The pandemic has taught us many lessons. For franchisors, the lessons have come in the form of improved business models and a greater appreciation for the structure of a franchise system. As businesses reopen, many brands are coming out even stronger. Here, three franchise leaders remark on what they have learned for the long term.
People take priority
“We put people first. Through the crisis, we made sure to take care of the needs of our franchisees, employees, and customers—and that meant adhereing to social distancing regulations. COVID-19 will be a blip on the radar compared to the length of a franchisee agreement and it’s important to be supportive and empathetic. With our franchisee relief program, we deferred royalties and monthly fees so our franchise partners could have the best chance to weather the storm.”
Michael Browning, Founder/CEO Urban Air Adventure Parks
There is strength in numbers
“In times of crisis, communities rally. With service as one of our core values, we have a culture of giving. We were thrilled to make a difference in local communities during the crisis with franchisees donating masks to first responders and offering no-cost moves to victims of domestic violence.”
Nick Friedman, Co-Founder/College Hunks Hauling Junk
Collaboration is key
“We rely on feedback from franchisees to best serve our customers. Right now, it is more important than ever to respect our customers’ property and preferences.”
Mike Hopkins, COO/Paul Davis Restoration