Baking Enthusiast and Multi-Unit Franchise Owner Expands Dessert Franchise Empire with Paris Baguette

Nikki Tulyag may have already been a multi-unit franchisee with another dessert concept, but having mastered it, she was ready for a new challenge. 

For 20 years, she was a stay at home mom to four children, but when the youngest started school, she felt a need to find a new sense of purpose. After some searching, she decided to invest in a dessert concept with a flexible schedule that allowed her to continue to prioritize her role as a mother while also pursuing her entrepreneurial dreams.

Once she got a handle on her first location, she invested in a few more, before realizing she was ready to branch out and try a new brand. She and her husband Anvar had been keeping their eyes out for the next opportunity, and it was only when Nikki stumbled upon Paris Baguette*, the global bakery café concept with over 4,000 units worldwide and over 150 open in the U.S., that it all clicked into place.

“It was love at first sight,” she said. “I walked into Paris Baguette, having never heard of them before. Immediately, I was in awe at the concept. I’m a big baker, so I was in love with the products. We bought a bunch of croissants and pastry items, and I went back to the hotel to tell my husband about this great bakery.”

It was that very same day that the couple reached out to the brand to begin their franchising journey. What made Nikki so confident in her love for the brand? It was primarily her love for baking and the impressive products Paris Baguette had to offer.

“Baking is my best stress outlet. It makes me a nicer person because when I bake, my stress is gone and I have baked goods to share! Now, I am excited to share baked goods with our whole community through our own neighborhood bakery,” she said.

1851 Franchise spoke with the Tulyags to hear about their journey into franchising and their plans for the future. 

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?

Nikki: I did the most and least rewarding job at the same time for 20 years: stay at home mom to four kids. When my last kid went to kindergarten, I felt quite lost. I wondered what I would do with my life. 

I started looking into different opportunities that would give me some career fulfillment, but I needed to maintain a flexible schedule, because I had to still be “mom” first and foremost.

Then I came across a small franchise concept for sale in a different industry, and it was a great starter business for me. I spent open to close in the store, learning the business inside and out. A month later, I felt ready for a second location. Now, we have five locations, but I am ready for my next challenge.

Anvar: I have been in finance for my full career. I am looking forward to helping Nikki out when I retire from my corporate career some day. Paris Baguette offers bigger volume stores than our previous franchise, so we are excited to be taking on something bigger. 

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?

Anvar: I did not know you could make a living out of franchising. I thought about all of the royalties and fees, but you can actually make a great living. You don’t have to worry about a lot of the inner workings of the business because the franchisor takes care of it for you. It’s a tried and tested model. 

I used to think I would prefer to start from scratch, but our experience with franchising has been very positive and successful. 

Nikki: A franchise comes with protection and brand recognition. It makes you feel well taken care of. Somebody has worked out all of the kinks already. It’s a well oiled machine.  

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

Nikki: With Paris Baguette, it was love at first sight. I took the kids to a competition out of town, and when we were staying in a hotel, we decided to venture out to find something to eat. I walked into Paris Baguette, having never heard of them before. Immediately, I was in awe at the concept. I’m a big baker, so I was in love with the products. We bought a bunch of croissants and pastry items, and I went back to the hotel to tell my husband about this great bakery. I told him we needed to look into them immediately, because I wanted one myself!

I fell in love with my husband at first sight, too, and we got married three months later. Everyone thought we were insane but we have been together for 27 years, so I trust my love at first sight instincts!

Food is a love language for us, and baking is my best stress outlet. It makes me a nicer person because when I bake, my stress is gone and I have baked goods to share! Now, I am excited to share baked goods with our whole community through our own neighborhood bakery.

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

Anvar: We want to continue growing as much as we can. 

Nikki: The sky's the limit.

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

Nikki: I have a love for people. My favorite part of the job of being a franchise owner is providing my employees with security and support. I love my employees, and I love working with them. I can’t run a business without them. I always train them to put the guest first, but behind closed doors, my employees come first for me and I work hard to protect them.

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

Anvar: Franchising is like a marriage. It is a commitment between yourself and the brand. You have to really see yourself doing it and be passionate about it. I would suggest starting slower if you don't have experience and working your way up and growing over time. 

Nikki: You have to put a lot of effort into it. You don’t want to be an absent franchisee; you should really be present if you want to succeed. Learn everything you can about your own business. 

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 over 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/.