IT Professional to Bring First Location Paris Baguette to Virginia Beach

Huanyu Li has been a fan of Paris Baguette* for 10 years. Attracted by the stylish branding and delicious cakes, Li was disappointed to find that there were no Paris Baguette locations near her when she moved from New Jersey to Virginia Beach. When she surveyed the area and noticed that there were no other bakery cafés that served the same kind of beloved, not-too-sweet baked goods, she got the idea to start her entrepreneurial journey as a franchise owner.

1851 Franchise spoke to Li about her journey into franchising and her 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?

Li: Before starting my Paris Baguette franchise, I have been working in IT for over 10 years, and I am still doing that today. 

I first learned about Paris Baguette 10 years ago, before I moved to Virginia Beach, when I saw one where I lived in New Jersey at the time. I liked the branding and the look of it back then, and I still do today, which is a big part of why I chose Paris Baguette. Currently, there aren’t any locations anywhere near Virginia Beach, not even within 200 miles. This makes it such a good opportunity for me to open one. 

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?

Li: I knew there was a whole process, but the brand is there to guide you through it. That guidance, plus their industry knowledge and connection with contractors, makes it much easier to start a local business.  

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

Li: I love the branding, and the guests love the taste of the products. They have a wide selection of choices that are not as sweet as what you can find at other bakery cafés around here. The cake is not too sweet, and I can’t find a product like that anywhere else. 

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

Li: My current goal is to choose a good location. After we open, I want to make sure that I have repeat guests because that would mean people love the service and food enough to want to come back. I want to be able to produce a good bakery and a good experience for the guests, as well as an enjoyable environment for employees to work.

I might expand in the future, but that is more of a long-term goal. 

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

Li: Read the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) carefully. Make sure you understand everything before you sign the agreement. 

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/.