IT Professional From India Finds American Dream with Paris Baguette Franchise Ownership

Sridhar Talluri knows it can be easy to keep your head down and take the path of least resistance, but he also knows that taking a leap of faith can lead to big rewards. From his move from India to America, to his transition from a nine to five IT career to franchising with Paris Baguette*, Talluri is an expert at making the most of opportunities and has felt his confidence grow as a result. He and his wife look forward to opening their own Paris Baguette location in Columbus, Ohio in the spring of 2024. 

Talluri spoke with 1851 Franchise about his journey into franchising and what the future holds for him and his family.

PROFILE QUESTIONS

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

Talluri: I'm from India, and America has given me everything. I got a job, a house and I got married. My wife is also from India, and we lived in New York together for a while. We both had an IT background, but had no inclination of growing a business or anything at first; we just kept our heads down in our full time jobs.

Fast forward several years, we had moved to Columbus, Ohio chasing our jobs, and our kids were growing up. My older one is a sophomore at the Ohio State University, and the younger one is a freshman in high school, so we decided it might be time to supplement our income. We started looking around out of curiosity. 

We looked at everything including brands that are in very high demand and other business models that looked miserable. Ultimately, we decided we wanted to start a business that related to one of our interests. We love hanging out at coffee shops like Starbucks, but when we figured out that Starbucks doesn't have franchisees, we kept our eyes open for other options. 

We live in Columbus, but one Saturday my family decided to visit Detroit. While my wife and kids were shopping at a mall, I wanted to get some coffee and I saw a Paris Baguette 

I walked in and thought it was really interesting. The colors and the ambiance really amused me; it was so striking. The cake selection was huge and they displayed it beautifully. It was more of an exhibition, because they were making the cake and you could see through the glass. I got my coffee and a piece of cake, and I was sitting down just enjoying the incredible service and atmosphere.

After shopping, my family finally tracked me down at Paris Baguette.  I was looking at all of the people coming and going and was impressed by the amount of traffic. There was a good crowd from different backgrounds. I turned to my wife and said, “We were thinking about some business, right? This looks like a very interesting opportunity.” They were equally as impressed with the variety of food items and tried a little bit of everything, it was all delicious. 

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?

Talluri: I thought franchising was intimidating at first, but I just had a lack of experience. I thought franchising meant you were on your own, but you actually have a lot of support. 

We explored a couple of franchises just for the information but Paris Baguette was a sure winner. They are super hands on and committed. We both feel like we're being taken care of with the support we're getting. Everyone we have met with the brand has been very approachable. 

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

Talluri: My only previous experience was as a consumer, of course, but I loved the brand as a consumer. I also was really impressed by the support from the corporate team.

Everyone has been so supportive; we talked to the CEO and other members of the team and they’re all great. 

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

Talluri: By the end of next year, if the response is really good, we want to open another one. I am hoping to find real estate in a premium area in Columbus in the future, as there is none available where I would like right now. That would also give me an opportunity to introduce this brand to another section of the Columbus community.

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

Talluri: My experience with Paris Baguette has been very positive. I want people to know that.

We were just a typical nine to five family. We never thought that we would get into this, and we could have just played it safe but now our perspective has changed. I have also seen a transformation in myself. People are trying to get a hold of me to do an interview, and I'm all for it. Now my perspective has changed and I am more willing to participate. 

We are very excited to get this thing out there and, in the process, provide employment opportunities for our community. 

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

Talluri: Do your research. I was very intimidated at first, and it’s good to be cautious, but overcome the fear and make the leap if it’s something you believe in. If you have the faith, make the leap.

ABOUT PARIS BAGUETTE: 

Paris Baguette is a bakery café franchise with more than 4,000 units across the globe. The global brand first franchised in the U.S. in 2015 and has since established nearly 150 locations in markets across the country, making it one of the premier franchise opportunities in its category. Paris Baguette’s primary mission, executed every day by its expert staff of bakers, cakers and baristas, is to share moments of joy with guests and help guests share moments of joy with their friends and family by providing world-class cakes, pastries, coffees, breads and other French-inspired bakery café fare. To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://ownaparisbaguette.com/.