Cafes are not just cafes anymore. Walk into tumble & tea cafe and you can clearly see the different ways people use the space. From the rush of the hurried commuter grabbing a muffin & late to the lazy family relaxing after brunch on Sunday, tumble & tea café is designed to meet and exceed the needs for all of our customers.

Many people use cafes for an escape from working from home or a break from working in their office. Because tumble& tea cafe offers free wifi, you will find locals with their nose berried in their laptops and parents trying to return e-mails and work while their kids play in our indoor playground for kids.

I love the energy of a busy cafe and I tend to work better in a noisy environment. Even better- working at a cafe gives you access to an unlimited supply of coffee, lattes and people watching.

So come on in when you are stuck behind the computer screen. A change of scenery, delicious food, hip atmosphere and a jolt of caffeine just might give get your creative juices flowing!

Mommy Bloggers

Mommy bloggers are a force to be recon with. Not only are their blogs cashing in on advertising space but they are changing how corporate America spends their advertising dollar.

Moms not only spend money on themselves but they are usually the main purchaser for the entire family. Moms are a powerful economic force that is controlling the blogging world.

Where can you mom bloggers go to blog with kids? That is right, tumble & tea cafe. Eat a delicious pannini, have a latte and let your kids play while you enjoy the FREE WIFI. tumble & tea cafe is designed to support you. tumble & tea cafe was designed by moms- we know what you want! Come on in, take a break and blog away!

Check out our new merchandise

Check out our new merchandise here!

tumble & tea cafe

Please do not annoy, aggravate, anger, bother, complain, distress, drive mad, exasperate, frustrate, get on nerves, hit, ignore, irritate, infuriate, madden, nag, provoke, pain, rile, strain, trouble, upset, vex, worry or yell at your parents.

Wanna get away?

Picture this- a very busy Sunday. People waiting outside for a table and the cafe is full. Everything is going smooth; customers are happy, birthday party kids are opening presents, food is taking less then 5 minutes per order, our team is having fun- I could not be happier!

I was helping the staff by running food to the tables when disaster stuck. Now, I usually have this super ability to multi-task and see everything that is happening in the cafe, but for some reason my super powers took the day off.

As I was walking to the cafe delivering food, a 2 year old walked right in front of me. I didn't even see her and as I was walking, I kicked her. She fell down and started crying. The once bustling cafe suddenly came to a standstill. The music even paused as if the sounds system was trying to draw attention to my public display of child abuse.

Everyone was staring at me with this little, cute baby on the floor in front of me crying. I bent down (with both hands filled with plates of paninnis and waffles) to try to comfort the little girl. Just as i bent down, a little boy walked behind me and I knocked him over with my butt. He hit the ground, started crying as the entire cafe is starring at me.

What can I do? I am kneeling on the floor with two crying kids and my handsful of food? The little girl looks up at me and said as loud as possible, "Bad Lady!" It was so cute, the entire cafe started laughing.

The kids were just fine, their parents started laughing and I was never so embarrassed in my life. It ended up being a good day and it was funnier and funnier the more time that passed. The staff called me "Bad Lady", the kids got free cupcakes and all of our customers got a good laugh. Not a bad Sunday!

This is why you need a tumble & tea cafe in your neighboorhood

When we were going through lease negotiations for the first location, the landlords were questioning the tumble & tea cafe concept. "Why would you need a cafe were you could bring your kids?" they asked. They just didn't get it. They were also in their 50's and their wifes raised the kids while they were at work or on business trips.

I found this video on you tube and I think it explains perfectly why there is such an incredible demand for tumble & tea cafe. Click here to see video. Enjoy!

It is the experience, not the products.

At the beginning of each week we all meet to discuss our weekly goals and the tumble & tea café development.

This week we discussed, “What is tumble & tea café?”

Most people think tumble & tea cafe is a café with a playspace. That is what we do but it is not what or who we are.

Yes, we serve amazing espresso drinks and our sandwiches, salads and paninnis are made to order from the best ingredients possible. Yes, it is true that we have a custom made indoor playground and host great birthday parties but that is not what tumble & tea café is- that is just what we do.

tumble & tea café is more than cappuccinos and waffles- much more. tumble & tea café is an experience. We provide a little escape for caregivers of little kids. Walk in the doors, take a deep breath, order a delicious and healthy meal and take a break. We are designed to pamper the adult side of parents while providing a fun, safe and learning environment for our smallest patrons.

The heart of our business is the quality in our products and the customer service we provide. Every decision we make from locations, owners, menu items, even design, we ask ourselves, “Does this meet our quality standards and will this help create the tumble & tea café experience?”

tumble & tea cafe becomes a home away from home for many of our patrons and when caregivers need a break to help them take the edge off the constant demand of parenting or in search of a kid friendly venue- they think of us.

Our food, coffee and parties are all very important- we only serve the best, but the true meaning of tumble & tea cafe is the experience.

I always explain to our franchisees- your not selling a cup of coffee; you are providing the tumble & tea cafe experience. The experience is what your customers are looking for. You can get a cup of coffee at home but you get a break at tumble & tea café.

