1851

With more than <a href="https://franchiseeconomy.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=creating-a-legacy-what-growth-minded-brands-can-learn-from-key-players-in-franchising-2709255" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">759,000 franchise establishments</a> across just about every segment of business you can imagine, the franchise industry is incredibly crowded. For many brands, it can be difficult to reach the 100-unit mark, but for those standout brands that have achieved legacy status, there are key learnings to share with emerging franchises and longtime brands looking to kickstart growth. 

For <a href="https://1851franchise.com/storypage/preview/2709167.html" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Pet Supplies Plus, one of the main factors that has driven the retail brand&rsquo;s growth to 450 </a>units and counting is its focus on creating a neighborhood feel in its stores. In fact, Pet Supplies Plus refers to its customers as &ldquo;neighbors,&rdquo; a feel-good approach for a brand that caters to passionate animal lovers, which sets it apart from other stores selling similar products.

&ldquo;We know we&rsquo;re carrying dog food or pet supplies that are found everywhere else, so what we do is bring it to life in a very, very personal way,&rdquo; said Pet Supplies Plus President Chris Rowland. &ldquo;Customer engagement, neighbor engagement has always been our No. 1 focus and something that we protect, quite frankly. Whether it&rsquo;s a corporate store or a franchise store, we hold them to a very, very high standard in terms of neighbor experience.&rdquo;

For <a href="https://1851franchise.com/hungry-howie-s-ascension-to-legacy-brand-status-2709114" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Hungry Howie&rsquo;s, a pizza chain with more than 500 units,</a> innovation has been a key factor in its impressive growth. Its proximity to Little Caesars and Domino&rsquo;s forced the brand to find ways to stand out in the marketplace. What came from this pressure was what became the brand&rsquo;s signature offering: flavor-crust pizza. 

&ldquo;In the early &rsquo;80s, we found our niche with flavor-crust pizza,&rdquo; Hungry Howie&rsquo;s CEO Steve Jackson said. &ldquo;We developed eight flavors, tested them in the Detroit market, then the Florida market where [brand founder] Jim Hearn was based. These tests were successful, so we made the decision to hang our hat on flavor-crust pizza, which quickly became an incredibly important thing to identify and separate ourselves with.&rdquo; 

<a href="https://1851franchise.com/how-wireless-zone-grew-into-a-legacy-brand-2709250#category" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Keith Dziki, Executive Director of Development for Wireless Zone&reg;, echoes Jackson&rsquo;s sentiment about innovation being the foundation of a legacy brand</a>. Of the brand&rsquo;s 30 year-history, Dziki points to the brand&rsquo;s continued evolution as a driver of growth in the industry. 

&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve adapted our model, image, offering, and more over the last 30 years,&rdquo; Dziki said. &ldquo;We had to make sure that we were still a good fit for individuals looking to adopt a wireless business, while at the same time, deliver an end-product that produced results for the franchise owners that have invested in our brand,&rdquo; he continued, adding that brands don&rsquo;t need to &ldquo;reinvent the wheel&rdquo; in order to grow. &ldquo;Listen to your franchisees and understand their needs and wants to grow and perform at higher levels. They are the individuals that are out on the front lines working with consumers day in and day out, and they very well may have the exact idea that takes your brand to the next level and on to legacy level.&rdquo;

For many brands, adapting the consumer and franchise value proposition along with rapidly evolving technology has been key to success. 

Geovannie Concepcion, Chief Operating Officer of <a href="https://www.famousdaves.com/Franchising?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=creating-a-legacy-what-growth-minded-brands-can-learn-from-key-players-in-franchising-2709255" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">barbeque mainstay Famous Dave&rsquo;s</a>, said that one factor in its growth and innovation is its &ldquo;...rapid embrace of <a href="https://1851franchise.com/top-restaurant-trends-to-watch-reservations-management-and-delivery-software-2708988" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">the digital shift happening in the restaurant industry</a>. Our ability to harness technology and increase our digital sales has been key to realizing several quarters of sales growth in our company-operated restaurants. Outside of to-go and technology, we also had to focus on revitalizing the guest experience with new design, d&eacute;cor and branding.&rdquo;

Some brands have slow and steady growth, others leverage changing consumer trends to spur growth, while others become legacy brands almost overnight. By leveraging a trifecta of technology, science and coaching, <a href="https://1851franchise.com/how-orangetheory-has-already-established-itself-as-a-legacy-brand-2709254#category" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Orangetheory has grown in just five years to more than 1,100 studios in 49 U.S. states and 22 countries</a>, with a pipeline of 500 additional studios.

&ldquo;From the beginning, Orangetheory has blazed its own trail, taking a different path from standard-fare workout facilities,&rdquo; said Orangetheory Fitness PR Specialist Marissa Fattore. &ldquo;This year, we amped up our use of technology to further enhance the workout experience in ways no other companies can touch. We will continue to constantly innovate and improve our workout, science, technology, operations and systems to deliver a best-in-class member experience.&rdquo;

As franchise brands plan their future growth, studying the footprints of legacy brands can provide valuable lessons and a blueprint for success. By focusing on developing key brand differentiators, evolving the brand to meet consumer demand and thinking big, franchise brands are properly armed to take the next step in their growth trajectory.

legacy franchise brands, Orangetheory Fitness, Hungry Howie's, Pet Supplies Plus, Wireless Zone

Creating a Legacy: What Growth-Minded Brands Can Learn From Key Players in Franchising

1851 Franchise

Food, fitness and retail brand leaders share insight on what it takes to become a legacy brand.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

creating-a-legacy-what-growth-minded-brands-can-learn-from-key-players-in-franchising

HomeTeam Inspection Service

Photo of HomeTeam Inspection Service representative giving presentation

Strategic Partnerships Fuel Franchise Growth at HomeTeam Inspection Service

hometeam-inspection-service-franchise-growth-partnerships

Express Employment Professionals

What’s in the 2025 FDD? A Closer Look for Express Employment Professionals Franchise Buyers

whats-in-the-2025-fdd-a-closer-look-for-express-employment-professionals-franchise-buyers

petbar

How-petbar-Makes-Pets-and-Their-Owners-Happy-as-Part-of-the-Family-in-a-Clean-and-Fun-Environment

How petbar Makes Pets and Their Owners Happy as Part of the Family in a Clean and Fun Environment

petbar-franchise-opportunity-boutique-pet-grooming

petbar Franchisees Win the $6.89B Global Market With Complete Transparency, Self-Service and Membership Models, Creating the Happiest Place for Dogs

petbar-franchise-opportunity

Why petbar Wants to Be the “Disney World for Dogs” — and a Dream Business for Franchisees

petbar-franchise-dan-ashley-o-loughlin-qa

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Chick-fil-A Tops Customer Satisfaction Rankings for 11th Year as Challenger Brands Gain Ground

chick-fil-a-tops-customer-satisfaction-rankings-for-11th-year-as-challenger-brands-gain-ground

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

Rising Jobless Claims Could Signal Challenges — and Opportunities — for Franchising

rising-jobless-claims-affect-franchising

Hardee’s Lawsuit Highlights the Risk of Going Off-Model in Franchising

hardees-franchise-lawsuit-paradigm-investment-group

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

Busy Bee Jumpers Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

busy-bee-jumpers-franchise-costs-fees-2025

911 Restoration Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

911-restoration-franchise-deep-dive

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise Built on Heart and Community

Creating a Legacy: What Growth-Minded Brands Can Learn From Key Players in Franchising

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS