A Smoothie King Franchise Series: The Budding Business

Shahdad Kelishadi is no stranger to the world of franchising. Growing up in Los Angeles, his family owned and operated a number of brand-name gas stations. Upon graduating from the University of California Irvine with his MBA, it only made sense for Kelishadi to grow within the industry.

“I helped my dad operate his gas stations as a kid, and when I came out of MBA school, I was still helping my father,” Kelishadi said.

After transforming one of the family’s gas stations into a 7-Eleven, Kelishadi thought about branching out even further, looking for opportunities to help a company expand westward. He became familiar with Smoothie King while visiting his brother at the University of Louisville. Kelishadi loved the product and couldn’t believe there were no Smoothie King locations on the West Coast.

“Some light bulbs went off, and I was like, ‘Wow, we don’t have anything out here like this,’ which is weird for such a health-conscious area,” he said. Once he began researching the company, it struck Kelishadi that everything about it was designed for success, reminding him of the examples of ideal businesses his professors presented in class. There was a good reason for this: It turned out Smoothie King’s CEO, Wan Kim, had earned his MBA from the very same university as Kelishadi.

The more he researched, the more he was drawn to the brand.

“I really liked the company and its culture,” he said. “It’s how I envisioned how it should be. I’m really excited about growing with a company that believes in their product and believes in their franchisees. It’s very rare to see franchisors be so involved and have a family-like structure.”

Kelishadi decided to sign on with a development agreement for eight stores over five years in the Las Vegas area. His first store is set to open in early 2016, although Kelishadi is hoping a late-2015 opening may be in the cards. He was quite impressed with how efficient and communicative the brand was from the beginning.

“I contacted them in August or September of 2014, and once we started talking, and I visited their headquarters in November, that kind of sealed the deal for me,” he said.

The Smoothie King team’s openness and availability is something Kelishadi returned to again and again, pointing out how supportive the brand has been every step of the way. As for initial challenges, the old adage regarding location, location, location appears to ring true.

“The biggest challenge, whether it’s the first store or store No. 8, is finding the best location,” Kelishadi said. “Even with a great product, your business isn’t going to thrive no matter where it is. The challenge now is making sure all eight stores are in great locations.”

It’s still early going for Kelishadi, but the excitement he’s feeling is tangible.

“I’m super, extremely excited,” he said. “I won’t lie – there’s also a bit of nervousness, but I brush aside any negative thoughts.”

As far as how Sin City will take to Smoothie King’s healthy, flavorful products, Kelishadi feels the region is ripe for success.

“Vegas is interesting; if you’re by the [Las Vegas Strip], you’re dealing with a totally different environment,” he said. “A lot of people come to the Strip to drink and smoke and gamble, but for the average inhabitants of Vegas, there’s been a push to live a healthier lifestyle.”

Kelishadi also pointed out that much like his old stomping grounds in L.A., Las Vegas is a Mecca for actors, musicians and entertainers of all stripes who are constantly searching for ways to look and feel their best.

With eight Smoothie King stores on the horizon for Kelishadi, he may have less time to pursue some of his other passions, such as racing cars and practicing martial arts,but he also knows Smoothie King as a brand encourages its franchisees to live what they sell – a healthy, active lifestyle.

“I enjoy weight lifting, running and being outdoors,” he said. And as the proprietor of forthcoming Smoothie Kings in Las Vegas, he’ll soon be able to add the brand’s delicious, nutritious drinks to his regimen.