Franchise Everything

How does Donut King stay relevant after 45 years in the Australian market?

0:00 Why Donut King Is Still Relevant After 45 Years

1:12 Donut King's History and Connection With Australian Customers

2:45 Balancing Brand Marketing and Franchisee Expectations

4:19 Returning to Donut King's Core Brand Identity

6:06 Why Donut King Stopped Following Competitors

7:31 What Makes Donut King Different From Other Donut Retailers

8:19 Focusing on Classic Products and Customer Occasions

9:32 How Licensing Partnerships Create Marketing Opportunities

10:34 The Business Benefits of a Large Franchise Network

11:12 Using Paw Patrol to Connect With Relevant Customer Moments

12:27 Communicating Value During Challenging Economic Conditions

13:35 How Donut King Uses a Full-Funnel Marketing Strategy

14:40 What's Next for Donut King's Marketing Plans

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/stypzyrr

Crust Pizza has spent 25 years building a name around premium ingredients and distinctive pizza flavours. Tony Eastaughffe, Executive General Manager of Crust Pizza, talk about the brand's beginnings in Annandale in 2001, its growth to around 140 stores and what lies ahead for the next 25 years.

Tony explains how Crust Pizza sets itself apart in a crowded pizza market, from preparing chicken and lamb in-house to introducing new flavour combinations like Korean beef with kimchi. He also discusses the return of the Upper Crust range, balancing classic favourites with new menu ideas, and giving franchise partners room to innovate.

On the franchise side, Tony shares how Crust Pizza supports its franchisees through sales and performance managers, store performance dashboards and quarterly local area marketing funds. He also talks about building stronger community connections, the team's hands-on experience in the pizza industry and Crust Pizza's plans to become a bigger part of occasions such as birthdays, Christmas gatherings and sporting events.

Key takeaways

Chapters

00:00 Why Crust Wants Customers to Say "I Want Crust"

00:26 Meet Tony Eastaughffe, Executive General Manager of Crust Pizza

01:10 How Crust Stands Out in a Crowded Pizza Market

02:57 From One Store in Annandale to Around 140 Locations

03:14 Bringing Back the Upper Crust Range and Menu Innovation

04:13 Balancing Classic Pizza Favourites With New Flavours

05:06 How Crust Supports Its Franchise Partners

06:37 Using Store Performance Dashboards to Track Results

06:51 Local Area Marketing Funds and Community Partnerships

08:40 Tony's Journey From Pizza Delivery Driver to Brand Leader

09:34 Building a Support Team With Real Store Experience

10:27 Why Crust Wants to Own More Food and Sporting Occasions

11:50 Preparing Crust for the Next 25 Years

Listen or watch on;

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/3asp3ndp

Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/ycxcmd2k

Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/yckefyv5

YouTube: https://youtu.be/l3dxtuJm19c

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After five years in the Australian Army, Nick George moved into sales before finding his next opportunity in franchising. He now owns three Coochie HydroGreen territories in South Australia, building a business in a market where the brand had little existing presence.

Nick explains why he chose franchising, how the structure helped him get started without prior experience in the lawn care industry, and how he built a customer base from the ground up. He also talks about building relationships with landscapers and gardening businesses, using before-and-after results to win over customers, and generating enquiries through organic social media.

With three territories to manage, Nick shares how he plans his daily runs, handles 15 to 20 jobs a day and keeps the business running efficiently. He also discusses client retention, the decision to reinvest in additional territories, and when bringing on another employee makes sense as the business grows.

Key takeaways

Chapters: 

00:00 Building Three Coochie HydroGreen Territories in South Australia

00:29 Meet Nick George, Coochie HydroGreen Franchise Owner

00:46 Nick's Five Years in the Australian Army

01:55 Leaving the Army and Moving into Civilian Life

03:22 Starting a Career in Sales

04:28 Why Sales Experience Matters in Business

06:18 Finding the Right Franchise Opportunity

07:16 Why Nick Chose Franchising

08:17 The Freedom and Structure of Franchise Ownership

09:00 Deciding to Invest in Coochie HydroGreen

09:48 Why Speaking to Existing Franchisees Matters

10:24 The Risks of Starting a Franchise in a New Market

11:53 Launching Coochie HydroGreen in South Australia

12:28 Franchise Training and Ongoing Support

13:35 Building Local Partnerships and Referral Networks

14:49 How Local Relationships Generate Warm Leads

15:45 Building Brand Awareness Through Product Results

16:33 Managing Three Territories Efficiently

17:09 Why Nick Invested in Multiple Territories

18:00 Building Client Retention and Long-Term Value

18:20 How Other Franchisees Help Grow Brand Awareness

18:55 Using Social Media to Generate Customer Enquiries

20:40 A Typical Day Managing 15 to 20 Jobs

21:48 When Is It Time to Hire Another Employee?

