By Hannah Foulger
Canada has always been an attractive destination for newcomers to make their business ownership dreams come true. Moreover, franchising makes the process that much easier, with established routines and processes that roll out the pathway for incoming entrepreneurs. According to StatsCan, immigrants account for 33 per cent of Canadian businesses that employ staff, contributing to the thriving diversity that makes Canada so special. From dynastic entrepreneurs like John Molson to everyday small business owners like Rajesh and Goldie Chaira, newcomers get the job done. Meet a couple of them here.
Genti Fataj, Pizza Nova
Genti Fataj and his wife arrived in Canada as refugees from Albania in 2003. They had no documents. His wife didn’t speak English. But fast forward 22 years, and Fataj now runs his own Pizza Nova location.
So how did that happen?
In the beginning, Fataj worked construction during the day and as a pizza maker at Pizza Nova at night. While he was making more money doing construction, he was impressed by the level of quality put into the product at Pizza Nova, which had been operating for about 40 years at the time. After five years of pizza making, the store went up for sale, and his supervisor, impressed with his work, put in a good word on his behalf.
“I saw opportunities in this franchise,” Fataj recalls. “So, I jumped on it.”
At the time, Fataj and his wife hadn’t completed the immigration process yet, but Pizza Nova stepped in to support them.
“If you’re really interested in this business, they help you. They train you. They make sure you know you’re ready.”
Pizza Nova’s corporate staff stayed with Fataj through the first weeks of opening, to help smooth out the transition process. Fataj says he values the continual training and support from Pizza Nova. The brand brings in guest speakers, shares best practices throughout the chain and industry, along with coaching each franchisee on becoming better leaders and ambassadors within their communities. They also provide insight and advice on the shifting landscape of local store marketing, both for the franchisees and their store supervisors.
Every July, Fataj and his family travel to the annual conference with other Pizza Nova franchisees and celebrate their achievements together. The franchisee community is like a family, he says.
“Quality is number one,” Fataj says. “It was clear from the day I started as a pizza maker. That is the foundation of this business, since 1963.” Fataj does not believe in shortcuts, and has complete trust in the quality of the Pizza Nova brand.
“It requires a lot of work, a lot of dedication, but at the end of the day, it’s worth it.”
Justinus Adriaanse, Tommy Gun’s Original Barbershop
Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, Justinus Adriaanse is a serial entrepreneur with a big heart for his community and his workers. Today, Adriaanse is a franchisee with Tommy Gun’s Original Barbershop, and owns 10 of the brand’s Canadian locations. He is also the founder of WeThinkCode_, a free coding program in Johannesburg. “I feel a deep sense of responsibility to build businesses and organizations that can have a positive impact on society,” he says.
Adriaanse started his first business, a real estate website, in 2000. At 35, he decided to reinvent himself as a coder. It was on a ski trip in France that he and his wife Ankie decided to shake up their careers again, this time as ski instructors in Fernie, B.C., for the winter. After two winters, they knew they’d fallen in love, so they moved to Canada in 2015. In 2018, they bought their first Tommy Gun’s Original Barbershop franchise.
For Adriaanse, the Tommy Gun’s concept is about the experience. With a diverse, primarily male customer base, Tommy Gun’s delivers a signature grooming experience in a positive and welcoming atmosphere. Every service is finished with a relaxing hot towel, and customers can elevate their visit with additional treatments like scalp massages, straight razor shaves, and facials.
“The benefit of running a franchise business is that there’s narrower scope of what you need to focus on and what you need to be able to do well, because a lot of that is executed at the franchisor level, which I like,” Adriaanse says. “We don’t have one big business, we have 10 small businesses.”
Adriaanse isn’t in this alone. He and his wife have partners in B.C. and in Ontario, and they prioritize hiring and retaining good staff that will stay for a long time. “You have to create that environment where people want to be there,” he says.
His commitment to his staff is apparent in the inventive program Adriaanse implements in his stores. Called “the great game of business,” it’s a program set up to teach employees how to manage both business and personal finance. That’s priority “number one,” he says: “You’ve gotta be able to work with people, help people grow, help them exceed their expectations.”
Rajesh and Goldie Chaira, Pet Valu
Originally from India, Rajesh and Goldie Chaira bought their first franchise with Pet Valu in 2014. Rajesh got his start in the aerospace industry, before he and Goldie began working at Telus. But Goldie wanted a business of her own, where she could be her own boss, and she loved pets.
The Bramalea City Centre Pet Valu in Brampton, ON, went up for sale, and they jumped at the opportunity. At the time, the Chairas were still working full-time at Telus, so the partnership allowed for a smooth transition. Within a few years, they moved into a new, expanded location with room for grooming and dog wash services.
Rajesh says Pet Valu was an easy ownership choice because of its proven business model and its continual, expanded training. “They really care for their franchisees,” he says.
The Canadian brand was founded in 1976, and since then has been able to showcase local products and expand across the country. Pet Valu recently broke ground on distribution centre in Calgary, Alberta, which is slated to open later this year, with other distribution centres recently opened in Surrey, British Columbia, and Brampton.
Rajesh says that the main element needed to be an ideal Pet Valu franchisee is a passion for pets, followed closely by a love of customer service. Over his decade as a Pet Valu franchisee, Rajesh has moved into a role as a franchisee trainer, supporting other franchisees in their journey toward business ownership success.
Rajesh’s major tip for new franchisees is to establish community connection by holding events in the store and, if the landlord allows, to set up a tent outside the store to promote causes, charitable partnerships, and hold events like pet adoptions.
“That allows you to showcase yourself, because at those events, you are not just selling the products. You can talk [to customers] about their pets and their family. You can really get connected with them.”
The Chiaras’ love of pets has fueled expansion, and now the couple owns eight Pet Valu stores. Raj and Goldie have also spread the love through charitable initiatives, partnering with Peel Animal Rescue, Brampton Animal Services, Oakville & Milton Humane Society, and the Mississauga Humane Society.