The Global Franchise Podcast

How empathy can solve franchising’s biggest challenge in 2022, with Stephen Hemsley of Franchise Brands

It’s a brand-new year, filled with possibility and opportunity. But in order to make the most of 2022, franchisors will need to utilize every skill they picked up throughout the previous few in order to make the most of the months ahead.  
For Stephen Hemsley, co-founder of Franchise Brands, that means practicing empathy and ensuring that product and service are always kept at the forefront of the customer experience. But how do you translate this idea across industries, or solve the post-pandemic issues being felt across the entire franchising world?  
Tune in to find out, and learn more about the key leadership principles that Stephen has accrued after multiple decades at the corporate level.  
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This episode of the Global Franchise Podcast is brought to you by Neighborly, the leader in home services franchising. Neighborly is the world's largest home services franchisor with 29 brands and nearly 5,000 franchises collectively serving more than 10 million customers in nine countries; with opportunities focused on repairing, maintaining, and enhancing homes and businesses.  
Visit https://franchise.neighborlybrands.com to learn more about the group’s franchise opportunities. 

The two essential skills for all franchise leaders, with Steve White of PuroClean

It can be easy to get lost amidst all of the noise when you’re at the top, but the best franchise leaders don’t ignore the details. For Steve White, president and COO of PuroClean, this means speaking personally with each and every new member of his team; from franchise owners, to support staff.  
Having been in the industry for 35 years, Steve knows a thing or two about franchising. He initially made the transition back in 1986 after serving with the United States Army, and soon learned that much of what he picked up in his military career could be useful elsewhere. On this platform, he’s managed to build a strong set of leadership principles that guide him today.  
If you’re looking for a masterclass in how to serve your franchisees and customers with integrity, then look no further. 
To keep your finger on the beating pulse of franchising, sign up for our newsletter at global-franchise.com, subscribe to our definitive magazine, and join the conversation with our experts today on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
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This episode of the Global Franchise Podcast is brought to you by Expense Reduction Analysts, delivering cost-optimization solutions to help international businesses survive and thrive. For more information, visit expensereduction.com. 

Experiential dining versus off-premise success, with Kristen Briede of P.F. Chang’s China Bistro Inc.

Like many of its competitors in the restaurant franchising space, P.F. Chang’s has had something of a shift this year with a push for its brand-new To Go locations, alongside self-delivery across its North American portfolio. This is somewhat at odds with the brand’s flagship Las Vegas site that promises “theatre on a plate”, but regardless, the off-premise pivot has led to increased growth across its domestic and international sites.  
To get more of an idea of what the future holds for P.F. Chang’s, we wanted to catch up with Kristen Briede, vice president of international & global brands. Kristen has been with the organization for over 16 years, which makes her the perfect person to speak to about P.F. Chang’s development over the past few years, and its ambitious plans for the future. 
To keep your finger on the beating pulse of franchising, sign up for our newsletter at global-franchise.com, subscribe to our definitive magazine, and join the conversation with our experts today on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
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This episode of the Global Franchise Podcast is brought to you by Expense Reduction Analysts, delivering cost-optimization solutions to help international businesses survive and thrive. For more information, visit expensereduction.com. 

How fitness franchising is rebranding in 2022, with Andy Peat and Rose Minar of Lift Brands

The fitness industry has had a rollercoaster for 18 months, with many operations having to close their doors during the pandemic. But now that things are gradually returning to normal, the in-person workout experience is gaining traction more so than ever before.  
That being said, it’s reported that 80 per cent of North Americans still don’t belong to a gym. Well, Snap Fitness, the premium fitness franchisor under the Lift Brands banner, is looking to change that. Earlier this year, the brand announced a complete remodeling of its existing locations, and something of an identity change. This included a new website, logo, and pivot that put the focus on how people feel, as opposed to their physical appearance.  
But has this rebrand panned out? To find out more, we caught up with two of Lift Brands’ heavy hitters: Andy Peat, chief product officer, and Rose Minar, chief marketing officer. Join us as we run down the past few months of Snap Fitness’ evolution, and what the brand could look like as we move into 2022. 
To keep your finger on the beating pulse of franchising, sign up for our newsletter at global-franchise.com, subscribe to our definitive magazine, and join the conversation with our experts today on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
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This episode of the Global Franchise Podcast is brought to you by Expense Reduction Analysts, delivering cost-optimization solutions to help international business survive and thrive. For more information, visit expensereduction.com.  

