1851

1851: What was it that drew you into franchising?

Loren Bontrager, Director of Franchise Business Development for <a href="http://jambafranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=young-ones-to-watch-loren-bontrager-of-jamba-juice-2705075" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jamba Juice</a>: After spending nearly 7 years as behavioral specialist working with dually diagnosed homeless veterans, I was up for a change. I knew that my next move would have to continue to selfishly provide me an opportunity to &ldquo;facilitate success&rdquo; in the lives of others and reap the internal rewards of being a part of another&rsquo;s success. Without any real intention, I stumbled into a role with franchise supplier that provided site selection services to a number of franchise concepts. I found that my goal of &ldquo;facilitating success&rdquo; was possible outside of social work and that addressing and solving a franchisee&rsquo;s problems could be equally as rewarding. It was an eye opening experience to see how many franchisees emptied their bank accounts, flipped their 401ks, or went to their friends and family for funds to make their dreams of business ownership come true. I value each franchisee and the sacrifices that they have had to make to pursue such a venture and I&rsquo;m humbled to be a part of their journey. After all, it&rsquo;s not my money that is being spent and I keep that thought top-of-mind.

1851: What do you see as the biggest change that is going to impact the franchise industry going forward?

Bontrager: The biggest change I can see in franchising is the impact of e-commerce on retail brick-and-mortar franchises and the next recession. E-commerce essentially wiped Blockbuster and RadioShack off of the map and the next recession will likely do the same to many of the emerging franchise brands that have proliferated over the past few years. If you offer a product that doesn&rsquo;t need to be experienced in some way (i.e. - touched, smelled, tasted, fitted. etc.) I would figure out a way to make that part of the buying process and if you&rsquo;re an emerging brand, I would place an incredible emphasis on your points of differentiating. &nbsp;

1851: What do you do to help your brand stand out from the competition?

Bontrager:&nbsp;My role in franchise development allows me to be very selective when it comes to choosing our franchise partners. By awarding franchises to high quality partners, we&rsquo;re able to develop franchisees who truly share in our mission and vision of the brand. That type of brand compatibility shows through in every aspect of their business and helps them stand out among our competitors.&nbsp;

1851: How did you get in the role you&rsquo;re in now?

Bontrager:&nbsp;Networking. I&rsquo;m always building my own personal brand. The franchise community is really tightknit and somewhat incestuous in terms of the crossover of personnel from brand to brand. Don&rsquo;t burn bridges and always be open to new opportunities in the industry. You never know who you&rsquo;ll report to next, or who may report to you!

1851: What advice would you give to other young up-and-comers?

Bontrager:&nbsp;Be as straightforward and effective at communicating in person and in front of crowds as you are behind a keyboard.

1851: What advice would you give to your younger self?

Bontrager:&nbsp;Get used to jumping through hoops and start doing it with a smile.

1851: What advice would you give to someone deciding to own a franchise?

Bontrager:&nbsp;Do your homework and be ready to take personal responsibility for the success or failure of your business. If you did your homework, then you&rsquo;ve chosen a brand with a proven concept, strong leadership and holistic support system; the rest is up to you!

1851: What are some things you like to do in your spare time?

Bontrager:&nbsp;I&rsquo;m fortunate enough to live in Denver, CO where I can pursue my love of music. I enjoy performing locally and as part of a band- we also have some of the best venues for catching big acts. I also have access to the best playground, the Rocky Mountains, for all things &ldquo;outdoorsy&rdquo;.&nbsp;

Young Ones to Watch: Loren Bontrager of Jamba Juice

1851 Franchise

Jamba Juice's Director of Franchise Business Development offers advice for industry up-and-comers. 

young-ones-to-watch-loren-bontrager-of-jamba-juice

TruBlue Home Service Ally

TruBlue’s Home Maintenance Plans: Peace of Mind for Homeowners

trublues-home-maintenance-plans-peace-of-mind-for-homeowners

Caring Transitions

Caring Transitions Targets Peoria, Illinois, for Franchise Growth

caring-transitions-targets-peoria-illinois-for-franchise-growth

Caring Transitions Celebrates a Strong Start to 2025 With 19 New Franchise Sales and Momentum-Building Training Events

caring-transitions-celebrates-a-strong-start-to-2025-with-19-new-franchise-sales-and-momentum-building-training-events

Right at Home

Right at Home 30th Anniversary in Home Care with Right at Home Logo

Celebrating 30 Years of Excellence and Future Innovations in Home Care

celebrating-30-years-of-excellence-and-future-innovations-in-home-care

Why TruBlue is the Ideal Franchise for Multi-Unit Owners: Scalable Growth With a Purpose

why-trublue-is-the-ideal-franchise-for-multi-unit-owners-scalable-growth-with-a-purpose

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands - 1851 Franchise

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands

doordash-acquistions-deliveroo-sevenrooms

Crumbl Franchise Investment - TSG Consumer Partners -  1851 Franchise

TSG Consumer Partners Takes Minority Stake in Crumbl, Signaling Franchise Growth Potential

crumbl-franchise-investment-tsg-consumer

Yum Brands Reports Strong Q1 Results with Big Boost from Taco Bell

yum-brands-reports-strong-q1-results-with-big-boost-from-taco-bell

QSR: McDonald’s Gains Momentum With Chicken Innovation, Value Deals and Franchisee Support

mcdonalds-franchise-recovery-chicken-strategy-value-deals-2025

The Future of Franchising: Trends and Predictions for 2025 and Beyond

the-future-of-franchising-trends-and-predictions-for-2025-and-beyond

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: Building Your Brand’s Growth Machine

ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises

franchise supplier award design with Locate AI logo and 1851 Franchise badge

Franchise Real Estate Services | Locate AI — Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support

locate-ai-emerging-leaders-in-franchise-support

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How to Position Your Value Proposition

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How to Position Your Value Proposition — Point of Differentiation

how-to-position-your-value-proposition-with-a-point-of-differentiation

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How to Clarify Your Positioning – The “Why You/Why Now”

the-ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises-how-to-clarify-your-positioning-the-why-youwhy-now

Franchisee spotlight image with Randy and Sandy Craft, Children's Lighthouse logo on blue background

The Crafts’ Successful Journey from New Parents to Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees

the-crafts-successful-journey-from-new-parents-to-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Amy Lepke and family and Papa Murphy's logo

After 14 Years as a Stay-At-Home Mom, Amy Lepke Returned to Papa Murphy’s — This Time as an Owner

papa-murphys-franchise-amy-lepke

Franchisee Spotlight with Micki Waters and Papa Murphy's Logo

Work Mom: How Micki Waters Became a Mother Figure to Her Entire Papa Murphy’s Team

work-mom-how-micki-waters-became-a-mother-figure-to-her-entire-papa-murphys-team

District Taco Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-district-tacos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Layoffs Surge to Pandemic-Era Highs, Opening Doors for Franchise Growth

layoffs-surge-to-pandemic-era-highs-opening-doors-for-franchise-growth

Franchisee spotlight image with photo of Robert Trujillo and UWRG logo on blue background

How Robert Trujillo Expanded His Construction Business With UWRG

how-robert-trujillo-expanded-his-construction-business-with-uwrg

Young Ones to Watch: Loren Bontrager of Jamba Juice

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS