AFTER closing two stores and overcoming financial struggles, an Australian Army veteran of 13 years is celebrating her hardfought success as a franchisee with chicken brand Lenard’s.
Trinity Beach resident and army chef Allison Roshier has been a Lenard’s franchisee for 19 years.
Although it was a journey full of struggles – even shutting down two of her shops – sticking to her franchise has led her to finally have a substantial turnover of more than $1.5 million annually for the last three years and enough flexibility to go on holiday and work school hours only.
“Working at a store that’s open seven days a week always comes with sacrifices,” Ms Roshier said.
“However, I’m at a point where I could hire a store manager. He’s been with me for over a year, I could finally go on holidays, and now I’m supporting other stores as a business coach.”
Ms Roshier began her journey in 2004 when she bought the Cairns Central store.
The first challenge would come in 2014 when she had to shut down the store.
“I bought an old butcher shop on Aumuller Street and converted it into a Lenard’s store,” she said.
“I then started supplying two local Super IGA Piccones located at Edmonton, Manoora, Fresh St Marketplace in Atherton, and Tietzel’s IGA Tully.”
In 2014, an opportunity arose for Ms Roshier to open a new store at Redlynch.
Armed with a new strategy, she built a kioskstyle store to avoid the high cost of a de-fit if the relationship with the shopping centre failed or the costs became too high to survive.
“I continued to operate the two stores for three years, running back and forth between the two,” said Ms Roshier.
“The butcher shop store called Lenard’s Westcourt was the production site and made all the stock for every store. Lenard’s Redlynch was supplied all stock, and it was sold in-store.”
Ms Roshier found a buyer for the Lenard’s Westcourt store to finance the expansion at Redlynch. However, one week before settlement, the sale fell through.
“Fortunately, I had some savings, and the builder allowed me to pay off the shortfall for the build weekly, and the shopping centre owners, the local Marino’s family, supported me through this time,” she said.
In December 2017, Ms Roshier opened the expanded store at Redlynch, and it all started looking up since then.
“Sales have continued to grow over the years and continue to do so,” said said Ms Roshier.
“My turnover has been more than $1.5m yearly for the past three years, and I have grown my customer count from 350 to 1000 over the past seven years.”
“My store is thriving, my debt is minimal, and I can take a holiday for the first time in 18 years.” She is now supplying more locally-owned stores.
