Ep163 From Hairdresser to Stellarossa Founder | Darren Schultz’s Coffee Franchise Journey

In this episode of the Franchise Everything Podcast, host Glen speaks with Darren Schultz, co-founder of Stellarossa, at Stellarossa Coffee Headquarters in Brisbane.

Darren shares his journey from leaving school in Bundaberg and unexpectedly starting a hairdressing apprenticeship, to working in hospitality overseas, running his own salon, and eventually discovering the coffee industry through Brisbane’s Park Road cafe scene.

His early career shaped his customer service skills, resilience, and ability to connect with people, which later became essential in building franchise businesses.

The episode also explores how Darren launched Expresso Mobile Coffee, one of Australia’s early mobile coffee van franchise concepts, before going on to co-found Stellarossa in 2009. Darren explains the lessons learned from franchising, the importance of proving a business model before expanding, and how Stellarossa has grown into a recognised cafe franchise brand with around 25 locations, drive-through concepts, and international expansion plans including India and Sri Lanka.

0:00 - Welcome and guest introduction

0:56 - Why understanding the leaders behind franchise brands matters

2:40 - Trying a pre-vocational course and discovering what was out there

5:11 - The interview with the ex-Stefan salon team and the telephone role play

8:01 - Finding his groove and earning $51 a week as an apprentice

9:00 - Working in a men's fashion store and being rescued back into hairdressing

10:28 - Working in a bar cafe in Covent Garden and falling into hospitality

11:55 - Teaching water skiing and getting a job by chance in Greece