Wingstop Franchise Owner Offers Advice on Business Success
In honor of National Entrepreneurship Month,Tina Howell, a successful owner of multiple Wingstop franchise businesses, wants to see more people realize their entrepreneurial dream. She offers these five “Tina’s Perspectives,” for business success.
“We are who we believe we are. We can accomplish what we believe we can accomplish. What we think is powerful, and what we believe to be true is important,” Howell asserts. “Activities that promote personal growth and development are at the top of my to-do list. I realize that I am not perfect. But, I accept all parts of the process, as I error, grow, and learn.”
Save Your Money: “It takes money to start or invest in a business. You have to save your money and stop spending on unnecessary things. And, think of ways you can save money like living with a relative, selling a car, or getting an additional job. Do whatever you have to do to accomplish your goals.”
Don’t Re-Invent the Wheel: “With franchises, I liked that I didn’t have to re-invent the wheel. I didn’t have to come up with the name, product, design, or system. They provided people to help me with the process. All I had to do was make sure the business ran smoothly and profitably.”
Location: “Before you create a business, you must secure the right location. If not, don’t do the business. You must have the right visibility, density, demographics, and foot traffic to be successful.”
Appreciate and Support Your Customers: “Make sure you invest in the community where your business is located. It could be the optimist program or local schools. You have to let people that you are a part of the community and not just making money for yourself.”
Prioritize Customer Service: “Be polite. Communicate with customers, and cater to their needs. Also, pay attention to their preferences. In my more Hispanic locations, I tell my team to fry the chicken softer because that is what they prefer. In my more urban locations, they prefer chicken that is fried harder. In business, you have to deliver a superior product.”
Keeping employees empowered, creating a high-performance environment, and managing costs are the hallmarks of Howell’s business philosophy. The customer-centric mogul is in the process of expanding her presence in South Florida by developing two additional Wingstop locations (source).
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