Get to know experts in the Canadian franchising community! Season 1 of the Franchise Canada Chats… podcast features franchisors, franchisees, and leaders in the industry. Check back every week for the latest episode and subscribe today!
Canadian Franchise Association
After 17 years working in IT, Sohail Iqbal felt the urge to start his own business. He considered the food industry, but first consulted friends who also had their own businesses. He landed on The UPS Store as the right choice and has since grown his franchise empire to over six locations. Guest host Angelee Brown of FranOvation joins Franchise Canada Chats as we sit down with Sohail to discuss: -How he consulted friends and family in order to find his ideal business opportunity; -How franchising allowed him to automate systems between locations; -The technology he leverages on a day-to-day basis for his business; -The challenge of learning new systems while teaching new employees.
Franchise Canada Chats is proud to welcome the CFA's 2024 Franchisees of the Year, Alicia Baker and Candice Parent. The franchisee of the year award recognizes top performing franchisees who build strong connections with their communities. Alicia Baker started as the sole employee of DermaEnvy Skincare's Halifax location before opening her own location in St. John's at just 21 years old. This year, she won the Franchisee of the Year award in the brick-and-mortar category. Where many join with years of working experience and working capital, Alicia's previous part-time employment provided the pipeline to small business ownership. Candice returns to Franchise Canada Chats as the Franchisee of the Year in the home- and mobile-based category. After taking over the Windsor MOLLY MAID Canada franchise in January 2022, she grew the revenue by 47 per cent. The next year she continued that growth, exceeding the company average in both years.
Welcome back to Franchise Canada Chats. Today's guest is Anita Mushitsi, a multi-unit franchisee with British Swim School. Anita got involved in the aquatics industry following a near-drowning incident in her family. She began to take pool safety seriously—seriously enough to invest in a franchise. So, on this episode, we're going to take a deep dive into the aquatics franchising industry.
This episode's guest is Ken Regular, a franchisee with The UPS Store. He came to franchising after two decades as a journalist where he met criminals, celebrities, politicians, artists, and business leaders. During one interview the CEO of a multinational company told him, “The most honest people I know are in business because you can't strike a deal with someone you don't trust.” As a skeptical reporter, Ken found the statement difficult to believe but the words stuck in his mind. As his media career grew, so did his interest in business. Juggling family life and their employers' demands during COVID-19, Ken and his partner Vicky decided it was time to make a move. They opened The UPS Store in Brooklin, Ontario in the middle of a pandemic lockdown. Now more than three years later, their business is growing as they build relationships and trust with their clients. In addition to running their business, Ken is a board director with the Whitby Chamber of Commerce, and Vicky serves on The UPS Store's Franchise Advisory Council.
Welcome back to Franchise Canada Chats. This episode's guests are Adam Janke and Christian Johannsen. Adam is the master franchisee of Foot Solutions, a foot care specialist franchise that designs custom orthotics and provides service addressing the foundation of customers' health. Christian Johannsen is a franchisee for Foot Solutions based in British Columbia. We're excited to discuss the benefits of the healthcare industry in franchising (especially when it comes to foot care), why absentee and semi-absentee franchising isn't always the right choice, and how they stay on the cutting edge of technology as a legacy brand.
Welcome back to Franchise Canada Chats. Today's guests is Alicia Armstrong, who, with her husband Mark, is a franchisee with Fully Promoted in Belleville and Peterborough. The brand provides product customization, embroidery, and screen-printing services. "Whatever you can put your name on, we can help with," says Alicia. She brings her expertise to creating branding and products for local sports teams, trades groups, and artists, and we're pleased to have her on today's episode.
Welcome back to Franchise Canada Chats. Today's guest is Jason O'Connor, a regional franchisee with JDI Cleaning. He currently owns and operates two territories, in the Hamilton-Burlington and Niagara areas. He came to franchising from the world of real estate with a specific focus on working with investors.