The definitive guide to franchise data strategy, with Gabriella Ferrara of Scorpion

Data strategy can feel like a nebulous term to some business development professionals, but the fact is that franchise brands can no longer neglect this area in favour of something that’s perceived as more tangible.  
Information is power, and when it comes to tracking how your customers, prospective franchisees, and entire franchise network operate, harnessing data is one of the most powerful tools in your arsenal.  
Organizations like Scorpion work with their clients to utilize data in an efficient and effective manner. But this is an area that’s always subject to change, so it’s important to stay updated on best practices and strategic essentials. That’s why we caught up with Gabriella Ferrara, who is the vice president of strategic marketing at Scorpion.  
So if you’ve ever wondered whether franchisees need to be involved in planning a brand’s data strategy, or perhaps the fundamental ways in which brands sometimes underutilize data, make sure to tune in for our data-centric conversation. 
To keep your finger on the beating pulse of franchising, sign up for our newsletter at global-franchise.com, subscribe to our definitive magazine, and join the conversation with our experts today on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
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This episode of the Global Franchise Podcast is powered by Scorpion. For more information, visit scorpion.co/franchises

How basketball can help franchisors land a slam dunk, with James Worthy, NBA All-Star

The world of franchising often attracts experts and leaders from industries outside of its close-knit communities, such as NBA All-Star James Worthy and his recent partnership with business collaboration franchise, M3Linked.  
Following a wildly successful career in the NBA, James is now primarily known for his work as a sports commentator and analyst at Spectrum SportsNet – but he’s not finished with learning. By engaging with M3Linked’s Los Angeles community, he’s able to collaborate and learn from business leaders that bring alternative perspectives.  
It’s this sense of community and teamwork that really defines the franchise model, which is why we wanted to catch up with James to talk about his new partnership with the franchise, the lessons he’s learned from the NBA and the advice that he’d give to business leaders who want to make 2022 their most rewarding yet. 
To keep your finger on the beating pulse of franchising, sign up for our newsletter at global-franchise.com, subscribe to our definitive magazine, and join the conversation with our experts today on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
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This episode of the Global Franchise Podcast is brought to you by Expense Reduction Analysts, delivering cost-optimization solutions to help international businesses survive and thrive. For more information, visit expensereduction.com. 

How this Californian superfood built a QSR empire, with Jason Mazzarone of SoBol

Healthy eating is a trend in the QSR industry that’s been undeniably strong in recent months, with consumers looking to dine at brands that are as good for their bodies as their wallets. One such concept that has seen continuous growth in this space is SoBol, the acai bowl and smoothie franchise founded by Jason Mazzarone back in 2014.  
Jason first came across acai berries when he was studying in Southern California, and realized that this popular, healthy snack wasn’t available back home in New York. With a family history of entrepreneurialism, Jason decided to launch his own restaurant concept – and the rest is history.  
Join us as we sit down with Jason to learn more about the steady growth of SoBol, and what’s next for this undeniably popular QSR darling. 
To keep your finger on the beating pulse of franchising, sign up for our newsletter at global-franchise.com, subscribe to our definitive magazine, and join the conversation with our experts today on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
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This episode of the Global Franchise Podcast is brought to you by Kare Plus Franchising, a market leader in healthcare and homecare staffing solutions across the U.K., Europe and Middle East. With master franchisor and multi-unit territory opportunities available, Kare Plus has been built to be sustainable, adaptable, durable and profitable within an ever-evolving industry. For more information visit www.kareplus.com 

How franchises can evolve beyond the third-party cookie, with Shawn Olds of boodleAI

