For Stephanie Giglio, being an entrepreneur runs in the family. After watching her father build his own demolition company from the ground up, she knew that she wanted to follow in his footsteps and one day start something of her own. However, it wasn’t until she discovered SoBol’s franchising option that she found the business ownership opportunity of her dreams.
Giglio was working in the fashion industry when she discovered the Long Island-based business was expanding through franchising. Because she was already a fan of their signature acai bowls and knew that the acai movement was only going to become more popular, she signed on to open up her own SoBol store in Rockville Centre, New York. And since officially opening her doors in mid-April, Giglio says business is booming.
“My family taught me from a very young age that you can do anything you set your mind to. And franchising with SoBol has proven that to be true—I’m so grateful and excited to be doing something that I love for a living,” said Giglio. “When I first found out that SoBol was franchising, the timing couldn’t have been better. I wasn’t loving my job in the fashion industry, and I knew that I needed to move on to something else. But I never could have imagined that becoming a part of the SoBol team would be this rewarding—I couldn’t be happier with my decision to take on the challenges that come with being an entrepreneur.”
In order to help make those challenges less daunting, SoBol gives every one of its franchisees access to an unrivaled support system. From site selection and real estate negotiations to marketing initiatives and operational best practices, the brand ensures that local owners like Giglio are armed with the tools and resources that they need to succeed. SoBol also provides its franchisees with the same menu that has made it so successful since its founding in 2014, including its customizable acai bowls that are topped with fresh fruit, homemade granola, nut butters, coconut and honey.
“Before we opened up our flagship location on Long Island, acai bowls were hard to find on the East Coast. There was a real opportunity for a brand like SoBol to tap into a seriously underserved segment in our local community, and we’ve been capitalizing on that growing demand ever since,” said Jason Mazzarone, founder and CEO of SoBol. “As we continue to grow through franchising with the help of local owners like Stephanie, we’re positioning ourselves as leaders in this nutritious and delicious industry. We’re looking forward to realizing our full potential by opening up new locations at a rapid rate.”
With seven locations currently open for business and another 12 that are in different stages of development, it’s clear that SoBol’s concept is catching on among consumers and business owners alike. And according to Giglio, the brand will continue to create positive relationships with more people as it opens up new restaurants going forward.
“I’ve always been drawn to acai bowls, and there’s no doubt that SoBol makes the best product in the industry. But what really attracted me to the brand was the people behind it—there’s a unique culture and environment here that you can’t find anywhere else,” said Giglio. “Every SoBol location offers a family friendly environment, and there’s so much heart that goes into making the business successful. That’s why I’m excited to grow alongside the brand—even though we’re expanding outside of New York, there’s a local connection to the communities and neighborhoods that we call home that will never fade.”