Where is my security?

Most people who buy a franchise have held top management positions in corporate America and have been laid off or downsized. People once believed one of the biggest benefits of working for a large company is the security they offer but corporate America can not claim they provide security anymore.

We have all seen some giants fall in the last year. I just spoke with someone who is now researching franchises because he just got laid off from a big pharmaceutical company. I asked if he ever wanted to be self employed before and he answered, “Yes, I just thought there was too much risk.” Now that some of the biggest and “safest” companies have fallen these past few years, we are left to ponder, “What is safe?” Click here to read more.

Practical Mom Tips

See our founder, Gina DeCarlo, give tips on how moms can take care of themselves on channel 7 news.

Practical mommy tips:

1. Get Organized:
You will appreciate the sanity and your kids will like it too. Get yourself and your kids on a schedule- type it out, put it on the fridge and stick to it! Get up a little earlier than the kids (or have your partner get the kids ready) and take a run, jump on the treadmill, do a yoga video or meditate. Just 30 minutes of doing something physical for you will energize you throughout your entire day.

2. Multitask:
Most moms are an expert at multi tasking- usually doing two, or three things at once to take care of other people. What I mean is multi task for you. Take you baby on a walk in there stroller for their nap time and you get to power walk. Or maybe put your kids in the shower with a 99 cent bottle of shaving cream while you give yourself a facial or paint your nails right outside the shower. They will play in the shower with the shaving cream for an hour-easy!

3. Go to a kid and adult friendly venue:
Like tumble & tea cafe. It is a posh, wifi cafe with an indoor playground for kids. Great food, amazing espresso drinks, hip ambiance and an indoor playground for kids 0-5. tumble & tea cafe gives you a chance to take a break, enjoy a late, finish a sentence with another adult and gives the kids a fun and safe place to play.

So Moms, don't forget about you. Take at least a little time everyday for yourself. Just think of it as your bonus for all of your overtime for the most important job you will ever do.

Facts:
A study from Salary.com for 2008 determined that the time mothers spend performing the 10 most popular "Mom job functions" would equate to an annual cash compensation of $116,805 for a Stay-at-Home Mom. And lets be honest, "Mom jobs" amount for more than just 10 tasks. In fact the study also found the primary driver of mom's six-figure salary was the amount of overtime worked. This year, mom's overtime averaged 54.4 hours per week. Stay-at-Home Moms work a 94.4 hour "workweek" - over half her time spent on the job is overtime. Additionally the Working Moms reported an average 54.6 hour "mom work week" in addition to their paying jobs.

There are definitely benefits about being a mom. There is arguably no other job in the world that can be more rewarding or is as important. But with all the rewards- sometimes the job of mom doesn't come with coffee or lunch breaks and taking care of others can leave you with no time to take care of yourself.

From Single Unit Owners to Multi Unit Owners

There is an unique trend developing in the franchise industry. While other business may be slower, franchising is getting bigger, faster and better.

According to Darrell Johnson of FRAN data, since 2005, more than 50% of all franchised units are operated by a multi-unit franchisee and 20% of all franchisee own more than one unit. It is expected these numbers will continue to increase.


Are you an entrepreneur that think bigger than your bank account? Click here to read the rest of our blog on Entrepreneur.com to find out how you can meet your goals.

Think about your stages of Mommy Hood

Mothers Day is next week.

It makes me think of all the different types of mom I have been during my 7 year long mom career.

First I was the married, non pregnant mom who loved kids and judged every parent I saw. I would think things like, "My kid would never be that dirty" or "Why don't they comb that poor child's hair", or even, "My child will never have a tantrum in public- I would never let that happen!"

Then I was the married pregnant mom. I did my will, bought life insurance, started buying baby clothes at 3 months pregnant, read every mommy book possible and worried every day that my stress was hurting my unborn perfect child. I will never forget washing (with the expensive newborn detergent) & organizing my daughter's clothes at 8 months pregnant thinking, "This is the funnest thing I have ever done!" I sanitized the house 5 times, spent hours picking out the perfect color paint for the nursery and ordered a year supply of Disney books before she was even born. I was the perfect mom!

Then I was a mom. My first baby. I was in love like I had never experience before. She was perfect. She had matching outfits with matching blankets and hair clips. I stared at her the first 4 days to make sure she was still breathing until I had a tantrum from lack of sleep. I learned that milk curdles if left under the chin, yellow, mustard like poo does not stain and projectile vomit can literally hit the wall on the other side of the room. Little babies eat every three hours and it takes them one hour to eat. That means you are feeding your baby all the time!

I also learned that you still look pregnant when you leave the hospital and other parts grow even larger. You can not control if your baby cries or has a blow out when your boss is holding the baby when you visit the office to show off your new toy. The mother guilt started to kick in and I was so fearful that I had already screwed her up in some way. Was I too loud? Did she cry 30 seconds more than she should? Maybe I wasn't doing something right?

