The 8 | February 24, 2017

1. Frantastic: There’s a lot of creativity and work that goes into making “The 8” every week. If you watched last week’s episode, you’ll know what we mean. So when we need to take a step back and recharge to get our creative juices flowing, we watch our favorite blooper reel from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” Check out this week’s Frantastic video for some mid-day inspiration—we hope it helps you get through the rest of your Friday and the weekend with a smile on your face.

2. Franlebrity: After realizing that the fitness industry was missing something, this week’s Franlebrity set out to make a change. Don Powers, the founder, president and CEO of Fitness Machine Technicians, is on a mission to bring qualified technicians who can easily fix broken gym equipment to communities across the country. Having owned a gym himself, Powers brings years of fitness franchising experience to the table. And as the segment continues to grow, Powers plans to expand at a rapid rate.

3. Frash Money: One of the biggest stories in franchising this week came when the news broke that Burger King’s parent company—Restaurant Brands International—is buying Popeyes for $1.8 billion. The move signals that big changes are ahead for the brand. The majority of Popeyes locations are located in 11 states, but international expansion is now expected to be made a priority. Once the deal is final, Restaurant Brands International will own more than 23,000 restaurants worldwide.

4. Frant of the Week: No Limit Agency* CEO Nick Powills is picking up where he left off last week in his latest Frant. In the second installment of his series highlighting the value of brand culture, Powills explains that creating a winning culture starts by saying “yes” to a team who is willing to create new ideas for your business. That means encouraging collaboration and creating an environment in which your team collides. Head to 1851 Franchise for more tips on fostering creativity in your office.

5. Franch Forward: Lightbridge Academy will be breaking ground on its first location in Virginia Beach. And franchisees Neil and Jane Yaeger believe that the brand’s unique child care concept will really take off in the area. With a large active military population, the owners expect parents in the area to be drawn to the benefits that Lightbridge Academy offers, like its ParentView® internet monitoring system.

6. Fran Funny: What did the sun say to Mercury after being asked what kind of planet it is? I’m not a planet. I’m a star, boy.

7. Franspiration Misquote: “The day you take complete responsibility for yourself, the day you stop making any excuses, that’s the day you start to the top.” – O.J. Simpson, who is clearly talking about getting into franchising.

8. Franemies vs. Frands: This week’s Frand will soon be launching its own page on 1851 Franchise—Franchise Central. The brand behind the Franchise Navigator uses behavioral science to help franchise concepts find their ideal local owners. By utilizing a values-based assessment, not only does Franchise Central identify which franchisees are the best fit for a brand, it also allows concepts to target leads that have the strong potential to be successful in its system.