The Global Franchise Podcast

Why online brand reputation is vital, with Sally Facinelli, CFE

In a year that has seen consumers gravitate towards the digital space more than ever before, the state of a franchise’s online presence could make or break their chances with both potential customers and entrepreneurs looking to invest. 
Nobody knows this more than Sally Facinelli, CFE, who has worked at numerous brands and consultancies to help them bolster their front-facing assets. Currently an advisor for brand reputation management organization Consumer Fusion and chief visionary officer at Fresh Advisors, she has seen firsthand the highs and lows of really nailing, or squandering, your digital storefront.
In this episode of the podcast, we hear all about the specific audiences that you should be catering to online, and why it’s time to “look at your competitors as co-conspirators”. 
To keep your finger on the beating pulse of franchising, sign up to our newsletter at globalfranchisemagazine.com, subscribe to our definitive magazine, and join the conversation with our experts today on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Understanding the strength of German franchising, with Matthias Lehner and Kai Enders of the German Franchise Association

If you’re a climate-conscious franchise with a firm understanding of European labor laws, then Germany might just be the perfect market for you. At least, that’s what Kai Enders and Matthias Lehner think; with both having lived and breathed the German market for decades, through their respective roles at Bodystreet and Engel & Völkers, as well as their time working for the German Franchise Association. 
On this episode, we speak with Kai and Matthias about how the fitness and real estate industries have fared in Germany this year, as well as the highs and lows of franchising within the region. Hear about why Kai believes the real estate sector has been a “lucky winner” throughout 2020, while Matthias explains how the pandemic represents a “drama in three acts”. 
To keep your finger on the beating pulse of franchising, sign up to our newsletter at globalfranchisemagazine.com, subscribe to our definitive magazine, and join the conversation with our experts today on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Making storage a lifestyle franchise, with Tim Slesinger and Nigel Dawson of easyStorage

Despite being a huge, billion-dollar market in the States, the self-storage industry has struggled to garner franchising appeal in the U.K. That’s largely been thanks to extortionate fees and a general perception that storage is a one-off ‘events business’, rather than a lifestyle option. 
easyStorage, one of the latest brands under the easy umbrella, popularized by the likes of easyJet, is here to change that. On this episode, founder Tim Slesinger and franchise director Nigel Dawson unpack how the concept has grown since its 2017 conception, and is now on a path to reinvent what we know as self-storage into something that’s approachable, affordable, and ideal for franchise investment. 
To keep your finger on the beating pulse of franchising, sign up to our newsletter at globalfranchisemagazine.com, subscribe to our definitive magazine, and join the conversation with our experts today on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
This episode of the Global Franchise podcast is brought to you by franchisereorg.com, powered by Summa Franchise Consulting and Akerman LLP., providing consulting and reorganization services to franchisors.

The four pillars of building a pizza franchise legacy, with Regina Borda of Pizza Hut

With a powerful brand legacy spanning over 60 years, Pizza Hut is certainly no stranger to evolving and adapting to suit the current times. That said, even the global pizza phenomenon couldn’t have guessed what 2020 would hold. Thankfully, though, its four key pillars of being the easiest, fastest, tastiest, and safest pizza brand have helped it to stay on course during turbulent times.
On this episode, we speak with Regina Borda, managing director of Pizza Hut Europe and Canada, about why brand relevancy should be at a franchise’s forefront, how adaptation shouldn’t override consistency, and what the acceleration of digital and eCommerce means for the world of pizza.
To keep your finger on the beating pulse of franchising, sign up to our newsletter at globalfranchisemagazine.com, subscribe to our definitive magazine, and join the conversation with our experts today on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
This episode of the Global Franchise podcast is brought to you by franchisereorg.com, powered by Summa Franchise Consulting and Akerman LLP., providing consulting and reorganization services to franchisors.

Taking your franchise brand to Thailand, with Kavin Kattiboonya of Kavin Intertrade Co.

The international franchise landscape may seem like it focuses primarily on the West, but it’s important to remember that the entire globe is brimming with excitement and opportunities for savvy investors. 
On this episode, we speak with Kavin Kattiboonya about the unique possibilities presented by the Thai franchise market, and why some of the world’s biggest brands have flocked to the country for decades in search of sustainable success. 
To keep your finger on the beating pulse of franchising, sign up to our newsletter at globalfranchisemagazine.com, subscribe to our definitive magazine, and join the conversation with our experts today on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
This episode of the Global Franchise podcast is brought to you by franchisereorg.com, powered by Summa Franchise Consulting and Akerman LLP., providing consulting and reorganization services to franchisors.

