Lesson 10: Franchising

I’ve been fortunate enough to work with several franchises throughout my professional sales career.  My first franchise was HobbyTown USA and my second was RC Hobbies.  I liked how a brand name was build up and licensed.  Not only did that help the franchisees but the franchisor made money too.  As a provider of wholesale r/c helicopters and r/c car accessories I saw first-hand the buying power that a franchise had.  Instead of buying toy helicopters at $19.00 they purchased a half shipping container full at $13.49.  Plus we rebranded under their own private label!  It was a great deal for them!  In order for the different franchise stores to have continuity, they liked to carry products that other franchisees carried.  This is where our battery packs really began to sell like hotcakes! 

Fast forward 8 years and I was selling x-ray interpretation services and I happened to learn about an Urgent Care franchise that was growing rapidly.  Our radiologists would provide professional x-ray over-read interpretations.  Once I was able to navigate the preferred provider program, we were not only converting existing customer business but we were adding on every new franchise as well.  It was great!

The dream company that I will someday own will not only be able to help me provide for my family, it will help me to fill a spiritual craving to have a positive impact on the lives of other people.  It seems that I have business ideas all of the time but one that I’ve been thinking a lot about lately is a neuropathy treatment center.  Mostly I think about this because of my dad.  He’s diabetic and he has diabetic neuropathy and this causes his feet to hurt all of the time.  It’s a challenge to even sleep.  I’d like to be able to help people enjoy a higher quality of life, especially my dad!

This week I was finally able to get more content help for the Shoshone Nursery and Landscape Supply website.  I also got a verbal from the assisted living facility owner this week that he would still like for me to put together a website for him.  I’ve already started researching designs that I think they will like.  Still working on getting paid for the Nursery website but I know that I’ll get there!