When Natasha Palmer was 17, she started her first job at a local coffee franchise, not knowing that 15 years later she would own the very place that started her employment journey.
Now 32, the qualified interior designer, personal trainer and nutritional coach has recently purchased the Muzz Buzz store in Bannister Road, Canning Vale, in what she says feels like life coming full circle.
“Not many people are able to say they now own the business that gave them their first start, but for me it’s a real ‘pinch me’ moment, because I feel as if I’ve grown up in this business, and now I get to take that career journey to the next level.”
Natasha studied interior design after leaving school and spent several years in the industry before deciding to start her own business as a PT and nutritional coach, opting to continue working at Muzz Buzz throughout it all.
“It’s always been such a fun workplace, and the culture is so supportive, that I have kept a regular Saturday shift for all these years.”
“When the opportunity arose last year to buy the franchise, it felt like the stars had aligned.”
A 2021 report from the Franchise Council of Australia found just 29% of franchise businesses were operated by women, while figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics found only 34% of all SMEs in Australia are owned by women.
Natasha took on the franchise in September and says her previous experiences - both as an employee of the company and as a small business owner - have given her a solid foundation for success.
“I am not naïve to the challenges of operating a small business, so I feel like I’m going into this opportunity with my eyes wide open. I also have an advantage in having physically worked in the store and been on the tools so to speak, so I know the customer-facing aspects intimately.”
“My challenge now is learning the back-end operations and pushing myself to grow on both a professional and personal level.”
Natasha says despite working in three very different sectors, she believes the foundations for success remain the same;
- Building Customer Relationships: For some customers, their morning coffee presents their first social interaction of the day, so a strong customer rapport and relationship is vital to build loyalty and repeat business. “We’ve quite literally seen kids grow up as their parents come through daily and weekly – we build genuine relationships with our regular customers, and they become an extension of the Muzz Buzz family.”
- Opportunities Not Challenges: With a positive mindset, Natasha says it’s important to look for opportunities, rather than focus on challenges. “Cost is certainly a challenge in the current economic climate, but rather than dwell on it we look for opportunities to find efficiencies in our business, and find different ways of doing things that might bring some of those costs down.”
- Create a Strong Team: Natasha credits some of her success to the previous franchisee – a key mentor – and the current store manager, both of whom have created a positive culture within the store over a number of years, which has allowed her and others in the workplace to thrive. “When you are supported by your team and you genuinely love coming to work, that’s when great things can happen. Having the right people in place and the right mindset is vital, and I’m so proud of the team we have in our store.”
Muzz Buzz Executive Chairman Warren Reynolds says Natasha’s story highlights the opportunities that exist within the business.
“From first job to franchisee – we want all our employees to know that these opportunities exist, and we will support you as much as we can, through training, positive staff culture, and a strong franchise business model.”
“We are thrilled to see Natasha continue her Muzz Buzz journey and look forward to watching her succeed in her new role.”
About Warren Reynolds and Muzz Buzz
Warren Reynolds is the major shareholder and Executive Chairman of Muzz Buzz, a WA owned and operated business, specialising in Great Coffee on the Go. There are currently more than 30 stores across metropolitan and regional WA. Mr Reynolds has more than three decades business experience, including in the US and Melbourne. He’s also an accomplished aerobatic pilot and enjoys flying in his spare time.
