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The <a href="http://www.franchise.org/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-takeaways-from-the-2015-ifa-annual-convention-1192" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">International Franchise Association</a> once again brought industry pros from across the country to lovely Las Vegas. However, if you count yourself among the number that didn&#8217;t attend (or simply got sidetracked by all the flashing neon), have no fear &#8211; 1851 has got your back. Lauren Boukas, vice president at Chicago-based PR firm No Limit Agency*, was nice enough to chat with us about this year&#8217;s convention. The following are five of her takeaways, big and small. &#8216;Connect. Innovate. Evolve&#8217; was more than just a slogan <p style=" background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: white; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">&#8220;I feel like this theme really captured the essence of the convention,&#8221; Boukas told 1851. &#8220;With franchise brands located all over the country, the IFA convention is an opportunity for everyone to connect and learn. I felt like many of the roundtable and panel topics were incredibly innovative - it was really cool to discuss social media strategies and emerging technology.&#8221; <span style=" background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: white; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">The breakout sessions made their mark &#8220;The breakout sessions offered in-depth insight from the industry's biggest players,&#8221; Boukas continued. &#8220;We were able to learn about topics that are important to PR, from how to create super-charged grand opening events to SEO and SEM strategies for lead generation.&#8221; <span style=" color: #222222; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: white; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Girl Scout Cookies make everything better &#8220;Our booth, complete with dunk tank and Girl Scout Cookies, was hoppin' both days!&#8221; she said. <span style=" color: #222222; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: white; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">More time to see the sights would be appreciated &#8220;The panels were really cool - I would suggest spreading these out more or having shorter sessions so people don't have to choose between 20 sessions,&#8221; Boukas said. &#8220;I would have loved being able to attend more.&#8221; <span style=" color: #222222; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: white; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">If you operate in the franchise industry, the IFA Annual Convention is a can&#8217;t-miss affair <span style=" color: #222222; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: white; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"> &#8220;It's one of the only times of the year that all the important players in franchising are in one room together,&#8221; Boukas continued. &#8220;The opportunities for learning and networking are endless!&#8221; And for any IFA newbies gearing up for their first trip to the convention next year, Boukas had some vital advice: <span style=" color: #222222; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: white; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">&#8220;Bring comfortable shoes, don't hand out someone else's business card on accident and be prepared for long and productive days!&#8221;<span style=" color: #500050; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: white; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">

1851 Franchise

One attendee's highlights from this year's convention.

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