A lot of nothing from tumble & tea cafe!

Most of you have spoken to us by now and reviewed our brochure package. If so, you have heard us say many times,

"We are here to help you run your business!"

Well, we do a lot more that just talk about helping you- We do it!

No royalty payments for your first 60 days.

Getting your cafe open is hard work- we know, we have done it. To say welcome to the team and good job, tumble & tea cafe will collect $0 in royalty payments for your first 60 days of operation.

We work at your cafe your first 7 days.

You have been trained, your operation manual is memorized, your employees have mastered our training videos, your opening check list has been completed and you are opening your door tomorrow.

AAAHHH! Don't worry. One of our corporate trainers will work with you and your staff your first 7 days to help you train, manage and answer any questions you may have.

Those are YOUR discounts, not ours!

We are serious about providing you with discounts on every product and vendor possible. Once you join our team, you get 100% of the discounts from your suppliers. We don't receive a penny in kickbacks or bonuses- all of the savings is passed on to you!

Contact us now for your FREE franchise consultation and learn more about what we do for you!

What are the advantages of buying a franchise?

Check out our blog on Entrepreneur.com. Why should you buy a franchise? Why not just open a business on your own? Training, support, marketing, experience, discounts....... Read my blog to find out more!

Check out our new Franchise Blog @ Entreprepreneur.com

All of us at tumble & tea cafe are proud to announce our new blog with Entrepreneur.com! The blog starts at the beginning and gives you honest advice and real life experiences about franchising.

Whether you want to know more about the franchise industry, curious about opening your own franchise or thinking about franchising your business, THIS IS THE PLACE FOR YOU!

We will keep you updated on new trends, experiences, referrals and interesting facts you can tell your friends at cocktail parties. You will look oh so business savvy!

Have questions? Ask us! Feel free to post comments here or on the franchise blog
and we will get back to you with your answer.

Have a great weekend and thank you for your support and interest in the tumble & tea cafe business opportunity.

Disneyland started in a recession......

It's a sad fact that pretty much everybody knows people who have lost their jobs in this recession. It seems like the question to avoid at parties is, “How’s work?”

But for the wise, the rescession has benefits and can turn into opportunity. An article in USA Today states that a recession is a great time to start a business. Trader Joe's, Disney and Hewlett-Packard all started during recessions.

But it isn't just big companies arising in troubled times. Many mompreneurs view the recession as an opportunity to launch their businesses. Starting a business at any time is hard work. But these economic times create a fierce desire for success. Many moms are rethinking their careers after being let go or thinking about what career move works best for their families, and more than a few are choosing to chase their dreams rather than be at the mercy of an employer.

If you're considering taking advantage of these economic times and becoming an entrepreneur, stay focused with these steps:
• Create your vision for your business.
• Create your business plan. Make sure there's a need and that you can fill it and make money.
• Create a budget and make sure you can afford to launch your company. The company will require a financial investment, and you'll have to learn to live without steady income.
• Create an action plan and go for it. Don't be another person with an idea that never comes to pass.
• Know your limits. Knowing that you need help getting your business off the ground is better than pretending you don’t. Business consultants or franchises would be a good place for help.

Remember, challenging times for some mean opportunities for others. Change your mind-set and push your fear aside. In today's market, you can find amazing deals on retail space, amazing women looking for employment and a society that wants to believe in something. Ask yourself how you can create opportunity where others see none.

Happy birthday to You!

I love throwing birthday parties for kids. Everything is so magical for them and they appreciate what is really important- the frosting!

I can always pick out the birthday boy or girl walking in the door of tumble & tea cafe- they are so proud and excited. It is their day and they get to have their party at tumble & tea cafe!!! What more could they want?

But how about you? You work, have other kids, remodeling your home or just busy- how do you plan (and clean your home) for a birthday bash for your little one.

That is where tumble & tea cafe steps in. We do everything for you- you just show up for your birthday party and relax.

