Staff Photo by D. Patrick Harding -- Neal Ervin and his wife, Cherie, opened The Bread Basket in Cleveland, Tenn., so they could work together.

Neal and Cherie Ervin didn’t exactly expect to own a breadbaking operation almost six years ago, but they had been discussing career changes that would allow them to work together.

During their talks, they realized they were both fond of the loaves of bread their niece would bring them from her job at the Bread Basket on Signal Mountain.

“We’d fight over them,” Mr. Ervin said.

When their niece mentioned that owners Charlie and Marie Hyde were looking to franchise the business, the plan came together for the Ervins.

They bought the first Bread Basket franchise from the Hydes five years ago and opened the Bread Basket of Cleveland. Mr. Ervin took a severance package from Bowater, where he had worked for 24 years, and Mrs. Ervin left her job as a paralegal.

Going the franchise route has worked well for the couple, Mr. Ervin said.

“We got all of their recipes, and they trained us for a few weeks. When we opened, they helped in the kitchen for a while. That is where the heart of it is.”

In addition to the bread recipes, the Hydes passed on the wisdom and experience they had earned to the Ervins.

Advertisement:

Leather One http://www.leatherone.com

Click to enlarge photo

“That was invaluable,” Mr. Ervin said. “We are still learning. The dough reacts differently here than up there because of the humidity.”

Mr. Hyde said the decision to offer franchise opportunities came about because more than a few friends asked about it.

“We kind of backed into it,” he said. One of the first things Mr. Hyde does when approached by potential franchisees is try to talk them out of it.

“I lay such a trip on people before we get to the discussion phase because I want them to know that owning your own business is not all stars.

“It’s not only a change in your work, it’s a change in your lifestyle.”

Mr. Ervin said the majority of the business is take-out orders.

“The biggest challenge for us is letting people know we are here,” he said. “Just getting the word out.”