How cost-optimization can be a lifesaver for franchises, with Arnd Halbach of Expense Reduction Analysts

In a time when every business is looking at ways to save money, Expense Reduction Analysts and its cost-optimization concept has never felt so relevant. Not only has the white collar franchise been able to assist its clients in managing expenses during the pandemic, but ERA’s own network has been able to continue working just as effectively as ever with remote solutions established years prior.
On this episode, we speak with Arnd Halbach, chief sales officer, EMEA, about the infallible appeal of the brand during tough times, ERA’s new Italian franchisees brought on-board during the country’s most turbulent months, and why cost optimization never goes out of style.
To keep your finger on the beating pulse of franchising, sign up to our newsletter at globalfranchisemagazine.com, subscribe to our definitive magazine, and join the conversation with our experts today on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
This episode of the Global Franchise podcast is brought to you by franchisereorg.com, powered by Summa Franchise Consulting and Akerman LLP., providing consulting and reorganization services to franchisors.

How to lead a franchise with integrity, with Catherine Monson of FASTSIGNS

How do you guide over 700 franchise locations around the world through a global pandemic, while working with Congress to advocate for the rights of franchisees, and manage to achieve some of the best figures a brand has ever seen – all at the same time? Ask Catherine Monson, CEO of FASTSIGNS and chairwoman of the IFA, who hasn’t missed a beat in dealing with one of the toughest years in recent memory. 
On this episode, we speak with Catherine about her storied career and the numerous awards acquired along the way, as well as some of the key tenets that have allowed her to prosper as a leader in times of trouble. 
To keep your finger on the beating pulse of franchising, sign up to our newsletter at globalfranchisemagazine.com, subscribe to our definitive magazine, and join the conversation with our experts today on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
This episode of the Global Franchise podcast is brought to you by franchisereorg.com, powered by Summa Franchise Consulting and Akerman LLP., providing consulting and reorganization services to franchisors.

The changing face of healthcare franchising, with J.J. Sorrenti of Best Life Brands

Healthcare has arguably been the defining industry of 2020, with the safety and wellbeing of our families and ourselves during the pandemic at the forefront of almost everything we do. That’s why organizations like Best Life Brands are so crucial, and why its four franchise brands have experienced nothing but growth in a year of economic instability. 
On this episode of the podcast, we speak with CEO J.J. Sorrenti about how the parent company has been pivoting to provide a full 360-degree franchise offering during these trying times, and how its varied franchise concepts have managed to assist one another when confronted by unprecedented challenge.
To keep your finger on the beating pulse of franchising, sign up to our newsletter at globalfranchisemagazine.com, subscribe to our definitive magazine, and join the conversation with our experts today on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
This episode of the Global Franchise podcast is brought to you by franchisereorg.com, powered by Summa Franchise Consulting and Alexius Solutions, providing consulting and reorganization services to franchisors.

How franchising can give back in a big way, with Shannon Wilburn of Just Between Friends

How does a small consignment sale in somebody’s home that brings in around $2,000 evolve into a vast franchise network that recently surpassed $28m in charitable donations? This is the journey of Shannon Wilburn and Just Between Friends; the retail events franchise that has expanded across the U.S. into a collaborative family of empathetic franchisees. 
In this episode, we speak with Shannon about how she grew the brand from a home-based sale to a 160-plus network of franchisees, as well as the key milestones and achievements that have defined this benevolent brand. 
To keep your finger on the beating pulse of franchising, sign up to our newsletter at globalfranchisemagazine.com, subscribe to our definitive magazine, and join the conversation with our experts today on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
This episode of the Global Franchise podcast is brought to you by franchisereorg.com, powered by Summa Franchise Consulting and Alexius Solutions, providing consulting and reorganization services to franchisors.

How brand experience will define the franchise world in 2021, with Justin Mink of Scorpion

With the ongoing pandemic showing no signs of suddenly vanishing overnight, franchise brands need to be continuously adapting and evolving in order to keep up with consumer expectations and business growth hurdles. 
Justin Mink, senior vice president of franchise growth at marketing specialist Scorpion, knows this all too well, having worked with hundreds of brands to make sure they deliver on brand experience to both consumers, but also prospective entrepreneurs looking to join only the best franchise networks.
On this episode, we speak with Justin about the current state of the franchise industry, why highlighting brand values is so important, and why franchises need to start looking “beyond the five minutes ahead of them”. 
To keep your finger on the beating pulse of franchising, sign up to our newsletter at globalfranchisemagazine.com, subscribe to our definitive magazine, and join the conversation with our experts today on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
This episode of the Global Franchise podcast is brought to you by franchisereorg.com, powered by Summa Franchise Consulting and Alexius Solutions, providing consulting and reorganization services to franchisors.