What Are the Keys to Franchise Success in India

Written by Sparkleminds

You need to start looking into ways that can increase the chances of success for your franchise. As a business owner, your top priority would be the success of your business and franchise. Here are the key success factors of franchising.

Your Industry of Choice

Regardless of what industry you pick to start your business in. You will need to look for opportunities within that industry that have a low cost of entry. Adding to that, you will need to check that the franchise opportunities available, your budget, and your desired field all meet your expectations.

If the industry you want to franchise in is new to you. You will need to conduct thorough research into that field, so take your time on this.

Franchising Your Business

If you want franchisees that are eager to buy into your business, you need to ensure that your franchise brand is first successful as a business. This can include ensuring that you have first built enough brand value, customer loyalty, and brand recognition.

Another important step to take when franchising your business is to standardize your business process and operations. Establishing a strict operations process across all your outlets can ensure consistency in all the products and services your franchises provide.

All your franchisees that sign up, should be thoroughly trained on these processes.

Having a Strong Franchisee Selection Process

Your franchise success will strongly depend on the individual success of each of your franchise locations, so it is important to make sure that your franchisee has the skills and expertise to compete and run their franchises. To ensure that their franchises are a success.

To do that, you need to find the right franchisees and have a strong selection process.

Profitability of Your Business

You need to ensure that your business will produce enough profit for the short term and long term. The profitability of your business can depend on several factors: current trends, current economic conditions, your net worth, what industry you pick, your business model, and your franchise models.

To achieve this you need to conduct a thorough analysis of your business plan and operations. This might also be a good time to call in professional help to assess your business profile.

Franchise Sustainability

This mainly comes down to whether or not you think your business will stand the test of time. As a franchisor, you need a business plan that ensures this outcome. You need to ask yourself questions like, “Is my business plan adaptable and robust?”, “Can this business sustain itself in the long term?”, and “How can I build a robust franchise business model?”

To ensure high returns it’s important to invest in robust systems like proper supply chains and build a strong network of communications with your franchise partners. Having proper franchise management software in this regard will help your business immensely. 

Brand Recognition

A franchise’s greatest asset is its brand recognition. This is what will get you customers and sales. Normally, building a loyal customer base will take years and most businesses have a hard time developing repeat customers. 

Your business must provide products and services that are in demand outside of your locality. A widespread appeal can usually be achieved by excellent customer service or going the extra mile when providing your services.

The more people your business attracts the more brand recognition your business gets. Which will increase your brand value as well.

To Summarise

These are just some key things to keep in mind if you are looking to franchise your business. These factors are responsible for the growth of the franchise business and its continued success.

If you’re looking to start franchising your business and need some professional help, then contact sparkle★minds today!

Loading

How to Grow My Jewellery Business in India? Should I Franchise?

Written by Sparkleminds

The Jewellery Business in India

Are you thinking about starting a jewellery business in India? You’ve come to the right place. The jewellery business in India is a very profitable sector to get into for many entrepreneurs. It’s been reported that Indian gems and jewellery exports are worth $39.14 billion today. India also ranks first when it comes to cut and polished diamonds and second in gold.

In this blog, we will discuss everything you need to know about starting and growing your jewellery business. We will also tell you how to franchise your jewellery business if that’s your goal.

Starting My Jewellery Business in India

Indians have a huge appetite for gold jewellery. In India gold isn’t just ornamental, it’s considered an investment by most Indians. If you are thinking about starting your jewellery business, you need to choose what type of jewellery business it is going to be. It can be divided into five types:

  1. Retail Jewellery Shops
  2. Online Jewellery Retail
  3. Gold Trading
  4. Gold Importers
  5. Jewellery Manufacturers

Deciding on what type of business you’re going to start is your first step. Most entrepreneurs choose retail jewellery shops since they’re the most popular and profitable choice. In fact, most Indian customers prefer local jewellery shops to branded jewellery. As a matter of fact, nearly 96% of jewellery retail shops are family-owned local businesses.

