For Immediate Release
November 28, 2012
Media Contact: Sanderson & Associates, Ltd.
Courtney Thomas
Phone: 312-829-4350
E-mail: Courtney@sandersonpr.com
Local Business Owner Expands into Food Industry with National Sandwich Franchise
(Middleton, Wis.)— What do sandwiches and haircuts have in common? For most people, the answer is ‘practically nothing.’ But for Middleton resident Katie Madoch, who owns two Sport Clips stores in the area and will open Wisconsin’s first Which Wich sandwich shop on Dec. 10, the two concepts are more similar than you’d think.
Madoch, 42, came up with the idea to open a Which Wich after learning the hard way that location plays a huge factor in the success of a business.
“We wanted to open a new business but couldn’t find a suitable location for another hair care facility,” she said. “As soon as we learned about Which Wich and saw how popular it’s been in other regions, we knew it would be the perfect fit for Middleton.”
It may seem like a bizarre combination, but to hear Madoch talk about it, the two businesses make perfect sense together.
“Which Wich has a very hands-on business model – as owners, we will be extremely involved in the store’s day-to-day happenings,” she said. “Since Sport Clips is relatively low-maintenance and we’ve been running the stores for years, we will be able to dedicate a lot of time to Which Wich.”
In addition, despite the obvious differences between the food and hair care industries, Madoch says being an experienced small business owner will help her hit the ground running with Which Wich.
“Because I’ve already opened two businesses, I understand what it takes to get started,” she said. “It’s never easy to start something new, but having that background knowledge definitely helps, especially when establishing such a unique concept.”
Which Wich has developed a cult following nationwide for its extensive menu of customizable sandwiches and a unique ordering system in which guests mark up their order on personalized sandwich bags with red Sharpies. Although the chain has locations around the country, the Middleton location will be the first in the state of Wisconsin.
The opening of Which Wich in Middleton is part of the company’s larger expansion plan for Wisconsin, which will result in 30 stores statewide in the next three to five years. Eight to ten of those stores will serve the Madison area, and Madoch says she plans to own some of those locations.
For now, though, she’s focused on bringing the best qualities of Which Wich – the delicious food and fun atmosphere – to her hometown, and says she isn’t worried about the lack of brand exposure in the area.
“The concept is perfect for Middleton, the food is delicious, and the business model is ideal,” she said. “I can’t wait to open, and I’m so excited to watch the business grow.”
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