“This is the worst version of AI you're going to see,” says Robert Mitchell on the future improvements of digital intelligence and language learning models. "Six months from now, it'll be blowing you away." Mitchell is the chief AI officer for WSI Digital Marketing, which is adding artificial intelligence performance tools to their digital solutions toolbox. On this episode of Franchise Canada Chats, looking into how WSI deploys AI resources in its consulting, how it tracks its franchisees' success, and more upcoming tech trends for the franchise industry!
If there's one thing everyone agrees on, it's that something will always need to be cleaned. Today's guests are from Anago Cleaning Systems. Adam Povlitz, CEO, and Rafiq Punjani, the master franchisee of Manitoba for Anago Cleaning Systems, discuss putting a novel spin on the cleaning industry through unit mastery, increasing technology, and bringing client satisfaction to an underacknowledged sector.
Pizza Nova has long been a mainstay of Canada's food and franchise landscapes and it's thanks to people like today's guest, franchisee Tracy Tran. Tracy joins the podcast today with Pizza Nova's president Domenic Primucci to talk about: -The history of the brand; -Maintaining a family culture through immense growth; -And how the brand is using technology to meet customers' needs.
Franchise Canada Chats is thrilled to welcome the Gold winners of the CFA's 2023 Franchisees of the Year award. Annalisa Cilla of Scholars Education and Brad Wheeler of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Canada reflect on the insights and experiences that led to their success. On this episode, we discuss: -Using policy and procedures to ensure uniformity across franchise locations; -Leveraging business ownership to provide opportunities to community members; -Taking pride in success and winning Franchisee of the Year; -and so much more!
Today we're joined by Ellena Francey, of Mr. Appliance of Newmarket and Barrie and Katharine Leaman of Glass Doctor of Durham region. Ellena made the jump from a career in print media into her Mr. Appliance franchise, while a recession raged on. Katharine embarked on her entrepreneurial journey in the spring of 2021 after a varied career with stints as a nurse and as a ballerina. Tune in to hear more about their journeys into franchising and their strategies and advice for other women in franchising. On this episode of Franchise Canada Chats, we discuss: -The benefits of working with a franchise broker in the due diligence process; -Removing the barrier toward women in leadership in franchising; -Strategies for women entrepreneurs considering franchising as a career path; -And so much more!
Matt Hickman was the owner of a water treatment services company, Kean's Pump Shop, in St. John's before joining the Neighbourly family as a multi-brand owner. As a former business owner, the jump to franchising seemed counterintuitive, but in trying to pivot his existing HVAC business, he found the appeal in partnering with "an ethical company." "They had something I didn't: they had a system that was replicable and scalable," he says. "And that's what sold me on it, the fact that they were delivering value." In spite of not being a "trades guy," Hickman found success in the industry by leveraging his financial skills.
In our special miniseries with Neighbourly, we feature some of the franchise professionals behind their family of brands. Jeff Palla joined Neighbourly with more than 25 years of senior operations leadership experience as a franchise owner and leader in the hospitality industry. Jeff previously held leadership roles in the hotel industry where he played an integral role in the launch of franchise programs. On this episode of Franchise Canada Chats, we discuss: -The security of having a well-vetted handyman in clients' homes; -Benefits of Neighbourly's complementary businesses; -Retirement not being all that it's cracked up to be; -And so much more!
The majority of Jalal Mir's working life has been dedicated to paws and claws. In Iran, he became a vet and he was in the wholesale business, importing high-quality pet care goods and overseeing a team of more than 100 employees. After immigrating to Canada, he brought that level of understanding to Pet Valu, being on the sales floor, rather than being “one man in a room with a laptop.” The Richmond Hill, Ontario-based franchisee opened his location 11 months ago and is already looking to expand to multiple units. On this episode of Franchise Canada Chats, we discuss: -Balancing novelty, risk, and trustworthiness in the retail franchise industry; -Creating trust when handling customers' loved ones; -Standing out in the booming pet care industry; -And so much more!
