DailyFranchiseNews.com

Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame Takes off in Atlanta

The brainchild of serial entrepreneur and radio talk show host Mitch Schlimer (Let's Talk Business), the EHOF, as it will now be known, debuted its first live ceremony Saturday night, Dec. 1st at The Estate in Atlanta.  The venue was lovely--but more unbelievable the inductees were the who's who of the business world.  And only one as tenacious and dedicated as Mitch Schlimer could have pulled this off with about 30 days to prepare. And gotten these important people to show up!

The long and short of it, according to Schlimer, a Long Island resident who spends much of his time in Atlanta doing his radio show, "you can find a Hall of Fame for quilting but nowhere is there a Hall of Fame, a standing site included, for Entrepreneurs."  

The standing site is currently located at what is called the EPICenter in Atlanta  but Mitch thinks in a year or so he will have to find a bigger space.  More about this center in another blog.  

Inductees in this ceremony Saturday shared their amazing stories with a crowd of 170. The evening went long but no one seemed to mind because each speaker was so fascinating.  Dina Dwyer-Owens, CEO of the Dwyer Group was first up to accept an award for her Dad, the late Don Dwyer, the founder of Vetfran, a program dedicated to help vets get into franchising.  I saw her eyes glistening with tears before she even hit the podium. Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-Awas accompanied by his son Dan Cathy who now runs the ocmpany. Truett referred to Dan as "his assistant".  The gorgeous Sara Blakely, the 41 year old billionaire founder of Spanx was a delight, and so beautiful up close I gasped. Ray Margiano, founder of Foot Solutions and Heel-Quik got the veteran's award for all his programs--the legendary Fred DeLuca, he who created Subway, told the delightful story about his partner Dr. Peter Buck and called him the smartest businessman in the world. "He comes in 4 times a year, asks me what we are doing, then says great, and then goes home. And he owns half the company". The crowd roared because everyone in business knows that the greatest ROI story of all time was Dr. Peter Buck suggesting to a 17 year old Fred that he sell submarine sandwiches-then gave him $1000 to start the business!  

Harris Rosen, founder of Rosen Resorts, told an equally hilarious story of his beginnings. And the most touching of all had to be Dave Anderson of Famous Dave's, a Native American who helps people in that community start businesses of their own.  Awesome.  As a proud member of the induction committee for this event, I can't wait to see what next year holds.  If you know someone you believe belongs in the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame--email Mitch.Schlimer@gmail.com

Photo above from left: Fred DeLuca, Harris Rosen, Ray Margiano,  Famous Dave Anderson

The Woodhouse Day Spa Launches New Website

 

The Woodhouse Day Spa, a Victoria, TX. based franchise, is experiencing such explosive growth, they decided the time has come for a new website.

“This new website is not only beautiful and intuitive for site visitors, it also delivers control and usability for The Woodhouse and its franchisees,” said Jeni Garrett, President & CEO, The Woodhouse Day Spa. “This platform empowers us to more easily manage our web presence across corporate and franchise sites in order to continue to grow our business.”

Unleashed Technologies, based in Columbia, MD is the company that  improved site management and developed key integrations that now enable The Woodhouse and its franchisees to:

-          Ease content management across all websites for corporate employees and franchisees with tiered levels of access to ensure brand consistency and timely updates

-          Reduce costs by eliminating manual gift card processes

-          Increase revenue with online reservation booking, and the ability to target local markets through SEO/SEM

-          Improve engagement with social media sharing

The Woodhouse Day Spa can now instantly create franchise sites that are consistent in branding and content, yet managed and updated by the franchisee. Building on the high impact design provided by Bates Creative Group, all sites are fully integrated into spa management systems to provide a seamless experience to visitors.

