Four years ago, husband and wife team Damien and Giarne Doyle opened Toowoomba’s first Zarraffa’s store. The town now has three stores including a drive thru, and they are responsible for all of them. 

Damien says he and Giarne were compelled to invest in the brand because it had both a great reputation and would provide them with room to grow.

“We thought Zarraffa’s was a reputable, young, growing brand with great product. We wanted to open the first of the company’s stores in Toowoomba.

“We liked that it was a family business and it had a great reputation with a loyal customer base.”

Damien was surprised that each store was well received from the very beginning.  

“[We] were successful from day one, it really has exceeded our expectations. We’ve also been surprised and touched by the fantastic support from our community in the Darling Downs,” he says.

Damien’s days are often spent travelling between the three Zaraffa’s stores he oversees.

Typically, be begins his day with “an early store opening at any of our three locations where I enjoy making coffees and talking with our customers.

“Then it’s on to visit our other two stores and assist where needed, talk to staff, troubleshoot any issues and spend more time with customers,” he explains.

While Damien is a sole franchisee, he says his family is also heavily involved in the three businesses.

“I enjoy heavy involvement from my immediate and extended family in management and supervisory roles. Personally, my role is area management with responsibilities over the three stores.”

He says Zaraffa’s offers great initial and ongoing training.

“[It] gave us the fundamentals to start the business. What helps is that training is ongoing on all facets of the business.”

Damien works tirelessly to ensure the businesses are in tune with the local community.

“We are close to our community and we support a number of community organisations as well as children’s sports through sponsorship,” he says.

His goals for the business are quite simple, yet fitting when you consider Zarraffa’s is a company that prides itself on quality coffee.

“We want to be the ‘go-to’ destination when people in Toowoomba want a great coffee experience with superior customer service and, of course, [to produce] the best coffee!” he explains. 

Damien says franchising has had a positive impact on his entire family. 

“It’s given our family the opportunity to be owners of a business that we can grow and be successful in.”