franchise.co.nz – PUTTING PEOPLE IN BUSINESS
43
15 years ago, Jeremy and Simone Palmer were both in the corporate world
and getting tired of the 9-to-5 grind. “We both travelled for work, and we
weren’t enjoying what we were doing. We felt it was time for a change,” says
Simone. “Our children were small, and we hoped by becoming masters of our
own destiny in our own business, we’d find a bit of flexibility for family life as
well as learning something new.”
Simone and Jeremy did a lot of research; “Google, reading, word of mouth –
Coffee Culture kept coming up as a strongly trusted brand. We are lucky to
have multiple friends in Christchurch who have been in business themselves
for a long time,” Simone continues. “They were great sounding boards for
us. One close friend had just purchased his first Coffee Culture franchise
and loved the brand so much he wanted to buy a second store. He couldn’t
manage it alone, so we went into partnership with our first Coffee Culture
store in the old Hornby clock tower building and the experience
was invaluable.”
Warm fuzzies
Jeremy and Simone have been involved with Coffee Culture ever since and
now own and operate two cafés in Beckenham and Merivale with their new
business partners Luke Jones (Beckenham) and Shawn Zapanta (Merivale).
“Jeremy had also bought into a pizza store,” reveals Simone, “but it made
no sense for him to stay there, as the Coffee Culture franchise was infinitely
superior. So, we now have the two cafés, and our motto is, ‘To build a
community within a community.’ Our aim is always to be there for our guests
and be part of the local community. We strive to offer the best in everything
– food, coffee, atmosphere and ambiance. And when we succeed in that, it
gives us warm fuzzies!”
In recognition of their success, Simone, Jeremy and Shawn’s Merivale café
won Store of the Year and they themselves were awarded the Leader of the
Year title in Coffee Culture’s recent 2025 Store Awards held at the Court
Theatre in the heart of Christchurch City.
Beginnings and winnings
Coffee Culture began 30 years ago
when Chris Houston opened the first
store offering a simple menu of coffee,
tea, desserts and big bagels. “Not a
great deal has changed since,” says
Coffee Culture’s COO, Sacha Coburn.
“The clue is in our name, but we’ve
refined operations as well as evolving
and growing ever since. No two
stores are alike as the franchise has
specifically concentrated upon creating
beautiful cafés designed to suit each
local community and operator. We now
number 20 stores, and our excellence
and durability are well demonstrated
by winning the Retail and Hospitality
Franchise of the Year at the 2024 Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards.”
Simone was impressed from day one of joining Coffee Culture. “The minute
we signed on the dotted line my training started in a local store. It covered
everything, and 15 years later I can still say we have the best of both
worlds: we have the independence of owning our own business, with the
big bonuses of support, brand recognition and the proven systems of an
established company.”
“We’ve learned so much in our 15-year journey,” says Simone. “Our input into
the franchise is valued and we really feel part of a team within the wider
group of franchisees. We love the opportunities we get to contribute to
promotions and menu ideas.
“Over the years our goals and expectations have moved as we’ve had to deal
with unexpected experiences such as earthquakes and Covid. When we
started our children were tiny, and they now work part-time with us. We’ve
had to be resilient, but whatever happens in life it’s always amazing the
feeling you get from putting a smile on someone’s face.”
Looking to
the future
Simone and Jeremy are
right on board with the
franchise’s efforts to get
younger people into
business, as Simone
outlines. “It’s not easy
for keen, young would-
be franchisees to get on
the ladder, and Coffee
Culture has come up
with some innovative
options. If you are the
right fit, they can help
find financing solutions
and support.
“It has become one of our own personal goals to help new owners into a
store, and over the last two years we’ve sold a small share in each of our
stores to long-term team members who started with us when they were very
young, part-time. It’s been very rewarding watching the younger generation
getting on the fast track to owning their own business.”
There are opportunities available nationwide to open your own Coffee Culture
store, including in Wānaka , Dunedin and Hamilton. “Depending on location
you can expect to complete fit out,
tenancy agreements and franchise fee
from an initial investment of between
$350k to $450k,” says Sacha.
And Simone concludes, “If you are
passionate about what you do, have
great attention to detail and love being
around people, Coffee Culture could
bring you the same kind of work/life
balance we enjoy.”
Award-winning Coffee Culture
franchisees strive to offer the best
CULTURE OF
SUCCESS
Opportunity: Food & Beverage
Coffee Culture
www.coffeeculture.co.nz
Contact
Sacha Coburn
027 475 0390
sacha@coffeeculture.co.nz
Advertiser Info
Simone Palmer: ‘We have the best of both worlds’
Coffee Culture:
a strongly trusted brand
Jeremy and Simone Palmer