What is the everything we do for your birthday party? Our birthday parties for kids include invitations, decorations, pizza, drinks, birthday cake (and candles), goodies and treats for all the kids, time in our amazing indoor playground for kids and...... thank you cards! WOW- only thing missing is the margaritas! (sorry- you have to wait 'till you get home.)

Even though we include a birthday cake, lots of parents bring their home made master piece. Check out Parenting website for great cake ideas. You are welcome to bring your own cake (just save a little piece for us!)

Throw a great party, don't do the work, look like the most organized parent ever and have your child's birthday party at tumble & tea cafe. Check out our website for more information about our birthday parties for kids and remember- you are the one that gave birth...this is your day too! Enjoy & relax- let tumble & tea cafe do the work!

Benefits of Franchising in 2009

Are you wondering if NOW is the right time to open your own tumble & tea cafe?
Below are highlights from a recent article from QSR Magazine.
The article highlights the reasons why quick serve restaurants (yes, like tumble & tea cafe)are preforming better than many investments today. It also describes why now is the time to negotiate lease agreements and take advantage of better locations and lower rates.
Check out our website to find out more about the tumble & tea cafe franchise opportunity.

"Growth in quick-serve—whether it’s in franchise sales or consumer purchasing—is being seen by some as a bellwether for how long the overall economy will take to recover. Restaurants in the quick-serve segment performed better than most sectors of the stock market, despite growing consumer fears and tightened household spending. Looking at the 2008 calendar year, and the year-end stock prices for twenty-six large cap restaurant stocks, every one finished well above its fifty-two week low. The whole group of stocks, when the weekly stock price was averaged, finished the year up 78 percent over their lowest points in all of 2008.

The 2009 Restaurant Industry Forecast from the National Restaurant Association predicts that restaurant and foodservice industry sales will top $377 billion this year, following a year that showed stable sales compared to other retail sectors. While all of those aren’t franchised restaurants, the franchised, quick-serve segment is the one expected to increase sales in 2009 or at least hold its own.

That’s something casual dining and fast-casual brands can’t generally expect. The industry forecast predicts full-service restaurants will see a 2.5 percent decline in growth between 2008 and 2009; quick-serve is expected to hold steady with a 0.4 percent increase.
One thing to consider in finding a restaurant brand to acquire is whether it’s necessary or discretionary."

“Comparable sales haven’t fallen through the floor,” Mangieri says of quick-serve in 2008. “Most Americans don’t have the knowledge to cook for themselves. They must have the convenience. I think that trend is here to stay.”

Looking for Parenting Websites & Blogs!

Do you have a parenting website or blog (or even know a parenting website or blog that you love)? tumble & tea cafe is building our partners page and we are looking for some great parenting websites and blogs.

Check out our list of parenting websites and blogs @ http://www.tumbleandteacafe.com/help.html. Hey, kids don't come with instructions. Check out these websites- great information and ideas!

Lets really look at this economy.....

The economy. Needless to state the obvious- we are in a recession. With the constant negative news and the public’s general misunderstanding of economics, people are scared. But let’s look at some facts and compare the recession in the 1980’s to our current recession.

•In the 1980’s unemployment reached its high of 10.82 in December 1982.
•The federal funds rate, which was about 11% in 1979, rose to 20% by June 1981.
•The prime interest rate, at the time a highly important economic measure, eventually reached 21.5% in June 1982.

Comparing unemployment, interest and inflation rates, the U.S. economy was in a much worse condition then we are now. But even in the recession, by 1980 there were more than 356,000 franchised businesses and by 1985, retail sales of franchises exceeded $474 billion.

In 1986, the U.S. Department of Commerce estimated that retail sales by franchised establishments represented 34% of all retail sales. Last but not least the sales of products and services by all franchises grew by $198 billion during the period of 1980-1986.

