Apple Spice Junction - Mac Purrington

We just celebrated the 4th of July, America's independence. Ever wonder about your independence? Is it worth quitting your job to become a business owner? Is it worth all the hard work?  Will determination and perseverance pay off? Should you start a business from scratch, buy an existing business or perhaps invest in something structured like a franchise?

 

Our entrepreneur this month went through those issues and then some. As he says, "it was quite a ride" and he's happy with the outcome.

Congratulations Mac, and welcome to the world of entrepreneurship!

 

I                                      Mac Purrington  Mac Purrington joined Capital One in 1995. He was attracted to the high-growth, high-energy team atmosphere of the company. After learning many new skills and helping the company grow from 2,000 to 20,000+ associates, Mac started to think about his next challenge.  He felt that being a business owner would present the energy level he enjoyed and the opportunity to create a unique culture. Mac had a strong desire to build a family atmosphere where all team members cared about and committed themselves to a common goal.  He researched buying an existing business. He also had a couple of ideas that he thought he could use to start a business from scratch. While Mac had gained valuable operations and management experience during his career, he had spent little time in sales and marketing. About that time, Mac met his E-Source coach and was introduced him to the world of franchising. Mac was excited about the growth experience of building a successful business while having the support of a national organization to help him in his areas of opportunity. He knew that eventually he wanted a relatively large business to manage.  His desires to manage a team, build equity and create a residual revenue stream led him to consider a Regional Developer opportunity. (The Regional Developer is a franchisee who grows a territory by awarding sub-franchisee contracts within that territory and then supports those sub-franchisees in their efforts.) When asked about his business interests, Mac said, "I will look at anything except a food business." So you can imagine his surprise when one of the options presented to him was Apple Spice Junction, a box lunch delivery/corporate catering business. After contemplating the idea, Mac began to understand that he was not as opposed to food as he was to the 24/7/365 lifestyle of a food operation. Once he learned that Apple Spice Junction had a different food service model, his interest grew. He became even more excited by the news that he could develop most of Virginia and the eastern half of North Carolina. Finally, he realized that both the local operation and the region would give him distinct teams to build and nurture over the years. It appeared to be a nice fit. With 4 ½ years under his belt, Mac passed on the following message: "Wow, what a ride! If you are thinking about business ownership, think about the aspects of running the business that make you nervous and perhaps explore franchises.  Although I felt confident I could build something, I can't tell you how many times I was happy to have someone with more experience a phone call or email away to help me with an issue. The sense that I was not alone was invaluable. The structure of a franchise is not for everyone, but you should consider its advantages as you make your decision."  At the recent Entrepreneur Fair where Mac was a panelist, he commented that while the initial start up years were lean and at times, difficult, he is thrilled with where he is today.  While friends and neighbors are experiencing layoffs and concerns about their jobs, Mac feels that his business is thriving.  Apple Spice Junction specializes in the delivery of box lunches and catering to businesses. It looks to meet all the food needs of the business with the very best in food quality and customer service. It is pleased to offer services for the small business breakfast/lunch, the enormous corporate picnic, and everything in between. Mac's location services most of the Greater Richmond, Virginia area.  Mac's "ride" to independence and success didn't happen by accident. He utilized his skill sets and strengths, knew his limitations and utilized an E-Source coach to help him understand what he was trying to achieve through business ownership. And most important, he discovered which business would be the right fit for him.   Whether you're a corporate executive, manager, office clerk, mechanic or working mom, there is probably a franchise that will fit you as well. If you can't figure out which one is right for you, that's OK. Just pick up the phone and give me a call so we can discuss your options and possibilities and figure it out together.