Franchisee Christine Gifford Discusses Her Experience with Maui Wowi
Dive into the vibrant world of Maui Wowi with Christine Gifford, a spirited franchisee who’s been making waves in Mesa, Arizona, for nearly six years. Christine unpacks her journey with Maui Wowi, from the freedom of setting her own schedule to orchestrating massive events. She offers a behind-the-scenes look at what makes this franchise a thrilling venture for newcomers and seasoned entrepreneurs alike.
Why did you choose to franchise with Maui Wowi?
Gifford: We wanted the ability to make our own schedule, which is what we really like about Maui Wowi. We already decided to go with a Kahala Brands concept, and I liked the Maui Wowi coffee, and my husband liked the frozen drinks. Honestly, I’ve never had a smoothie until Maui Wowi, and I can’t imagine drinking another smoothie and loving it as much as I love the Maui Wowi smoothies.
We love the natural concept, and all the research and development that went into our products to make them phenomenal. It’s exceptional. That’s what keeps our customers coming back, the quality of our smoothies and coffees.
How does Maui Wowi stand out among other mobile business options?
Gifford: As a mobile business, Maui Wowi is easy to get into. It’s easy to purchase, and easy to grow. Because it’s a mobile business, it’s also very inexpensive. Other brands are mobile, but they’re bound by territory. We’re not bound by territory. Our events and our venues are protected. So I can go anywhere in the country, and my event or my venue is protected, so no other franchisee can come in and take that. I have a contract at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and I also have a liquor license in the state of Nevada, so I can serve alcohol at all of the NASCAR races. I also do the Electric Daisy Carnival, which is by far my biggest event of the year.
Can you tell us how you grew your team?
Gifford: We started off with just us. We wound up with 21 employees at one of our venues, and between that one venue and Las Vegas, it worked. I was able to take off, but treating your employees well, paying them well, giving them the keys to their success is what makes your success. When your employees are successful and they’re bringing in twice their wages in tips, they’re happy. My team knows that they’re allowed to make certain decisions without asking. That’s really important. They need to be able to function whether you’re there or not. They need to know what decisions you would make if they came to you with these questions, and have the confidence to make those decisions for themselves.
What is the Maui Wowi culture like?
Gifford: Fun. I want it to be fun. I want it to be someplace that they are excited, that my employees are excited to come to work every day. I want it to be something where my customers are excited to come and patronize my business every day.
What advice would you give to a prospective franchise owner?
Gifford: Maui Wowi is a great franchise to invest in if you’ve never owned a franchise before. It’s also a great franchise that can grow with you. You don’t need experience in the food and beverage industry to make Maui Wowi work, you need self drive. You need to be able to build relationships and maintain those relationships, to be able to network with other franchisees, with other food trucks, and with concessionaires, event promoters, and that sort of thing. You need to be able to put yourself out there and talk to people, and nurture the relationships that you make. I think that’s key to being able to not just maintain your business, but grow your business.
Own Your Own Maui Wowi Business
Ready to explore new horizons with a sweet mobile business? Follow in Christine’s footsteps by becoming a Maui Wowi franchise owner today. Learn more about our franchise opportunity here, or fill out our form here to start a conversation with our franchise team. We look forward to introducing you to our O’hana!