22:33 Planning for the Next Stage of Business Growth

Listen or Watch on;

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5x6hb4s5

Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/6wtew7f2

Amazon Music: https://youtu.be/gt-srpmJizA

YouTube:  https://youtu.be/gt-srpmJizA

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How can tutoring businesses use AI to support students without losing the human connection that makes learning effective?

Melinda Smith, CEO of Kip McGrath, shares how her background in retail, government operations and early learning shaped her approach to customer service, education and franchise leadership. With 50 years of history and more than two million children supported, Kip McGrath focuses on helping students who struggle with maths and English build confidence and keep up with their learning.

Melinda discusses AI in education, the role of face-to-face tutoring, and why teachers remain essential to student success. She also shares Kip McGrath’s priorities for improving franchisee support, strengthening existing markets and reaching more children through future growth.

Key takeaways

Chapters

00:00 Meet Melinda Smith, CEO of Kip McGrath

1:08 Melinda’s Background in Retail, Government Operations and Early Learning

02:07 Kip McGrath’s 50-Year History and Focus on Student Progress

02:54 Why Franchisees and Passionate Teachers Drive the Business

04:13 How Building Student Confidence Can Change Learning Outcomes

05:14 Kip McGrath’s International Markets and Future Growth Priorities

06:49 How AI Is Shaping the Future of Tutoring and Education

07:26 Monty the Homework Helper and Teaching AI Fluency Safely

08:10 Why Face-to-Face Tutoring and Teachers Remain Essential

09:57 Using Digital Tools Without Replacing Human Connection

10:41 Melinda’s Priorities for Franchisee Support Over the Next 18 Months

12:25 Investing in Curriculum, Marketing and Better Franchisee Communication

13:11 Growing the Network to Help More Children Access Tutoring

Listen or Watch on;

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/cww6xduv

Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/mxv77knm

Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/386sbvnc

YouTube: https://youtu.be/7M1-2clyN-Q

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What happens when you grow up in a family business and eventually get the opportunity to take it over?

Brooke has known Donut King for almost her entire life. After growing up in her family’s franchise business, she chose to build her own career first, gaining experience in retail, multi-site operations and marketing before returning to help manage her family’s eight Donut King businesses.

In this episode, Brooke shares how her experience at National Storage taught her to track performance across multiple locations, understand the numbers and work on the business rather than just in it.

She explains how those skills helped her take on greater responsibility within the family business and purchase her first Donut King franchise in November 2024.

Key takeaways:

Chapters

00:32 Meet Brooke Kochelak and Her Donut King Family Legacy

02:48 Learning Business Skills From a Young Age

03:48 Why Brooke Built Her Career Outside the Family Business

06:00 Taking Over the Family Business

07:27 Learning to Manage Multiple Locations

10:18 Understanding the Role of Marketing

11:21 Planning the Family Business Succession

13:37 Buying Her First Donut King Franchise

14:08 Assessing a Franchise Purchase

15:14 Managing Staff Across Multiple Stores

16:27 What Running a Donut King Business Looks Like

17:11 How Changes to Store Operations Made Business Easier

18:11 Lessons From Brooke’s Franchise Journey

19:13 Why Franchisee Support Matters

20:41 Brooke’s Five-Year Vision for Donut King

21:38 Wrapping Up

Listen or Watch on;

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/29zua54h

Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2mcms2ds

Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/mrybthd5

YouTube: https://youtu.be/BItAnPBA7LQ

How do you turn an event photography side hustle into a business that can grow into a franchise?

Haim Kadar shares the story behind Magnet-Me, explaining how the photo magnet business developed from a side hustle into a full-time opportunity and eventually a franchise model.

