Planet Smoothie Franchise Operators Capitalize On Strong Market
Because smoothies are great as snacks and meal replacements, and are enjoyed year round, Planet Smoothie operators don’t deal with downtime in the strong smoothie market
Business owners don’t enjoy downtime, because even though they can take care of operational issues when things are slow, there’s no revenue coming in. Thanks to its all-day appeal, however, Planet Smoothie franchise operators see steady traffic all during the day and evening.
“The restaurant industry is known for high-volume peak times around meals, and then really sluggish periods before and after,” explains John Wuycheck, Senior Vice President of Franchise Development. “That goes for everyone from high-end places to fast-casual sites, and it’s seen as part of doing business in the dining sector. We don’t think that way, because we know that smoothies have a much steadier sales cycle.”
Different lifestyles mean all-day business
For example, many people enjoy smoothies as a meal replacement, so they’ll visit a Planet Smoothie franchise around regular mealtimes. Other customers, however, want a smoothie as a snack, or as an after-meal treat.
“Our Planet Smoothie franchise owner partners tell us that they see people from first thing in the morning, when they open up, throughout the day and into the evening until closing,” John says. “Sure, they get really busy around mealtimes, but there’s not a huge drop-off before and after. People want smoothies before or after a workout, or maybe swing by with the kids after school … there’s no one time of day that gets all the attention.”
And because smoothies are easy to prepare and serve, he adds, they are a perfect “grab and go” item that means customers are in and out quickly, which also helps in terms of visitor volume as well as overall sales.
Predictability smooths out staffing, inventory
A steady flow of customers means that a Planet Smoothie franchise owner doesn’t have to deal with huge staff changes during the day, but can book the same number of people per shift throughout the day.
“A lot of food franchises have to bring in a ton of people for the rush period, and then send half of them home just a few hours later,” John says. “Employees don’t like that, because they want to work a full shift, but the owner can’t keep people around if there aren’t any customers. At Planet Smoothie, our predictable, steady traffic flow means scheduling is simple, and routine, for both the owner and his or her staff.”
A steady traffic flow also helps with inventory control, because there’s not a wave of people coming in at noon for a specific item. Rather, customers have their favorite smoothies, and thanks to a varied and ever-changing menu board, they have plenty to choose from.”
“It’s rare that any Planet Smoothie franchise runs out of bananas, for example, because there’s so much choice with our menu that not everyone is going to gravitate to one fruit, or smoothie, or add-in,” John says. “It’s another way that we help our owners keep things level, and stress-free, as they operate their businesses.”
Planet Smoothie is a smoothie franchise that sets itself apart by offering great-tasting smoothies that use healthier, natural ingredients. In a side-by-side comparison, our smoothies generally have less sugar and fewer calories — a big competitive advantage as Americans actively seek out healthier options. Planet Smoothie is led by a veteran franchise team and dedicated brand support team as part of the Kahala Brands family.
Learn more about Planet Smoothie and the strong smoothie market here!
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