Today's guest on Franchise Canada Chats is B-Protek's Brian Lemon, based out of Winnipeg. After a 34-year career as a government relations specialist in the agriculture industry, he decided to retire and go into business for himself. "The idea of being a franchisee, you're still a private entrepreneur but it brings with it all these other supports," says Lemon. He breaks down his franchise search on this episode of Franchise Canada Chats. We also discuss:
"We always knew we wanted to do this on a large scale,” says Florence Gaven Rossavik of Fuzz Wax Bar. Since co-founding the company in 2012, she's ventured on to seal her commitment to waxing as the brand grows. “We thought about franchising from the get-go, because it's obviously a way to grow a bit faster,” says Rossavik. That growth relies on multi-unit franchisees like Dawn Flowers, who heads three locations across Ontario and B.C., and is the owner of the company's top-performing location. Florence and Dawn join us on Franchise Canada Chats to discuss: -How the corporate and franchise landscape changed for women in the industry in the last 10 years; -How the tiered membership base model benefits clients and franchisees; -Being open to new revenue streams while remaining clear and consistent with the brand's focus.
In this episode, guest host Gary Prenevost from FranNet chats with Jordan Levine, chief operating officer for Sola Salons, and Larry Lloyd, a Whitby, Ontario-based franchisee. Sola Salons is a real estate rental concept for cosmetologists and other care providers. The brand recently expanded into Canada and Lloyd is only the fifth franchisee for the brand in the country. Jordan and Larry join Franchise Canada Chats discuss creating passion in franchising, protecting the brand's culture, and the interdependence between franchisees and franchisors. You can expect these key takeaways from this episode: -The unforeseen benefit of opening multiple units in similar locations; -Attracting interest from high-quality leads in prospective franchisees; -How culture is the driver that sets a brand apart, even with a brand with strong offerings; -And so much more!
Candice Parent joins us on Franchise Canada Chats to discuss how she took over her MOLLY MAID franchise in Windsor: with a lot of research, a lot of conversations with franchisors and with family members, and while applying her 20 years of teaching experience to creating a culture within her team. Now she manages a team of 12 loyal and committed cleaners while meeting and growing her client base. You can expect these key takeaways from this episode: -Why demographics and knowing your territory is important for growth; -Teachers have soft skills that are perfect for franchising; -Imparting a wellness policy to protect staff members' free times and generating ideas in the downtime; -and much more!
Jon Martin says he fell into franchising with both feet. About 20 years ago, he decided to expand his mother's health care business as a franchise model, building 50 locations over 15 years before deciding to seek out a new venture. He wanted something new, something lucrative, and something he could feel passionate about. Maverick's Donuts was just the answer. With his years of franchise development under his belt, Jon now plays double-duty, perfecting the company's franchise system and managing four locations in the Ottawa area. On this episode of Franchise Canada Chats, Jon Martin discusses the knead-to-knows about the donut business, including: -Refining the flavours and the concept to build a better brand system; -Developing connections with local organizations to engage the community; -Using online SEO to capture new attention; -Franchising to improve quality of life; -and so much more!
Steven Vanloffeld was elected to his First Nation's Council in 2016. “I looked at our government, our First Nation, and what our revenues and expenditures were, and where that revenue was going,” he says. Instead of having revenue go to outside communities and business, he challenged the big-box systems to keep revenue in the hands of Indigenous communities. eSupply was born from this thought. Vanloffeld wrote a business plan and launched it in February 2020. Today, Vanloffeld is on the precipice of signing eSupply's first franchisee. Moreover, he's created an Indigenous community ownership model to stop the “economic leakage” and support community enhancement and development, on top of the opportunity available to everyday Canadians. Vanloffeld joins us on Franchise Canada Chats to discuss: -Reducing capital and storage costs to save value -Addressing economic leakage in Canada's 50,000 Indigenous communities -Removing barriers for marginalized people communities to enter franchising -And so much more!
