Fred DeLuca began the Subway Sandwich chain as a 17 year-old in need of money for college. His company grew from two unsuccessful outlets in suburban Connecticut in 1965, to over 34,000 stores around the world today. Subway sandwiches are available in 98 countries, and it is the largest fast-food franchise operation in the world. Yes it is even bigger than Mc Donald's.
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As a child he earned money by collecting empty bottles and cashing them in for 2 cents each. When he was 10, he moved to New York, and there he further honed his entrepreneurial skills with a paper route that grew to more than 400 addresses.His goal was to study medicine at Bridgeport University and become a doctor, but money left him short of achieving that dream. DeLuca took up a job at a hardware store to help pay for his tuition, but still, he found his $1.25 minimum wage was not enough.
That is when the family received a phone call from Dr. Pete Buck, a long-time friend who had just switched jobs and moved closer into town. “I was worried about how I was going to pay my college tuition fees with the $1.25 per hour job I was doing at the local hardware store, so I decide to ask Pete for advice.”
The response was not what he was expecting. Dr Buck told him to open a submarine sandwich shop as he’d seen a sandwich shop in his hometown experience huge success. He explained that if Fred was willing to do it, he would be his partner.
That is when the family received a phone call from Dr. Pete Buck, a long-time friend who had just switched jobs and moved closer into town. “I was worried about how I was going to pay my college tuition fees with the $1.25 per hour job I was doing at the local hardware store, so I decide to ask Pete for advice.”
The response was not what he was expecting. Dr Buck told him to open a submarine sandwich shop as he’d seen a sandwich shop in his hometown experience huge success. He explained that if Fred was willing to do it, he would be his partner.
“We learnt on our feet and quickly realized that marketing and visibility were going to be key factors in the success of our business so the third outlet was in a highly visible location and it’s still serving sandwiches today.”
As Fred quotes“The world doesn’t stand still and we don’t deserve to be where we are unless we stay ahead of things and take the necessary steps to remain competitive.”
In an effort to reach their goal, Fred and Dr Buck decided that the best way to expand the business was to begin franchising, giving others the opportunity to succeed in their own business venture. Fred’s close friend, Brian Dixon, was to be the first franchisee in 1974.
“We always recommend to anyone looking at franchising that the first step is research,” advises the founder. “Check out the actual and predicted growth data of your preferred franchises.
“Make it a priority to read the franchise media and attend local franchise exhibitions to get a good feel for what your options are. Look at the capital investment and talk to your bank about what the best fit for your financial situation is. These actions will mean you find the right opportunity for you.”
He continues: “Once you’ve found the right franchise, it should be a priority to get to know every aspect of your business and we always recommend our new franchisees ‘work the line’, which in our business means working behind the counter as a ‘sandwich artist’. Mastering all aspects of your business is invaluable and will mean you have the overall knowledge to direct the business effectively.”
Last, we would like to conclude his story with a food for thought from Fred de Luca: “I didn’t have big family expenses. I didn’t have high expectations. I was willing to try solutions that other people may not even have thought of. I’m not saying they were all smart solutions, but I tried them.”
“Make it a priority to read the franchise media and attend local franchise exhibitions to get a good feel for what your options are. Look at the capital investment and talk to your bank about what the best fit for your financial situation is. These actions will mean you find the right opportunity for you.”
He continues: “Once you’ve found the right franchise, it should be a priority to get to know every aspect of your business and we always recommend our new franchisees ‘work the line’, which in our business means working behind the counter as a ‘sandwich artist’. Mastering all aspects of your business is invaluable and will mean you have the overall knowledge to direct the business effectively.”
Last, we would like to conclude his story with a food for thought from Fred de Luca: “I didn’t have big family expenses. I didn’t have high expectations. I was willing to try solutions that other people may not even have thought of. I’m not saying they were all smart solutions, but I tried them.”
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