Meet Franchisee Ryan DeLapp and Manager Randall Clark!
Ryan DeLapp is the owner of the Double Oak, Texas shop. We sat down with Ryan and his shop manager, Randall Clark, to find out more about their franchising and managerial experience with Bahama Buck’s. Their shop has been blessing guests since May 2014.
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED WITH BAHAMA BUCK’S AND HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT IT?
Ryan: “I spent the majority of my career in the coal mines of corporate America and ended up wanting to open my own business. We looked into a number of franchises, but I had already known about Bahama Buck’s in Lubbock because my wife went to Texas Tech University. She loved it, I loved it, and the kids loved it. We had also already known that it was popular in the DFW area , so we decided to look into it. Safe to say, we were blown away by the culture, the sincerity, and how number oriented their approach was. We were hooked!”
IN WHAT WAYS DOES THE SUPPORT CENTER HELP YOU AND YOUR SHOP?
Ryan: “We probably use and abuse them too much. Every single person who works there is pleasant even when I imagine them rolling their eyes when they see me calling, again. But, we use everything from operations to inventory status, metrics, numbers, improvements, Surf Club Rewards, all of it.”
WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING THING ABOUT OWNING A BAHAMA BUCK’S?
Ryan: “It’s seeing the maturing of the next generation, the crew. Frankly, I feel like the more I get out of the way, the more they surprise us and do amazing things. It’s watching them become leaders and entrepreneurs themselves.”
WHAT SEPARATES BAHAMA BUCK’S FROM ITS COMPETITORS?
Ryan: “Bahama Buck’s is just such a unique space to be in with a cultural focus on blessings and the community. I would say more than anything else though, it’s the constant innovation internally.”
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BAHAMA BUCK’S PRODUCT?
Ryan: “Kokomoko. It is my guilty pleasure and I tell everyone I can about it.”
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE AVALANCHE CREW?
Randall: “From my position, it’s getting to work with the Avalanche Crew and see them grow. Just to be able to be a part of their learning years and to be able to help foster them and help give them advice or whatever it may be to help them get to their next step.”
WHAT DREW YOU TO BAHAMA BUCK’S?
Randall: “When I first started at Bahama Buck’s, I was just looking for an inviting and fun atmosphere. It was just a part time job for me in college but I ended up staying with Bahama Buck’s because I love the vibe and everything else about the company.”
HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE YOUR AVALANCHE CREW?
Randall: “By encouraging them with the why, not just the what. Utilizing frequent communication and talking to them to make sure that they know we aren’t just talking as managers, but we’re also listening. We are listening to them and their feedback.”
WHAT SEPARATES BAHAMA BUCK’S FROM ITS COMPETITORS?
Randall: “We are in the quick service market, but with the Refresh strategy and by Blessing our Guests, we take it one step further into more of a fine dining experience. We interact with our guests and that is ultimately what defines us from other QSRs in the dessert industry.”
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BAHAMA BUCK’S PRODUCT?
Randall: “NERDS® Rainbow Sno, for sure!”