Juan Arboleda and Paola Montoya's first interaction with JDI Cleaning was through covering a couple of cleaning jobs. The local franchisee was so impressed by their work ethic that he offered them a franchise. They took that and ran with it, growing into multi-unit owners over the 20 years they've been with the company. In their tenure, they've increased sales in their Milton, Brampton, and North Halton region by 300 per cent, including making the jump from franchisee to franchisor. Within the last six months, their son Simon began assisting them on cleaning jobs, making it a true family franchise. Juan and Paola join us on Franchise Canada Chats to discuss: - JDI franchises are in the communication business, not just the cleaning business; - Engaging with cultural changes in a new country and how onboarding new Canadians reflects the franchisor/franchisee relationship; -Splitting the workload and responsibility to divide and conquer, keeping family issues at home and leaving work at the office; -and so much more!
Today's guest, Steve Geddes, parlayed his combined furniture repair and sales experience into a franchise business with Fibrenew. As Geddes found through the pandemic, there'll always be a need for repairs. He took over a Kelowna-based Fibrenew location and began growing the business from a stagnant location to a top-ranking powerhouse. In moving from a technician role into an operational management role, Geddes found his life changing in more ways than one. You can expect these key takeaways from this episode: -The pros and cons of buying an existing franchise vs. a new build; -Appealing to the highly educated consumers through the brand promise; -Creating incentives and quality working environments in order to retain staff; -and so much more!
Everything was great for Jamie Berube, until it wasn't. As a Wells Fargo banker, she was front and center for the 2008 market collapse that would define her career. Furthermore, she became the mother of a child with a medical disability, navigating a medical system with no precedent. She needed a plan B, one that would recession-proof her if another market collapse ever occurred. She turned that life experience into a franchising journey through self-employment. Jamie joins us on Franchise Canada Chats to tell us how it happened. On this episode, we discuss: - Developing confidence in new leadership roles; - Knowing the value and limitations of passion in business decision-making; - Overcoming the challenges of remote work with children; - and so much more!
Franchise Canada Chats is thrilled to welcome the Gold winners of the CFA's Franchisees of the Year Award. In this episode Carolyn Genest of Days Inn by Wyndham and Sylvie Levesque of Paul Davis Restoration reflect on their introduction to franchising and the steps that led them to becoming the recipients of this year's awards!
Franchise Canada Chats is excited to welcome Michael Curran, President and CEO of Dominos Pizza of Canada, to the podcast! In this episode, guest host sponsor Kirk Allen from Reshift Media and Michael Curran discuss the Dominos' digital transformation through the years that helped lift the franchise brand to become one of the most iconic pizza brands in the world!
Season 6.5 Episode 3 - TikTok and Franchising! by Canadian Franchise Association
Franchise Canada Chats is overjoyed to welcome motivational leader and former NBA player, Walter Bond to the podcast! On this episode, guest host Kirk Allen from Reshift Media breaks down the fundamentals of franchising with Bond.
Franchise Canada Chats is excited to welcome Brian Woods, the Group Vice President of Franchise Development at Neighborly, to the podcast! In this episode, guest host sponsor Kirk Allen from Reshift Media and Brian Woods discuss the key factors that every entrepreneur must consider when deciding between franchise ownership or self-employment. Discussions of the proven development and structural model that Neighborly offers its franchisees is also discussed.
