Why Miami Is a Good Market for a Planet Smoothie Franchise
Miami is an economically vibrant and dense city with warm temperatures year-round
Fernando Kohler
Planet Smoothie is expanding into the South Florida market and is looking for strong candidates to open Miami smoothie franchises. Miami is the ideal place for a smoothie profiteer — the city is densely populated, the gross domestic product was $263 billion in 2013 and the weather is warm year-round.
We are a smoothie franchise that sets itself apart by offering great-tasting smoothies with healthier ingredients. In a side-by-side comparison with our competitors, our smoothies generally have less sugar and fewer calories — a big competitive advantage as Americans seek healthier options. We are led by a team of veteran franchise executives who have helped build other iconic brands, including Mail Boxes Etc., and we leverage more than 100 years of combined franchising experience to provide outstanding support to franchisees.
We’re taking our expertise to the Miami market, and we’ve found five good reasons why the area would be great for any franchisee.
1. Miami is a dense area
Miami is the fourth-largest urban area in the United States; the Miami-Dade County area had an estimated population of 2.6 million in 2013, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
“High density is important, because your business will survive based on the number of customers you have per day,” says Fernando Kohler, Planet Smoothie’s area developer for South Florida. “There are so many restaurant options here that people don’t have to drive 30 minutes to find a place to eat. We want to be conveniently located so customers can visit us quickly and frequently. We’re looking at maps, numbers and demographics in pockets throughout the area. A Planet Smoothie franchisee is going to get a great location.”
2. Miami has a warm climate throughout the year
Sales don’t lag through the winter months. Our product can be nutritious if that’s what the customer desires — even a meal alternative for many — not simply a cold dessert. No matter how cold it is, there are health-conscious consumers at a Miami smoothie franchise any time of the year.
Mother Nature helps, too. According to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, temperatures rarely dip into the 50s throughout the year in South Florida. It also gets very hot in Miami, with temperatures around 90 during the warmer months.
“We have hot months throughout most of the year,” Fernando says. “Even our winter is mild. When we had really cold weather for a couple days, temperatures were in the 40s and sales dropped that day, but we still had people coming in to have a smoothie.”
3. Winter tourism drives sales
Miami’s peak season for tourism is the winter and spring months. Shirtless fire-jugglers surround tiki torches on the beach, while somewhere in the Midwest it’s snowing. Comfortable Oceanside temperatures are commonplace in the winter, and beachgoers get hungry after a long day under the warm, February sun. Many of them are not looking for a fatty cheeseburger and a Coke to finish off the day before they head to the flashing lights of the nightclubs of South Beach. They need a beverage that not only quenches their thirst and satisfies their hunger, but keeps them looking good.
Some of the locals prefer traveling in the summer when tourism is down and temperatures are bearable elsewhere, but business at a Miami smoothie franchise remains steady, and the refreshing product provides the cooldown that the customer needs.
“The city brings a lot more people in from November to March,” Fernando says. “During the summer, a few residents leave because of the hot temperatures, but Planet Smoothie holds on in terms of sales because ours is a drink that people crave during the summertime. That’s what makes our industry unique. Although there’s commercially a downward trend in the city, the smoothie is something that is steady. We also benefit from people’s New Year’s resolutions when they commit to a healthier lifestyle.”
4. People in Miami are always on the go
Not everyone going out for lunch wants an hour-long meal. Many people in Miami have to get something quick and head back to the office. The Miami smoothie franchise provides the convenience without the fast-food.
That’s what Fernando sees from his downtown location, surrounded by office buildings. “People are in a big hurry,” Fernando says. “They are snacking more than they used to. Snacks are an important part now. Instead of stopping at Starbucks and drinking a Frappucino loaded with sugar or getting a pound cake for 500 calories, you can have a healthier smoothie for 300 calories or less.”
There are currently three Planet Smoothie franchises in the Miami area.
5. Planet Smoothie offers strong leadership locally and nationwide
Fernando managed operations across Latin America for Subway before buying a franchise himself. He made sure the restaurants were in compliance, as well as equipped and supplied. As area developer with Planet Smoothie, Fernando will be performing those same tasks.
On a national level, Planet Smoothie franchisees receive extensive training, ongoing coaching and operations manuals. Training takes place four to 10 weeks before your Miami smoothie franchise opens, including two to three days of classroom training at our headquarters in Brentwood, Tennessee, and four days of in-store training at an operating Planet Smoothie. In most cases, in-store training will immediately follow your classroom training. When you open your own location, you will have seven to 10 days of on-site assistance, as well.
Franchisees attend conventions and conferences where they learn the latest food industry trends and business strategies, share ideas with the Planet Smoothie management team, learn about company initiatives and have a chance to meet Planet Smoothie owners in other markets. They’ll also keep in contact with the home office throughout their franchising careers.
“The management team is not huge,” Fernando says. “We are not a corporation with 500 people, so it is very personal. People take your phone calls. They are waiting for you. I have nothing but good things to say about these folks. They are committed to growing the brand. We want to grow, we want to win — and that’s why the management team is there and why others should find owning a Planet Smoothie franchise to be a rewarding experience, as well.”
Learn more about why Planet Smoothie is perfect for Miami here!
For in-depth details about the Planet Smoothie franchise opportunity, download our free franchise report. You can also learn more by visiting our research pages.