In this episode, Haim discusses the lifestyle flexibility the business can offer, the skills needed to run it, and how the right equipment, training and support help franchisees get started. He also explains the “business in a box” approach and the systems that support the operation, including its CRM, workflows, packages and contracts.

Haim also explores how Magnet-Me can complement an existing photography business, create referral opportunities and generate repeat business through events.

Key Takeaways:

-How Magnet-Me developed from an additional income opportunity into a dedicated business

-The flexibility the business model can offer

-What prospective franchisees need to know before getting started

-The capabilities required to operate a Magnet-Me business

-How equipment, training and support help franchisees launch

-The role of CRM, workflows, packages and contracts in running the business

-How Magnet-Me can fit alongside other photography services

-How events and client relationships can create further opportunities

Chapters:

00:00 Meet Haim Kadar of Magnet Me

02:10 Starting a Photo Magnet Business in 2010

04:00 Buying the Original Business

06:36 Why Haim Returned to Australia

07:27 Leaving His Corporate Job to Pursue a New Opportunity

08:05 Building a Family Business With His Wife

11:12 When Haim Went Full Time in Magnet Me

12:15 Why Customer Service Matters

14:02 Using Contractors to Grow the Business

16:02 Navigating COVID as an Events Business

17:41 Why Haim Decided to Franchise Magnet Me

19:21 Why Franchising Offers More Than a Contractor Model

21:51 Turning Business Experience Into Franchise Systems

23:07 Haim's Five-Year Vision for Magnet Me

24:05 Expanding Into More Australian Territories

Listen or Watch on;

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/bdz7psb4

Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/3z878xwx

Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/5awxsmtj

YouTube: https://youtu.be/5WhLm3zOrD8

Build Consistent Video Content for Your Franchise

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Can you own a plumbing franchise without being a plumber?

In this episode of Franchise Everything, Glenn Walford speaks with Shaun McCarthy, Master Plumber for Plumbing Bros, about how he works alongside franchise owner Cal to manage the technical side of the business.

Shaun shares his journey from completing his plumbing apprenticeship in New Zealand and running his own plumbing business to moving to Australia and taking on a different role within a franchise.

He explains how the arrangement works, from quoting jobs and checking compliance to maintaining work quality and communicating with clients.

Key takeaways:

Chapters

00:00 How Plumbing Bros Works Without the Owner Being a Plumber

00:27 Meet Shaun McCarthy, Master Plumber at Plumbing Bros

01:18 Shaun's Plumbing Apprenticeship in New Zealand

03:04 Learning the Trade and Building Experience

06:23 From Apprentice to Licensed Plumber

08:05 Learning to Lead and Train Apprentices

09:15 Starting His Own Plumbing Business

10:11 Why Shaun Moved to Australia

13:00 Getting Licensed to Work in Australia

14:02 How Shaun Supports Plumbing Bros Franchise Owner Kal

15:06 The Challenges of Running Your Own Business

16:03 Why Shaun Joined Plumbing Bros

17:02 Balancing Technical Expertise and Business Ownership

18:54 Quoting Jobs, Site Visits and Compliance

21:09 Working Transparently With the Franchise Owner

21:41 Why Compliance and Attention to Detail Matter

22:47 Bringing on an Apprentice

23:19 Wrapping Up

Listen or Watch on;

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/bparf7jt

Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/3yvbexs9

Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/2znuwnxv

YouTube: https://youtu.be/3praTryJ-9c

Build Consistent Video Content for Your Franchise

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Key takeaways

Chapters

0:28 Meet Charlie Carter, Founder of Battery Zone

0:59 What Battery Zone Does

2:08 How Charlie Got Into the Battery Industry

2:42 From Truck Driver to Business Development Manager

4:03 Learning to Grow Sales and Customer Accounts

5:11 Why Battery Knowledge and Testing Matter

6:22 How Battery Testing Can Prevent Breakdowns

7:32 The Service Philosophy Behind Battery Zone

9:30 Applying Seven Years of Industry Experience

10:42 Turning Experience Into Systems and Processes

11:04 Why Battery Zone Expanded Its Product Range

13:45 Growing From $18K to $120K a Month

14:29 How Word of Mouth Helped Grow the Business

16:47 Building Supplier Relationships and Better Margins

18:17 Developing the Mobile Battery Franchise Model

19:26 Why Franchise Royalties Go Back Into the Business

20:43 Why Every Franchisee Needs an Exit Strategy

21:37 Building a Valuable Franchise Business

22:07 Battery Zone’s Five-Year Growth Plan

22:48 Creating Hybrid Franchise Opportunities

23:35 Adding Value to Existing Business Space

24:00 Wrapping Up

What does it take to turn experience in the battery industry into a successful business?