Data, predictive analytics, and AI are tech-heavy terms that even the most technophobic entrepreneur simply can’t afford to ignore anymore. The future of marketing is in the cloud, and the brands that get on board with this idea first will be the true frontrunners of tomorrow.  
As such, organizations like boodleAI have been in fierce demand recently thanks to their powerful tools that turn customer data into actionable impact. boodleAI’s founders France Hoang and Shawn Olds initially founded the company to assist the non-profit space in finding more donors for worthy causes, but soon recognized the power of their AI platform. Today, they work with franchise brands, too, in order to assist them boost their customer base and grow their brand.  
But as insiders may know, the world of digital marketing and AI is changing in a big way. Google’s announcement that it would phase-out third-party cookies as of 2022 has marketers scrambling to catch up. To understand how this shift will impact business owners and franchise professionals alike, we sat down with Shawn Olds to talk all things artificial intelligence. 
To keep your finger on the beating pulse of franchising, sign up for our newsletter at global-franchise.com, subscribe to our definitive magazine, and join the conversation with our experts today on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
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This episode of the Global Franchise Podcast is brought to you by Kare Plus Franchising, a market leader in healthcare and homecare staffing solutions across the U.K., Europe and Middle East. With master franchisor and multi-unit territory opportunities available, Kare Plus has been built to be sustainable, adaptable, durable and profitable within an ever-evolving industry. For more information visit www.kareplus.com 

How to reinvent experiential franchising, with David McKillips of CEC Entertainment

Experiential businesses are increasingly popular among today’s consumers, with everybody from families to couples to friend groups wanting to spend their money on something bigger than a product or meal. But this is a sector that has been around for decades, and perhaps no brand in the space is more recognizable than Chuck E. Cheese.  
Founded in 1977, Chuck E. Cheese has made a name for itself with its expansive entertainment venues where families can enjoy a pizza party and play arcade games to their heart’s content. But despite its American roots, Chuck E. Cheese is now embarking on international franchise growth with its first European site being announced earlier this year.  
To learn more about the ongoing growth and development of this iconic U.S. staple, we caught up with David McKillips, CEO of CEC Entertainment, the parent company of both Chuck E. Cheese and Peter Piper Pizza. Having worked at huge brands like SeaWorld and Six Flags, McKillips has been able to utilize his experience and knowledge when helming the ongoing growth of Chuck E. Cheese. 
To keep your finger on the beating pulse of franchising, sign up for our newsletter at https://www.globalfranchisemagazine.com/, subscribe to our definitive magazine, and join the conversation with our experts today on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
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This episode of the Global Franchise Podcast is brought to you by Kare Plus Franchising, a market leader in healthcare and homecare staffing solutions across the U.K., Europe and Middle East. With master franchisor and multi-unit territory opportunities available, Kare Plus has been built to be sustainable, adaptable, durable and profitable within an ever-evolving industry. For more information visit www.kareplus.com 

A comprehensive guide to Indian QSR franchising, with Dheeraj Gupta of Jumboking

The Indian franchising scene is one of the most fervent in the world, but it’s sometimes overlooked by western entrepreneurs in favour of markets a little closer to home. That would be a mistake, however, as you’d miss out on the opportunity presented by brands like Jumboking: one of India’s largest homegrown brands providing vegetarian burgers.  
Jumboking’s founder, Dheeraj Gupta, has been a strong proponent of the franchising model since he fully embraced it back in 2011. The Jumboking story goes back further than then, however, with the first unit opening at a Mumbai train station over 20 years ago. 
It hasn’t been plain sailing, though. Over the 20 years of growth for the brand, Dheeraj has taken operations from franchisee-only, to corporate-owned, and then back to franchisees. To find out what invaluable lessons he’s learned about franchising along the way, make sure not to miss this episode with one of India’s leading industry professionals.  
To keep your finger on the beating pulse of franchising, sign up for our newsletter at https://www.globalfranchisemagazine.com/, subscribe to our definitive magazine, and join the conversation with our experts today on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
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This episode of the Global Franchise Podcast is brought to you by Kare Plus Franchising, a market leader in healthcare and homecare staffing solutions across the U.K., Europe and Middle East. With master franchisor and multi-unit territory opportunities available, Kare Plus has been built to be sustainable, adaptable, durable and profitable within an ever-evolving industry. For more information visit www.kareplus.com