Franchise Today

Jimmy Weeks is a Google Analytics and Adwords-certifed professional who has spoken across the nation on topics related to Internet marketing, social media strategy and advanced analytics.  He is the Founder and CEO of Internet Strategy Labs and has created analytic dashboards that mash and track data from leads generated, to really tell the tale of the tape about where your leads come from and which sources are truly effective. His platforms are all cloud-based reporting platforms, that enable businesses to improve their overall marketing strategy by providing a better understanding of website, social, phone and paid campaign analytics.

Peter Daly-Dickson is the co-founder and CEO of Macanta, a software company serving start-up and emerging franchise brands, in the UK.  One of his partners, a best-selling author, prior to the start of their joint venture, knew the value that having a book, could bring to a start-up, or emerging business.  So they thought about publishing a book centered upon their new business and its disciplines.  Then, Peter had a vision to take that a step further and to invite others to join in the creation of a collaborative, multi-author publication, that would not only lift their own new business, but also those of the contributors, as well.  Peter's thought was that more stakeholders, with shared purpose, would be better, in terms of assuring success. A rising tide lifts ALL SHIPS, is how he viewed it.  Well, Peter was right.  The book was released as an International Best Seller on Amazon Kindle and will soon be available in paperback.  Here to talk about it all, is Peter Daly Dickson…..

This week, I’ll be talking with John Ramsay, Vice President of Franchising for the iconic Noodles and Company.  John’s background spans over 28 years of experience in restaurant franchise development, with such icons as TGI Friday, Jack in the Box, Marco’s Pizza and Bruxie International.  John joined Noodles & Company in November of 2020, as vice president of franchise development. While many restaurant concepts in this Covid/Post COVID era have been hitting the brakes, Noodles and Company has actually doubled down, as the Colorado chain with John leading the franchise development charge, hits the gas, driving Noodles' restaurant growth initiatives.  John’s history includes positions in both franchise and restaurant development and he is extremely excited to have the opportunity to grow and further develop a proven concept like Noodles and Co.  As we will discuss, Noodles has innovated and adapted quickly to the off-premise experience and offers attractive unit-level economics for franchisees."

Noodles & Company offers the world’s favorite noodle dishes, salads and soups, all in one restaurant. Each dish is carefully hand-made to the guests’ specifications, using only the freshest ingredients. Noodles proudly uses REAL Food and REAL Cooking for REAL Flavors.

Their dishes are inspired by the individuality, creativity and cultural heritage of cuisines from around the globe. From Penne Rosa to Japanese Pan Noodles, The Med Salad, and of course our famous Wisconsin Mac & Cheese, only the most authentic ingredients make the cut.  There's quite the story behind this award winning brand and here to tell it, is John Ramsay.

Walter Bond is different than most pro athletes, because he played pro ball as an interim career, on the way to the rest of his life.  He did NOT treat his NBA career, as his life's main event.   As Walter will tell you in his own words today, playing pro ball was always his desire, but it was never intended to be his final destination.  

For the past 19 years Walter Bond has specialized in making the thinking patterns, strategies, and behavior of top performers across a multitude of industries easier to learn and apply. Through keynotes viewed by millions, best-selling books, and life-changing coaching programs, Walter Bond has helped countless business leaders, diverse teams, and dreamers become the peak performers they were destined to be.  How does he do it?  He’s here to tell us.

Coming from a family who has been in the industry since 1929, Gina Rivera, was destined to pursue a career in the world of beauty. From her early roots of sweeping hair from the floors of her parent’s salon, Gina attended beauty school and later moved to a booth renter salon where she quickly established a winning reputation. Clients loved her as she never let anyone leave without feeling amazing.

And, the staff adored her because she was so open about sharing her knowledge and offering support where needed. Based on her learnings behind the chair, Gina realized not all salons are created equal and a majority of booth renters are usually provided very little support to ensure their success. With a passion for the industry, Gina became a fierce advocate for supporting the goals of Lifestyle Professionals who had the desire to operate their own salons, but perhaps lacked the financial resources. Gina realized that she had the opportunity to redefine the options available for sole proprietors in the beauty industry. With this, Phenix Salon Suites was born, establishing a new experience and opportunity for Lifestyle Professionals to own and operate a business at a fraction of the cost of traditional salon settings. 

Gina is a wife and a mom, a national seminar speaker, addressing both the artistic and business side of the beauty industry for the American Association of Hair Care Professionals and others. She is also a seasoned columnist, featured in well-known publications such as Fashion & Style, Modern Salon, the Huffington Post, Glamour, Today.com, Oprah’s O Magazine and a little closer to home for this audience, the Franchise Times.  With more than 500,000 social media followers tracking her “Tip of the Week” this Undercover Boss has quickly become one of the most well-read columnists on the web, providing advice on how to succeed in business and life to fans and beauty enthusiasts.

My interview with Erik Nan Horn is one you will certainly not want to miss, but techncal difficulties delayed post-production.  So, please forgive the delay and return next week... I promise it will be worth the wait. 

Until then, my conversation with Charles Watson, remains in place  My apologies for the issue.

C-ya next week,

Stan

Charles Watson is CEO at Tropical Smoothie Café, a franchise concept that began on the beach at Destin, FL, and has morphed into a 900 plus, location wave.  Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a lifestyle brand for people looking for something a bit better, as alternatives to fast food, serving up great-tasting, nutritious food and smoothies for their customers and incredible franchise opportunities.  For those looking to join a brand who's culture is all about working hard, working together, having fun and making money, this could be the next big.  To talk about all of this and more, CEO Charles Watson is here today, my guest on Franchise Today.

Greg Nathan is Founder of the respected Franchise Relationships Institute (FRI) and recognized as the global thought leader on the psychology of franchising. He is has been a registered psychologist for 35 years and is regularly invited to deliver keynote addresses at franchise sector conferences around the world. Greg's books, such as Profitable Partnerships and the Franchisor's Guide to Improving Field Visits, are regarded as essential reading for anyone who works in the franchising sector. His numerous franchising models such as the Franchise E-Factor and The Franchising Wheels of Excellence are all based on empirical research, and have helped shape the way franchising is conducted around the world.

The Faegre Drinker year-end Franchisor Best Practices and Leadership Summit will feature a collection of franchisors, franchisees and industry thought leaders.  These include: 

Steve Hockett, CEO, Great Clips,Steve Romaniello, Senior Advisor, Roark CapitalSteve White, President, COO, PuroSystemsPaul Pickett, CDO, Wild Birds UnlimitedChristina Russell, CEO, Radiance Holdings (Sola Salons)Mary Thompson, COO, NeighborlySusan Rather, Multi-Unit BrightStar FranchiseeCraig Leonard, Multi-Unit Rally's FranchiseeSaunda Kitchen, Mr. Rooter Franchisee

Franchising since 1996 Christian Bros. has 230 or more franchised auto repair locations nationwide and get this, they have never closed a single location.  No, conversely, they continue to build upon one of the best reputations in the auto service industry, both at the consumer and franchisee level.  Check it out:

JD Powers - #1 in Customer Satisfaction in the automotive aftermarketEntrepreneur Magazine– A Top 200 franchise concept for 10 consecutive yearsForbes - #2 in Americas Best Buys for those buying a franchise. The US Auto Franchise Business Review – A Top 50 Franchise Concept for franchisee satisfaction, for 10 years runningThe United Services Auto Assn.  or as most of us know them, the USAA – Christian Bros. is a Top Franchise Opportunity for Veterans

Brad Fink describes the "secret sauce" behind this thriving brand