Gary Sandler is a qualified chemical engineer, holds a marketing degree and heads up three Victorian-based McDonald’s franchises.  

He and his wife Liesl initially took on a McDonald’s business in Caldermeade, and eventually expanded their empire to include a site at South Oakleigh, as well as Oakleigh in Melbourne. 

GARY’S PRE-FRANCHISEE LIFE

“My career began in 1988 when I took a job with a company that designed and manufactured pumps for the oil and gas industry,” he says.

“My working life progressed through various engineering roles, but also included contract or project management and then ultimately business development. I always enjoyed the challenge of bringing new business through the door.”

In 1999 Gary eventually started up his own business with two partners, which was sold to a South African private equity company in 2007.

“We called it Australian Fluid Handling and provided equipment and services mainly to the oil and gas industry, but also mining, chemical, petrochemical and other heavy duty industries.”

After two years working for the new owners and with a solid financial foundation (thanks to the sale) behind him, Gary was on the look-out for something different.

“I decided that I’d like to make a change into something new, work for myself and hopefully in a business that both my wife and I could work together,” he explains.

“I was also travelling significantly at the end of my time in the engineering world, both interstate and overseas and was keen to spend more time at home with the family. In making a change, I didn’t want to go into a business and make all the mistakes that everyone else already knew about, so considered a franchise.”

MCDONALD’S WAS THE PERFECT FIT

“I chose McDonald’s for a number of reasons. McDonald’s is such an iconic brand – we all know it, my mother-in-law had been a licensee for around 20 years, I’d studied it significantly during marketing studies and I believe it to be the best,” says Gary.

The timing was perfect, too. As Gary began to consider a new career path, McDonald’s was seeking new Registered Applicant (RA’s), or potential licensees.

“I applied and the rest, so they say, is history. I never had a plan B, so am delighted that plan A worked out.”

THE EARLY STAGES

He says the initial training program, which lasts between 10 and 12 months, was testing as there was simply so much to learn about the business.

“While the training tools and process is outstanding, there is a lot to wrap your head around in a relatively short space of time.

“To go from making your first burger or bagging your first fries to understand all of the systems that underpin the business and then open a new restaurant was an interesting process to say the least,” Gary adds.

The shift from the engineering industry to one that focuses on food and customer service brought with it a number of other challenges.

“One of the biggest changes is that I now work with many young people in a fast paced environment, with the general public as customers,” he says.

“The fact that the business operates 24/7 also presents both opportunities and challenges. I maintain that the first four months of opening our first and a brand new store at Caldermeade were the hardest of my life.”

Despite the challenges he faced, Gary stuck with it and developed strategies to help him remain positive.

“I had faith in the system and I knew that if I stuck to the plan it would work out. I used the analogy that I had jumped into a raging river. All I could do was to keep afloat, hang in there with a plan, and I’d eventually hit calmer water.”

RECRUITING THE RIGHT STAFF IS THE KEY

Gary and his wife Liesl are passionate about not only recruiting the right people, but helping them to grow and develop during their time at McDonald’s.

“We work hard to achieve this goal. Testament to the calibre of our staff over time has been the continually growing business at Caldermeade, strong business results and achieving well in all McDonald’s metrics,” he explains.

“We are now able to focus on building the business, rather than continually working on the floor which has enabled us to expand to three restaurants.”

THE PERFECT PARTNERSHIP

“McDonald’s has been an incredible business partner,” says Gary

“The pulling power of the Golden Arches cannot be underestimated, but we realise our joint responsibility to follow the systems and processes to protect the brand. The Corporation employs a wealth of talent that is utilised to create the framework in which we operate as well as draw people into the store. This is a great distinction from non franchised businesses, where you may lack the ability to employ people like these directly.”

He praises McDonald’s training and support systems, and despite his prior experience, is constantly learning.

“After 20 years in the engineering field, roles in management and running a business, I have and still continue to learn each day. We have resources available to answer any questions at any time.”

BUSINESS GOALS

“We will spend the foreseeable future growing our business, both organically and through expansion into other stores, should the opportunity present.

“Through financial prudence, people development and a clear focus on our business goals, operations, marketing and community engagement, we expect a bright future,” Gary adds.