When you think of a French bakery franchise, your thoughts may not immediately jump to the state of Indiana, but that’s about to change, thanks to new Le Macaron Franchise Owners, Mary and Dan Lynn!
The Lynns recently purchased their first Le Macaron business and are looking forward to bringing authentic French pastries to their community. We caught up with Mary and Dan for a quick Q&A session to learn more about the newest members of the Le Macaron franchise family. Here’s what they had to say:
We’re so happy to have you bringing our macaron franchise to Indiana! Can you tell us a bit about your career backgrounds prior to deciding to franchise with Le Macaron?
Mary: My background is in clinical mental health therapy. I worked in the field for 15 years before starting a family and staying home with my kids for 6 years. I have been working as a teacher’s assistant in an elementary school for the last 4 years.
Dan: My background is in CNC machining. I have been working in the field for 20-plus years. I took a break from machining several years ago to become a pilot and flew for a few years. Once we started a family I realized flying wasn’t realistic for balancing work with home, and went back to machining.
We love to hear about what our Franchise Owners like to do when they’re not making America fall in love with our delicious French pastries. What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of work?
Mary: We are very family-oriented and do most things together as a family. We enjoy outdoors activities, going to the movies, watching football, and going on family vacations. Our kids are involved in lots of activities that keep us very busy on a daily basis and we enjoy watching them in those activities. Personally, to relax and decompress, I enjoy spending time at a spa.
How did you first hear about the Le Macaron franchise opportunity, and what was it about Le Macaron that made you sit up and take notice?
Mary: We first became aware of Le Macaron when it popped up in my Facebook newsfeed. I had been researching franchise opportunities in our area for some time. It caught my eye with the really cute colors and décor. I started Googling and researching Le Macaron and really fell in love with the idea and concept. I inquired for more information and began the process. We kept moving forward and didn’t look back.
What is it about the Le Macaron franchise that makes it a great fit for you and your lifestyle?
Mary: Le Macaron is the right fit for us for several reasons, but I really like that we don’t have to do the baking! It takes a lot of time to make all the products. I love that the time-consuming baking is taken out of the equation so we can focus on running the business and serving our customers with 100% focus. Also, the concept of a place to bring people together and enjoy another culture other than our own is great and so fun!
Were there any other factors that helped you decide that the Le Macaron franchise opportunity was the right one for you?
Dan: What we like about the Le Macaron opportunity is that it wasn’t ridiculously expensive. Most of the franchise opportunities I researched or was interested in weren’t even an option for us because of the cost. We loved that Le Macaron was pretty much a “turn key” operation,
meaning that the baking was already done for us. Also, we like that it is very family oriented and fun!
What are some of the stand-out experiences you have already had as a Le Macaron Franchise Owner?
Mary: Meeting the Founders of Le Macaron was a great experience. We loved that they are family oriented and close to each other. They are down to earth and very warm and welcoming. They treated us as if they have known us for a long time and part of their family already!
Let’s talk about Discovery Day in Sarasota. How was that experience?
Dan: Discovery Day was fun! We liked that it wasn’t stressful. It was laid back and loved that we were able to try any and all the products we wanted. It was nice to tour the facilities and see where the products are made and who is making them.
Was there a particular “a-ha” moment when you understood that this was the ideal opportunity for you?
Dan: For us our “a-ha” moment was really when we spoke to other Franchise Owners and were able to ask them all kinds of questions. Those who were willing to share some numbers with us and give us advice on how to start making a profit right away were very helpful.
As much as we loved the concept, the people, and the look of Le Macaron, it came down to the numbers, and the fact that we can give up our current income and live off of what we can make with this business was the deciding factor.
What motivated you to become entrepreneurs and start looking for franchise concepts in the first place?
Mary: To make a long song short, we wanted to become entrepreneurs to bring Dan home again so our family could be back together on a daily basis. He has been traveling for work for the last four years and is gone for a minimum of 90 days at a time and often longer. Le Macaron will bring us back together again!
What do you think will make you successful as Le Macaron Franchise Owners?
Mary: Our success depends on us continuing to learn and listen to those who know this business. Our willingness to try new things and stop those that don’t work is important. Staying involved and working at the shop is essential to success. Staying connected and advertising is important, but customer satisfaction is key because word of mouth is the best advertisement!
Was there anything in particular that set Le Macaron apart from any other food franchises you looked into?
Mary: The lower franchise cost and not having to bake anything set Le Macaron apart from the other food franchises I researched.
Would you care to share any fun or meaningful experiences you’ve shared with the Le Macaron executive team so far?
Dan: Our best experience with Le Macaron’s corporate team so far would have to be when we went for training. We learned a lot but also had a lot of fun.
Based on your journey to owning a Le Macaron franchise, do you have any advice for prospective Franchise Owners about the franchise discovery process?
Mary: My best advice to potential new Franchise Owners would be do your research thoroughly, ask lots of questions and chat with as many current Franchise Owners as possible. Also be open and willing to listen and learn and have fun!
How much would you say our commitment to quality and authenticity influenced your decision to own a Le Macaron French pastry franchise?
Dan: Le Macaron’s emphasis on quality, authentic French pastries influenced our decision to franchise with them quite a bit. It is important to us that the macarons and other products are of excellent quality and authentically made by a French pastry chef who trained in France. There are many companies making macarons, but not by an authentic French pastry chef. It is important in business to have things that set you apart from all the others!
Finally, what are you looking forward to most as Le Macaron Franchise Owners?
Mary: By owning a Le Macaron franchise, we are looking forward mostly to being back together as a family and running the business together, as well as teaching our two kids how to run the business and what it means to work hard for what you have. Also, we are excited to bring a little bit of authentic French culture to our area.
Congratulations on your new Le Macaron franchise location, Mary and Dan! We wish you all the best and look forward to seeing you achieve sweet success in your community.
Are you, like the Lynns, looking for a fun and unique opportunity to bring something new to your community while taking control of your financial future? Le Macaron is awarding franchises to qualified candidates in select U.S. cities. Find out more about the Le Macaron franchise opportunity by visiting our macaron franchise website today.
