Franchise Interviews

Several years ago, I was inspired to conduct a study on women in franchising based on my interview with Gigi Butler.  The study was titled, “Women Entrepreneurs and the Influence of Gender on Successful Franchising".  The study was published in the Global Journal of Entrepreneurship.  This study explores the influence of gender on franchise business ownership.  Here is a link to the study.  https://www.igbr.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/GJE_Vol_2_No_1_2018.pdf Today you will hear our interview with Gigi Butler.  Gigi Butler, is the founder of Gigi's Cupcakes. People across the country know Gigi from her appearance on "Undercover Boss" on CBS, and her journey is the American Dream come true. Soon after opening, Gigi's Cupcakes became a Nashville delicacy dessert of choice and now, nine years later, it has expanded across the country...making Gigi's the largest cupcake franchise in the country!

It recently occurred to me I haven’t shared with our listeners what else I do in addition to Franchise Interviews.  I am a full-time professor and course leader for several marketing courses at Purdue University Global.  I am excited to share some exciting news.  For the last several years, I have been working on a paper that was published in The Qualitative Report Journal.  The Qualitative Report is a Q1 ranked journal on Scimago Journal & Country Rank (SJR). Q1 to Q4 refer to journal ranking quartiles within a subdiscipline using the SJR citation index. Thus, a first quartile journal (i.e., Q1) has an SJR in the top 25% of journals for at least one of its classified subdisciplines.  The name of the study is called A Qualitative Study: Military Veterans and Franchise Ownership.  This study focuses on the military experience and motivation to become a franchise business owner. You can download a copy of the study on the following link: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol25/iss3/14/ I would love to hear your thoughts on the study.  I thought a great interview to play for today’s show is with JDog Junk Removal franchise.  JDog Junk Removal, a full-service junk removal franchise, which is taking veteran employment assistance to new heights with the creation of a franchise opportunity, offered exclusively to veterans and active-duty members of the United States Military. The concept was created by an Army veteran in response to the excessively high unemployment rate for returning service members.

Steve Pavlina, a motivational speaker and author focusing on personal development, shares his insights on overcoming fear. He emphasizes the difference between fear and anxiety, encouraging listeners to view fear as a mental construct that can guide personal growth. Warren Greshes, a Hall of Fame speaker, adds advice on essential insurance for entrepreneurs. The conversation dives into Buddha's teachings and the illusion of duality, prompting reflection on beliefs that limit personal freedom and how transcending these can transform one’s life.

We start today with our most recent Great Quotes in Franchising podcast and discuss why franchising is like taking an open book test.  Next we discuss tax tips with Craig Cody.   As a Certified Tax CoachTM, Craig Cody belongs to a select group of practitioners throughout the country who undergo extensive training and continued education on various tax planning techniques and strategies in order to become, as well as remain, certified. With this organization, Craig has co-authored an Amazon best seller, Secrets of a Tax Free Life. In addition to tax planning, Craig's practice offers traditional tax services as well as off site CFO services. With a dedicated and passionate team we are able to provide daily guidance and advice to business clients. Our efficiency is embedded in our team concept. Our clients include, but are not limited to, Medical Professionals, Clothing Sourcing Businesses and Commercial Electrical Companies. Craig answers the following questions: What is the biggest mistake you see small business owners making regarding taxes? How can business owners use their CPA to their Advantage? How often should a business owner communicate with his/her CPA and why is it so important? In Part Three, we conclude with another clip from our Great Quotes in Franchising podcast with Melanie Bergeron.

We have a great show today. We are meeting with Mike Ruiz, President of Global Talent Solutions (GTS).  Global Talent Solutions helps bridge this gap for franchise employers, whose sector contributes 3 percent of the U.S. GDP. He and his company are driving an incredible amount of employment activity in the franchise space. Its talent acquisition takes a candidate-centric approach by being more efficient, less antiquated and systematic. GTS is helping franchise employers nail interviews - as well as best positioning them before and after - with a unique, agile and simultaneous approach to the classic three-pronged acquisition method of research, outreach and recruitment.  In Part Two, we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast.  For more information...go to www.gtsrecruiters.com

