What it takes to become a dark store franchise owner with Getir

I served in a blue chip company for 14 years. My background is in customer service – I was responsible for setting up call centres and performance management systems for around 1,500 people. My partner Sharon, who is our joint director, had a fruitful career in the energy sector, and together we provide a holistic approach to management.

Getir was not our first time as franchise owners. Before we joined Getir we owned three Subway stores and recently sold our last store to grow and fully commit to Getir. As well as owning and operating a Getir franchise, we also run a successful property development business. As entrepreneurs, we know how important it is to diversify and adapt to changing markets.

Why Getir?

My brother and I met the Getir team at the franchise exhibition last year, before we both committed to the concept and the brand. We considered both storage and leisure-based franchise businesses, but ultimately we felt Getir offered the most attractive platform for growth. My brother had already experienced the franchising process with the Getir team, and after speaking with him, and completing my due diligence of course, I was excited to join. Ultimately, we chose Getir as we trusted the vision, we liked how we interacted with the team, and we saw honesty in their approach.

For us, the Getir experience has gone from strength to strength, and both my partner and I are now looking to purchase our third site.

What skills do you need?

I’m good at leading a large group of individuals, and have strong management skills from my experience in customer service. As a franchisee, it’s important to get your hands dirty – my partner and I roll our sleeves up to pick orders and clean during busy periods or when we have reduced staff.

We set high standards for our team, and we have the technical knowledge to lead it, thanks to our experience of franchising and understanding of KPIs. We are meticulous and always provide our staff with the tools to create efficient operations. We believe in empowerment, and Getir provides us the flexibility to step away from operations and let our team take ownership of tasks.

As a store, we have consistently achieved the highest standards and goals, and, as a result, we’ve been awarded with numerous prizes and accolades from Getir. We care about our business and want to be the best. During our recent holiday to Florida, Sharon and I continued to complete daily calls and reports to our team.

I couldn’t be where I am today without the support of my partner Sharon. She has given me courage and supported me every step of the way.

We don’t see ourselves as franchisees, we see ourselves as a part of Getir. It feels like we’re family.

What are the challenges?

It can be a challenge coaching up new team members to understand the importance Getir places on speed and safety in the store. We pick the order fast in the store to ensure we keep our drivers safe on the road. Getting this balance right is vital.

As a business we understand it’s a learning curve but we wouldn’t choose any other organisation to do this with.

If you had it to do all over again, would you choose Getir?

One hundred per cent, without hesitation. The word of mouth promotion within the franchise network at Getir is extremely strong, and a testament to the success of the system.