To learn more about The Woodhouse Day Spa website, visit: http://www.unleashed-technologies.com/our-work/woodhouse-day-spa-brings-usability-and-control-its-franchisees

Franchise Update Conference Filled with Suppliers

Franchise Update does it right--lots of good info in a day and a half and a nice awards dinner.  The problem?  Fewer franchisors attending and lots of suppliers/sponsors--maybe double the amount of franchisors in attendance.  Let's explore how this works shall we?  This is a money making venture and the money deserves to be made.  However, a conference that focuses more on sponsorships and less on attendance is very much like an "ad rag"--that's what we used to call magazines that were filled with ads and little content.  Soon they lost all their advertisers, because, whoops, no one was reading the magazine anymore!!!  Why would they? Very little content and what was there was mediocre.  So cart? Horse?  With lots of great content you get a bundle of attendees at a conference or seminar.  Then follows sponsors. 

However this blogger and several other suppliers went a step further and gave a fantastic dinner at Southern Art, Chef Art Smith's (and a friend of this blogger) fabulous and gorgeous restaurant in the InterContinental Hotel in Atlanta where this conference was held a few days ago.  Fried chicken, the best in the world, is cooked to order so we were all clamouring for more, more as they brought out platters every 30 minutes.  Beyond YUM. If it's good enough for Oprah, Obama, Lady Gaga and Queen Noor of Jordan, we franchisors can enjoy too! (Above left Chef Art Smith and this blogger)

LED Source to Host Free Franchise Opportunity Webinar Monday

The first and only franchisor of LED lighting in North America is hosting a webinar Monday, July 30th at 11:00 am EDT. LED lighting is the hottest thing going! No pun intended.  So for this webinar, President and CEO Marcel Fairbairn will discuss this exciting opportunity and explain the history of the company, the LED market and why now is the right time to own an LED Source franchise.  "The LED lighting business is rapidly evolving," says Fairbairn, "and now is the time to get involved. This free webinar is the perfect platform to introduce individuals to the 'next big thing' in franchising "

For more info about LEDSource go to www.LEDsource.com and/or check out their blog at www.GetLEDucated.com

Want to attend Webinar?  Register here.

 

Pillar To Post Ranks #1 in Best Franchises for Veterans

Not surprising Pillar To Post was chosen the #1 franchise for veterans by Entrepreneur Magazine. Not only is home inspection a great gig but of the few such franchises out there Pillar To Post has the culture that any vet would want to be a part of.  As part of The Franchise Company, Pillar To Post networks and has access to all the great techniques and strategies that sister companies such as CertaPro Painters and Floor Coverings International have.  Plus Charlie Chase, who heads up The Franchise Company encourages great leadership, or let's say demands it. You will never see any of the leaders of these companies sitting behind a desk "taking appointments" or an occasional call.  They are totally in it.  Enthusiasm and down to earth demeanors are part and parcel to The Franchise Company and its roster of home service franchises.  And, Dan Steward, President of Pillar To Post, is a poster child for this profile.  Dan is totally hands on, would never ask a franchisee to do anything he wouldn't do himself, gets his franchisees engaged and his laugh alone can work a group into a frenzy of positivity.  It's the 4th of July.  What better day to congratulate the franchise chosen as number one for veterans. Our guys and gals deserve the best when they come home, right?      

Facebook IPO Really Shed a Light

What can one say?  I was one of those caught in the "bubble" of 2000. My Dad, may he rest in peace, told me in no uncertain terms to dump everything I had because it was hugely overvalued.  What did he know? All he had been through was the Depression, when his parents lost 6 apartment buildings, and WWII where he won 3 medals.  Why listen to him?  Oh yeah that.  Happy Father's Day and appreciate your Dads because they are likely a lot smarter than you. I lost a bundle by not listening to mine.

And now my friend Les Walgreen (yes that Walgreen) remarks that Facebook has already lost the equivalent of two whole Walgreen companies!!  What is going on people?  As a franchise expert I look and listen to franchisors every day struggling to keep their brands going and thriving. More importantly I look at their franchisees who struggle at the street level. What company that "might have future big revenues" can be worth $19 billion?    Go buy a sandwich or a cookie from a nice franchisee and come back down to earth!

