5 minute read
DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY
Determined to be a Black & White Coffee Cartel franchisee, Linsey Ge gains on-site café experience.
In two years or so, Linsey Ge is determined to resign as manager of the Papanui Black & White Coffee Cartel café – so she can invest in her own Black & White micro-roasting coffee franchise.
Although it’s a little bit different, Linsey won’t be the first or last person to work in a franchise business before investing. It’s a great way to gain first-hand knowledge of the franchise model, its profitability, work/ lifestyle balance, and levels of franchisor support.
Brought up in Beijing, Linsey’s parents sent her to New Zealand to complete her college education at South Otago High School in Balclutha. A self-confessed coffee aficionado, Linsey is now also a marketing graduate from the University of Canterbury. She’s no stranger to being in business for herself either - for three years she ran a fish and chips shop in the Christchurch suburb of Merivale. But as happened to many independent businesses, Linsey’s fish and chips takeaway fell victim to Covid. So, when her best friend Winnie Wang offered work at the Black & White Coffee Cartel café she had bought in Papanui in 2017, Linsey didn’t hesitate.
“Because of my love of coffee, I had trained as a barista and brought those skills to Winnie’s franchise,” says Linsey. “As determined as I am on becoming a Black & White franchisee in a couple of years or so, it will be difficult to leave Winnie as she’s such a great boss and a wonderful friend.”
An exquisite aroma
In 2014, with Christchurch slowly rebuilding after the devastating February 2011 earthquake, brothers Bink and Luke Bowler partnered with former All Blacks captain Reuben Thorne to open the first Black & White coffee shop in central Christchurch. Two years later, hospitality entrepreneur Alan Win and his business partner Raphael Garcia bought the business to develop a franchise system with a real difference.
Since then, the Black & White Coffee Cartel franchise has grown to 18 cafés, situated across the South Island and Auckland. The funky fit-outs feature walls of floor-to-ceiling framed photographs and prints, with a steampunk-inspired micro-roaster for Black & White’s in-house coffee blends. Eclectic tables and furnishings are encouraged, underscoring that this is no cookie-cutter franchise.
“We want all Black & White cafés to be individual, alive, vibrant, bursting with flavour and above all, heaving with that exquisite aroma of coffee roasting on site,” enthuses Raphael. “And, as a bonus, cutting out the middleman supplier of roasted beans and selling bags of freshly micro-roasted coffee can add around $25,000 per year to a franchisee's bottom-line return.
Genuine health benefits
Linsey agrees with Raphael about the positive effect on the business’ income stream of serving and selling fresh roasted beans but says there is also a genuine health benefit for café customers. “Scientists have found that as soon as a coffee bean is roasted it starts losing freshness, nutrients and antioxidants. This ‘fast-fading freshness’ is well known in France and Italy where the secret to all that amazing coffee served in little street corner cafés is their on-premises roasters. We roast on site at Black & White so the bean can get to your coffee cup by the shortest route possible.
“Our Papanui Black & White Coffee Cartel is one of the smaller cafés in the network, with only 10 to 15 tables and outdoor seating for four, but we do have many loyal customers thanks to being on the ground floor of a four-storey office building. Many of those working in the building pop in every day for our amazing coffee as well as for cabinet food and freshcooked items from our menu. Businesses in the building also often use us to meet with clients.
“Because of our small size, customers can see everything that’s going on in our wee kitchen. Like the micro-roaster, it’s a source of entertainment. Part of my job as manager is also chef, working alongside our barista and four part-time staff. I’ve gained incredibly helpful experience in running lots of parts of the business on my path towards becoming a franchisee.”
A way to spread the investment
“I think I must have been one of the first of Black and White’s regular customers in Christchurch,” says Linsey. “Now, having worked closely with the franchisor team I can vouch for the high standard of head office support. And I know I can speak on Winnie’s behalf when I say there’s an excellent relationship between her and the franchisor team.”
Turnkey investment in a Black & White Coffee Cartel café starts at $350,000. Linsey says her plan is to be a sole franchisee, “However, I would consider going into partnership with friends or investors I can fully trust.”
Raphael Garcia says this is a different, but proven way of spreading the investment in a Black & White Coffee Cartel franchise – for the right people.
“If you’ve got the passion, Black & White Coffee Cartel has the opportunity wherever in New Zealand you are. Call us today to find out more.”
Advertiser Info
Black and White Coffee Cartel
Contact
Tony Yin
022 630 6622
