The 8 | August 25, 2017

1. Frantastic: We’re kicking off “The 8” this week with some pretty Frantastic news for Chipotle fans—the brand is releasing a new app that includes mobile ordering. The move is designed to enhance its customer experience, especially as the brand continues to repair its relationship with consumers across the country. Chipotle’s decision to add mobile ordering to its lineup also drives home the fact that no matter what type of brand you’re working with, technology needs to play a big role in order to keep up with—or stay ahead of—the competition.

2. Franlebrity: We have a very special Franlebrity this week— No Limit Agency* has announced that Bryan Van Dyke is joining its team as President. Before taking on this new role with No Limit, Van Dyke worked as the managing director of Razorfish, where he led major brands like Kellogg’s, Target and US Foods. To learn more about Van Dyke and his plans for the agency going forward, head to 1851 to check out his Q&A.

3. Frash Money: As demand for mosquito control services continues to climb—especially as mosquito borne illnesses become more concerning—Mosquito Joe* is experiencing rapid growth. And that means that its network of franchisees is able to bring in more Frash Money. Not only does the brand boast a low initial investment—it also brings a level of flexibility to the table that allows its owners to achieve a high quality of life while making a living.

4. Frant of the Week: If you had access to a group of people who had all the answers to your franchise growth questions, would you take advantage of it? The answer is most likely yes—and for a good reason. But as Nick Powills points out in his Frant this week, every brand already has this resource at their disposal through its franchisees. While franchises often have franchise advisory councils for marketing, they don’t utilize their network when it comes to development. However, it’s up to brands to make the most of the data they have.

5. Franch Forward: Pool Scouts* is looking to continue Franching Forward in the Northeast by targeting New York and New Jersey for expansion. The brand has found that it’s model is successful in markets where pool openings and closings are mandatory due to weather, and both of these states perfectly fit the bill. This expansion comes as Pool Scouts is building on strong momentum at the height of pool season—the brand already has locations successfully operating in Virginia, Texas, Florida, North Carolina and New Jersey.

6. Fran Funny: Why did the mosquito go to the dentist? To improve his bite.

7. Franspiration: “An old colleague used to say that the ‘dirty little secret of franchising’ is that it’s fun. He was right.” – Lee Plave, partner at Plave Koch

8. Franemies vs. Frands: After a few weeks of calling out our Franemies, we’re back to giving our Frands a shout out. Our newest Frand is LinkedIn, which just announced that it’s taking a page from Facebook’s playbook. LinkedIn rolled out native video, allowing users to upload videos directly from their phones that will then play automatically when posted. The platform is promoting the new feature as a way for CEOs to show off their workplace environment, which has the potential to be a great way to highlight a brand’s culture.