Franchisee Spotlight: How They Got Started

At PJ’s Coffee, we have an unwavering commitment not only to our customers but also to our local owners. When partnering with new franchisees, we work to ensure a seamless process by crafting solid relationships and providing the resources and insights necessary for them to succeed as new store owners and operators. This experience is particularly true for local operators Tance Hughes of Natchez, Mississippi, and husband-wife duo Smanvi Gudur and Raj Poloju of Alexandria, Louisiana.

Tance, with his entrepreneurial spirit, found it easy to get started with PJ’s. It felt like second nature to him. In addition to the backing of his partners — his brother Seth and local business owner Dallas Morris — and the support of community members, our corporate team also assisted him in getting the new store up and running.

Smanvi Gudur and Raj Poloju can also testify to the support from the PJ’s team, along with the valuable advice and wisdom given by Smanvi’s uncle, a franchise operator for a different chain.

Tance and his partners, as well as Smanvi and Raj, value being in business for themselves but not by themselves. Therefore, when they came across a company offering a successful business model with some creative freedom, they were eager to become PJ’s store owners.

A Louisiana native, Tance started his first company when he was only 17, an e-commerce brand centered around printing and signage. Eventually, the company moved into a former Kmart building, which gave Tance the idea to open a coffee shop at the front of the store and introduced him to the coffee business.

Initially considering investing in a local coffee business, Tance decided to join the PJ’s Coffee family instead. Although the beginning was challenging, like any new business, he and his partners persevered through the uncertainties of the COVID era. They changed locations due to property restrictions and ended up opening their PJ’s at a former Smoothie King location. With the help of their project management and real estate teams, they turned this challenge into an opportunity by focusing on the drive-thru aspect and taking advantage of the abundant storage space on-site.

“We had a hurdle with investing, but we are efficient with the space that we have,” said Tance. “Even with the expected new business difficulties along the way, we never got discouraged. Instead, the pillar of support we received from PJ’s helped us to remember our overarching goal: we’re not just in the business, but on the business — we want to advance it.”

Smanvi and Raj were not immune to the hurdles of becoming franchise owners either. Rather than joining her uncle’s business, Smanvi wanted to be a part of a brand that offered a more exciting experience for guests and herself. After joining PJ’s as franchisees, Smanvi and Raj understood how important it was to find the right real estate for their business — they ultimately found a great location well positioned in the Alexandria market, which has allowed them to be highly successful.

With a shared background in the medical field, the couple was able to seamlessly adapt to their demanding lifestyle of long days as they worked tirelessly to launch and build a successful business. Nonetheless, they wouldn’t trade their work for anything in the world.

“We started to feel the need for a change when COVID-19 hit,” said Smanvi. “I had some knowledge of the franchise business because of my uncle, but I wanted something of our own — something my husband and I could share. We make the perfect team where I get to be the social one, constantly working alongside employees and handling day-to-day operations while he handles salaries and the business structure. It doesn’t get better than that.”

Both parties agree that PJ’s is unique from other major coffee shop brands due to its beignets. A fan-favorite in the local community, Tance says he sells the most beignets during the summer when kids are out of school and looking for a sweet treat. During this time, beignets account for an average of 12% of his store’s sales. Smanvi and Raj, on the other hand, boast a higher number at 33%. Their location was even voted “Best Beignets in Town.”

A Glimpse Ahead

The future is bright for these franchise owners as Tance and the power couple Smanvi and Raj plan to expand by opening additional PJ’s locations soon.

Tance and his partners are working on branching out of Mississippi by opening a new PJ’s Coffee location on the Louisiana side of the Natchez area. Equipped with an understanding of the small community dynamic, they have complete confidence that their second store will be successful. According to Tance, including Smanvi and Raj, the most valuable step to becoming a franchisee is to research the company, the brand culture and the people involved.

For Smanvi and Raj, achieving great success at their first PJ’s store in Alexandria has encouraged them to start working on opening a second location later this year. Smanvi looks forward to this next chapter in her and Raj’s journey with PJ’s, hoping prospective franchisees consider the value of working with a brand that gives owners an excellent opportunity to pursue their dreams of entrepreneurship.

To learn more about PJ’s Coffee and explore franchise opportunities, visit pjsfranchise.com.