How did those businesses endure? Per the United States Chamber of Commerce, franchised businesses have had a 97% success rate within 5 years of opening compared to non-franchised businesses which only have only 48% success rate with in their first 6 years.

Surprisingly enough there tends to be growth during recessions. Not only do people loose their faith in corporate America and are laid off by “safe corporate giants” but the recession provides unique benefits to new businesses. Below are just a few of your benefits for opening your business now:

•There are more retail locations available now then two years ago and you are able to negotiate lower rents and higher tenant improvements than during a recovery period.
•You have a greater selection of high quality people to work for you with less competition from larger companies.
•Recovery periods follow recessions. Businesses tend to gain a greater clientele base when the economy starts to improve while enjoying the cheaper rents they negotiated during the recession.

I believe the success in business is based off three main aspects.
1.The concept and business structure
2.Your location/ marketing plan
3.You and your abilities

We are starting to ask ourselves, "What is safe?"
Do you trust big corporate companies for stability or do you trust in you?
Honestly- It is all risky out in the real world. As some business that do not provide a perceived value service disappear, others grow. What makes a business strong.... stay tuned for my next post.

I'll end with one of my favorite quotes, "If you're not a
risk taker, you should get the hell out of business."
Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald's Corp.

Be passionate about what you do!

I just read this great blog about starting your own business.
www.startupnation.com/blogs/index.php/2009/03/10/lose-your-job-start-a-business/
The blog is an interview with a corporate executive who was laid off and couldn't find work because she was over qualified. Sound familiar? Check out her blog but this is the highlight.

"Be passionate about what you do. This is a second chance, an opportunity to do what you have dreamed about. Bring all of your collective knowledge and experience from your past jobs to your venture. You’ll have to work an exorbitant amount to launch your venture but it will be yours."

Starting a business has risks. But ask yourself what are the risk if you never try? No one, even expensive lawyers, can predict the future. If you believe in yourself and believe in the business- you can make it work.

Get connected to tumble & tea cafe franchise!

Friend us. Follow us. Watch us. Whatever it is you do on the internet we want to be apart of it. tumble & tea cafe is now on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube & Linked In.

Why tumble & tea café is THE Birthday Party for Kids Place

Any parent that has survived a birthday party for their kids can attest to the mess, chaos, and stressful experience the ordeal can be. Yet tumble & tea café offers the perfect alternative for parents when it comes to a birthday party for kids. Unlike a birthday party for kids that takes place in your home or a park, tumble & tea café offers birthday parties for kids with no clean up, no planning and most importantly no worries for you! That’s why we call our birthday party for kids the “make a reservation, show up, the kids will have a great time and your house will still be clean when it is all over birthday party for kids!”
There’s no doubt tumble & tea café is the best child friendly family restaurant. That’s why it is the perfect location for your child’s birthday party! We provide you with a party coordinator, an indoor play space for kids, decorations, invitations, pizza and birthday cake. We even have the candles!
Your kids will have a great time, and YOU will enjoy your guests without doing any of the work!
Make your life easier and choose tumble & tea café for a hassle-free birthday party your kids and you will love!

Why is everyone so into this tumble & tea cafe thing?

I am not sure. Maybe because it is a new concept? A café that adults love with great food & a hip ambiance with a place that our kids enjoy too.

I don’t think the concept is all that revolutionary but no one has done it before- well not like us.

There are a few cafes with some toys and then there are kiddie playspaces that have ok food and pictures of Mickey Mouse on the wall.

Those places are great but just not us.

tumble & tea café is a posh, wifi café that serves great food with an indoor play space for kids. We serve espresso drinks, pastries, signature paninnis, salads and great soups. Don’t worry; we also have the kid favorites too.

Since day one we have been busy. People loved it and we have regulars that come in everyday. It was amazing to watch our idea come to life. Right away we started getting request from people who wanted to own their own tumble & tea café. After a couple of years we have received over 800 requests nationwide

So what better way to open more stores than to teach people how to open and operate their business at the same time?

