Family Therapist and Serial Entrepreneur Team up to Bring Teriyaki Madness to Marin County, CA

Cindy Harris and Gary Sattin are looking forward to opening their own Teriyaki Madness franchise in Marin County, California. While Harris has a background in family therapy and Sattin previously owned a toy company, the two have decided to join forces in a completely new industry. The decision to become joint business owners was born out of a desire to take on a fun, new project that would allow them to contribute something positive to their community and create opportunities for their family members in the years to come. 

1851 Franchise spoke with Harris and Sattin about their journey into franchising and their plans for the future.  

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

Harris: I have been a licensed marriage and family therapist for many years, and I also have had a lot of involvement in the school districts, helping define policies and procedures.

After I met Gary, we worked together for a few years doing flash sales for different companies. Once we had done that for a while, we decided we wanted to try something new. Franchising with Teriyaki Madness seems like something that could be fun for us to do, and the food is really good. It just made sense to us. 

Sattin: We're not youngsters anymore. We want to have fun and enjoy ourselves but still be able to do something that has to do with the community and creates opportunities for our family members later on.

I'm a serial entrepreneur and have had a lot of companies. I had a toy company doing Disney and Nickelodeon children's licenses for years and also a software company that did software that was sold to Bed Bath and Beyond. Now I'm working in healthcare products, so I like to get involved in a variety of things.

My life is really centered around being with Cindy. I am very happy at this point in my life, and we are looking forward to being franchise owners with Teriyaki Madness together. 

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?

Sattin: My perception of franchising before we looked at Teriyaki Madness was that all franchised restaurants were unhealthy. I thought of Burger King and McDonald's. We never went to any of those types of places.

When we learned about Teriyaki Madness, we saw they had fresh ingredients all of the time. They offer some healthy dishes that are really good for you. We tried the food, and it was really good. It was a real value for the money, so I think that's kind of what changed our mind about franchising. 

We also wanted something that we could bring our family into, after we learn how this all works and get it properly operating.

Harris: Franchising is being part of something that you can actually be proud of instead of something that you're just owning to make money. 

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

Harris: The team of people at corporate that we spoke to have made us feel a lot more secure about our choice. They're not just handing it over saying, “Here you go; figure it out.” They walk you through the whole thing. They are there for everything from coaching to opening day.

Sattin: Teriyaki Madness is a fun company, and the owner, along with everyone we have met from the brand, has been very optimistic. It’s important that we trust the brand and the people behind it because, while we have been professionals in other areas, this is new to us.

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

Harris: We eventually want to have at least five locations. The goal is to have one of our sons take over and take on a managerial role once we're up and running and have multiple locations. We want to get our family involved and truly invest in it. 

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

Harris: We think this is going to be a fun opportunity, even though it's later on in life for us. It'll be hard work, but we're looking at it as something enjoyable. It’s not something we have to do; it’s an enjoyable opportunity.

Sattin: The area where we live has a lot of small towns in it, and everybody has a little boat dock. There's not a lot of Asian food in the area for some reason. In other parts of the Bay Area, there's tons of Asian food, but where we live for some reason there's not. We thought this could be a big opportunity. We're not one of hundreds.

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

Harris: I would just say: Take a chance. Why not? It's another chapter in your life that could open up other opportunities.

Sattin: Don’t open a franchise in the Bay Area! Only joking. We learned that the vast majority of people who got a franchise from Teriyaki Madness are not people that have been in the food business. That meant a lot to us because it shows that the brand has everything laid out for franchisees to make them successful. All you have to do is follow the plan. 

ABOUT TERIYAKI MADNESS 

Teriyaki Madness is making big moves. Named the #1 Fastest-Growing Big Restaurant Chain in the U.S. by Restaurant Business, TMAD’s secret sauce lies in creating value for franchisees, guests and employees alike. More than 135 shops across three countries deliver big, heaping bowls of fresh, natural ingredients to their communities, creating a cult-like following with customers, employment opportunities for neighborhoods, and profitable margins for the franchisees. Backed by world-class technology including delivery and loyalty innovations and an all-star executive team, Teriyaki Madness’ focus is on sustainable growth and exceptional experiences. Visit franchise.teriyakimadness.com for single and multi-unit opportunities, and join the Teriyaki Takeover.