Charlie Carter, founder of Battery Zone, share his journey from truck driver and battery industry business development manager to building his own battery retail business.

After spending seven years working with battery retailers and helping them grow their sales, Charlie saw an opportunity to open a dedicated battery store in Pakenham.

Charlie talks about the challenges of the first few years, how customer service and product choice became central to Battery Zone, and how the original store grew from around $18,000 in monthly sales to approximately $120,000 a month.

He also shares how word of mouth, supplier relationships and understanding what customers need helped the business grow.

Listen or Watch on;

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/2tbucrwz

Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/4762a596

Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/57np3tn4

YouTube: https://youtu.be/gxjLYFcLvPQ

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Key takeaways:

Chapters

00:32 Meet Tom Elliott, Executive General Manager at Donut King

01:14 Donut King's 45-Year History

01:48 Why the Donut King Model Has Stayed Simple

02:02 The Three Pieces of Equipment Driving the Business

03:35 Why Simplicity Matters for Franchise Partners

06:00 Going Back to What Made Donut King Successful

07:17 Getting Franchise Partners Involved in the Reset

08:00 The Franchise Partners Behind the Brand

09:18 Moving From Compliance to Franchisee Profitability

10:44 New Dashboards and Financial Tools

11:38 Why Profitability Is the Number That Matters

12:13 The Marketing Reset

14:08 Why Donut King Doesn't Need to Reinvent the Wheel

15:03 Metro, Regional and Multi-Site Growth

16:42 Why Donut King Appeals to Landlords

17:12 The Future of Donut King

What does it take to take a 45-year-old franchise brand, get back to the fundamentals and build it for the next stage of growth?

Tom Elliott, Executive General Manager at Donut King, joins Glenn Walford on the Franchise Everything podcast to unpack the evolution of one of Australia's best-known franchise brands. With Donut King once operating around 350 locations and now sitting at around 180, Tom explains how the business has stepped back to understand what made the brand successful in the first place.

Tom talks about the simplicity of the Donut King operating model, the importance of listening to franchise partners, and the work the business has done to better understand its core customers. He also shares how new financial dashboards and operational tools are helping franchisees focus on profitability, while a renewed focus on core products, licensed partnerships and marketing fundamentals is helping drive the next phase of growth.

With significant white space across Australia, Tom also discusses the opportunities for new locations, multi-site franchise partners and regional stores.

Listen or Watch on;

Spotify:

Apple Podcasts:

Amazon Music:

YouTube: https://youtu.be/ew7eSyI41Ns

Key Takeaways:

Chapters

00:00 Meet Haim Kadar and Magnet-Me

1:19 Why Magnet-Me Is a Lifestyle Business

02:50 From Side Hustle to Full-Time Business

04:01 Why Magnet-Me Became a Franchise

04:07 What Skills Do You Need to Run Magnet-Me?

05:05 The Magnet-Me Kit and How It Works

07:44 Building the “Business in a Box”

08:10 The Systems Behind the Magnet-Me Franchise

12:00 Adding Magnet-Me to an Existing Photography Business

13:05 How Magnet-Me Generates Referrals

14:08 Weddings, Corporate Events and Repeat Business

14:40 Wrap Up

How do you turn an event photography business into a franchise and build a model that gives franchisees the systems and support to run it?

Haim Kadar joins Glenn Walford on the Franchise Everything podcast to talk about Magnet-Me, an event photography business creating instant photo magnets for weddings, corporate events, graduations and other special occasions.

Haim shares how Magnet-Me started as a side hustle before becoming a full-time business, why he sees it as a lifestyle business, and how the business developed into a franchise model.

He also explains how the Magnet-Me kit, CRM, workflows, packages and other systems help franchisees operate the business.

Listen or Watch on;

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/46awtfba

Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/4hsdyj8h

Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/4xtzkmrm

YouTube: https://youtu.be/wxPihvYFrFk

Build Consistent Video Content for Your Franchise

https://www.franchisebuyermarketing.com.au/video-subscriptions