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Anna Tsfasman on Entrepreneurship, Mistakes and Mission

Anna Tsfasman, a successful entrepreneur and seven-time founder, shares her inspiring story of how she found her unique mission and never gave up despite numerous setbacks. Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to never be afraid to take risks and make mistakes, as this is the path to success. Difficult times may arise but with the right dedication and hard work, success will eventually follow. She believes true happiness lies in pursuing one's mission, and encourages young entrepreneurs to find their unique purpose and work towards it relentlessly.

The founder and owner of the Doubleby coffee shop chain Anna Tsfasman talked about how to manage a team, who needs to sell a franchise abroad and why it is necessary to invest in an audience.

About the first business

Anna Tsfasman with a cup of coffee

I did not plan to open a business. The situation in the Caffeine network, where I worked as CEO, prompted the creation of Doubleby. Investors decided to reduce the quality of grain. They believed that we pay too much attention to the product, and it will not pay off. Then I invited them to open several coffee houses, focused only on connoisseurs of good coffee.


The idea was considered a failure, and we, along with the caffeine chef-barista Olga Melik-Karakozova, left to do our project.


They were going to open 300 coffee and tea shops in half a year. However, then we were unable to find any suitable places in shopping centers. There was an idea to launch several bru-bars in the city center, where you can offer your product to guests (we bought some of the grain from Caffeine), arrange cappings and workshops on preparing drinks.

Investors quickly appeared, ready to invest in a new coffee brand. In the spring of 2013, the first Doubleby coffee shop opened in Milyutinsky Lane.

About mission

black doubleby coffee

There is nothing about the coffee shop chain in the Doubleby mission. Our main goal is to become one of the best specialists in the field of coffee in all respects. We constantly study, learn new things about the product, participate in world championships, communicate with experts. This allows you to influence the industry in such a way that it is interesting and comfortable for all participants in the process to work in it..


It’s important for us that as many people as possible can afford delicious coffee.


Therefore, we are developing low-cost Doubleby White coffee houses, arranging free tastings, selling grain through an online store, stimulating home consumption.

About bugs

cfasman

In business, money can end at the most unexpected moment. The million dollars we received from investors was spent in the first year. Shareholders offered more money, but I refused. I wanted to solve the problems ourselves.

We agreed to defer a number of payments. We launched a public relations campaign in social networks, cut salaries for managers, started organizing seminars for the barista and selling the franchise. The situation began to improve, we went on the payback.


Another part of the mistakes was related to the fact that we sold the franchise abroad to the wrong people.


We have always cooperated with franchisees of Russian origin. Such entrepreneurs have no experience of doing business abroad and understanding of the European business environment. They just needed some business to get a passport. They had no interest in brand development. Therefore, we decided to look for partners among foreigners in those countries where we want to develop.

About Russia and Entrepreneurship

doubleby interior

Russia is geared for business, but not for anyone. There is pressure from competitors, and this is normal: we ourselves have grown this market, and it is developing rapidly.

People do not always keep up with those who open coffee houses. Therefore, it is worth investing more in the education of the audience, in the formation of the community. This is necessary to increase coffee consumption in Russia as a whole. While we remain somewhere at the end of the ranking of countries where they drink coffee. I want to fix it.


The state does not contribute to the opening of new coffee houses, but I can’t say that it’s a big obstacle..


The rules for businessmen are tough. Purchasing power is declining, and no new development opportunities have yet been seen. I hope that sooner or later we will increase demand so that we will solve most of the problems in the segment.

About money

Tsfasman

The company’s budget should include two parts: one makes a “safety cushion”, which is useful in case of wrong decisions and financial losses; another is needed for business development.


Personal finance is everyone’s business. It happens that the money earned radically changes the personality of the businessman, his perception of people and himself.


It is important to keep yourself in control and understand that not everything is measured in money. I try to spend so that the concrete benefits for business, relatives and society are visible.

About Management and Delegation

doubleby cafe interior

How to lead a team is a difficult question. A situation is widespread in Russia when the most professional employees turn out to be poor team players. They are used to achieving serious results on their own..


Recruiting a team of geniuses, you can not calculate how much it will work effectively.


It is necessary to strive for balance, to select people so that they complement each other. Monitor internal moods and be prepared to replace one employee with another, more suitable.

If we talk about delegation, then I have my own method, which may not be suitable for everyone. I transfer responsibilities in such a way that all responsibility, levers and decision-making opportunities immediately pass to the person. He has almost no transition.

Further, I sometimes check how an employee copes. If things go wrong, I see if he realizes it.

This often causes shock to employees. For the first couple of months they cannot believe that they are not insured. After realizing freedom, active work begins.

About women in business

Anna Tsfasman in nature

In Russia, one can still encounter the stereotype that women often change their priorities. No one can guarantee that this will not happen..

A child may be born, and the woman will want to devote her time to the family. However, today you can maintain mobility, solve business issues remotely, hire nannies and not choose between work and children.


Family model, when a man works and a woman sits at home with a child, out of date.


The second stereotype is related to the fact that women are prone to mood swings and do not always make informed decisions. But here, too, views are changing. Now, male businessmen are much more likely to allow themselves spontaneous, more emotional behavior..

The attitude towards the female leader is changing: where men fight and sacrifice collective goals for their ambitions and pride, the woman thinks about the common good and is able to take into account the interests of the partner on an equal basis with her.

I think that a professional has no gender and age. It is important that you and your partner have the same values ​​and ambitions. If professionalism is enough, everything will turn out.

About franchise

doubleby sign

Buying a franchise compared to starting a business is always in the long run a little less profitable thing, but more reliable. When you buy a franchise, you know that many people have already walked this road before you.


When you do business yourself, naturally, all the risks are assumed.


By the way, we not only develop a franchise network, but also encourage our best baristas to open their own coffee houses. We offer them material support and a quality product at a discount.

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Comments: 2
  1. Delaney

    Anna Tsfasman sounds like an experienced entrepreneur. I wonder what mistakes she has made along her journey? How did she overcome them and learn from them? Additionally, what drives her mission in entrepreneurship?

    Reply
  2. Samuel Lewis

    In Anna Tsfasman’s interview on entrepreneurship, mistakes, and mission, she shares her insights and experiences. But I’m curious, what key mistakes has she made in her entrepreneurial journey and how did she overcome them? Additionally, how does she define her mission or purpose as an entrepreneur, and what advice does she have for others seeking to find their own mission?

    Reply
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