DALLAS -- Motiul Bhuiyan may be part of convenience-store history. For the first time in 7-Eleven's 80-year lifespan, the iconic chain is allowing franchisees to operate its stores in Texas.
Historical ramifications aside, Bhuiyan sees the move for what it is: an opportunity. For 13 years his hard work as a manager of a company-owned 7-Eleven in Dallas repaid him with a salary and bonuses. Now as a new single-store franchisee, whatever he makes over costs comes back to him and his business.
Bhuiyan told CSP Daily News that if [image-nocss] he meets projections that within a year, he hopes to own even more locationsan indication that the transition in 7-Eleven's home turf is likely to expand.
[7-Eleven is] sharing the wealth, said Bhuiyan, noting a major switch in Dallassignificant for being the chain's birthplace marketthat corporate executives say converts 188 company-operated stores into franchised locations.
In past interviews with CSP, 7-Eleven president and CEO Joe DePinto spoke of a change in direction emanating from its new corporate owners, Japan's 7-Eleven Inc., which took the company private last year. Moving to a service-oriented mindset, the U.S. operation is now intent on focusing on the franchisee model.
As for its stores in Dallas, the company first offered existing 7-Eleven store managers the opportunity to apply. Tim Lankford, a franchise sales manager for the chain, said interest was running high.
Already, 90 store managers have contacted us, and 35 are actively going through the screening and approval process to purchase their own stores, Lankford said. As business owners in their local communities, these new 7-Eleven franchisees are eager to become even more involved and to have their own business with proven financial opportunity. Store managers have an added advantage because they know firsthand what it takes to run a successful 7-Eleven operation.
7-Eleven began its active franchise conversion program in 2005 with its stores in Utah and Colorado. Currently, franchisees operate more than 60% of 7-Eleven's Utah stores and 20% of the company's Colorado stores. With the franchise approval process requiring from four to six months and several more months for state alcohol licensing (where allowed), Lankford estimated that it will take about five years to fully complete the conversion of its Texas stores to a franchise operation. Approximately 3,650 of 7-Eleven's 5,600 U.S. stores are now franchised.
For Bangladesh native Bhuiyan, the offer for the franchise came the same day he passed the American citizenship test. This means a great future opportunity for the days ahead, he said.
Other new franchisees are equally excited about the opportunity. After spending time in numerous refugee camps, Tony Nguyen arrived in the United States in 1984 with no family and little else. A 7-Eleven employee since 1986, he and his wife were able to become franchisees in this first wave of transition, taking over a Dallas store on Northwest Highway.
When you live part of your life in refugee camps and have so little control, the dream of owning your own business and being your own boss seems impossible, Nguyen said. This opportunity for our family is the ultimate dream. While there is more responsibility as a franchisee, there is so much more opportunity.
When DePinto was assigned his in-store training, a requirement for all corporate employees, he spent a few weeks at the Northwest Highway store. Tony was a great teacher and runs an exemplary 7-Eleven store, DePinto said. His experience as a long-time 7-Eleven store manager coupled with his wife's expertise as a salon owner gives them great tools to make the transition to become successful business owners. This is the opportunity we aspire to create for our store operators and anyone interested in franchising a 7-Eleven store.
For a description of 7-Eleven's franchise system, click on the Download Now button, below.
[Pictured: Tony Nguyen with his wife and Allen Pack (left) vice president of 7-Eleven Central Division and 7-Eleven president and CEO Joe DePinto.]
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