Franchise Today

Founders Debra Shwetz and Dena Tripp started Nothing Bundt Cakes in Las Vegas in 1997, simply to please their family and friends. Needless to say, over time, thousands of other people became just as excited about their delicious cakes as they were. By using the purest ingredients, handcrafted recipes and imaginative decorations, Nothing Bundt Cakes has grown into the warm brand that it is today, as they celebrate the very heart of true hospitality,  where all are welcome and no one is a stranger.

Each thoughtful detail of the experience, from the heartfelt welcome at the door to remembering the customer’s favorite flavor, has been naturally embraced at Nothing Bundt Cakes and that same culture and spirit has been brought into their relationships with franchise owners.

It’s a very special kind of person that gets invited to become part of the Nothing Bundt Cakes family and we’ll talk about that and more today, with Dena Tripp.

The School of Rock is the world's largest and most trusted multi-location music school with tens of thousands of musicians going through their classes, workshops, camps and performance programs every day. Their leadership is committed to combining their business savvy, passion for music and their compelling drive to help children succeed in each and every.  That charge is led by their CEO Rob Price and he joins us to tell us how this amazing brand takes music education and the business of providing it, to new heights...  this week on Franchise Today.

(IFPG) The International Franchise Professionals Group is a membership based organization, with more than 800 members. Members consist of Franchisors, Franchise Brokers, Lenders, and other Franchise Professionals that help potential candidates in the process of buying franchises.

Hundreds of nationally recognized franchise companies have chosen the IFPG and its members to represent their brands; hundreds of experienced franchise consultants and brokers have chosen the IFPG to power their business. All of these individuals understand the value of being associated with IFPG.

The IFPG is a strictly membership based organization that does not participate in any referral fees from our franchisor members or our brokers, thereby allowing all of our members to work freely together. Our long-term success is predicated on retaining our members and providing all the tools needed to help award more franchises, and close more deals.

Discover why 800+ Franchise Professionals have joined the IFPG Family!

Michelle Fee is the founder and CEO of Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative. Backed by more than 35 years in the industry, Michelle is a well-rounded corporate travel veteran with in-depth knowledge in emerging travel trends and the franchise business.

Founded in 1994, Cruise Planners is now the nation’s largest network of home-based travel agents, yet Michelle maintains personal connections with franchise owners and even a mentor to new franchisees at the company’s STAR University.

Under Michelle’s leadership, Cruise Planners franchise owners are provided with unique marketing programs, hands-on training and cutting-edge tools allowing them to conduct business anywhere, anytime. She also leads a Home Office Team of more than 100 team members at Cruise Planners’ headquarters in Coral Springs, FL, which is full of Cruisitude.

Michelle is the recipient of numerous awards and has been named Ultimate CEO, Entrepreneur of the Year and Woman of the Year from media outlets and charity organizations. She has been quoted as an expert in The New York Times, USA Today, Entrepreneur, Inc. and other well-known publications. Cruise Planners is also highly decorated, with countless awards and accolades from the world’s leading travel and franchise partners.

Kit Vinson is a marketing specialist with over 20 years of experience from the ground up. His resume includes corporations such as Hillenbrand Industries, Service Corp. International and Infinity Broadcasting, showing his experience in advertising, financial services, and manufacturing. Kit earned an MBA from The American Graduate School of International Management (a.k.a. Thunderbird) in 1994. His fields of study include International Marketing and the Spanish language. He has also completed business studies at the University of London in London, England and language studies in Antigua, Guatemala.  Kit’s entrepreneurial ventures and his experience working for Fortune 500 corporations have given him a unique perspective into the business world.

Kit is very active outside of work as a volunteer basketball coach for the YMCA, and the Den Leader, Assistant Pack Master, and Committee Chair for Cub Scout Pack 847.

Kit is also the host of an industry specific podcast called The Franchise Manual Podcast. Using this vehicle, Kit is creating a resource library for start-up and emerging franchisors, to help them as they travel down the road of franchising. His podcast has been downloaded by listeners across the U.S and 42 countries. Next up, on Franchise Today!

Bette Fetter is the Founder and CEO of Young Rembrandts.  She is also the author of Being Visual: Raising a Generation of Visual Thinkers!  Bette’s life’s work has been focused on the importance of creative arts and visual learning in children.  Her true passion for kids, art, teaching and creativity, is what helped Bette launch a $35 a week part-time hobby into a multi-million-dollar, international franchise business. 

Today, this mother of 4, tells us how "life balance" contributed to the growth of this 100-unit, International franchise system.  With franchisees successfully operating in 28 states, South Korea, Germany and the Middle East, she has Young Rembrandts geared up and positioned to begin growing the next hundred locations.  Primary geographical targets include the US, Canada, China and India. 

Bette Fetter shares her passion, her story and moroe about her journey, this week on Franchise Today.

Christian Pillat is passionate about transforming disruptive ideas into actionable business strategies.  As co-CEO of TRANSITIV, he does just that.  Transitiv provides franchisors and franchisees with cutting edge intelligence about their customers and local store marketing.  By enabling franchisees to identify their best customers, they can then market more effectively to them and bring them back more often.  They can also target more customers like them and increase their average spend and frequency of visits.

This Grandpre is all about slow and steady... No race here!  Chris Grandpre is the Chairman and CEO of Outdoor Living Brands, the franchisors of multiple brands:  Archadeck, the world's leading designer and builder of custom decks, porches, sun rooms, patios and outdoor living spaces; Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, whose name is self explanatory, Renew Crew, a cleaning and protection company caring for a wide variety of exterior surfaces at residential and commercial properties; and Conserva-Irrigation, focused on the service and maintenance of sprinkler systems in a water-efficient manner. Outdoor Living Brands is also formerly the franchisor of Mosquito Squad, which they recently sold to Authority Brands, in December, 2018.

Chris Grandpre sets the strategic direction for the company, across 250 existing franchisees, is the scout for future acquisitions, and proudly fosters a corporate culture of innovation and service, both internally and throughout the multiple franchise communities of their brands.

Jonathan Barnett is Founder, President and CEO of Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning, one of the fastest growing cleaning franchises in North America, with over 300 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. Their Mission is to be an environmentally friendly, green carpet cleaning company, who’s #1 goal is to provide their customers with the highest quality carpet cleaning experience in the industry and accomplish this with excellent service and support throughout all levels of the company. Listen, as he explains how he is accomplishing this, with both consumers and his franchisees.

Angela Cote is a second-generation franchising pro and consultant, from the Canadian Pacific Northwest.  Angela refers to herself as a Franchise Growth Catalyst.  Uniquely, she has experienced both sides of franchisor-franchisee relationships.  Her family founded the iconic Canadian franchise brand, M&M Meat Shops, a hugely well-known and successful franchise company that grew to just under 500 locations  from Cost-to-Coast across Canada and has won multiple business awards and distinctions, along the way. 

Today, Angela helps emerging franchisors reach their growth goals faster as well as having some fun while doing it.  She is with an organization called Cultivate Advisors and she is here to share some stories about growing up inside a franchise family and how that helps her guide, counsel and consult with emerging brands today.