People in the franchising industry, know that franchises are locally owned and independently operated businesses. It is natural that franchise owners are really good about showing communities that they care. They wholeheartedly support their community by setting out to be successful. By Dawn Abbamondi
A tale of franchising and love
Franchising… what’s not to love?
People in the franchising industry, know that franchises are locally owned and independently operated businesses. It is natural that franchise owners are really good about showing communities that they care. They wholeheartedly support their community by setting out to be successful.
- They seek to recruit, hire and retain local employees.
- They contribute to local organizations with charitable donations.
- They add to the local tax base making communities stronger.
What’s even more amazing, is the universal nature of this. Local support doesn’t just apply to any one category in the industry.
From restaurants to retail and fitness centers to personal care spas, franchise owners give back. They rely on the community for customers, from the new person who walks through their door to the most loyal, everyday visitors.
Service based operations are no different – even if the franchise owner may be able to work from home. The auto center down the road repairs and maintains their vehicles and the professional advisor provides critical bookkeeping, accounting and financial support to keep the business in operation.
Franchisees need their local community, and the local community needs their franchisees… and franchisors need franchisees.
Franchise founders, the people behind the brand, also believe in this local community relationship. Having created a business that initially served their neighboring area, they were probably asked repeatedly:
- When will you come to my area?
- Why aren’t you operating in my town?
Or, even better:
- Can I become an owner in your brand?
So, they decided to franchise the concept.
This gave the brand the opportunity to reach further away from their home town.
Caring about the success and profitability of these local owners, the franchisor trains, guides and coaches them. They teach franchisees the best practices, tools of the trade and how to (also) give back to their community.
This February, we ask everyone to show a little love to your local franchises.
- Buy a coffee from the shop on the way to work.
- Grab lunch with some colleagues at the spot in town.
- Have a drink or dinner with your family and friends.
- Hire the painter to redo your living room.
- Schedule a consultation with the kitchen remodeling contractor.
- Work with a landscaper to plan out the garden and decide if you’re ready for a pool.
In return… they will buy tickets to the play at the high school. They will hire teens for their first summer job and train them on hospitality and a customer-centric mindset that will stick with them forever. They will make sure mom and dad have a safe and secure preschool where their children can be kids and learn while they have some fun. The teachers will buy coffee, get their hair cut and go out after work – all in the very same community.
Thus, bringing it all back and completing the circle.
Franchisors + Franchise Owners + Local Communities = The Heart of Franchising
Dawn Abbamondi
Dawn Abbamondi, chief marketing officer at SMB Franchise Advisors, has over 20 years of extensive franchising experience in the coffee, food, convenience, gift and floral industries. Abbamondi leads the areas of marketing, social media, public relations, web development and lead generation. SMBFranchising.com, 215-370-7998, Dawn@SMBFranchising.com