Watson:"As a first time CEO, learning to view the business from a thinking vs. a doing mentality was a challenge I faced. 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. 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. See where were looking to grow to meet the incredible demand. Then we determined two focus areas, giving back to the community and prioritizing support for our franchisees. Beyond that, we need to provide training. 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. All of this information may look daunting, yet . He sat down to do an interview with Tim Tang and talked about how his brand is innovating to meet the needs of todays consumers. We strive to continue to harness these relationships in this way and feel that this approach will continue to fuel our success. 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. We want to be an escape for our consumers in this hectic world we live, and an incredible business model for our franchise partners It's an exciting time to be a fast-casual concept within this segment, specifically as the market size of the juice and smoothie bars industry is expected to increase by 2.3% in 2020, reaching nearly $3 billion in revenue across the globe. This information is not intended as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a franchise. 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. Its only here until August. Watson has worked for the brand for more than 10 years and has been its chief development officer since 2015. We had a high level of mutual trust and respect for each other that existed before I assumed the role of CEO. By Jonathan Maze on Apr. Theres an obvious answer for me here, and thats to put your heart into what you do. Prior to being named CEO in 2018, Charles served as the chief development officer for Tropical Smoothie Cafe. I wont lie, it was a blow to the ego at first, but it taught me what being a role player means and how important every role is to the bigger picture. Paul Marsden oversees development and execution of financial strategies to support the companys business plans. So again, I mentioned earlier menu innovation. My job is to serve them. I would say that understanding the viewpoints and drivers of the different stakeholders I was serving was important. In support of National Nurses Appreciation Month in May, we have also pledged to donate $100,000 to the American Nurses Foundations COVID-19 Response Fund upon reaching our goal of giving away 1,000,000 smoothies. We figured a good person to ask might be the CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Charles Watson. Your results may differ. 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. What is something you wish more people knew about the chain and its products? "Our franchisees are the heart of our brand, so we wanted to make sure we were doing everything we could to help them stay afloat through the crisis. For the fiscal year 2021, these End-Cap and In-Line Tropical Smoothie Cafe Restaurants typically ranged in size from 1,200 to 1,900 square feet. . Paul Marsden oversees development and execution of financial strategies to support the companys business plans. Cheryl Fletcher joined Tropical Smoothie Cafe in July of 2017. The offering is by prospectus only. 770-580-2333 On the other hand, its hard to beat a plate of spaghetti. Smoothie King to Open More Than 100 Stores in 2023 February 3, 2023 Crisp & Green Inks Largest Multi-Unit Deal in Company History with 40 Units Sold February 2, 2023 Dine Brands International Expands with Dual-Brand Locations in the Middle East January 31, 2023 Watson: "Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a national fast-casual cafe concept inspiring healthier lifestyles with more than 850 locations in 44 states. Prior to joining Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Richard was the Vice President of Operations, West Division, for Papa Murphys International where he was responsible for field operations and marketing. "As a first time CEO, learning to view the business from a thinking vs. a doing mentality was a challenge I faced. And it has been a fantastic partnership because we can see the benefit of the dollars that were putting in. 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite W200 There is no assurance that you will do as well. 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. 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. menu boasts bold, flavorful smoothies with a healthy appeal, all made-to-order with quality ingredients. Atlanta, GA 30338 Maybe you made somebodys day just 1 percent better; you still had a positive impact. 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. Mark serves on the board of the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives. As CEO, Watsons goal is to achieve $1 billion in sales and more than 1,500 cafes by 2023. Show them that we care. And drive their economic engine. 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. We must be able to service the guests who want to be on demand.. Call now and speak to a franchise development leader. CLOSE. Chipotle chicken flatbread. So since I like it, and since we love Camp Sunshine, we may see that this fall. So I think theres a misconception with some brands that, for example a Slurpee, its not at all a Slurpee, its absolutely whole real fruit, ice, water, very basic items. Mr. Watson was appointed the CEO position of Tropical Smoothie Cafe in December 2018. Yes, it has a brand name on it, but it is Bill and Sally Smith on the corner and theyre entrepreneurs. So were a brand thats going to be close to pushing a 3:1 investment ratio. Tropical Smoothie Caf currently has over 800 locations nationwide. 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. Related Posts. At the end of the day, we are a restaurant company and how great our food and smoothies are determines [success]. I may have a trick or two up my sleeve I do get to make some decisions occasionally around here. Charles Watson:"Prior to joining Tropical Smoothie Cafe, I worked for several hotel and hospitality-centric companies, including Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Intercontinental Hotels Group, US Franchise Systems, Inc. and Hospitality Real Estate Counselors. Richard has served in a franchise operations capacity for more than 20 years with brands such as TCBY, Carvel, and Moes Southwest Grill. So we managed to get through that. Is there a smoothie that you personally are thrilled is on the menu, but just dont enjoy yourself? "Like I said, I was very fortunate to have had already developed relationships with our franchise community prior to becoming CEO. Mark serves on the board of the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives. We're a healthier, quick . How are we purpose-driven? And were rolling that out under our tagline of Inspire Better. I learned through watching them success shouldnt be measured in hours worked, but rather in getting the job done right. Watson:"I wanted to further instill a franchisee-first mentality. cincinnati fence company llc SERVICE. Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Occhiogrosso: What was the condition of the company before you were named CEO? But its the freshness. Charles also serves on the boards of the International Franchise Association (IFA) and the Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) program. 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. Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota (File No. And provide technology.. 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 recently joined his team in celebrating the opening of the 1,000th Tropical Smoothie Cafe location. We find that real fruits, veggies, and juices just taste better.". Now were really taking the lead from our franchisees and building out DMAs organically from outside them. New York State Disclaimer: This advertisement is not an offering. NET WORTH * LIQUID CAPITAL/CASH . 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. 770-580-2333 Interested candidates should have business experience, along with a minimum net worth of $350,000 which includes $125,000 in liquid assets. Tropical Smoothie Cafe Store Managers make an average of $39,252 per year. While the pandemic destroyed thousands of restaurants last year, Atlanta-based Tropical Smoothie Cafe had one of its best years to date. Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota (File No.