How to Grow My Jewellery Business in India

There are three ways you can grow your jewellery business. You can either choose,

  • Traditional Store Models,
  • Online Stores, or
  • Hybrid Store Models

All three are great ways to expand your jewellery business.

How to Grow My Online Jewellery Business in India

Online Jewellery businesses are run through online stores and applications. This model can be convenient and profitable if you’re starting a home-based business. Since the pandemic, many businesses have moved online to sell most of their products and the jewellery retail businesses are no different.

These are some steps you can take when starting your online jewellery business:

  1. Have Quality Products And Services
  2. Have A Definite Business Model In Mind
  3. Understand Your Market And Target Demographic
  4. Set Up Your Website
  5. Consistently Update And Optimise Your Website
  6. Have A Good Social Media Presence

The key point here is, building trust with your customers. Especially if you are selling gold or any other precious metal jewellery online. This is what will help you the most in the long term.

For example, brands like BlueStone which started as an online business have their jewellery as made-to-order pieces. They let customers shortlist pieces and provide buy-at-home services where customers can finalise their purchases.

Should I Franchise My Business In India?

Now that you have your business up and running, you’re thinking that maybe you want to start franchising your business in India. There are ways you can do this. One is by using a franchise consultancy agency like Sparkle Minds. This will help you get on the right track and give you and your business the best shot at success. 

How to Make My Jewellery Business into a Franchise in India

The next steps to start franchising your jewellery business would be:

  1. Getting Your Jewellery Business Registered
  2. GST Registration For Your Jewellery Business
  3. Getting Bis Certificate For Your Jewellery Business
  4. Getting A Bank Account For You Jewellery Business
  5. Recruiting Employees For Your Jewellery Business
  6. Marketing Your Business As A Jewellery Business and Franchise
  7. Drafting your Franchise Agreement Forms and Franchise Disclosure Documents
  8. Managing Your Jewellery Businesses

Jewellery Business Models – Franchise Models in India

Once you have all your initial steps in order, you need a proper jewellery business plan. You need to decide what type of franchise model you are going to have for your stores. As stated in the previous section, there are three main models.

Traditional Stores – Physical Locations

These are traditional, stand-alone buildings. Most franchises use this model to expand their offline presence to other areas and locations. These stores can either be franchised stores or company-owned stores. This will be completely up to you as the franchisor.

Online Stores

These are great for businesses that want to build an online presence and increase their sales. Online stores allow businesses to be readily available to customers no matter where they are. They are also used by most businesses to track customer orders and provide door-to-door delivery services.

Hybrid Model Franchises

This model allows for a mix of both traditional and online stores. A lot of retail franchises today have shifted to using this model. Mainly due to the pandemic and the effect it had on businesses that relied solely on physical stores. This model gives you more flexibility when running your business and franchises.

Conclusion

Franchising your jewellery business, or any business for that matter can be complicated and tedious. Getting professional help can be what allows your business to succeed in today’s market. This is why seeking professional help from consultancy agencies like Sparkle Minds can really help you on your journey.

If you’re interested in starting your jewellery business or franchising your jewellery business in India, connect with Sparkleminds today! 

Loading

How Did the Tim Horton’s Franchise Get So Successful?

Written by Sparkleminds

Learn how this brand carved out a niche by appealing to the Canadian identity

Tim Hortons is a Canadian restaurant chain named after and founded by Canadian professional ice hockey player, Tim Gilbert Horton. The restaurant was founded in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1964.

The first restaurant set up was actually a donut and coffee shop. Its original name was Tim Hortons Donuts, which was then later changed to Tim Hortons. The business soon grew into a popular franchise and expanded rapidly across Canada. The franchise’s greatest success was after Horton’s death in 1974, it had 40 locations, and by the early 20th century it had 3,500 restaurants in Canada and the United States.

The brand appeals to a broad range of people, with its menu items, like its premium coffee – served either hot or cold, specialty drinks and teas, smoothies, fresh baked goods, Paninis, grilled sandwiches, soups, and other foods. Today Tim Horton’s has more than 4,700 franchised restaurants in Canada, the United States, and around the world.

