The 8 | April 7, 2017

1. Frantastic: Good grammar is the difference between knowing your shit and knowing you’re shit (see what I did there?).

Thankfully, for one British city, there’s a vigilante stalking the streets at night, and he’s the defender of truth, justice and the grammarian way. Originally discovered by the BBC, the “Banksy of Punctuation” and self-proclaimed grammar vigilante goes out undercover in the dead of night correcting street signs and shop fronts where the apostrophes are in the wrong place.

He’s the hero Britain needs, but not the one it deserves right now.

2. Franlebrity: This week, 1851 Franchise kicked off its Leadership Issue with an exclusive interview with Steve Hockett, the incoming CEO of Great Clips*.

Hockett started as a franchisee for Great Clips at the age of 27. His location was eventually forced to close, but over the years, he kept returning to Great Clips. His work ethic was noticed by current CEO Rhoda Olsen, and he eventually bounced back to the brand. But this time, he joined the corporate team. Today, he’s gearing up for his new role as CEO, where he wants to help the brand reach its milestone of 10,000 units.

3. Frash Money: Toppers Pizza* is building off its strong momentum in 2016 to fuel growth this year. Last year, the brand signed three multi-unit deals that will ultimately add 41 locations. With that in mind, Toppers is aiming to surpass the 80-unit mark during the second half of 2017. Now, the brand is also hoping to sign 10 new franchise agreements in key markets like North Carolina, Colorado, Minnesota, the Dakotas, Ohio and more.

4. Frant of the Week: BREAKING NEWS: On April 2, 2017, No Limit Agency*’s CEO Nick Powills ate his first piece of meat in over a month. While going vegan during March may have left him hangry, Powills did learn a few things from the experience. The first? NEVER make a bet with a vegan. But more importantly, he learned that defining goals, KPIs and celebrating the little victories are very important to winning the game of business (or, in this case, veganism).

5. Franch Forward: WORKOUT ANYTIME* had its first entry in Texas thanks to franchisee John Waskow, who opened a gym in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He came across the brand through his wife, who is a consultant for FranNet. Its simple business model, coupled with the high demand for an affordable gym option, convinced them to invest in the fast-growing brand.

6. Fran Funny: Spreadsheets are so hot right now. As every other social media platform in the world announces that they’re introducing “stories,” Microsoft recently announced that everyone’s favorite program, Excel, will be adding “stories,” too!

OK, not really. But it made for a pretty funny meme. #fakenews

7. Franspiration: “If there’s one thing I learned over the years, it’s that you can’t let other people bring you down. People told me I was crazy for writing a book. They told me I couldn’t be a chef because I looked a certain way or my background was different than most. Whatever you do, don’t listen to them. Take pride in what you do and who you are. Be bold. And never give up. We’re all deserving of incredible opportunities and happiness,” – Chef Maira Isabel Morales, the corporate executive chef for Schlotzsky’s

8. Franemies vs. Frands: You gotta frand in EZ CERT (that was cheesy, sorry guys). This company is making it easier than ever before for brands to ensure that their franchisees are in compliance with their FDD. Whether it’s coverages, limits, additional endorsements or any other insurance requirement, EZ CERT helps franchises navigate this complicated landscape. Check out their page on 1851 Franchise to learn more!