Zarraffa’s triple shot puts franchise pair on a high as they open third store at Pimpama City

GOLD Coast Zarraffa’s Coffee franchisees open third store in 11 years, with the booming northern corridor fuelling growth for coffee shops.

Zarraffa’s Coffee franchisees Bruce Fullerton and Elissa Hutton have just opened their third store.

THE booming north is proving an apt description for the Coomera-Pimpama growth corridor for Zarraffa’s Coffee franchisees Bruce Fullerton and Elissa Hutton.

The brother and sister business partners, who opened their first Zarraffa’s franchise in Upper Coomera in 2007, have this year added a third store at Pimpama City.

“When we opened at Upper Coomera there was nothing around us but horse properties and open space, and it’s much the same at Pimpama — although that is changing fast,” Mr Fullerton said.

Pimpama City, on an 18ha site on Pimpama-Jacobs Well Rd, is being developed by Rix Developments with the shopping centre scheduled to open next month.

Zarraffa’s Coffee franchisees Bruce Fullerton and Elissa Hutton have just opened their third store.

A small section — including Zarraffa’s — is up and running, with reports of brisk trade.

Mr Fullerton and Ms Hutton set themselves a goal of opening a second store in 10 years after kicking off their business partnership at Upper Coomera in 2007.

The goal was pegged to revenue targets, which they achieved in just three years, leading to their second store opening at Riverlakes in Cornubia in Logan in 2010. The pair have made sure to research the local market before diving into the franchise sector.

Before committing to their first Zarraffa’s at Upper Coomera, they sat in a car in the early hours of the morning gauging the strength of the potential custom. “We parked near the roundabout from about 4am and at the time spotted a lot of people going to work,” said Mr Fullerton. “We did the same thing again when looking at Pimpama City to get a feel for trade. It’s certainly been a ride, but we’ve never looked back.”

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Mr Fullerton said the franchise sector is not for the faint-hearted, with long work hours and a hands-on approach required.

“As franchisees we are required to work 50 hours a week in store for the first 12 months, and there are no ifs or buts about it,” said Mr Fullerton.

“And that’s working on the machines and across the floor. We’re on the roster like any staff member, and when we come in we get told what to do by our store manager.

“We integrate ourselves as part of the staff and this lets our staff know we are part of the team.”

They now employ 72 people across their three stores.