Season 6 Episode 10 | History and Evolution of Franchising: What Have We Learned? by Canadian Franchise Association
In this episode, guest host sponsor Travis Tinning from Franchise GrowthLab chats with We Wash Windows CEO, Jason Primmer, and Calgary-based franchisee, Lynden Brass. We Wash Windows has been in business since 2001, offering interior, exterior, and solar and speciality window cleaning services. Jason says he's been a member of the company for 17 years, and transitioned into the sole owner 8 years ago. Lynden owns a franchise in Calgary South, and as a 31-year-old entrepreneur and new business owner as of 2022, says that his business journey so far has been an exciting one. You can expect these key takeaways from this episode: 1. How Jason's late father-in-law inspired and mentored him in his business endeavours with the We Wash Windows brand 2. Lynden's biggest learnings as a new and young franchisee, and how he stepped into the role of franchisee after working for the business for six years prior 3. Tips and advice for how to find business success within an emerging franchise system
In this episode, guest host sponsors Patrick Wyness and Travis Tinning from Franchise GrowthLab chat with John Dobelbower, Director of Franchise Development for Neighbourly, a home services company with more than a dozen franchise brands under its umbrella. As lead developer for all Neighbourly brands, with global headquarters located in Waco, Texas, John helps prospective franchisees find the ideal fit for their lifestyle and business goals. You can expect these key takeaways from this episode: 1. How owners can scale with Neighbourly whether as multi-unit owners, by purchasing different brands under the parent company, or an exciting mixture of both 2. The ideal franchise owners for Neighbourly, and the level of support they can expect from head office 3. Some of the many benefits of being in the home service space as a budding entrepreneur For any inquiries about the Neighbourly system, John can be contacted at: john.dobelbower@nbly.com
In this BONUS episode of Franchise Canada Chats Season 6, guest host sponsor Travis Tinning from Franchise GrowthLab has an in-depth chat with Brian Leon, CEO of Choice Hotels Canada, Frank Zaid of Frank Zaid Franchise Legal Support Service, and fellow colleague Patrick Wyness, Vice President of Operational Systems at Franchise GrowthLab. This exclusive episode for CFA members is all about Franchisee Advisory Councils, and how franchise systems can get great results from establishing these vital councils for their franchisees to participate in. You can expect these key takeaways from this episode: 1. Why Franchisee Advisory Councils are so important in the successful operation of an emerging franchise system 2. How franchisors at all levels can understand how Franchisee Advisory Councils operate 3. How to run an effective Franchisee Advisory Council meeting, and much more.
Franchise Canada Chats is pleased to welcome Boston Pizza co-owner and Canadian businessman, Jim Treliving for an exciting episode about his franchise success story and so much more! In this episode, guest host sponsor John DeHart from Franchise GrowthLab sits down with Treliving to have a Leaders in Franchising chat as two successful franchisors of national franchise brands. You can expect these key takeaways from this episode: 1. Jim Treliving's Boston Pizza origin story that began back in 1968 with one restaurant in a small town in B.C., and how he transitioned from a member of the RCMP to a budding entrepreneur 2. What his Dragons' Den days taught him about what to look for in aspiring business owners 3. The importance of treating Boston Pizza franchisees like family, and his advice for how to make a successful first impression as a new investor.
In this episode, guest host Angela Coté talks to David Druker, president of The UPS Store Canada to discuss its recent successes and vast achievements as an iconic brand within the franchise community. The UPS Store Canada is a new national sponsor for the Canadian Franchise Association (CFA), and recently received the Hall of Fame Award in the CFA's 2021 Recognition Awards for its active and immersed participation with the CFA, including in mentoring, speaking events, lead generation opportunities, and David's time serving on the board of directors. As a mature franchise system that was founded in 1980 in the U.S. and arrived in Canada in 1988, The UPS Store Canada has just under 360 open/operating units, with 15 set to open throughout 2022. Brand awareness is vital to The UPS Store Canada, and its selection process to award franchises to new owners takes particular interest in finding franchisees who have the ideal traits to drive their business success. The UPS Store Canada is eager to increase brand awareness and grow the franchise system throughout the country and beyond. Here, David shares: • The history of The UPS Store and how he came to join the franchise system through a chance encounter while vacationing down south • What products and services The UPS Store Canada offers and how that's evolved and adapted throughout the decades • How The UPS Store Canada's franchising efforts have changed over the years, and what prospective franchisees and customers can always expect from this iconic brand, among much more. For more information, please visit www.theupsstore.ca.