Tim Horton’s Business Model and the Tim Horton’s Franchise

Tim Horton’s has a unique business model that’s helped the brand create a 50-year-long history of success. This business is applied to the United States market. This is because many other franchise brands in the US share a similar framework, like Dunkin’ Donuts, Starbucks, and even McDonald’s.

Meanwhile, the franchise business model has been wildly successful for Tim Horton’s as a brand. Almost 99% of its restaurants are franchises with only a small percentage of them being company-owned restaurants. Which are primarily used for training purposes.

The company had also previously partnered with Cold Stone Ice Cream to sell ice creams from their chains as well.

Tim Horton’s In India

The Canadian restaurant franchise is on track to open 120 stores over 36 months in India as of 2022. Navin Gurnaney, the CEO of Tim Hortons India, said the brand is focused on expansion in North India and that they plan to enter markets like Mumbai, Pune, and Surat. They opened their first two stores in August 2022, and currently, the franchise operates 6 stores in the country.

In total, the company plans to open 250 restaurants over the next five years. The first year focused on setting up good foundations in the Indian market. This was made possible by the franchise entering into a master franchise agreement with AG Cafe, Apparel Group, and Gateway Partners to open its stores across India.

On average, a Tim Hortons franchise costs about ₹2 Crore to ₹2.5 Crore to build. The chain sells coffee and baked goods, with beverages accounting for 60% of its sales.

Tim Horton’s Franchise Models

Standard Shop

A typical Tim Hortons restaurant. It provides all the same services as a full-scale Tim Hortons restaurant complete with a dining area in its restaurants for its customers and a drive-thru facility. This can be a stand-alone building, an in-line store, or a store within another facility. 

Non-Standard/Kiosk

These are a little more versatile and can be installed in almost any location. Non-standard models come in two types: a built-in kiosk and a full-service cart. The built-in kiosk is more for a full menu line which includes coffee, sandwiches, and baked goods and its size varies depending on the location. The full-service cart is fully customizable and can be modified to suit the location, size, and customer demands in that location.

Tim Horton’s Franchise Agreement

A Tim Horton’s franchise agreement form includes an FDD document and is only applicable for a single unit of the franchise. Any subsequent units franchised after would need their own franchise agreements and FDD documents.

Tim Horton’s Franchise Disclosure Document

A Tim Horton’s franchise disclosure document lasts an average of 20 years for a standard location and non-standard models can have terms that average around 5 – 10 years, based on their locations. Renewal or extensions of these terms are not applicable for either model.

The Tim Horton’s Marketing Strategy – Selling a Feeling

Tim Horton’s is associated with all things Canada and their marketing strategy focuses on selling us the “Canadian Identity”. They use an appeal to emotion and identity in their commercials to connect with their customers and market their products.

Their commercials don’t directly try to sell you anything. Their products, or more specifically their coffee is featured as a subtle piece in the background. For example, their in the most famous commercial – Proud Fathers. The coffee isn’t made to be the obvious focal point of the commercial. The feeling of belonging, familial bonds, tradition, and of course a newfound Canadian identity are their main themes.

In other words, their commercials are a great example of this strategy being used in real-time, so make sure to check them out.

Conclusion

Tim Horton’s is Canada’s largest quick-service chain, also now present in India. They’re a brand that’s truly Canadian and a good example of a brand that focuses on, “Selling a Feeling”. Through their heartwarming ads on the Canadian identity and perseverance.

When Tim Horton’s can do it, why can’t you? You can be the next franchise successful global brand, never underestimate the power of franchising in India. Connect with sparkle★minds to be the Global brand today!

Loading

The KFC Franchise – Rise to Success

Written by Sparkleminds

A franchise that’s changed the way we eat fried chicken

KFC is a brand that’s reached nearly every corner of the world and has been around for more than five decades. Founded by Colonel Sanders, KFC is a leading fast-food franchise that’s estimated to have sold nearly 20 billion pieces of fried chicken!

