Posted:26-February-2025
From employees to franchisees!
Business partners, Prathamesh Deshmukh, Ishwar Balasaheb Bankar and Rutvik Ravi Jajee, worked part-time together in Pizza1889 whilst studying in Cambridge. Having first-hand experience of the business model, meant that when Pizza1889 decided to go down the franchise route, they were 100% confident that it was a good fit for them. They opened their own Pizza1889 franchise in Cambridge in 2024. Ishwar discusses the trios journey so far…
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you were doing prior to buying your Pizza1889 franchise business?
Prior to buying our Pizza1889, myself and my business partners were studying in Cambridge. Whilst studying we were working as part-time employees at Pizza1889. Working at Pizza1889 gave us firsthand experience of the product, daily operations, customer interactions and the overall business model of the company. When the opportunity came up and Pizza1889 launched its franchise arm of the business , we felt confident that the it was a good fit, it felt right for us and the opportunity it presented.
Can you also tell us about Pizza1889
Pizza1889 is a high quality Italian Street Pizza concept, that creates small artisanal pizzerias in bespoke shipping containers.
Why did you go down the franchise route? What made you choose the pizza industry and a Pizza1889 franchise?
As we were working in Pizza1889 we felt that there was a great opportunity in owning our own store. It provided a proven model, great support from head office with regards to brand and marketing support and owning our unit, fully built out with a kitchen and customer seating, reduced our risk.
We also loved the product, the authentic Italian ingredients, our traditional oven pulled together with efficient operations that sustain a high quality artisanal product, volume and simplicity.
Our experience working at Pizza1889 reinforced our decision to invest.
How did you raise the finance?
We raised finance through a combination family support, personal funds and a finance package.
What training and support did you receive initially and ongoing?
Having worked in-store we were familiar with the day to day operations of the store. However, we received extensive support and advice throughout set-up on business set-up, procurement, HR, health and safety and financial management and accounting.
Ongoing support is constant, we have bi-weekly calls to discuss marketing initiatives, financial health and performance, HR and discuss general issues which may arise. We have support across the company on any technical issues which may arise. We are in constant contact with all the team at Pizza1889, including store managers and owners.
How would you describe your day-to-day role as a Pizza1889 franchisee
As a franchisee, we like to be very involved with our store. We oversee day to day operations, ensuring quality control and handling customer service. Through Pizza1889’s online systems we organise our rotas, stock ordering, daily health and safety checks, customer feedback and accounting.
We also focus on sales data, managing online orders, building corporate customers, analysing cash flow and maintaining our inventory.
Provide information on challenges overcome as well as your key successes to date.
The biggest challenge we faced was the transition from employee to business owner. We received lots of training on managing our back office operations and structuring our ordering.
Financially, we have learned to start monitoring our cash flow and learning to project forward to optimise our operations and inventory. We have faced and managed challenging situations with staff and immediate technical issues which occasionally arise in store which require solutions.
Since starting we have integrated our experience as employees to optimise our workflow, consistently produce outstanding pizzas and build our customer satisfaction. We are highly motivated, have extended our opening hours and seen a significant return on sales.
We have continued to learn, draw on the advice from everyone in the company, and we are confident we have the best pizzas in Cambridge!
Has becoming a franchisee changed your life, if so, how?
Becoming a franchisee has been a transformative experience, giving us independence and the responsibility of running our own business. It has enhanced our financial management skills, our leadership abilities and business acumen.
Transitioning from an employee to an owner has given us both responsibility but also freedom. It’s been hugely rewarding, financially and for our personal growth.
How do you achieve a work-life balance?
Hospitality makes achieving a work life balance challenging. There are long hours, customer interaction, unpredictable situations and our Pizza1889 store in Cambridge is open 7 days a week. We manage by delegating tasks, training a reliable team and optimising our operations, following the schedule, avoid any unnecessary problems.
This does require dedication and attention to detail, but we ensure that we carve out personal time.
If you have staff, how do you retain your best staff and keep morale high and productive?
In hospitality, staff retention is crucial. We focus on morale through a positive work environment. We offer fair wages and provide training and skills that last a lifetime, progression and growth opportunities.
Regular recognition, alongside incentives like staff discounts and performance based rewards help keep motivation high. Open communication and appreciation ensure a happy and productive team.
Can you tell us about any community involvement?
Our local community is extremely important to us and, we think, the heart of Pizza1889. We actively support local events, collaborate with other local business and engage in charity initiatives. We offer discounts to key workers and have a strong engagement with students offering discounts and special menu opportunities. We donate pizzas to local shelters and community events. We will continue to support and strengthen our connections with our community.
What is the most invaluable piece of advice you could give someone looking to buy their first franchise?
Do your research and understand the business model before investing. Make full use of the training and support and spend as much time as you can to gain hands-on experience of the business. Be prepared for long hours and hard work. Choose a franchise with a strong brand identity and product with a strong online offering, as this is crucial.
Most importantly, follow the system! Take advantage of all the financial advice on offer to manage your finances and build a strong, well trained and motivated team.
In your opinion, what qualities make a successful franchisee?
A successful franchisee is hands on, dedicated and adaptable. They follow the proven franchise model whilst bringing their own leadership and problem solving skills. Adapting to strong financial management, team building and customer service are essential.
What are your plans for the future?
We are planning for our next Pizza1889 store while continuously improving our business and financial skills. We aim to adapt to new trends, using social media to enhance our visibility and attract more customers. Expanding our knowledge and staying ahead in the industry will be the key to our long term success.
If you had to do it all again, what would you do differently?
We would have taken more time to understand the day to day financial management of our business. Especially financial planning and marketing strategies. Pizza1889 do provide that support and we would recommend taking full advantage of the experience and training on offer
Interested and want to know more about Pizza1889?
The Pizza1889 profile outlines all aspects of their franchise opportunity and allows you to contact them for further information or to ask a question.