In this episode, guest host sponsor Patrick Wyness from Franchise GrowthLab chats with Lexi Miles Corrin, founder and CEO of WAXON Laser + Waxbar, a beauty bar that specializes in hair removal for men and women. WAXON was launched launched in 2012, and currently has 13 locations across the country, with plans for further expansion this year. You can expect these key takeaways from this episode: 1. Why it's important to empower women in the franchising space 2. How WAXON pressed pause on franchising in recent years, and why right now is the perfect time to relaunch its growth plans 3. The commitment the WAXON team has to its franchise partners, as well as the support tools it provides to ensure all locations are profitable and successful
In this sponsored episode, guest host Angela Coté sits down to chat with Brad Stevenson, chief development officer for Neighbourly, a home services platform that connects customers to service professionals in their local communities. Neighbourly originated in 1981 with headquarters located in Waco, Texas and recently opened a second headquarters in Irving, Texas this past summer. There are 17 brands operating in the United States, and 13 brands in Canada including: • Aire Serv • Five Star Painting • Glass Doctor • The Grounds Guys • Mr. Appliance • Mr. Electric • Mr. Rooter • Rainbow International Restoration • Mr. Handyman • Dryer Vent Wizard • ShelfGenie • HouseMaster As chief development officer, Brads works with the Neighbourly development team consisting of nearly 80 people, and helps people get into entrepreneurship opportunities across Canada and the U.S. Brad also works with the team to understand people's lives and journeys in franchising to identify who would be a great fit as a prospective franchisee candidate with the Neighbourly brand. Listen to this episode to learn more about the Neighbourly franchise opportunity including: • What's different about Neighbourly's training platform and how the brand provides exceptional support to its franchisees • How a prospective franchisee can know if franchising is right for them, including how to find the right fit in a dynamic franchise system • How the franchise business model, and Neighbourly in particular, helps everyday people go into business for themselves by leveraging the power of a brand's collective wisdom, among much more. For more information about franchising opportunities, go to neighborly.com.
In this sponsored episode, guest host Angela Coté chats with British Swim School president Ashley Gundlach, and director of aquatics, Melissa McGarvey. British Swim School is Canada's premier "learn-to-swim" program, that offers water survival and stroke development instruction to children and adults of all ages. It offers a low investment opportunity and an easily scalable model for franchisees, who can benefit from the added bonus of joining a purpose-driven brand that provides vital life-skills within communities across the country. As the recently appointed president of British Swim School, Ashley is responsible for driving all aspects of the brand forward, and leads the home office team to help support franchisees. As director of aquatics, Melissa supports franchise owners on the aquatics program, including teaching and training, as well as offering continual support for the program itself to keep students safe and comfortable in the water. With three franchises in Canada and two more set to open in early 2022, British Swim School is eager to dive deeper into the Canadian market! Check out the episode to learn about the franchise opportunity including: • What sets the British Swim School model apart from other swim school concepts • The ideal traits and characteristics British Swim School looks for in franchisees (no, you don't need to have swimming skills!) • British Swim School's desire to help Canadians from coast to coast learn how to swim, and much more. Visit www.britishswimschool.com to learn more.
In this episode, guest host Angela Coté discusses female empowerment in franchising with Jennifer Blair, founder and co-CEO of Deka Lash, based in the U.S. and currently looking for vast expansion throughout Canada. Founded in 2011, Deka Lash is an international retail beauty company that specializes in eyelash extension services and products with the goal of making clients feel and look their best. Jennifer says she realized there was a gap within the eyelash extension market for artists that offer convenient and affordable services, and realized she could introduce a business concept that would fill the gap and attract clients like herself. And so was born a franchise concept that helps to empower and build confidence for women! Here, Jennifer shares: • How Deka Lash has achieved quick growth and opened more than 100 studios in less than five years • Why it's common for franchisees to have a woman to be the face of the brand with business support from her husband • What the response has been like from clients and franchisees, and what key traits can help new Deka Lash franchisees succeed, among much more.
