How did you get into the ice cream industry?
I was working in real estate finance at the time. My wife, Holiday, was pregnant with our twins and she was having specific pregnancy cravings. One particular craving was for savory ice cream. I happened to share this information with my good friend Chef Sam Mason over a beer one evening. Sam’s a brilliant pastry chef and has worked in some of the most prestigious restaurants in the world. He brought her over some pretzel ice cream a few days later as a surprise. Holiday loved it and a light bulb went off – it was her idea that we open an ice cream shop. She knew I wanted to do something outside of my 9 to 5 and be my own boss.. So I asked Sam, and he was super excited about the idea (he’d wanted to open an ice cream shop his whole life). So the three of use started on the journey to opening OddFellows. Our first shop opened about a year after our kids (Alexei and Layla) were born, in 2013.
What’s New in the Business or in the Franchise Model?
There’s always something new in OddFellows. We have crafted over 600 flavors in our 10 years of business so we are constantly creating, innovating and putting out new flavors.
In terms of our model, the most important thing we do is control the ice cream. We make everything in New York City and the same ice cream you taste in our Brooklyn shop is the same ice cream you’ll taste in Florida. We are meticulous in our production and take great care of the product. People recognize the craftsmanship that goes into each flavor. So we make it easy for franchisees. We make the premium product and figure and get it into their freezers. All they need to do is scoop with a smile.
Where do you See Opportunities or Challenges for the Oddfellows Franchise/Business Moving Forward?
I see a lot of great opportunity for our brand in particular. I think we stand out as a truly unique craft ice cream brand. Nobody is pushing the flavor profiles like we are and our branding and design all set us apart. We pride ourselves on offering “something for everyone” – so we go beyond Vanilla and Cookies & Cream (which are both top notch flavors we make), but we also offer boundary pushing stuff like Miso Peanut Butter, Olive Oil, and Passionfruit Apricot Pistachio (to name a few). We always have 20 plus flavors on offer, so we’re 100% sure you’ll find something you’ll love.
What is your Goal for the Oddfellows Business Moving Forward?
Our goal is to bring OddFellows to markets that appreciate high quality ice cream and help lead franchisees into a successful business! There’s a ton of opportunity across the country for premium fun brands, and we want to get our product to the markets that demand it.
Talk to us About Training and Support, How Do You Deliver?
We’re making it easy for franchisees. We take care of the product, which is different than most ice cream franchises. Another great thing is that there is nothing to cook, bake or fry! So, the service model is straightforward and more simple than even a fast casual restaurant.
We do all training at our flagship store in Tampa, FL. It’s fun and informative few days. Since we already have 7 corporate owned stores, we are confident in our training and ability to open stores quickly and diligently.
Your most difficult moment at the Franchise Business?
We have yet to franchise, but for us as a business, of course COVID was our most difficult time. Especially being in the north east.
Define your Franchise Model:
A. Training and Support Model?
Oddfellows is a high end ice cream brand, we focus and win in the premium ice cream category. Part of this positioning is to create a exceptional experience for the customer each and every time they visit a location. The Oddfellows franchise model offers a strong corporate training program at the Tampa, Florida location and also onsite training for store opening, operations and jump starting the new business. The training covers everything involved in opening, operating and managing a franchised store.
B. What is the Fee Structure?
$30,000 franchisee fee, 6% royalty. We have intentionally structured the franchise to be a win-win model for the franchisee and the franchise system.
C. Territory Definition?
The territories are substantial and create opportunity for growth and expansion for each franchise location.
D. Day in the life of a Franchisee?
Franchisees will be in the hospitality and food service industry, so the typical day is full of service, engagement and creating a great experience. It’s a service model, so plan on just taking care of people and making folks feel loved!
What does Your Franchisee Do in the Business Every Day?
The biggest part is managing or overseeing the shop manager. When I started the business I managed the first shop, and then eventually I personally managed our 2nd shop (along with our first). I did the scheduling, hiring, payroll, local marketing, etc. Eventually, I got to the point where I hired a shop manager!
Who is the Ideal Franchise Candidate For Oddfellows Ice Cream?
Someone who is passionate about food and creativity. You have to want to make people HAPPY (is a key). Ice cream is fun and it’s honestly a great business to be in. Families, first dates, tourists, friends all come in eager and happy; it’s a great environment.
I also think someone that wants to open multiple units is ideal. Because the unit economics get better with scale. You can save on management, delivery and more. And ice cream is always in demand; especially a high quality product.
What Goals Do You Have for the Franchise Model in the Future?
Our vision is to dominate the premium ice cream services market. We see so much potential for growth here and the opportunity to capture this market segment. There just aren’t many options out there for customers in this high end industry ice cream market.
For more information on the Oddfellows Ice Cream Franchise system, visit the corporate site:
https://oddfellowsfranchise.com/