The Global Franchise Podcast

How to harness social media and reach the right audience, with Ryan Hicks of Rallio

Ever dressed up in a T-rex suit and danced to promote your brand? That’s precisely the kind of marketing that stuck in Ryan Hicks’ mind when we spoke to him about franchise social media and is the unique approach that brands should be taking when trying to distinguish themselves in a competitive, busy market. 
This approach might not work for every concept, of course, but in this episode of the Global Franchise Podcast, Ryan explains the multitude of ways in which brands should be putting themselves out there and the tools they can use to gain meaningful feedback from who matters most: their customers.
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How franchises can support their network and prepare for reopening, with Josh Wall of Urban Air Adventure Parks

While the franchise industry is still in the midst of international disruption, there is definitely a light at the end of the tunnel. Nobody knows exactly when businesses will be able to return to the normalcy they thrived on during the pre-COVID world, but for franchise brands like Urban Air Adventure Parks, there’s still plenty of work to be done – even when it comes to recruiting new franchisees.
On this episode of the Global Franchise Podcast, we speak with Josh Wall, chief franchise officer for Urban Air, about how the activity center franchise is supporting its current network during turbulent times and preparing for exciting growth once things are back up and running. Virtual discovery days have been a great success so far, and for Josh, these might be a tool that’s here to stay.
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Proactive PR during a time of crisis, with Jamie Izaks of All Points Public Relations

Although most of us are now counting down the days until lockdown rules are safely lifted, it’s clear that the return to business as normal won’t be an overnight switch. Gradual steps need to be taken to ensure the hard work of frontline workers isn’t undone, and this means that franchises should be taking the time to plot out a multi-staged approach to reopening sites and serving customers once again. 
Jamie Izaks, president of All Points Public Relations, knows this all too well. In fact, he recently published a four-part plan that directs franchisors on how they should be handling franchise development and customer engagement – from now, until a complete transition to a post-COVID world. 
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.

Aiming for the best and planning for the worst, with Sean Murphy of BDO USA

For better or worse, the current climate has exposed which brands have contingency plans when disaster strikes, and which have been caught less than prepared. The thing is, there’s never a bad time to prepare for the worst, and that includes during a global health crisis. 
Sean Murphy knows this more than anybody, having worked within the risk management industry for more than two decades. Now as the managing director of BDO USA, Sean works with businesses every day to assess the impact that something like COVID-19 might have on their brand, and prepare accordingly. This has exposed him to every kind of scenario you could imagine and has also equipped him with some expert tips for franchises that may need guidance when it comes to forward-planning. 
Feeling beaten down? Let’s not forget that a brand is often forged in the toughest of times. We talk about this, and much more, in the latest episode of the Global Franchise Podcast. 
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.

How franchises can innovate their marketing in challenging times, with Zack Fishman of Fishman PR

When the going gets tough, the tough get going, and times have rarely been tougher than now. Global closures, plummeting sales, and general upheaval are all common to anybody keeping abreast of headlines – and downright scary to the brands caught unprepared.
So how do you prepare, maintain, and even thrive in the face of adversity? For Zack Fishman, the director of innovation at Fishman Public Relations and co-host of the MODRN BUSINESS podcast, the answer can be found in the ways that franchise brands utilize PR and marketing. Not just utilize, mind you, but pinpoint with laser focus, and understand exactly who it is they’re aiming their concept at.
If you’ve never considered what the dating profile of your ideal master franchisee might look like, or think that TikTok is just the sound a clock makes, then make sure to check out this episode of the Global Franchise Podcast.
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.

Keeping calm and carrying on franchising, with Sean Goldsmith, Special Advisor to Franchising

Expert, guru, aficionado – however you put it, Sean Goldsmith lives and breathes franchising. Having worked with industry leaders such as Anytime Fitness and Shuttercraft, he’s been a part of the industry throughout previous periods of financial uncertainty and is still working with some of the biggest brands to ensure quality and delivery is maintained throughout the current turbulent times. 
This is precisely why we felt that now was the best time to catch up with Sean and talk about what he believes franchisors should be doing to stay on top when the going gets tough. COVID-19 is having an undoubtedly huge impact on businesses across the board, but there are still measures that can be taken to minimize risk and persevere. 
“At the moment, this is exactly the right time for franchisors to start thinking about marketing,” says Sean. “What I've been saying to everybody is: right now, get your strategy correct. Start marketing, start going out, reconnect with your old customers. Because when that firing gun goes off at the London Marathon, we will be two hours ahead of everybody else.”
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How I turned £200 into an international trampolining franchise, with Kimberlee Perry of ((BOUNCE))

Sometimes a difficult situation can prove the catalyst for creating something truly life-changing.
Disenfranchised with her office-based job and missing out on a promotion, Kimberlee Perry borrowed £200 and bought eight second-hand trampolines and set about turning an activity she loved into a viable business called ((BOUNCE)).
Her trampoline classes, which provide fun and energetic group dance-focused workouts, proved an instant smash hit, and the concept grew from lessons taken in Kimberlee's back garden, to hiring a local community hall, to evolving into a franchise with franchisees across the UK, as well as an international presence in Australia and New Zealand.
In this frank and honest conversation with Kimberlee, we discuss the learning on the job, leaning on others for help, growing brand momentum, the responsibilities involved with being a franchisor, and much, much more.
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Understanding the ‘Why?’ of your franchise, with Sarah Kelly of Stagecoach Performing Arts

Sarah Kelly is no stranger to franchising, having previously worked at some of the biggest names in the food and beverage space. Since 2013 she’s helmed Stagecoach Performing Arts as the theatre franchise’s CEO and has been utilizing her rich experience within the industry to propel the business to further international renown.
Now with more than 350 franchisees across eight countries and five continents, it’s safe to say that Stagecoach is a truly international icon. In our conversation with Sarah, she explains how the appeal of Stagecoach extends well beyond just performing arts. In her eyes, it’s a holistically positive franchise that instils confidence and lifelong passion in its students. She also discusses the present and future of this exciting brand, as well as her personal reasons for getting involved in the first place.
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.