Meet Successful Franchise Owner Lomesh Amin
The Windy City Is Extra Cool Thanks To Franchisee Lomesh Amin
Lomesh is the king of sweet-tooth satisfaction in Chicago and across Illinois and Wisconsin, serving up yummy frozen yogurt and irresistible freshly baked cookies. He’s been with Famous Brands since 2002 when he opened his first Mrs. Fields franchise. His first TCBY frozen yogurt chain opened several years later in 2011. Then when the opportunity became available to do dual branding, he jumped on it because it just made such good sense to him. We recently sat down and talked to Lomesh about his experience with TCBY and Mrs. Fields. Here’s what he had to share with us.
FB: What is your professional background?
LA: I’m an entrepreneur at heart. I always wanted to own my own business. My first venture in the quick service market was with Dunkin Donuts. I’ve also owned restaurants as well as an Auntie Anne’s franchise. So, I had quite a bit of experience before I opened my first Mrs. Fields franchise.
FB: What led you to the decision to buy a Mrs. Fields franchise?
LA: For me, the process was pretty easy. It actually happened quite organically. I’ve always enjoyed eating Mrs. Fields cookies a lot, which got me to thinking that a lot of other people probably did too. I did my research and saw how successful the franchise system is, so I knew I wanted to buy one. My next step was to be persistent about getting a great location in the North Riverside Mall in Illinois. I got the location, and the frozen yogurt chain business just took off. Seeing this success, I knew I wanted to expand throughout the Chicago market, which I have. I also have locations in Wisconsin. My four locations are in malls with the exception of one that is in downtown Chicago. I love that they offer so many non-traditional storefront options as well.
FB: How has our dual branding concept worked for you?
LA: Amazingly well! I love it! The reason I love it is because it has worked incredibly well to boost sales, and it also opened up a new clientele for me that I wouldn’t have otherwise had access to. Now with the frozen yogurt, smoothies, shakes, yogurt cakes, cookies, and cookie cakes, we truly have something for every age group and every sweet tooth. Dual branding enables me to take advantage of two iconic brands that complement each other very well while enabling me to cater to the tastes of all generations.
FB: What advice would you offer someone considering a TCBY/Mrs. Fields franchise?
LA: Well, the good news is that this is honestly by far the easiest and most profitable franchise I’ve ever owned. Once you secure a good location, the rest is pretty easy because the winning formula has already been created for you.
FB: Should only experienced entrepreneurs buy a TCBY and Mrs. Fields franchise?
LA: Absolutely not! If you don’t have any previous experience, then this frozen yogurt chain franchise experience is perfect for you too. The reason I say this is because everything has already been meticulously thought out for you. The ease of operation and all of the support you get from corporate is so beneficial. You can truly be up and running in a very little amount of time – a couple of days. And be profitable!
FB: What do you think sets TCBY and Mrs. Fields apart from the competition?
LA: Let’s face it, there’s a lot of competition in any business. This one is no exception; however, the dual branding concept gives you two iconic brands that customers already know and love and that have managed to stand the test of time and still be cool. That’s powerful, and it helps you immediately stand out from the competition. It also enables you to provide a greater variety of delicious offerings that the competition doesn’t have, which appeals to customers’ varying tastes. And, the new design format for the dual branded stores is super hip. It’s really contemporary with bright, cheerful colors that grab attention and invite customers to come in, relax, have fun, and eat some really good sweet treats.