We are meeting with Rafael Alvarez, the founder of ATax.  ATAX is a full-service income tax preparation business that represents and caters services toward the Hispanic community. Services include bookkeeping and accounting, driver's license assistance, notary services, and insurance analysis helping to educate the community on the steps they need to take to ensure citizenship and financial success in the economy. Every ATAX franchisee has the ability to offer supplemental services as part of their business model. These secondary services can range from English as a second language, immigration advice, passport photos, and so on, which turns their business into a year-round operation. * A Safe Haven: ATAX is dedicated to helping the Hispanic community by being a benefactor to the communities it serves, mainly helping educate and dispel fear through the support they offer their customers. * Strong Financial Model: The ATAX model helps franchisees feel supported, profit quickly and retain clients through multiple revenue streams, which can be added if the franchisee desires. * High Demand: Taxes are unavoidable and over half of the American population defers to a tax preparer as opposed to filing taxes themselves. For that reason, ATAX's services will always be in demand during tax season.

We have a great show today. We are meeting with Laura Coe of Snapology.  Snapology is a low cost, home-based, mobile business teaching robotics and STEAM principles through classes, camps, parties and other events.  At Snapology, they understand that children are meant to learn through play. When children are actively engaged in hands-on, interactive learning activities, their creativity flourishes and they show a greater interest in school.  If kids are happy, then parents are happy and your business will flourish.  Snapology, a franchise that provides a fun, inviting environment for kids at all levels to gain valuable life skills involving STEM/STEAM, including logic and problem solving, as well as social skills and teamwork. Snapology’s adaptable, research-based curriculum allows children to learn through play.  Every business has a story. Snapology was founded by two sisters, Lisa and Laura Coe, who decided to start their business after seeing the love their children had for creative play using building blocks and other materials that snap together. Laura found that her son’s love of LEGO’s helped calm him down when he was dealing with mild behavior issues. She looked for local programs that he could join, but could not find any that fit. Together the sisters came up with the idea of offering enrichment classes and camps to teach science, technology, engineering, mathematics, art and literacy concepts.  Listen to our interview with Laura Coe. In part two, we will play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast.

We are welcoming back Charles Bonfiglio, CEO and President of Tint World.  Charles left Brooklyn, NY when he was 21 years for Florida to pursue his dreams of entrepreneurship.  Since 1982 Tint World® has provided high-quality window tinting and vehicle accessories to people who love their cars. With a wide selection of automotive products and services, clean, attractive facilities, and superior customer service, Tint World® has become America's favorite place for auto styling and marine styling accessories, and residential and commercial window film services. Now, anyone can be the proud owner of a Tint World® Automotive Styling Center. In 2007, Tint World® began franchising, and quickly became the nation's largest and fastest-growing window tinting and auto styling business opportunity. If you're interested in running your own business and being your own boss, you too can enjoy the excitement and profitability of running your own Tint World® auto styling business – all for a surprisingly low initial investment.

Hi everyone and welcome to a very special edition of Franchise Interviews.  Our theme over the last several weeks has been social media marketing for franchisors and franchisees.  Today, we are meeting with Sophie Nguyen, CEO of So Gold Marketing. Sophie decided to pursue a career as a social media consultant back in 2013. She kicked off her professional experience managing Purdue University’s social media accounts for 3 years. Connecting with students, having real-time conversations via social media all while building Purdue’s online presence. Then she made another decision to move to the fast-paced Silicon Valley, the tech start-up capital of the world, to begin her career as an entrepreneur, and this is where So Gold Marketing was born. The rest is history. Connecting to people is the heartbeat of So Gold Marketing. Their relationship with their clients is about getting to know them and their company, so they can best understand how to connect to their clients. And ultimately help them reach their business goals. Their clients say it best, “They do so with a genuine interest to grow your business.” When their clients are successful, they are successful.  In Part Two, we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast.

We are meeting with Cassidy Crail, the Co-founder of C Squared Social.  Cassidy is going to discuss the history of C Squared Social, how many franchise brands are starting to look at millennials, and how C Squared Social helps franchisors reach this large market of potential new franchise owners.  C Squared Social is the expert in targeted digital advertising. They use their proprietary Four Point Targeting Method to get your message in front of the people you are looking for on all the most popular social media platforms, mobile apps and websites. C Squared Social design the ads, customize the campaigns and automate your call to action to meet all your objectives. In Part Two, we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising.