Path to Ownership: How this Former Jeremiah’s Employee Became Her Own Boss
Megan Bourke always dreamed about owning her own Jeremiah’s Italian Ice location.
Megan spent two years working at Jeremiah’s Italian Ice while attending college in Orlando, Jeremiah’s home market. Starting as a server, her hard work and dedication to the brand eventually led her to the role of a supervisor.
After college, Megan left Jeremiah’s and Florida altogether, but she never forgot her time working for the brand. She had always been drawn to the family-friendly atmosphere and the brand’s dedication to providing a fun environment for people to come together and bond over delicious frozen treats.
She also enjoyed the camaraderie among the other Jeremiah’s servers and supervisors. These are relationships rooted in Jeremiah’s culture of personal and professional growth. Every Jeremiah’s Italian Ice franchisee is responsible for ensuring a fun, exciting, vibrant and high-energy experience at their specific location – and this begins with good vibes and a commitment to a developing a killer Frog Squad.
Between her connection to her fellow employees and passion for providing a welcoming atmosphere, it’s no wonder that Megan became the brand’s first franchisee in the state of Texas.
From Luxury Goods to Frozen Treats
After relocating to Dallas, Megan worked at Tiffany & Co. as a store manager. During that time, she utilized many of the skills she developed while working as a Jeremiah’s Italian Ice store supervisor, including budgeting, staffing, sales and payroll. She also knew the importance of providing a great customer experience for her jewelry clients, a skill she learned at Jeremiah’s as well.
“My experience as a Jeremiah’s Italian Ice employee prepared me for my career in management and customer relations,” said Megan. “It taught me about accountability, how to manage employees, and the importance of creating a welcoming, exciting and vibrant atmosphere for customers.”
Even after six years with Tiffany & Co., Megan never forgot her experience working at Jeremiah’s.
“When I learned Jeremiah’s was now franchising, I saw that I could become my own boss and run my own business with the help of an experienced leadership team and supportive network, and I immediately worked towards becoming a franchisee,” said Megan.
Not only was franchising with Jeremiah’s a fit for Megan culturally, it also offered a proven concept, and an attractive business model with an ROI too sweet to ignore.
A Culture of Support and Learning
This past month Megan opened her first of three Jeremiah’s locations in Texas and she is excited about the possibility of helping mentor and train her staff not only for success at her store but for life in general. Megan embraces that a customer’s experience relies on a strong Frog Squad that is committed and dedicated to upholding Jeremiah’s mission of helping customers “Live Life to the Coolest.”
“Having employees that understand and fully embrace your brand’s mission is absolutely vital to providing a strong customer experience that will keep people coming back,” she explained. “Jeremiah’s Italian Ice support and training for employees has led to an employee retention rate unlike anything in the industry.”
Megan says that her goal as a Jeremiah’s franchisee is to provide her employees with the same kind of support and mentorship she received from her supervisors and coworkers when she worked at Jeremiah’s back in college. She is eager to be a resource for her team and help them develop new skills that they can use in their professional careers moving forward.
This motivation is reflective of Jeremiah’s brand-wide embrace of cultivating talent internally. The Jeremiah’s executive team have been involved with the company for more than 20 years, and many have moved their way up the ranks after beginning as servers in the early days of our organization.
Promoting Happiness and Fun in the Community
Megan knows that it is important for businesses to support various efforts in the local community.
“Jeremiah’s fosters an environment where people can come together, grow, and have fun, which is why I’m excited to be part of a brand that encourages franchisees to engage with the communities they serve,” she noted.
Megan plans on partnering with local youth groups as well as sponsoring youth sports teams and getting involved with the local church community as well. She knows that businesses that support the customers they serve are more than just a business – they are a pillar of the community.
“For me, it all comes back to the Jeremiah’s motto of ‘Living Life to the Coolest.’ That motto has driven me to become a small business owner, become a mentor and leader for my team, and be a role model in my community,” said Megan. “I am eager to be serving the McKinney community and am proud to be creating a fun environment where people of all ages can come together to grow and learn together.”
To learn more about what it means to be a Jeremiah’s Italian Ice franchisee, get in touch with us here!