Then I was the single mom. By far, that is the hardest job I have ever had. I would be at a park with my daughter working on tumble & tea cafe and married, SAH moms would be talking about how it was so hard because their husband was out of town for 2 days and left them with the kids. They didn't even have a clue.

Now my daughter had to be my helper too. I was not a perfect mom and felt guilty about that. Sometimes an hour after brushing her hair it look as if I had never brushed it and I remember how judgmental I was. I guess I really learned how hard it was to be a mom, especially a single mom starting a cafe.

Now I am a pregnant, non single mom. I think this is the best. I have an amazing partner, a 6 year old daughter who is so excited about being a big sister and I am definitely not as emotional having number 2. It is still exciting but not as scary.

Take a moment to think of all the stages of mommy hood you have experience. This is the most important job you will ever have. Take time to do something nice for yourself- you deserve it. Take care of you, take care of you kids and love your life! Congratulations on being a mom or even mom to be and Happy Mother's Day!

What do we do for you?

What is the benefit of investing in a franchise rather than starting by yourself?
The truth is there is not just one reason to franchise, there are multiple reasons.

Franchises are statistically prone to a greater success rate than a brand new start-up. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, after seven years 91% of new franchises are still in business, as compared to only 20% of individual new start-up businesses.

What do we do for you?

Discounts Scale of economics You will be able to take advantage of bulk rates because you are part of the tumble & tea cafe family.

Design/ Construction Manager You will have access to our designer to help make your cafe uniquely yours and guide you through the process.

Training We train you every step of the way from selecting a location to locking the door at night.

Support System We will keep you updated on industry trends and provide you access to professional marketing materials.

PLUS we are just a phone call away to help you in your business!
Now you have the opportunity to own your own tumble & tea cafe!
We are expanding nationally and you can be a part of it!

Contact us now for your free franchise consultation!
866-99-tumble or contactus@tumbleandteacafe.com

Top 10 things we beleive in

1. Quality- At tumble & tea cafe your customers will indulge in delicious, made-to-order food prepared from the freshest and best ingredients possible. Quality is our number one concern. If we serve it, it's the best.

2. Customer Service- We pride ourselves on providing excellent service to our customers, vendors and most definitely our franchisees!

3. Training- We believe everyone wants to do well; both you and your employees. We will train you on EVERYTHING you need to know to open you cafe and provide you with excellent training videos and handouts for your staff.
We even send one of our corporate trainers to YOUR cafe for your first 7 days to work with you and make sure you are ready to go.

4. Family- Not only does our concept cater to families but so does our business. We are open for breakfast and lunch so you can spend the evenings with your family. We also provide you with a suggested organizational calender to help you manage your tasks so you have time for your family and your business.
You can also access your register, reports and security cameras from your home. Yes...we have though of everything!

5. Fun- Working at tumble & tea cafe is fun. Working with a well trained team is fun. Watching your customers love your cafe- the funnest!

6. We all need a little help- No one can do it all by them selves. That is why we created tumble & tea cafe; to support the adult side of parents by creating a cafe that caters to both caregivers and kids. And that is why we developed a complete franchise program second to none!

7. We love pregos! We serve our entire menu all day and we will make it to your liking whenever possible. (Avocado, peanut butter sandwich- ok with us!) Feel welcomed to nurse anywhere you want or enjoy a little more privacy in our Birthday Room.

8. Green- We recycle, compost, don't waste and use products from recycled materials whenever possible. We need to clean up for the kids!

9. Birthdays- We admit it. We love birthdays! You will host the best birthday parties at your cafe and give treats to all kids that come in on their birthday. We are the birthday place!

10. Hard work- We have worked very hard developing this concept and franchise program and we expect you will work hard running your business. This is your business and you will benefit from your hard work and dedication!

Welcome to our ha, ha page!

Welcome to our ha,ha page. We will post a new something funny daily guaranteed to make you laugh (or at least smile).

With everything that happens during the day; work, kids, bills and random other b.s., we think you need a break- at least for a minute.

Enjoy your laugh, forgive us for for being inappropriate at times and have a great day!

Are you serious about your business? We are.

Are you serious about your business? We are.
Just because tumble & tea cafe caters to families and kids, don't think we just "kid" around. This is a serious business opportunity for you and your family.

We have analyzed every aspect of this business from design, layout, recipes, training, marketing and suppliers. We know what works.

Stop thinking about what you want to do and start doing it. Do you want to own your own cafe? Do you see the need for tumble & tea cafe in your neighborhood? Contact us- we will show you how!

We have received thousands of nationwide requests to bring tumble & tea cafe to neighborhoods everywhere!

Contact us now for your free franchise consultation!
Schedule your appointment to visit our corporate office in Berkeley, California. Meet our team, discuss your cafe with our designer and meet one on one with our founder and CEO to learn more about the tumble & tea cafe franchise opportunity.

Now you have the opportunity to own your own tumble & tea cafe!
We are expanding nationally and you can be a part of it!

Training, marketing, site selection, construction-we help you with it all!

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.”