The sun is coming to Passau tomorrow
The sun is coming to Passau
Tomorrow is the day: the new SONNENTOR store at Theresienstraße 3 in Passau will open its doors. What visitors will see on opening day is the result of many individual steps that often began months earlier. As the development partner, we accompany and support the entrepreneur throughout this entire journey – from the first introduction all the way to the completed store opening. Using Passau as an example, we would therefore like to show how an initial idea gradually becomes a new SONNENTOR store.
It all starts with the person
The first step is getting to know each other. Of course, this also involves discussing the business model, the financial framework and the expectations surrounding a partnership. But above all, it comes down to one key question: Are we the right fit for one another? A franchise partnership is designed to last for many years. That is why, in addition to the financial requirements, identifying strongly with SONNENTOR’s values is particularly important. Topics such as sustainability, environmental responsibility and the common good play a central role. Anyone opening a SONNENTOR store needs to genuinely identify with the brand, its products, its philosophy and the way the company operates. After all, this enthusiasm should later be clearly felt in the entrepreneur’s own store as well. Getting to know and experience the concept At this early stage, the future entrepreneur also begins working on the business plan. This is not only about planning sales and costs, but also about the entrepreneur’s personal commitment, the required investment, financing and the question of how the project can be implemented successfully from an economic perspective. At the same time, the entrepreneur gets to know SONNENTOR in depth. This includes visits to existing stores and, above all, conversations with experienced SONNENTOR store operators. They can provide first-hand insights into everyday operations, the responsibilities involved and what it really means to run your own SONNENTOR store.
Another important step is the visit to Sprögnitz, the home of SONNENTOR. Here, the concept is not only explained – it is experienced firsthand. The future franchise partner gets to know the company, the people behind it and the philosophy of the brand on a completely different level. This stage in particular shows whether both sides share the same expectations and values. If the application is subsequently submitted successfully and approved by SONNENTOR, a franchise partnership is formed.
Only then does the search for a location begin
Finding the right location is one of the most important phases in the entire development process. This is where we provide particularly intensive support to the entrepreneur in identifying suitable locations, assessing different options and making the right decisions. On average, the location search takes around six to nine months. However, as our most recent example in Nuremberg shows, it can also be considerably faster when the right conditions are in place. What matters is not speed, but the quality of the location. The focus is primarily on well-frequented urban locations with high visibility. Shopping centres can also be attractive if the location, footfall and surrounding environment are a good fit for the brand. Together, potential premises are evaluated, locations analysed and lease conditions reviewed.
From the lease agreement to the completed store
Once the right premises have been found, the lease agreement is signed. The concrete implementation then begins: plans are prepared, carpenters and other contractors are commissioned, schedules are coordinated and the fit-out gets underway. The actual construction phase usually takes around two to three weeks. This is followed by the finishing touches: the interior is completed, the products are delivered, the shelves are stocked and the final details are prepared. This generally takes another three to four days.
Well prepared for self-employment
Alongside the implementation of the location, another important phase begins: the training of the new franchise partner. This also includes working in existing SONNENTOR stores. There, the future store operator gains practical experience of the day-to-day business – from the various tasks within the store and operational processes to inventory management and customer service. In this way, theoretical knowledge is transformed into practical experience. At the same time, the opening itself needs to be prepared. A team is recruited and trained, local marketing activities are planned and the final organisational steps are completed. Because when the doors open for the first time, it is not only the store that should be ready. The entrepreneur and the entire team should also be as well prepared as possible for the launch.
And tomorrow, the time has finally come in Passau
For visitors, it is simply a new store. For David, SONNENTOR and everyone involved, it is the result of many months of conversations, decisions, planning, training and preparation – and at the same time, the beginning of a new entrepreneurial chapter. We wish David and his team a fantastic start, many enthusiastic customers and every success with the new SONNENTOR store in Passau.
