Patrons of Failed Franchise Blast Make and Take Gourmet Franchisor Bellso

Also read:  Why the Meal Prep / Meal Assembly Kitchen Franchises are Failing. Part 3

(FranchisePick.Com)  Comments made in a recent article on the closing of two Make and Take Gourmet franchises and in a blast email to customers have prompted an outraged backlash against the meal prep franchise chain founder Michele Bellso.  Bellso’s publicly stated that she had fully expected franchise stores to close, and implied that it was the franchise owners’ own faults they failed.  Despite four franchise failures and personal franchisee losses exceeding an estimated $800,000 in just over a year, Bellso said she would continue selling franchises without hesitation.

The comment section of one of the online articles quoting Bellso erupted in angry comments that praised the owner of the closed Baldwinsville store, and blasted Bellso for her comments:

bville1986 wrote:

Dear Ms. Bellso, I was a patron of the Bville location and was very impressed by that location’s owner Cheryl. I was also impressed with the atmosphere she created there since her employees were always so enthusiastic and always so eager to help. I will miss Cheryl’s sparkling personality. She was always so friendly and always made everyone feel so welcomed. She was already ahead of the game with the “Grab and Go” concept. She had sandwich signs and sent flyers advertising this concept beginning last year. Unfortunately, it seems your model for your franchises is what has missed the mark. I feel bad for Cheryl, and for all of the other franchise owners that invested alot of money in your failed concept.

I was one of the recipients of your “blast” email since I am a former Cicero customer, and could not believe how you summarized this whole situation. How can an owner of multiple franchises say they were all bound to fail?? Were you setting them all up to fail when you sold them the franchises?? You try to make yourself seem like you know what you’re doing and you’re going to succeed no matter what… but at what expense?? I will never patronize another Make & Take franchise, knowing the kind of person that is at the helm.   04/30/08 at 9:58PM

rosalind wrote

Unbelievable!!! How could Ms. Bellso actually say that “we expected some franchises would fail.” Must make the people who are losing a WHOLE LOT of money feel real good. Was that mentioned when the Bellso’s pitched a franchise to you? And, if customers are more inclined to ‘take’ rather than ‘make’,as Bellso says  04/28/08 at 6:24PM

smeyers029 wrote:

Dear Ms Bellso,
I feel terrible that B-ville and Camillus Make and Takes closed. However, I feel even worse that you as the founding owner, would blame either one of those owners, when they bought into your business plan and were to follow as you saw fit. I know for a fact that B-ville had many ideas that you would never support, and then you go on to say that they needed to change the model. Ms Bellso, you made them invest hundreds of thousands of dollars into building out your model, how do you expect a first year business to just trash that and start over.
The fact is you are a poor business woman who seems to not care about your franchises, just your own skin
Too bad, your model failed and I am sure in time so will you.
As for your franchises, I hope all of them are able to find their way without you and rise above.   05/01/08 at 1:00PM

optimist10 wrote:

Ms. Bellso,
I had the privilege of working at the Baldwinsville Make and Take, including the opening event. During this time, I regret to say, that I never once met you. You stated that “there are just so many variables to being successful”, and one of those variables is support. It never came from you.
As a customer, I received emails continually advertising events and specials available “only at our Cicero and Fayetteville” locations (your “corporate” stores). As an employee, I felt our facility was segregated; for what reason, I don’t know.
I feel you never made an attempt to personally promote Baldwinsville. We were fortunate enough to have a genuine, caring, professional management team, and continually assisted repeat customers and organizations. It was totally in their hearts to make this work, to make this franchise succeed. The parking is great, also convenient (handicapped accessible), the building was tastefully remodeled and designed (per your contractual specifications), and the Baldwinsville community is supportive, especially for small businesses. I don’t buy your “location” theory. We have a large school district, assisted living facilities, and several successful business organizations. There is not only the Radisson community, (5 minutes away), but Village Green, Kimbrook, and many other neighborhood developments that extend into Liverpool, Jordan- Elbridge, and Plainville.
If Make and Take continues to be an industry leader, then B’ville shouldn’t be closing. Why wasn’t the B’ville franchise getting the spotlight? Why not sponsor events at the locations who need business and promotion? I’m sure this comes down to money flowing into your own pocket. Sad to say, maybe it wasn’t enough for you.
If you were expecting your franchises to “morph”, as you so kindly put it, then it should be up to you to oversee that change. Not turn your back on people who count on you to be a leader, instead of a backstabber. 05/02/08 at 7:39PM

syrakuse wrote:

“There are just so many variables to being successful. It could be the location. It could be the ability to react to the retail model.”

I assume she approved the location of her franchises.

I would suggest she take over those location, prove that it was operational issues that cause those franchisees to fail the sell the locations to somebody more qualified!

Or not.

04/26/08 at 1:17AM 

Syrakuse makes an interesting point.  This seems like a great opportunity for the Bellso’s to step in and show the franchisee’s how it’s done.

Michele…?

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