We are franchising nationwide and hope to be in your neighborhood soon. Is your neighborhood filled with people who cant wait to come to tumble & tea café?

Welcome to the new tumble and tea café. You will love it!

See the ORIGINAL tumble & tea cafe on tv!

Check out tumble & tea cafe on View of the Bay! Click HERE to check it out.
tumble & tea cafe is the child friendly restaurant you have been waiting for! Contact us to find out more about our franchise opportunities!

Child friendly restaurant- We wrote the book.

The restaurant trend this year is family friendly restaurants and healthy kid food options. I just found an article from about.com about how to make your restaurant child friendly. It just cracks me up because it describes what we provide at tumble & tea café- except we are even better!

Here are some highlights:
• Child Friendly Menu-
We have pb&j, grilled chessy, french toast dippers, mac & cheese and banana shakes to name a few- A sure success even for the pickiest eater.
• Easy and Efficient Space for Strollers-
We have a section for your “kid carrier” right at the door.
• Kid Activities-
Ok, how about a custom made, indoor playspace for kids 0-5. Yea, we got that covered!
• Parent Friendly Restrooms-
Mostly overlooked but any mom knows how important a convenient diaper changing station can be.

This is an exciting business for people who want to open a cafe. tumble & tea cafe is what people are looking for.
Does your neighborhood have a posh, wifi cafe with an indoor play space for kids?
Maybe you should be the one to give it to them.
So come on in and check out one of the best child friendly restaurant franchises available- tumble & tea café.

Want your kid to love healthy food? Come in here! Child friendly restaurant serves healthy food for kids.

Why is there an incredible demand for tumble & tea café? Simple; tumble & tea café is a posh, wifi café with a custom-designed indoor play space for kids. tumble & tea café keeps kids and parents happy with its fusion of a hip atmosphere and an indoor playspace for kids. Yet tumble & tea cafe is so much more…it’s a restaurant leading the 2009 health trend with its gourmet menu. Due to hundreds of request, tumble & tea cafe is now awarding franchises across America.

A deep fryer and cooking grease are items that will never be found in a tumble & tea café kitchen. Every item on the menu is made fresh when ordered and prepared with the best ingredients possible. From espresso drinks, pastries and sandwiches to signature paninnis, soups and salads—tumble & tea café has a breakfast, lunch, & weekend brunch that keeps people coming back for more.

Not only are adults taste buds satisfied, tumble & tea cafe has a kids menu that is both savory AND healthy. With tasty treats like grilled cheese sandwiches, apple dippers and banana waffles, tumble & tea café parents have the comfort of knowing their children’s health is a priority.

According to the National Restaurant Association, “three in four adults say they are trying to eat healthier now at restaurants than they did two years ago” and additionally, “healthy kids” meals will be among the hottest trends in 2009, [in fact] quick-service operators named healthy options in kids meals as the No. 1 food trend in the quick-service segment in 2009.”

This trend towards a healthier America is one tumble & tea café has long been implementing on its menu. tumble & tea café makes healthy children food the food kids crave!

Success in life is a choice

Success in life is a choice. It is a decision to better yourself and do what it takes to attain your goals. At tumble & tea cafe, we have unique, cut-above selections from our breakfast, soups, salads and paninnis. We are innovators in the hospitality industry, offering customers unique menu selections, a posh, hip atmosphere and a custom indoor playspace for children.


What makes tumble & tea cafe
Such An Unique Franchise Opportunity?
When you join us, you get unparalleled marketing, training and operational support. And best of all, you get your management team dedicated to your success. We want you to be the best you can be because with tumble and tea cafe you are in business FOR yourself, not BY yourself.

Our Franchise Opportunities We are growing fast and we’re sure your neighborhood is in desperate need of a tumble and tea cafe. When you become part of the tumble & tea cafe family, you'll have access to our innovative concept, custom designed indoor playspace, multiple streams of income and a management team that believes in a better life for you and your family.

