BIGGBY® COFFEE Franchisee Carol Maleport Gearing Up to Celebrate 10 Year Anniversary

Carol Maleport and her family like to stay busy. The family owns a construction business in Michigan, and when they’re not working, they’re actively participating in their local church. God and community are a big part of Carol’s life and are just some of the many reasons the family decided to open their very own coffee shop.

But the Maleports didn’t always know they wanted to own a coffee shop. They had done some initial research into the idea, but their venture into franchising wasn’t solidified until they stopped into a BIGGBY® COFFEE location on their way back from a family outing. The Maleports liked the products and atmosphere so much, they contacted the franchise’s corporate team and opened their very first location in May 2013.

Now, the Maleports are looking to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of their BIGGBY® COFFEE shop located at 2502 Ashmun St. Sault Saint Marie, MI 49783.

1851 Franchise spoke to Carol Maleport about her journey into franchising, and what led her to sign a franchise agreement with the BIGGBY® COFFEE brand.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Maleport: For half my life I worked as a waitress, then, while I was in my 30s, my family and I started our own construction company. I guess we just like to be overly busy because we eventually decided we wanted to do more. We knew our community needed something that it didn’t already have, but we were trying to figure out what that was. Eventually, we discovered our area could use another coffee shop, because, at the time, there was only one small coffee place in town. There were no franchises, just one small mom-and-pop shop. So, we thought a coffee shop would do well.

That’s when we started looking at different opportunities. At first, we emailed Starbucks, because they’re such a huge brand. But we never heard back. And then, one weekend, my husband, our daughter and I were on our way to Lansing, Michigan for a concert. After the show, we stopped at BIGGBY® COFFEE. The young man there asked if we had a BIGGBY® COFFEE card and we said no because we didn’t have a BIGGBY in our town. He said, “Well, you will soon!” And we took that as a sign. So, the following Monday, we called BIGGBY® COFFEE and ended up going to their discovery day. That’s when we realized how much we aligned with their values. And we opened our BIGGBY® COFFEE location 10 years ago next month.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Maleport: I had no idea what franchising was like. And to be totally honest with you, I think I’m the type of person who needed a franchise because I like having step-by-step guidance. That’s actually one of the reasons I like franchising as much as I do now. Franchisors are there to support and guide you. They have a successful business model; all you have to do is follow their guidelines.  

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Maleport: For starters, I really like the product. But also, I’m a people person, and I really appreciated the way BIGGBY® COFFEE allowed me to get to know the people in our community. Also, as I mentioned earlier, BIGGBY® COFFEE really takes you by the hand in the beginning. They offer excellent training programs and will give you everything you need to know in order to run a successful business.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Maleport: Well, I’d like to start by saying it’s been a lot of fun watching our business grow. I mean, it’s been 10 years since we first opened, and I can confidently say we’re the number one coffee shop in our area. But as far as expansion goes, I don’t know if we’ll open any more down the line. I’m at the point where I’m ready to slow down a bit, which is hard when you own two businesses.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Maleport: In addition to my businesses, I’m also a licensed minister. I do Bible studies during the week, and I put a lot of focus on my community. I’d say my life is based around God, and the biggest part of my story is that he’s in it. I believe it was God that led us to the opportunity with BIGGBY® COFFEE.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Maleport:If you’re new to franchising or business ownership, try to find a franchisor that will support you and provide you with all the necessary training. Make sure you find a franchise that will take you by the hand and guide you along because there’s a lot to it. But it’s worth it.

About The BIGGBY® COFFEE Franchise
BIGGBY® COFFEE, based in East Lansing, Mich., was started with a single store on March 15, 1995. One year later, and on the cusp of opening a second location, Bob Fish and Michael McFall, on a handshake and $4,000, decided to franchise the concept. The brand’s cultural values of Make Friends, Have Fun, B Yourself and Share Great Coffee help coffee lovers and the coffee-curious alike benefit from a less pretentious and fun approach to the standard gourmet cafe paradigm. Besides connoisseur-worthy drinks with names like Teddy Bear® and Caramel Marvel®, BIGGBY® COFFEE baristas provide a unique experience focused on brightening their customers’ day and supporting them in building a life they love. The “Big ‘B’” on the orange background caught on, and today BIGGBY® COFFEE has 330-plus cafes across many states, including Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Idaho, Georgia and Florida.