Darley Street: Season Two Episode 7 - Takeover Time

By Steve Gray
Previous Episodes

Take Over Time

Laurie at the Bakery had worked hard for quite a while now, the same with his staff who were all quite dedicated, but something didn’t quite go as he had thought it would and the notion of running a business was wearing thin, he thought it would provide some different challenges and rewards but it was not the case.

Then one day everything changed.

A well presented gent came in a few times, sat and had coffee as well as some cake, a week or two later he came with an off-sider, they chatted and left a little while later.

The pair are seen wandering the street and show up at one of the art gallery openings. Smartly presented they chat to a few people and look vaguely interested in the artworks. They casually chat to people who they guess are local shop people and ask general questions about what the area is like, customers, and how busy things are, that type of thing. 

No one was suspicious, these two were generally nice guys, they live a few streets away, and had been in the area many times before.

They did some research on bakeries and liked the idea of running one, compared purchase prices and so forth. This one that Laurie had set up wasn’t part of a franchise and therefore didn’t have pesky franchise fees to deal with.

They caught up with Laurie one day and had a chat, ‘Was he interested in selling?’ Eventually he said yes, ‘If the price was right.’

Kyle Henderson and Matt Pullen were the interested parties, Laurie started off a little reluctant, but it didn’t take long for him to like the idea of retirement. He could still come to Gallery Openings and connect with the people in the street he had grown to like. His accountant looked at what the boys were offering and said, ‘Do it!’ So he did.

The staff were informed, introduced to the new guys. Kyle explained what research they had done and wanted to own a privately run business not a franchised one and that they had the good fortune to be able to acquire this one off Laurie.

There was some shock, some intrigue and some unsureness, especially from Trish.

The guys have some ideas for things to add to the menu and would look at what things might need to be reevaluated, things that may not be so profitable. 

The big day came and contracts were exchanged, money in one bank and out from another. Laurie handed over the keys and was off like a rocket.

The pair were in the shop from that moment on, Kyle especially, he was there in the evening as Hans and Thomas did their thing, making the main items for the shop to sell. Kyle furiously took notes, he figured he needed to know all the details of the various mixes if either of them left the business, for holidays, sick leave etc.

They all got along well, chatting in between things rising and settling etc. Kyle had a positive way with people, his skills in professional business advisory set him in good stead.

Matt spent time with the daytime crew but was a less communicative person, smiley, attentive, knowledgeable, more the sort of guy who spoke when he was spoken to. It took Trish a long while to come around to having new bosses, having wone to work with was enough, now she had two.

The guys had received an inheritance from Kyle's father who recently passed away, he had done well in business, it meant the pair could create or buy into something they could control. 

The pair add to the flair of the art gallery openings. 

Christie Minns drops in and loves the new bakery guys, she mentions their new offerings on her podcast.

Wayne P was now hovering, ready for another interview.

Bijay Mandel wanders in, introduces himself and asks if they could make a Nepalese bread as part of a new offering to the community. He mentions that a festival of colour was coming up in late March, the Holi festival. He leaves them with a recipe for a sweet bread called Sel Roti and a beguiling smile.

The boys step in and help out where they can, not wanting to take anyone's job but to learn the ‘ins and outs’ of the daily business operations. It also gives them a chance to build trust with Thalia, Gina and Trish.

The boys discuss the Nepalese sweet bread, did they have the gear to make it, would it sell well, and would it be profitable? Thalia took a look at the pictures they had and said it looked like a big doughnut.

She then added that it would probably be better to get an expert Nepalese cook to make them, or explain how feasible it could be. She then recommended Bahan who worked at Sally’s bookstore, she’s sure to know about this.

Kyle was down there in a blink and picked her brain, it turned out the locals cooked their own. But there was a local Indian restaurant that made them, just one suburb away. However she could easily show them how to do it if they wanted. The decision was made, simply order in some more doughnuts!

No two days were the same in Darley Street; people come, and people go. This time there were new faces and some possible sweet offerings.