Things to do on Valentines Day- Go to tumble & tea cafe!

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner we are bombarded with images of romance, lovers and chubby babies in diapers and wings. The truth is Valentine’s Day is the day of LOVE not lovers. Now I don’t know about the rest of you, but when you’re a mom, a day dedicated to the notion of love includes not only your partner but your kids too.

There are many ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day with the entire family from the time you wake up in the morning, ‘til the sun sets at the end of this Saturday afternoon. One of my favorites is to start the morning off with heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast. All you need is the heart-shaped mold and you’re good to go. Add some red dye to whip crème and your kids will never forget it! Coffee, heart shaped pancakes- what else do you need?

Another fun activity to do with the whole family is to bake and decorate cupcakes. It’s a way for your family to bond, play and get a little messy. Best of all your kids get to let their creativity and imagination run wild. Just make sure you have different toppings and icing colors to chose from. (FYI- I use a mix. No time to make them from scratch.)

Looking for a great family restaurant the whole family will enjoy? Come visit tumble & tea café for lunch. Enjoy our made to order, fresh and delicious paninnis, salads, sandwiches and kid favorites. Our custom made indoor play space for kids will keep your kids happy for hours and you can cuddle on the comfy couches with your special valentine. It’s a Valentine’s Day treat the whole family can enjoy!

The best way to end of a long day of fun like this is by watching one of your family favorite movies at home. In all likelihood (and if your lucky) your kids may be too exhausted to make it through the movie. Once they’ve tired themselves out at tumble & tea café, take the opportunity to crack open a bottle of wine, put on some music and allow yourself to cuddle up with your original valentine (the one before the kids).
Love your life & Happy Valentines Day!

Cast your vote!

Gina DeCarlo, our Founder, has been nominated for Mom Entrepreneur of the Year!
Please click on link to vote for her (or just read her juicy story).
http://www.startupnation.com/leading-moms-2009/contestant/3522/index.php

Thanks for your support-

Diane Zuniga
Director of Operations

Obama’s Inauguration speech left me excited about the future of this country and filled with energy to work even harder. He stated that we need people to be honest, hard working and posses’ courage to overcome hardships and improve our lives. This is exactly what we ask for in our franchisees.

We have one simple goal; we want to help you run your business! It is your café and you have 100% ownership. We help you get open, provide you with marketing plans, give you our discounts to suppliers and are available to support you whenever needed. We are looking for honest, hardworking people who have the courage to take the step into becoming business owners.

Opening any business is difficult. If it was easy, everyone would do it! And most of you reading this have been at a corporate job and may not know how to open a café. WE DO!

Take the first step today. Contact us for more detailed information so YOU can be the owner of a posh, wifi café with a playspace for kids in your neighborhood. We look forward to speaking with you. Remember, when you are part of the tumble & tea café family you are in business for yourself, not by yourself!

Make this New Year YOURS!

2009 has started with a bang for all of us at tumble & tea cafe. We began the year being featured in Southwest Airline's in flight Spirit Magazine. That has generated a huge amount of requests from people nationwide that just cant wait to own their own tumble & tea cafe.


We have also been asked to write the Franchise Blog for Entrepreneur Magazine. I am personally very excited to work on this project and Diane (Director of Operations)and I have been busy with outlines and setting up interviews. Our goal is to fill our blog with useful information, contacts and interesting bits of franchise facts.

And....I can not talk about 2009 without mentioning our new President Obama. Congratulations Obama! We offer our support and I think I can speak for most of the country in saying that we are excited for making positive changes.

Every new year brings change but no more than this year. If you have been sitting at your desk at a corporate job hating what you do- STOP IT! If you have dreamed of starting your own cafe- START IT! You don't know how? That is where we can help. Contact us and find out more about our franchise program. Love your job, add excitement to your life and start being who you always have wanted to be.

The tumble & tea cafe team wishes you a happy & prosperous New Year!