Tom Whiting and his family have spent their life in the Leesburg, VA area. “I’m 47 this year, my entire life has been in the Loudoun County area, which is where the store will be.” About a year ago Tom and his wife Lizzy, along with their family-friends, the Kettermans, decided to open a HoneyBaked Ham store in their hometown. Although the store doesn’t open until later this year, Tom is looking forward to what it means for him and his family.
Creating a Legacy
Tom has spent much of his career in property management but knew he was meant for business ownership. “I’ve always wanted to be a business owner to create a legacy for my kids and family.” Tom’s hope is that his two teenaged children will get their education in business and eventually take over the Leesburg store. “They know this is what we’re trying to do for them to pass on, generation to generation,” Tom says.
HoneyBaked Support
Luckily, Tom’s not afraid of hard work. In addition to being an owner, Tom will serve as the general manager. He will bring his experience of managing both property and people to his HoneyBaked store, along with Lizzy’s retail expertise. “We’re coming into this with a good feel for what we can do.”
As he settles into his new role, Tom relies on other franchise owners and passes on their advice: “Don’t rush yourself. Get your feet wet. Take your time. Do it the right way.” The Honey Baked Ham Co® has a proven franchise model for Tom, Lizzy, and the Kettermans to follow, and it requires commitment.
Connecting with other HoneyBaked franchisees and community business owners helps him avoid becoming overwhelmed. “I felt really comfortable speaking with everyone,” Tom says. “They really want you to succeed.”
The Honey Baked Ham Co® has provided Tom with the support and insight to make his dream of business ownership happen. “Franchising made sense because everything was in place. HoneyBaked is already there for you and they’re going to be there for you.”
Community Leaders
Thanks to HoneyBaked’s continued support, the Whitings and Kettermans have the flexibility to be active community leaders. “We volunteer at schools and for sports teams,” Tom says. “We see business ownership as a way to give back to the community and get involved with sports sponsorships and the Special Olympics.
And the Leesburg community gives right back to their local businesses. Friends and family are often encouraged to stop into new businesses thanks to tried-and-true word-of-mouth marketing. So, the Whitings and Kettermans are hoping they won’t need to rely as heavily on marketing or advertising. “We have strong community ties. We rely on those roots.”