KFC is a brand that led with a focus on fried chicken at a time when there was an abundance of hamburgers. While looking for suitable restaurants to franchise his recipe, Sanders and his wife Claudia closed down their old restaurant and opened a new one in Shelbyville in 1959. He visited other restaurants quite often to franchise his recipe. But after some time, the franchises started to visit him instead.

In this blog, we’ll discuss the KFC franchise model, some of its franchise agreement forms, and the marketing strategies it’s used over the years.

The KFC Franchise and the KFC Business Model

In a franchise system, everything is documented. Which was one of the main factors that allowed KFC to succeed. By having strict standards and procedures set in place they’ve been able to set up a proven system for success. For example, some of its operating procedures are,

  • The chicken has to be cooked in a pressure cooker and left for 15 minutes
  • The size of each chicken part must be at least 8 cm wide and weigh 300 grams
  • The chicken must be marinated overnight
  • The age of the chicken has to be between 60-70 days

Systems like these provide structure and can streamline operations, which in turn helps your business run more efficiently.

The franchise business model was a huge success for KFC. They were the first brand to expand its franchised restaurants internationally. And opened their first outlets in Canada, and then later, in the UK, Mexico, and Jamaica by the mid-1960s.

KFC in India

When KFC entered India in 1998, it was met with protests from farmers, environmentalists, customers, and doctors. So KFC began to investigate the issue more closely. Its findings revealed that the brand was heavily perceived as a restaurant that only served chicken. Which went against most Indians’ eating preferences at the time. Furthermore, the brand was also thought to be expensive. Some other drawbacks were the brand’s positioning. According to analysts, the brand marketing itself as a family restaurant did not come out clearly in its communications.

So the brand decided to revamp its menu. Instead of coleslaw it added fresh salads and introduced a new Zinger Burger to its menus. The brand also included more vegetarian options to cater to the Indian customer base. And along the way, it also changed its approach. By catering to families who not only seek food but also recreation. They introduced a ‘Kids Fun Corner’ recreational area for children inside their restaurants.

KFC Franchise Agreement

The KFC Master Franchise Agreement Form

As a franchise, KFC encourages its franchisees to set up master franchises in locations and territories approved by the company.

KFC Franchise Disclosure Document

The KFC FDD document outlines that all KFC outlets will either operate as dine-in or carry-out outlets and have menus that are approved by the KFC brand.

The KFC Marketing Strategy – Growth Factors and Success

KFC realized that time means money. And serving their customers quickly would encourage their customers to visit their establishments again. This quick service strategy is one of the main reasons for KFC’s high customer retention. And the founder realized the importance of adopting new technology for the company’s success. Like using the pressure cooker – to prepare their chicken, weeks after its introduction.

In February 2011, KFC announced that it would be replacing its “Finger-Lickin’ Good” slogan with ‘So Good’. Rather than just being a tagline, the company stated that it wanted to move forward with the new slogan to refer to the brand as a whole, not just its fried chicken. An understandable move, but also a shame to lose something so unique to the brand after all these years.

Looking Forward – What to Expect

KFC is not a brand that has based its growth on laurels. From the beginning, they’ve adopted new technology and pioneered practices that have kept them ahead of the game. The brand has embraced new technology like QR codes, voice-activated devices, and social media platforms that help their staff further improve their workforce skills.

Recently KFC announced that they would be introducing more vegan alternatives to their menus and have been trialing plant-based chicken in cities like Atlanta, Georgia. Through working with companies like Beyond Meat – a plant-based protein company, they offer customers free samples and note their feedback. 

Conclusion

From its humble beginnings, KFC has grown into the world’s most valuable fast-food brand & the success story of its founder and the face of the brand – Colonel Sanders, has served as an inspiration for many business owners and entrepreneurs over the years.

If you’re interested in franchising your business visit sparkle★minds and sign up today.

Loading

Do you Know about Chick-Fil-A’s Franchise Success ?

