5 Takeaways from the 2015 IFA Annual Convention

The International Franchise Association once again brought industry pros from across the country to lovely Las Vegas. However, if you count yourself among the number that didn’t attend (or simply got sidetracked by all the flashing neon), have no fear – 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’s convention. The following are five of her takeaways, big and small.

‘Connect. Innovate. Evolve’ was more than just a slogan

“I feel like this theme really captured the essence of the convention,” Boukas told 1851. “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.”

The breakout sessions made their mark

“The breakout sessions offered in-depth insight from the industry's biggest players,” Boukas continued. “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.”

Girl Scout Cookies make everything better

“Our booth, complete with dunk tank and Girl Scout Cookies, was hoppin' both days!” she said.

More time to see the sights would be appreciated

“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,” Boukas said. “I would have loved being able to attend more.”

If you operate in the franchise industry, the IFA Annual Convention is a can’t-miss affair

“It's one of the only times of the year that all the important players in franchising are in one room together,” Boukas continued. “The opportunities for learning and networking are endless!”

And for any IFA newbies gearing up for their first trip to the convention next year, Boukas had some vital advice:

“Bring comfortable shoes, don't hand out someone else's business card on accident and be prepared for long and productive days!”