In this episode, guest host Angela Coté chats with Steve Collette, co-founder and CEO of 3rd Degree Training, and Fiona Styant, director of franchise development at MOLLY MAID Canada. Here, they discuss why innovating during periods of uncertainty and changes—most notably the COVID-19 pandemic—are vital to help a franchise system survive and stay ahead of the competition. Steve and his wife Pam founded 3rd Degree Training back in 2008, with the desire to introduce a program that would offer a fitness program that could appeal to anyone and everyone. It provides group HIIT classes, personal training, small group training, weight circuits, and more for customers looking to keep fit. MOLLY MAID has dominated the maid service industry since being founded in 1979, offering consistent, reliable, and affordable cleaning services for customers, as well as an experienced support office team (including Fiona!) to help its franchisees succeed. Here, Steve and Fiona share: • How each brand has adapted its business model throughout the years to stay ahead of the competition • MOLLY MAID's new Neighbourhood Franchise Model that offers a unique franchise opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to grow • How both brands introduced innovation into the system, paying special care to those franchisees who might be uncomfortable with change, and much more.
In this episode, guest host Angela Coté sits down with WSI franchisee Taylor Russell to discuss how franchisees can search for franchise opportunities that offer them flexibility to create a healthy work-life balance as a business owner. WSI is a digital marketing franchise that works with businesses across all industries to help them connect with their customers online. Its headquarters is in Toronto, Ontario, also where Taylor is based, though her freedom as a business owner allows her to interact with clients and complete her work from anywhere in the world — which was especially important to her while choosing a franchise to invest in! Here, Taylor shares: • What advice she has for prospective franchisees about how to choose a franchise that suits their goals, passions, and lifestyle • How to differentiate yourself in the franchising industry and create a unique selling proposition (including what this is and how you can use it!) • What she's learned about creating effective work-life balance as a wife and mother, and much more.
In this episode, guest host Angela Coté examines the importance of creating a positive culture within a franchise organization with Paul Paquette, country manager for Canada, and Chad Bishop, shipping consultant and owner-operator. InXpress provides shipping solutions and savings for small and mid-sized businesses, acting as a unique concept within the shipping and logistics industry. Paul, who's based in Burlington, Ontario, shares insight into what makes InXpress an inspiring and positive franchise opportunity, and Chad dives into his success as a multi-unit franchisee with two locations in Calgary, Alberta. Here, Paul and Chad share: • The specific things that Paul does at InXpress to ensure that customers always have a positive and satisfying experience • Why Chad chose InXpress as the brand to grow his franchise businesses with • How the InXpress brand works to foster a sense of collaboration and culture within the organization, and much more.
In this episode, guest host Angela Coté discusses brain based coaching for business owners with Conny Millard, co-founder and master coach of PowerPods, and Kelly Gould, franchisee of Bark Busters in Windsor/Chatham. PowerPods is an Franchise Support Services/Supplier provider that operates with an innovative and unique neurocoaching platform for franchise systems. As master coach, Conny works to show franchisees how the power of the mind can unlock their full potential as business owners. Kelly purchased her Bark Busters franchise with a desire to help other dogs like her own to have a happier and healthier life. Here, Conny and Kelly share: • How they worked together while Kelly was starting up her franchise, and how Conny helped her to change her mindset and become a confident business leader • Conny's success stories with helping franchisees through neurocoaching to develop intrinsic success traits as business owners • The unexpected challenges that Kelly faced in her franchise career, including how she works to train not only dogs but their owners too, among much more.
In this episode, guest host Angela Coté chats with franchise specialist Grant Bullington from FranNet, which offers consulting and guidance to prospective franchisees looking to make their entrepreneurial dreams come true through franchising. Grant helps his clients through the often daunting franchise investment process by educating them about how to find the right franchise brand for their goals and lifestyle, to save time and money before becoming a business owner. Here, Grant shares: • What suggestions and advice he has for prospective franchisees while working with franchise brokers • Vital questions that prospective franchisees should ask in their franchise search, and some red flags they might miss when meeting with the franchise team • The services and support that FranNet provides to retail business owners and entrepreneurs in their franchise investment journey, among much more.
