The Franchising Model Has Shown Resilience
With so many businesses shutting their doors for good, the strength of franchising has been a game changer for small business owners. The pandemic has left many franchisors—and franchisees—feeling grateful for the structure and resilience of their systems. Here, industry leaders share the positives that have come out of the crisis and what it has meant for their brands.
Mark Jameson, EVP of Development and Support, FASTSIGNS
“We were lucky compared to many other franchisors. Because we serve essential businesses, FASTSIGNS was deemed essential as well. We cut acrylic on a regular basis, so it wasn’t hard for us to make items that were needed for social distancing such as safety shields. Our signage products, like floor decals and wall stickers, have helped businesses and schools communicate effectively to keep people safe.”
Makayla Seger, VP of Development, Naturals2Go
“We feel incredibly fortunate that our more than 700 operators could keep going through the shutdown and have been moving steadily ever since. Many of our operators use the business as a part-time income stream and have been grateful for that steady revenue.”
Matt Kelton, COO, Showhomes
“We are thankful that our franchisees have been busier than ever. The real estate market is doing well, and our services have been deemed essential. We actually have increased our marketing spend and our overall leads have gone through the roof. In franchise development, we’re seeing more high-quality, executive-level candidates who are interested in making a lifestyle change.”
