Tag Archives: Maui Wowi

Maui Wowi Franchise Targets Texas for Expansion

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Maui Wowi is dedicated to providing business opportunities for our military veterans. The franchise continues to expand, and is taking on Texas this year.

Maui Wowi reported that they will target Texas as a market for big growth. This development announcement stems from the success of the franchisees currently operating in the Greater Houston area and throughout Texas.

To kick off the company’s expansion efforts, Maui Wowi will exhibit at Booth #230 at one of its most successful event venues, Reliant Park, for the International Franchise Association’s (IFA) Franchise Expo South in Houston, February 6–8. Houston franchisees and directors of regional support Rob and Jean McLean will spearhead franchise development expansion in the market. The company is currently seeking new franchise partners throughout the Houston area to add brick-and-mortar locations or mobile units.

“As newly minted members of the franchise support team in Houston, we’re looking forward to connecting with potential franchisees at the expo and introducing them to the ‘Aloha Spirit’ and flexible business models that Maui Wowi offers,” says Jean McLean. “Sharing our franchise insight and personal experiences with the company at the expo will be a catalyst for further development in Houston and on a larger scale throughout Texas.”

The McLeans bring with them experience from their record-setting sales using their mobile cart business at the Reliant Stadium. To date, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in 2013 was the McLeans’ biggest event yet. Twenty-one days, 2.5 million people, eight Maui Wowi mobile carts, and thousands of smoothies sold, the McLeans says, “We did a good portion of our sales for the whole year in just those three weeks. It was wild.”

They plan to bring that same energy and appetite for success to the stadium yet again. Justin Livingston, Vice president of business development at Maui Wowi, and Adam Benshoof, development manager, will also join them at the expo to discuss the franchise opportunity with attendees.

“After successful events year after year at Reliant Park and throughout Texas, buzz is beginning to build about Maui Wowi in the market,” Livingston says. “There’s a huge demand for healthy beverage options in Houston, especially at heavily attended events, and we’re eager to partner with entrepreneurs involved in the community who want a fun, rewarding and flexible career.”

To augment the company’s growth, Maui Wowi is seeking passionate franchisees with the resources and capacity to create and manage a franchise investment opportunity in the fast-casual or event business. Maui Wowi offers four business models for prospective franchisees interested in a low-cost start up with scalability potential, including Ka’anapali mobile carts, catering units, kiosks, and brick-and-mortar stores. Depending on the format, start-up costs range between $75,000 and $300,000.

 

Information on this article was first listed on QSR, and can be found here.

5 Business Lessons Military Veteran Franchisees Have For You

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I recently read a great article on Entrepreneur.com (find here) about veterans currently in the franchising industry. The veterans interviewed give advice about the lessons they’ve learned in the military and the way in which those lessons translate to their business. Here of some of my favorites:

1. YOUR LEADERSHIP SKILLS
Amit Kleinberger, the CEP of Menchie’s, a frozen yogurt franchise, discusses how the military shaped his unique leadership style. He says that “Often what I explain to people is that the military is considered by many as the finest institution in the world for leadership because it really places people in tough situations. When you’re in combat in tough situations, people don’t follow you because you tell them to follow you, they follow you because they believe who you are.”
2. YOUR ABILITY TO TAKE INTIATIVE
While in the military there is a very set way of doing things; there are also opportunities for taking initiative and making decisions within those boundaries. Gordon Logan, the founder of Sports Clips, comments that “You can’t always call home to get instructions when you’re in a combat situation or a stressful situation. Those same skills transfer quite readily to franchising.”

3. PLANNING AND THEN BEING WILLING TO CHANGE THE PLAN
This is a crucial skill that the military teaches. Adaptability is important in any job, including the franchising industry. Veterans learn how to set goals, and execute the plan during their service, but just as with any plan in life, things are going to go wrong, and you will have to be flexible.

4. TAKING A LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE
It’s a crucial skill, in the military and in business, to while paying attention to details of the task at hand, not losing sight of the main objective. Jenna Bazdaric, a tropical smoothie owner in Poughkeepsie, NY, says “In the military you learn to manage a lot of things at one time because there are a lot of moving parts involved in missions… As an owner-operator, I have to know what’s going on on a day-to-day basis but also keep my eye on the bigger picture.”

5. CONFIDENCE IS KEY
Vinay Chadha, a Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffee and Smoothies owner in San Diego, CA says “One of the most important traits I developed while in the military is confidence. What I found was that nothing is out of reach as long as you work hard, continually feed your mind with knowledge, and know yourself and what you are capable of nothing can get in the way of your goals.” When you trust yourself and your abilities, you are a whole lot more likely to succeed.

What lessons have you learned in the military that translate to your business skills? Share your lessons in our comments section below!