The 8 | February 1, 2019

1. Frantastic: There’s a lot of work that goes into buying a franchise. But we have some Frantastic news — there are also a lot of things that don’t matter when you’re looking to become a business owner. Our own Sean Fitzgerald is breaking down those things that candidates don’t need to worry about in a new article on 1851, from the need for a franchise broker to franchising experience and more.

2. Franlebrity: This week’s Franlebrity is tackling a topic that we’ve covered a lot on The 8 — outdated lead generation tactics. In an article that’s now live on 1851, Eric Guess, the director of sales for ExecLeads, breaks down what approaches franchisors should leave in the past, as well as what can be modified to work in the present. One of the biggest tips Guess has to offer is to invest in franchise sales the same way brands invest in existing units. He also notes that digital strategies will unsurprisingly be king moving forward, which is why it’s important for franchisors to understand the digital candidate journey for franchise sales.

3. Frash Money: KFC is making a move that’ll likely cost it a lot of Frash Money in an order to improve the environment. The brand has committed to eliminating non-recoverable or non-reusable plastic-based packaging from its global supply chain by 2025. This means that things like container lids, bags, straws and cutlery will all be changing. KFC also said that as a part of this commitment, franchisees will have the chance to create their own market-specific sustainable packaging agenda.

4. Frant of the Week: Is anyone still keeping up with their New Year’s Resolutions? Odds are, they’ve been buried, burned and forgotten by now because life has taken over and excuses have stepped in. However, according to the latest Frant from No Limit Agency* CEO Nick Powills, the beginning of the year isn’t the only time to set goals. January flew by, and the upcoming months will do the same. That’s why there’s no time like the present to recommit yourself to hustling and getting things done.

5. Franch Forward: 2019 is Franching Forward — and so is news surrounding the 2020 presidential election. This week, former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz announced that he was considering running as an independent. And while his announcement has faced criticism that an independent run could potentially split the vote, Schultz isn’t letting it phase him or his decision.

6. Fran Funny: As you’ve probably heard, we survived a polar vortex this week. Check out The 8 to see how we tried joking about the cold to make it through.

7. Franspiration: “When I started my first franchise, it was ‘throw a bunch of money at it and grow it as quickly as possible,’ but when you do things like that, you don’t have the people in place and you can waste a lot of money.” - Pool Scouts* and Grout Medic franchisee David Muirhead.

8. Franemies vs. Frands: If you’re a fan of sweethearts candies, you’re about to have a new Franemy. The company behind the iconic Valentine’s Day candy has gone out of business, meaning that they’ll be missing from shelves this year. However, there’s hope that they’ll reappear down the line — Spangler Candy Co. is hoping to relaunch sweethearts in time for Valentine’s Day in 2020.