Bagger Dave's Proves Everyone Still Loves a Great Burger!

Just when you thought that you couldn't find one more burger chain out there, here comes another-and a really good one too!  The secret?  If the meat is awesome, and the buns and bread fresh, one can make a very creative and outstanding burger.  Especially if one understands what the consumer and the franchisee want. The franchisee wants to partner up with a franchisor who "gets it"--and the best way to do that is find someone like Michael Ansley who is not only the CEO, founder and franchisor of Bagger Dave's Legendary Burger Tavern but is also a multi-unit franchisee of Buffalo Wild Wings.  Who would know more the challenges facing franchisees?  And the customer? They just want that delicious food-hot and fresh in a nice environment at a decent price point. Do that and you got yourself a winner!   Nice work Michael and team. 

Happy Mother's Day and by the Way I am Rich

What an inspiration.  First of all it's beyond irritating how attractive Jeni Garrett, founder of Woodhouse Day Spas is....but she also has two darling sons so that a photo of her holding them looks like an ad for some amazing hair color product like L'Oreal Preference.  Yes, sorry beauty counts--it's not everything but it certainly is a nice addition to the gifts God has already given you. In this case brains plus beauty--a deadly but awesome combination.  According to CNNMoney  a great article on Moms Making Millions got the attention of lots of entrepreneurial Moms and more.  In the case of Jeni Garrett, her Woodhouse Day Spas get rave reviews from customers and she is franchising the amazing concept by demand! The healty and beauty segment is where it's at. Not only is there a huge deal pending for India but there are territories available in the U.S.  You can learn more about this by emailing marc@brandchise.com. 

SEO is the Way to GO! Or is There More to it?

Enjoyed helping to host a luncheon Wednesday for a group of very sharp franchise suppliers so they could show off their wares to franchisors.  The seminar is called Over the Top, and the lunch, held at Benny's Chophouse of Chicago, was delish--but the info was even more so.  19 franchisors got quite an education on where things are today in terms of lead generation and knowledge of who your franchisee candidates are and how to speak to them.  These lessons came from FranConnect, Greenbaum Marketing and Management 2000--all speaking about different disciplines in the sales process. One thing is for sure....if you can't get potential candidates to your website you are doomed. AND, they need to click all the way through--or there is no point.  That's where SEO and all that good stuff comes in.  We see here that SEO can be utilized in our press releases, hopefully sending eager beavers right to the website of our client--however, after that, then what?  If you can't close the deal, and if the zee can't get the financing, all is for naught.  Yes getting those SEO terms down etc. is all good and well, but in the end, can your model hold up? Can you sell it? And can your franchisee make money? Those are the real first steps! This seminar is happening in Phoenix and Atlanta as well.

 

FoxNews.com says Franchisors are Seeking Latinos to Join Their Systems

And why not? Hard working, family oriented, the Latin community, huge in the U.S. is poised to be the next big small business owner segment.  Franchising is a great avenue for them even though currently Latinos own only 5.2 percent of franchise businesses.  Franchising gives one a jumpstart to owning a small business with lots of "back of office" help involved.

Canadian based franchisor, WSI, a digital provider of marketing services to small and medium sized businesses, started its push into Latin America in 1997. The company has 25 Latino franchisees in the U.S.,154 in Mexico and 85 in the rest of Latin America.  Franchise fees start at $29,700 in Latin America, with a total initial investment between $5,000 and $10,000.

There are also many opportunities for those wanting to spend more family time--or for those who want to work with their family in a business together. Stay at home Mom? There are options in franchising there too.  Whatever the scenario, as my friend Jim Amos recently said on the radio, "if every franchisee had the money to hire just one employee there would be NO unemployment in the U.S."  Chew over that!!