Written by Sparkleminds

– How this tiny fast-food restaurant from Georgia grew to be the third-largest fast-food chain in the world.

Chick-Fil-A has gained a cult following over the years for its amazing chicken sandwiches. Both the brand and franchise have fine-tuned their approach to both fast food and customer service. From closing their stores on Sundays to dominating the top earning spot in 27 out of 50 states in the US.

In this blog, we’ll explore Chick-Fil-A’s history, its franchise models, the business strategies it employs, and some of its marketing campaigns.

A Little History about Chick-Fil-A and Its Founder

Chick-Fil-A was founded by Truett Cathy. His early years were spent helping his mom cook and clean for those that boarded their home. And Truett was said to have gained his entrepreneurial spirit from selling bottles of Coca-Cola out of a wagon. Later, Truett and his brother Ben opened The Dwarf Grill in Hapeville, Georgia, in 1946.

After Truett developed a method to make fried chicken in a pressure cooker for the same amount of time it would take to make a hamburger. And their first restaurant success, Chick-Fil-A Inc. was trademarked in 1961. 

The diner’s success gave Truett the push he needed to expand the business further & in 1967, Truett opened the first Chick-Fil-A restaurant in Atlanta’s Greenbriar Mall, pioneering the concept of in-mall restaurants.

Throughout his life, Truett invested his time in more than just business and believed that he was in the business of people, not chicken. While he never attended college, he believed that higher education was important and used Chick-Fil-A as a platform to give over $35 million in college scholarships to Chick-fil-A Team Members.

Now, Chick-Fil-A has over 2,250 Restaurants in 47 states. And some of the more unique restaurants opened by Truett over the years were Truett’s Grill, Truett’s Chick-fil-A, Truett’s Pizza Café, and Truett’s Luau.

Chick-Fil-A Franchise

Chick-Fil-A’s corporate culture is based heavily on conservative religious values. Which may be seen as one of Chick-Fil-A’s best assets by some or more as a point of contention by others. A lot of people these days tend to gravitate towards more open and acceptable company cultures. Which is something to keep in mind if you’re starting a business or franchise.

That being said, corporate culture and values are important to look into before starting or investing in any franchise. Because if the company’s values conflict with yours it may cause problems in the future. So if religious conservatism isn’t your cup of tea, don’t get discouraged. There are other options out there.

Chick-Fil-A Franchise Models

The Aggressive Franchise Model (1980 – 2013)

Chick-Fil-A’s earliest franchise models focused heavily on expanding into new locations and opening suburban mall food courts. This practice held on from the 1970s to the 1980s. From the start, Truett was intent on being open 6 days a week for 24 hours, except on Christmas and Thanksgiving. This policy was more attributed to Truett’s Southern Baptist views.

Although, he was noted to have said that he was simply too tired to work on a Sunday after working every day of the week. And he wouldn’t expect his workers to do what he couldn’t either.

Primary Model (2013 – Today)

Now, Chick-Fil-A restaurants are located in independent and non-stand-alone locations like malls, and online units. Or even in satellite units where the brand has direct access to the site owners or managers.

The franchisees are required to focus solely on the Chick-Fil-A franchise, so if you’re a serial entrepreneur or business owner this may not be right for you. One possible reason for this could be, is that the company doesn’t want to focus on creating conglomerates. They prefer quality over quantity for their franchises. Because each Chick-Fil-A restaurant is independently owned and operated, serving the community it resides in.

And as everyone knows – the stores are famously closed on Sundays.

 

Why Does It Cost Only $10k To Own A Chick-Fil-A Franchise?

In America, it costs upwards of $2 million to develop and open a franchise, especially for big brands like KFC or McDonald’s. And corporations won’t even look at your applications unless you have a net worth of at least $1 million. But at Chick-Fil-A, things are done a little differently.

