Franchise Interviews

We are meeting with Steve Rothenstein, Senior Director of Franchising at Dippin' Dots & Doc Popcorn. When Dippin’ Dots’ CEO Scott Fisher acquired Doc Popcorn in 2014, he needed to empower a leader to combine the two franchise models and expand the perfectly balanced snack co-brand. He leaned on the 25-year franchise-industry veteran, Steve Rothenstein, who’d previously held leadership positions with Yum Brands, Cold Stone Creamery, Tasti D-Lite and Planet Smoothie.  He’s led the franchises’ double-digit growth each of the last four years, since the acquisition. Dippin' Dots Franchising, LLC. Where do Dippin' Dots fans go for all their favorite flavors of Dippin' Dots? They go everywhere! Dippin' Dots Franchisees sell the fun, ice cold dots at fairs, festivals, shopping centers and in existing businesses. Market research shows Dippin' Dots outperformed some of the top franchised ice cream brands 2:1 among kids and almost 2:1 among young adults. And one fact was very clear—Dippin' Dots is the number one ice cream for FUN among all age groups!   The Doc Popcorn Story: In a Kernel Doc Popcorn is a simple and fun business that is popping up everywhere. Inspired by “mom and pop” kettle corn makers at a farmers’ market, our founders spent the better part of a decade creating a mouth-watering kettle-cooked flavored popcorn offering and a variety of flexible business models to make it easy and fun to pop fresh at high- traffic venues. Doc Popcorn is now the largest franchised retailer of fresh-popped popcorn on the planet, and our POPrietors (franchise partners) are having a blast spreading smiles worldwide with our amazing tasting, freshly popped snack.   In part two, we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast.

We are meeting with Aaron Meyers, Chief Operating Officer of Hammer and Nails Grooming Shop for Guys.  Hammer & Nails Grooming Shop for Guys, a first-of-its-kind men’s grooming shop that provides hand and foot care, haircuts and shaves in a man cave nirvana. The male grooming industry has become mainstream, with barbering services proving to be the fastest growing sector. As the surge continues, Hammer & Nails has appointed a leadership team to elevate the brand to new heights as it continues to expand its nationwide footprint. As a trailblazer in the space, the brand is perfecting its membership-based model to give men the ultimate man cave nirvana experience while upping their grooming regime.  In Part Two, we will play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast.

We are meeting with franchise author, franchise expert and the President of Franchise Beacon, Michael Peterson  Whether you're looking to start a franchise or grow an existing franchise, Franchise Beacon offers the expertise and services that can help guide your franchise business to success. Michael is the author of "How and Why to Franchise Your Business."  This book was written to be the book on franchising, the go-to for a new or would-be franchisor. It was written  with someone from ourside our industry  in mind. It delves deeply into such topics as preparing to become a franchisor, the legal repercussions of franchising, how to recruit the right candidates, and how to manage a franchise system. This book will guide you in building a successful team of experts to help you create the stellar franchise brand that you dream of! If you are looking for the book on franchising, you have found it! In Part Two, we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast.

We are meeting with Brian Moak, the CEO and Founder of  HEART Certified Auto Care.  With over 90 years of auto repair experience, Heart combines old fashion service with expert mechanical repair to ensure that each and every customer has a premium level experience. Previously operating as Duxler Complete Auto Care since 1924, Brian Moak saw an opportunity to fill a growing gap in the car repair service industry. He decided to take his vision nationwide in 2017, launching the franchise of HEART Certified Auto Care.  In part two, we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising Podcast.

POKÉWORKS POKE FRANCHISE STORY Pokéworks is a ground-breaking, healthy fast-casual restaurant concept that began on a rainy day in December of 2015 in a tiny location in Midtown Manhattan.  Today, it has grown into one of the largest and fastest growing poke brands in the nation and one we can proudly say is anchored almost entirely with multi-unit institutional franchisees.  Pokéworks was born on that quiet Winter day with a trickle of curious New Yorkers that wondered in to experience poke for the first time.  Weeks later, hundreds stood in line outside our tiny restaurant willing to wait 45 minutes or more to build their own poke burrito or bowl.  While more than 700 New Yorkers were enjoying our poke per day, our ground breaking “The ‘Sushi Burrito’ has hit NYC and its amazing” video went viral and received more than 42 million views.  Media consensus is that Pokéworks’ extraordinary consumer appeal is fueled by the exceptional efficiency, quality and affordability of our healthy chef-driven menu.  Restaurateurs marvel at our easy to execute menu and the simplicity of our kitchens with no hood, no deep frying and no in-ground grease trap requirement.  We are meeting with Kevin Hsu, Co-founder and CMO of Pokéworks. In Part Two, we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising Podcast.