In this episode, guest host Angela Coté sits down to chat with Frank Zaid, retired franchise lawyer and head of Frank Zaid FRANlegal Support Services. Today, he uses his decades of experience as a lawyer and senior partner, combined with his exceptional knowledge, proven practicality, and reputation in the community to offer franchise legal support and advice. Since retiring from active law in 2012, Frank has harboured his unique legal and business experience in the franchising sector to offer support including mediation and arbitration, ombudsman services, advising and consulting, acting as an expert witness, and as a speaker at franchise conferences. Here, Frank shares: • The many franchise brands he's worked with and what he's learned from them • Major changes that he's witnesses within the franchising industry throughout his 40 years of franchise law experience • The numerous awards he's received from the CFA and which he's most proud of, among much more.
In this episode, guest host Angela Coté talks to Code Wiz franchisor Ruth Agbaji who shares her experience journeying from Nigeria to the U.S. and recently partnering with the Canadian parent company, Clear Summit Group, to amplify the growth and impact of the brand. Code Wiz helps students gain the programming skills needed to learn how to code, regardless of age, tech proficiency, or personal interests. The brand was established by Ruth in 2017, and provides coding and robotics classes, team-based activities, birthday parties, summer camps, and a Girl Scouts program. Here, Ruth shares: • What fuels her through the challenges that get tossed her way, including being a young, female entrepreneur who's also a wife and mom of two • What led her to making the decision to join forces with parent company Clear Summit Group and Tutor Doctor, and what that means for franchisees in the Code Wiz system • Her big vision for herself and Code Wiz, including the bold goal of reaching one billion children across the world.
In this episode, we talk to LIVE WELL Exercise Clinic CEO Sara Hodson and franchisee Michelle Dunbar who opened her Bowmanville, Ontario location in July 2020. LIVE WELL is a medical fitness clinic that specializes in providing supervised exercise and healthy lifestyle coaching for people who have chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity, and provides fitness support for those wanting to prevent them. Here, Sara and Michelle share: • Why Michelle chose LIVE WELL over other franchise opportunities and instead of starting her own business from scratch • How LIVE WELL's core values impacts Sara's ability to find franchisees aligned with the same mission • The challenging surprises (and joys!) that emerged from COVID-19 for the LIVE WELL system and for Michelle's brand new franchise that was opened in the midst of the pandemic
Season 4.5 Episode 3 | Achieving Franchise Success Amid COVID-19 by Canadian Franchise Association
In this episode, our new guest host Angela Coté of Angela Coté Inc. sits down to chat with three franchisees to celebrate and share their stories as women in the franchising industry. Angela Rollins is a Great Clips franchisee located in the Vancouver area, who operates salons in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. As the world's largest and fastest growing salon, Great Clips operates nearly 4,500 salons across North America. Shauna Browne is a MOLLY MAID franchisee with locations in Langley and East Surrey, British Columbia. MOLLY MAID has been the number one maid service company in Canada since 1979. Dr. Mahsa Shekari is a Pearle Vision franchisee with two locations in Toronto, Ontario, and is a sublease optometrist for two Target Optical locations in New Jersey. Pearle Vision is a one-stop, total eye care clinic and was founded by Dr. Stanley Pearle in 1961.
Season 4.5 Episode 1 | Franchisees in the Children's Products and Services Industry by Canadian Franchise Association
In this episode, we talk to Steve Buors, CEO of Reshift Media, a Toronto-based digital marketing company. The Canadian Franchise Association and Reshift Media have designed a three-part webinar series, Creating a Post-Pandemic Digital Growth Plan. The webinar explores how franchise systems have been impacted by the pandemic, what they've done to adapt, and what they can do to emerge with a strong plan for growth. Each part of the webinar series highlights a unique and crucial part of the COVID-19 pandemic: Day 1: How the Pandemic Changed Consumer Buying Day 2: How to Create a Winning Post-Pandemic Growth Plan Day 3: How to Find the Right Franchisees to Fuel Growth. You can register to attend the sessions that are taking place on June 8th, 9th, and 10th, from 2pm-3pm EST. For those listening after these dates, the webinars will be available to listen to at your leisure at CFA.ca.