1.         It has no minimum net worth requirement

2.         It has the lowest franchise fee, for a fast-food restaurant chain ($10k)

3.         It has the lowest total investment cost for a franchisee ($10k)

4.         It charges the highest royalty (15%)

The reason? It’s because Chick-Fil-A (the franchisor) covers almost all the costs for opening a new restaurant (which could range from $343k to $2m). The franchisee only needs to pay the $10k fee. And Chick-Fil-A pays for and retains ownership of everything – real estate, equipment, inventory, etc.

So while a franchise like KFC takes 5% of sales, Chick-Fil-A takes 15%, and 50% of any profit.

Chick-Fil-A’s Marketing Strategy and Growth

Chick-Fil-A’s main marketing strategy starts with its franchisees. John Hamburger, the founder of industry trade publication – Franchise Times Corp., stated that the franchise aims, “To put somebody in the store close to the customer”. Adding that, “They’re dealing with the customer, and they’re in the community. They’re active in the community. And that’s what Chick-fil-A does.” The company also encourages its franchisees to get involved with their communities through various local organizations.

Even today Chick-Fil-A only opens 100 stores a year.

The Brand’s Slogan and Name

When first opening its stores back in 1967, Truett was looking for a name that reflected the company’s top-quality chicken sandwiches every time customers visited their restaurant. And the trademark attorney he sought out also encouraged him to choose a unique-sounding name.

He finally chose Chick-Fil-A – ‘Chick’ to represent the restaurant’s signature item and ‘fil-A’ as a play on the word filet and he replaced the ‘et‘ with an A to refer to the Grade A quality of the chicken.

And lastly, Chick-Fil-A’s famous slogan, “We didn’t invent the chicken, just the chicken sandwich” was trademarked in 1961. Later in 1995, the brand also introduced its “Eat Mor Chikin” cows campaign. This slogan in particular has stuck with the brand for nearly 20 years. And they’ve continued to promote their bovine mascot through cow-themed mugs, T-shirts, stuffed animals, refrigerator magnets, and laptop cases all on their company website.

Consumer-Focused Strategy

For nearly 8 years in a row, Chick-Fil-A has maintained its position as America’s favorite restaurant, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Even Though fast food has declined in popularity, Chick-Fil-A has managed to maintain its ACSI score of 83, the highest score on the restaurant survey.

The brand specifically trains its employees to go the extra mile when it comes to customer interactions. This ties in with its ‘customer-first’ mantra and the chain’s founders have held onto the philosophy that the most sustainable way to do business is to provide the best possible experience for customers.

The Future – What Can We Look Forward To?

Recently Chick-Fil-A has led the trend in its corporate response to the coronavirus. The company closed its stores on March 15, 2020, during the pandemic. It provided sick leaves for its employees with confirmed COVID-19 cases. Causing several other fast-food chains to follow suit.

As of 2022, Chick-Fil-A earned the No. 1 spot as America’s most-loved fast-food chain. Its impressive customer service played a huge role in its success. According to BuzzFeed, Chick-Fil-A is expected to become the world’s third-largest fast-food chain, surpassing Wendy’s, Taco Bell, and Burger King.

Conclusion

As stated Chick-Fil-A is a brand that heavily focuses on customer service and interaction to drive sales. And it is also a brand that centers itself on building connections with communities and local organizations in the locations it chooses to set up its stores.

If you want to build a successful franchise model like Chick-Fil-A in India, visit sparkle★minds and talk to our experts now!

Loading

Subway’s Secret to Franchise Success

Written by Sparkleminds

A tell-all about how the founder – Fred DeLuca, grew the brand from its humble beginnings to the world’s largest fast-food chain.

Since its humble beginnings in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Subway has achieved worldwide success. The brand has over 21,000 franchises operating across 100 countries. More outlets than its competitor McDonald’s. And is about as ubiquitous as McDonald’s and KFC.

So, how is Subway so successful?

Let’s take a deeper look into the brand’s story.

Starting From Scratch – Subway’s History

Subway has an inspiring origin story. Fred DeLuca – the founder, originally did not want to become a businessman but a medical doctor. To raise funds for his college tuition he decided to open up a restaurant. With an initial investment of $1000 from Dr. Peter Buck – a family friend, 17-year-old Fred DeLuca opened Pete’s Super Submarines in 1965. The restaurant served freshly-made, customizable, and affordable sandwiches to its customers.

