When we ask Jorge what his greatest satisfaction in entrepreneurship has been, he has a very clear idea: the people. Seeing how both his customers and his team are happy and proud of the results they’re achieving. Last July we were very lucky to welcome Jorge to Valencia, during Jeff Week, to tell us a little more about his experience. And he came directly from the airport!
Today, in this new installment of Sharing Experiences, Jorge Cabrera, our partner in Guatemala, tells us what it means to him to be a part of Mr Jeff and what makes him most proud of his project.
Continue reading and find out. 🫧👔
Tell us Jorge, what does it mean to you to be part of an international brand like Jeff?
For me, it's undoubtedly the best way to open a business: as part of an international franchise. Sometimes we want to start our own business, but to do that we have to start completely from scratch, create a new brand. On the other hand, working with a company like Jeff, all of this is already given to you. You have the security of being part of a consolidated and global project.
And, of course, the people. You know that you're working with an international and experienced team that's always thinking about you and your business.
Would you say that you feel supported and accompanied during this adventure of entrepreneurship?
Look, working for another company is very different from having your own business and having to run the operations, the management, having your own employees,... Of course, we'd all love to have someone from Jeff by our side 24 hours a day for the first 12 months; especially those of us who didn't have as much knowledge on how to run a business when we first started out. But that’s impossible. Nevertheless, I've always felt very supported throughout this amazing project.
I feel very supported in running my business. With Jeff Suite, for example, which is impressive, and with all the management tools you provide us with. But that’s part of the daily routine.
When I think about the long term, I feel supported and very confident that you're a team that's always thinking and innovating. Thanks to Jeff I have support and a lot of knowledge. And not only about the sector, but also about how to launch ad campaigns, how to create a customer funnel,... And that's reassuring. That disruptive thinking that you have, your way of always looking to the future to create new things, new tools that you're introducing to us. For example, in Guatemala I don't know of any laundromat that even has an Instagram account, and that's something we have thanks to you.
Ultimately, that's your best way of supporting us. While we get to be in charge of the operations and managing the business; you get to think about the next steps and create new technology for us, the entrepreneurs.
You mentioned that working for a company is very different from having your own business. What have been the biggest challenges you've faced as an entrepreneur?
Ugh, that’s difficult haha. I believe we face challenges every day. Some small, others bigger. But well, I think the biggest challenge starts when you have staff. You can be an entrepreneur and have your own project. I don't know, selling stuff on Instagram, making handmade items and selling them in your neighborhood, or baking homemade bread, for example. But when you have to manage people, that's when the challenge begins. Convey how you’d act in each situation to them. Train them.
Thinking more globally, and not so much about the organization itself. I'd also talk about COVID and the lockdown. In Central America, you weren't allowed to be in enclosed spaces. It was time to move fast, start calling all our customers, decide how to handle the situation. Without a doubt, the pandemic was a great challenge for everyone.
Of course, I can't forget the initial stages, which were also tough. We started as a very small business. In fact, in the beginning we delivered with one of the country’s famous shipping companies. Then, we started to create our own team and manage the entire operation internally. And in the end that's the beauty of it, isn't it? Knowing that challenges come from growth. We opened our first hub in 2019 and our second last year. The challenges remain the same. You get used to them, but they're always there.
And what about the greatest satisfaction?
Well, knowing that you're creating something and seeing how people are also pleased. For example, the satisfaction I see in customers makes me very happy. In the end, you guys think of us, and we think of our customers.
And not just them, but also in the satisfaction of the team members. Seeing that the people who are working with me are happy with their jobs, that they have a good salary. That's satisfaction in general: a job well done.
And this is the end of the interview with Jorge Cabrera, our Mr Jeff partner in Guatemala. We hope you enjoyed learning about his experience as a Jeff franchisee.
Are you thinking about opening a franchise and feel that Mr Jeff could be an exciting option for you? Let’s talk.
Di lo que piensas