We are meeting with Meg Schmitz.  Meg is a franchising consultant through FranChoice — her deep knowledge of franchising started in the 1990s, when she opened the first of five Great Clips salons in the Chicago area. As the president of the Chicago area owners’ co-op and liaison to corporate executive staff, Meg saw how others struggled because they bought a franchise that wasn’t the best fit. Now, after 10 years as a franchise consultant, Meg has helped hundreds determine whether business ownership, especially franchising, is the right vehicle for their personal and financial success.   Meg’s unique perspective in the industry comes from not only her own experience as a franchisee, but also because her degree in Counseling Psychology and work as a certified Mediator and hospice volunteer.  Meg is attuned to the importance of asking the right questions and listening, which allows her candidates to hone their questions/concerns about business ownership into a refined investigation to match them with the best business opportunity. ? In Part Two, we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast.

LinkedIn for Entrepreneurs – Franchise Interviews Meets with Nancy Friedman LinkedIn is one of the most powerful networking business tools for professionals and entrepreneurs.  Not long ago, Nancy Friedman was interviewed in a magazine article by Forbes.  The article was called 10 New LinkedIn Tips to Propel Your PR.  In this interview, Nancy and I discuss tips learned over the years on how to effectively use this social media tool.  Nancy is president & founder of Telephone Doctor Customer Service Training. When Oprah, The Today Show, CBS This Morning, Good Morning America, Good Morning Canada and Great Britain, CNN, Fox News, Wall Street Journal, USA Today and other well-respected radio, TV and publications need a customer service expert, they call on Nancy Friedman. You should, too!  In Part Two, Marty plays the role of one of his favorite interviewers James Lipton and asks Nancy, a former actress the famous ten questions created by Bernard Pivot.  http://www.nancyfriedman.com

There are only a couple of weeks left before filing your taxes.  This time of year, we get many questions on franchises that provide tax services.  We are going to play clips from two very interesting franchises in the tax industry.  First, we play a clip from our interview with Dom Cirello of the BookKeeping Express franchise opportunity. Dom is a franchisee to BookKeeping Express. BookKeeping Express, a national organization and franchise that provides businesses with professional bookkeeping services. Bookkeeping Express was founded in 1984 in California.  Next we meet with Nick Rizzi of the Smart Tax franchise opportunity.  Smart Tax allows its franchisees to own a tax preparation business without requiring a background in finance, accounting, or tax law - it's a business that is easy to start up and operate, just by following the established and comprehensive Smart Tax franchise system.

We are meeting with Todd Giatrelis the CEO of MVS Pet Care. The service, which brings general wellness care, vaccinations, illness and injury care right to the customers’ doorstep, comes as a welcome relief to the 68 percent of U.S. families that own a pet who routinely experience the anxiety of transporting their cat or dog to the vet’s office and back. In addition to serving a need for pet parents, the service also provides much-needed business ownership opportunities to veterinarians who, for the longest time, could only work in already established vet offices while paying down student loan debt.  The mobile pet care franchise was the brainchild of a veteran team of franchise industry experts, including Todd Giatrelis (CEO), Sarah Towne (President), and Ashley Shimabukuro (COO) who came to the realization that families and veterinarians could benefit from offering consumers convenience with added personal touches.   In Part Two of today's podcast, we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast.

We have a great show today.  We are meeting with Mark Carr, the founder of Christian Brothers Automotive Corporation. Dedicated to its brand mission “To glorify God, by loving your neighbor as yourself” Christian Brothers Automotive has firmly planted its roots in faith, honesty and trust, which have proven to be clear differentiators in the competitive auto services and repair industry, a $380 billion sector in the U.S. economy. With its guiding principles instilled from the very first location, which opened in 1982, Christian Brothers Automotive has successfully expanded to more than 170 locations in 25 states. The Houston-based company delivers a variety of professional auto-care services including upkeep, maintenance, and repair.