In this powerhouse episode of The Training Effect, host Douglas Mark sits down with Red Boswell, President of IFPG, to explore what’s really driving success in today’s franchise landscape, and what’s holding some brands back.

From fourth-grade pencil hustler to leading one of the most influential networks in franchising, Red brings energy, wisdom, and a whole lot of insight into how brands grow, scale, and sustain performance. Together, Doug and Red cover the real drivers of franchise momentum, the role of training in long-term success, and what top-performing franchisors are doing differently.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why authentic relationships, not just ads, drive franchise growth

• The common blind spots in emerging franchise operations

• How great training systems create scalable, supportable brands

• Why franchisees must be gritty (and how to tell if they are)

• The role of suppliers, consultants, and community in brand expansion

• How IFPG is changing how franchisors connect, grow, and scale

This episode is a front-row seat to franchising’s biggest truths, from someone who’s lived every angle of it.

00:00 – Introduction: Meet Red Boswell and the heart of IFPG  

01:40 – What does the “lucky number 7” hat mean?  

03:10 – Red’s entrepreneurial journey: From NFL pencils to Amway to franchising  

06:00 – Founding a pooper scooper franchise and scaling to 148 territories  

08:20 – How Red transitioned to franchise leadership and joined IFPG  

10:00 – Family, passion, and building a life through franchising  

12:20 – The shift in the franchise landscape and what top brands are doing right  

14:00 – Why training systems are the foundation of scalable growth  

15:50 – The importance of relationships, authenticity, and intentional branding  

18:30 – Operational challenges for emerging franchisors  

20:15 – What most brands get wrong about training and support  

22:30 – Empowering franchisees to train their teams effectively  

24:00 – Why great franchisees need grit (and what that really means)  

26:20 – How franchise consultants influence training and supplier relationships  

28:30 – IFPG’s new Supplier Hub and Group Purchasing Organization (GPO)  

30:15 – What every franchise system should implement today  

31:00 – Red’s favorite leadership books and resources  

32:00 – What kind of franchise would Red launch today? (Hint: jet skis + off-road fun)  

34:15 – How to connect with Red and learn more about IFPG  

35:10 – Outro: Subscribe, share, and stay connected to The Training Effect

Follow Doug and Red:

Connect with Doug: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-mark-649866a/

Website: https://www.learningzen.com/

Connect with Red: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/redboswell/

Website: https://www.ifpg.org/