The 8 | August 31, 2018

1. Frantastic: There’s no shortage of conferences in the franchising industry. But there’s one coming up this fall that’s especially worth checking out — FranConnection 2018. The event, which is taking place in Washington, D.C. between November 5 and 7, is designed to bring members of the franchising industry together to share insights and discuss current franchising trends. This year, the conference will also be open to non-FranConnect clients.

2. Frash Money: Every 10 years, the Federal Trade Commission reviews the rules and regulations surrounding Franchise Disclosure Documents. Now, the organization is talking about abolishing FDDs altogether. While the idea of getting rid of the FDD may make some people in franchise development cheer, there’s no doubt that this would have a major impact on franchising. Check out this week’s episode of The 8 to see what 1851 Chief Development Strategist Sean Fitzgerald and publisher Nick Powills have to say.

3. Franch Forward: Is it better for franchise brands to engage suppliers that are familiar with the franchising industry? At the end of the day, franchising is just business. No matter what brands are trying to do, the same tactics are used. However, there are some competitive advantages that come with working with a team who’s already versed in franchising. There’s a full debate on the topic in this week’s episode — head to 1851 to see which side Fitzgerald and Powills are on.

4. Franlebrity: Is Fran Football the new Franlebrity? It is this week, at least! Athletes have long found success in franchising after their time on the field or court is done. But now, there are more athletes who are starting businesses of their own and growing them through the franchising business model. One example of this is former Indianapolis Colt Gary Brackett, who is now franchising Stacked Pickle.

5. Fran Funny: The past few episodes of The 8 have focused a lot on the business of apologies (we’re looking at you, Papa John). But this week, we’re focusing on how brands — and people — handle public apologies as a whole. After a bizarre video of Roseanne Barr’s unedited  apology surfaced, it’s clear that there’s still a lot to learn.

6. Frash Money (Part 2): Private equity continues to play a major role in today’s franchising landscape. One recent example of this is Mosquito Joe* being acquired by the Dwyer Group. On his special edition of The 8, Fitzgerald questions what private equity investments will mean for franchising going forward.