Watson had this to say: Tropical Smoothie Cafe is in an incredible growth phase. If you are a resident of or want to locate a franchise in one of these states, we will not offer you a franchise unless and until we have complied with applicable pre-sale registration and disclosure requirements in your state. "At Tropical Smoothie Cafe, it's our mission to inspire a healthier lifestyle by serving amazing food and smoothies, with a bit of tropical fun. Atlanta, GA 30338 CEO Charles Watson, who took the reins in 2019, said Tropical Smoothie's goal was to eclipse 1,000 restaurants by 2021 and 1,500 locations with AUVs of $1 million in the next five years. And so I think were right on pace. Mark Montini joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe as Chief Marketing Officer in October 2019. My experience with the brand up to that point was beneficial because I was already very immersed in the operations and processes that had contributed to its success at that time. F-9894), New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. 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. Those interested in becoming a franchisee should have $125,000 in liquid assets and a minimum net worth of $350,000. The success of our brand is about the talent and drive of our talented executives and Support Center team. Knowing that those essential workers are not only in the healthcare fields, weve also extended our giving to grocery store, warehouse and post office employees. He has been instrumental in developing the culture of Tropical Smoothie Cafe and earning the trust of our franchisees. Charles Watson, CFE - Chief Executive Officer - Tropical Smoothie Cafe So another boldly flavored product, thats been a number one seller for gosh, probably five, six years at this point. I dont believe that the people side of our business is dead.. I am forever grateful to our franchisees, support center team and our Board of Directors for their confidence in me as the leader who can guide Tropical Smoothie Cafe into a new era.. Charles recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. Fixed: Release in which this issue/RFE has been fixed.The release containing this fix may be available for download as an Early Access Release or a General Availability Release. "Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a national fast-casual cafe concept inspiring healthier lifestyles with more than 850 locations in 44 states. The impact of the more formalized committees we have set up, and the close connection I have with TFC has gotten the system more comfortable with my style and thinking, and I believe, since trust is earned, I still have a long way to go, but am off to a good start. Tell us a bit about Camp Sunshine, about the partnership there, what you want people to know about it, and ways people can help support it. Its getting involved in the local community. Occhiogrosso: How is taking the reins of an existing company different than being part of a startup or a founder? And so thats one of my favorites. The range is based on estimated costs for End-Cap or In-Line Tropical Smoothie Cafe Restaurants, which include those located in or at strip style retail shopping centers but does not include drive-thrus. Tropical Smoothie Cafe has deals in place for hundreds more locations in the pipeline and is on track to meet Charles aggressive goal to hit 1,500 locations by the end of 2024. Over the years, weve learned that our innovative and versatile menu, featuring a wide variety of food items in addition to smoothies, has brought tremendous success to our brand and to our incredible franchisees. The Untold Truth Of Tropical Smoothie Cafe - Mashed.com Occhiogrosso: How do you see the company moving forward? Without our franchisees, committees, and council, I simply could not do this job. Sometimes youve just got to go with the taste. And if you do that well, then your top-sellers, sometimes you beat them. Because we want to help with your meal and your food, etc. 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. In her role as Chief Development Officer, Cheryl drives the brands franchise development sales, real estate and design and construction. Within the first day, several local franchisees jumped on board and donated more than 600 smoothies each, and the donations just kept growing from there.