FranX | "Franolutuons" (A Franchise Way of Saying Goals)

The Next McDonald's (Big Idea)

Disrupting Your Industry

Warby Parker — the direct-to-consumer online eyewear retailer — is a worthy story of disruption.

Founded by college students at the height of the Great Recession, the brand's leadership focused on alleviating a big pain point: eyeglasses were expensive. Really expensive.

Turns out that Luxottica Group has dominated the eyewear industry. This one company owns and controls LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Sunglass Hut, Ray-Ban, Oakley, plus the eyewear licensing rights to Chanel and Prada.

So how did these college students, in the middle of a recession, innovate and gain market share against this billion-dollar monopoly?

They:

• Solved a pain point: the high cost of eyewear.
• Innovated: sample eyewear to try on at home.
• Removed the middleman: a billion-dollar monopoly that controlled retail.

The Warby Parker team turned the HUGE barriers to entry (monopoly dominated industry) into opportunity.

They removed the middleman. They built a direct relationship with their customers.

2020: The year of family connections.

2021: The year of human connection.

Everything is accelerating and the BIG idea — building a direct and human connection with your customers.

News You Can (Actually) Use

NFL Player Paid in Bitcoin — Will this be a growing trend? NFL players demanding payment in Bitcoin and not US Dollars? 

The Weakening Dollar — Whether we like it or not, pay attention to a weakening US dollar and deficits. Be on the lookout for a debt crisis.

Killer Brands

GH Builders, a subsidiary of Green Home Builders — Australia’s largest green home builder, has brought its award-winning and innovative franchise to the US.

The US home construction market is fragmented, and GH Builders offers franchisees the opportunity to challenge the publicly traded large national home builders. Plus, Green Homes offers innovation that has not yet come to the U.S. Sure, we’re focused on energy efficiency, solar panels, etc., but building a green home from the ground up really doesn’t exist here in the states.

GH Builders offers franchisees a unique opportunity — to dominate local home construction markets. Best of all, you don’t need construction industry experience.

Definitely an opportunity to check out.

Franchisees Kicking Ass: The Franchise Is King

Former Toppers Delivery Driver Ryan Tepsa Opens Second Franchise Location in Wisconsin

16 years ago, Duluth, Minnesota-native Ryan Tepsa got a job delivering pizza for a local franchise called Toppers Pizza*. In the years since, Toppers has expanded to more than 83 locations across 16 states, and Tepsa’s career has grown in step with the brand.

In 2011, Tepsa took a job on Toppers’ corporate team as a field training specialist. Soon after, he transitioned into a role as an operations technology specialist. 

Then, he did what many insiders do — he became a franchisee.

Now, Tepsa has expanded his operation, opening his second Toppers franchise location in the heart of downtown Superior, Wisconsin.

Yo Broker, Sell My Franchise

NuVinAir not only removes odors, the brand removes the challenges of franchise growth. Kyle Bailey, CEO, tells Nick Powills and Charles Internicola how his franchise has navigated the COVID-19 crisis.

The Bottom Thoughts

Jump in the DeLorean and travel back to this time last year. What would you tell Michael J. Franchise?

Yo, there is going to be a pandemic where your life, your business and your norm will be completely disrupted.

Robert Cresanti is going to be out at the IFA.

Papa Johns will make a resurgence.

Go buy some stock — like Peloton, anything to do with the home (Wayfair), Tesla, and a whole bunch more because the bubble is not poppin’ yet.

Thousands of restaurants will close in 2020. Ugh.

Bitcoin is exploding. Mortgage your house, your wife, your kids, and put it all into bitcoin.

Sports will be played in bubbles, without fans and without players (opt-out).

A vaccine will be created in record time.

Franchise Knowledge for $100, Alex. RIP

It’s been a year, FranXers. Ready to make 2021 better?