St. Augustine, Fla. — The Spice & Tea Exchange is looking to expand its presence in New York. The gourmet spice and tea retail franchise looks to bring at least four new locations to the Empire State through franchising.
The brand succeeds in markets with a vibrant population of local foodies and year-round tourists, making New York an attractive region for growth. The Spice & Tea Exchange’s current Port Jefferson, Long Island, location — undergoing plans for reopening — is a prime example of this model within a bustling area that exceeds $6 billion in visitor spending annually. Specific markets where The Spice & Tea Exchange is currently looking to expand include Brooklyn, Hudson Valley, Saratoga Springs and Woodstock.
“Our franchise partners come from all walks of life, ranging from well-traveled military veterans, to home chefs who love experimenting with new flavors,” says Mary Catherine McDonald, vice president of development. “The one thing that all of our successful owners have in common is a passion for creating and sharing with those around them. That’s exactly who we’re looking for in New York franchise partners.”
Entrepreneurs find The Spice & Tea Exchange an attractive franchise opportunity because of its strong franchisor support and a rising consumer interest in home cooking. The franchise offers a detailed onboarding package, real estate and buildout assistance, extensive ongoing training, and instore and online marketing programs.
While franchisees had to shift to curbside pickup, limited hours or temporary closures in 2020, The Spice & Tea Exchange found unique ways to drive additional revenue to stores through its online site. Developing an online pickup and delivery form allowed stores to fulfill from behind closed doors, and an increased percent of sales from online retail was given back to franchise locations.
That decision positively impacted franchisees as the company saw improvements in online sales. That jump in sales correlates to more Americans making meals at home. Not wanting to go to a crowded grocery store, consumers see The Spice & Tea Exchange as a safer alternative to pick up their everyday ingredients, both in person and online. The upward sales trend continued as The Spice & Tea Exchange stores began reopening as well; consumer comfort has bounced back and the franchise’s brick-and-mortar locations have seen positive sales growth in August and September.
“We’ve proven to be an extremely sustainable business model, even in times of sheltering in place and shutdowns,” says McDonald. “We haven’t stopped expanding and supporting our current franchisees, and have even opened four new stores recently. We anticipate doing the same across New York with dedicated franchise partners soon.”
The Spice & Tea Exchange® was founded in 2008 with a vision to create a one-of-a-kind retail shopping experience. The company has over 70 franchise stores across the United States, providing guests with more than 140 spices, 85 exclusive hand-mixed blends, over 40 exotic teas, naturally-flavored sugars, salts from around the world, gourmet gifts and accessories. For more information, visit www.spiceandtea.com/franchise.
To read Retail & Restaurant Facility Business magazine’s August 2020 cover story on The Spice & Tea Exchange, please click here.
SOURCE: The Spice & Tea Exchange®