General News
27 September, 2024
Cheeky Fox's new owner leaps into running a business with local cafe
Hamish Johns looks to grow Horsham's Cheeky Fox.
Horsham's Hamish Johns always wanted to be a business owner.
"Even when I was a kid, I wanted to be the boss," he said.
So when his employers at Cheeky Fox, Mick and Helen Harris, put the cafe up for sale, he jumped at the opportunity to take it over.
"I've done business at university, I've done hospitality for seven years and I've done sales for a year as well," Mr Johns said.
"So I've got some experience in this sort of thing, but actually owning the business is a completely different ballpark.
"I've run mock businesses before at uni, and I've managed places before, but actually doing it, it's just a different game."
Having been an employee at Cheeky Fox before taking over the cafe in June, Mr Johns is enjoying the benefits of his already strong relationship with the cafe's customers.
"All the regulars knew my name beforehand, I'm actually quite close with all the regulars," he said.
It's not just the regulars, but also his strong team and network of suppliers who have supported Mr Johns.
"The previous owners, they've been more than supportive," he said.
"We have a really good team at the moment ... even my suppliers are really supportive. Everyone's really happy to help out and lend a hand."
While he admits it has kept him busy, Mr Johns said owning the Cheeky Fox has been fun and exciting.
"Doing something like this has been a real big leap ... especially in this economy at the moment, with the high cost of living," he said.
"But it's been really good."
With a prime location on the corner of Firebrace and McLachlan Streets, Mr Johns wants to build on what Cheeky Fox already has.
"We've already made a few subtle changes here and there that I think customers will come to notice," he said.
"There's a few more things in the works that will be very visible, especially to regulars."
Mr Johns wants to see Cheeky Fox open for more days and with longer hours, while he invests more into the products the cafe sells.
"We're investing more into our coffee," he said.
"Having that consistent quality will stand out compared to other places. We're really trying to invest in all our staff to make sure it's always the same. It's always a Cheeky Fox Coffee."