Melissa Carter, a lawyer, in August became the first California franchisee of CiCi’s Pizza with the opening of a buffet restaurant in San Diego. Carter had become familiar with CiCi’s, a 650-unit chain based in Coppell, Texas, while living in Houston.
How did you get from a law career into restaurant franchising?
When an attorney gets involved in a matter, it is usually because multiple parties have competing interests. One party, if not both, will often be dissatisfied with the process and the outcome. There is not a lot of opportunity for feel-good moments, but the opposite is the case with CiCi’s. We provide great food and a fun atmosphere. We have the opportunity to do nice things all day and make people happy.
What are you optimistic about?
I am very optimistic about the quality of my team. I had so many excellent applicants and really appreciate and respect the dedication, determination and positive attitude of so many of the team members. For 52 team member positions, I had over 400 applicants, which I believe is a direct reflection of the economic climate and in direct correlation with the superb team I have.
Iunderstand your son will be involved? What is attractive about that?
It is an opportunity to spend time together so that my husband and I can be the biggest influence in the development of his value system. It is [also] an opportunity for him to develop a strong work ethic, learn determination, perseverance, and how to set goals and manage money.
What are the biggest challenges in this economic climate?
Acquiring a loan has been a challenge with the many changes that have occurred in the lending environment throughout the time I have been working on this project.
What advice do you have for others considering a similar career change?
Be prepared for a complete paradigm shift. When you are in a specific profession such as law, it is easy to get used to people thinking and behaving a certain way and following the same general set of standards. Starting a franchise business requires the ability to learn and assimilate to the standards of many different industries, such as construction, architecture, sales, food, the franchise itself. It is a fun challenge, but be sure you are ready to take a leap from receiving a regular paycheck to distributing the paychecks.