On the first day, the shop sold 312 sandwiches, each of them costing less than $1. The long oblong-shaped bread was a novelty of the shop they’d hoped would be popular among the local customers.

And they formed a Doctor’s Association to oversee the running of their shops too – a tongue-in-cheek reference to Fred’s medical aspirations and Dr. Buck’s doctorate.

The Subway Franchise

The two had an initial goal of opening 32 restaurants in 10 years. But for a fast-growing company, this wasn’t a reasonable goal at the time. By 1974, Fred and Dr. Buck owned and operated 16 submarine sandwich shops in Connecticut. This led the two of them to turn their restaurant into a franchise. Because they knew it would be the only way to get them the rapid growth they wanted.

Fred and Dr. Buck weren’t experts in their fields when it came to expanding their business. But this didn’t stop them from expanding their knowledge and learning how to make their restaurant a success.

The Brand’s Growth

When the company first started franchising in 1974, it had a modest goal of expanding its reach. Eight years later, in the mid-1980s, the company grew from having 16 stores to 200 & from there it quickly expanded to 1,000 stores in 1987 and reached 10,000 in 1995. In 2002, they finally managed to pass McDonald’s store count in the US. And in 2010 they’d surpassed McDonald’s global store count.

At the time McDonald’s had nearly 8,000 franchised stores. And Fred DeLuca, the founder, set a modest goal of reaching 5,000 stores by 1984. By 1995, they had 10,000 stores, not 8,000. 

Subway in India

In India, Subway set up its first stores in New Delhi in 200 & today it’s got over 590 franchised stores across 70 Indian cities. Subway’s unique systems and easy-to-follow structures have allowed entrepreneurs of various backgrounds access to the brand.

And over the years Subway has adapted to the numerous regulatory changes and consumer expectations of the Indian market. Making it a great choice among business owners and entrepreneurs.

Subway’s Business Model

“I tell everybody there are only three things that we do. We build sales at the store level, we build profits at the store level, and we build more stores. The first two things go in tandem, of course. It’s pretty tough to build profits without sales.” – Fred DeLuca for Inc. Magazine.

Subway’s Ethos

The company’s slogan – Eat Fresh, calls attention to how all its bread is freshly baked and its sandwiches are made with fresh ingredients. And Subway has been making its signature bread from scratch since the 1980s.

Primary Model

Subway is one of the cheapest brands to the franchise. The company’s business model primarily revolves around franchises and non-traditional units. They operate with a focus on keeping costs down and profits up. And most of its growth comes from its franchise-only model.

The company recognized that a franchise-only model would motivate entrepreneurs to do their best since the store’s success meant their success. Especially when their livelihoods depended on it.

As a result, the company continues to use a 100% franchise model to this day.

Non-Traditional Units

Through the use of proprietary models, the company has been able to explore different strategies and potential growth opportunities in the country. This allowed them to plan store openings in places where they can have a large number of franchised restaurants.

One good example of this would be a franchisee who set up a subway inside a convenience store. An unconventional step that introduced a low cost of entry for the brand and benefited from other convenience stores in the area.  

Furthermore, non-traditional outlets (think airports, transportation hubs, and supermarkets) allowed them to access more customers. People who previously, didn’t consider Subway as an option. This helps in increasing brand awareness. By breaking out of the norm and finding new opportunities.

Subway Agreement Forms

Let’s take a brief look into some of the paperwork surrounding the Subway franchise.

Subway Franchise Disclosure Document

What Is A Franchise Disclosure Document?

A franchise Disclosure Document or FDD for short is a legal document that’s drafted by a lawyer and provided by the franchisor to the franchisee. The FDD generally includes 23 sections that detail terms like fees, the franchisor-franchisee legal relationship, and the company’s background. 

What Is In The Subway Franchise Disclosure Document?

If you were wondering what a Subway FDD looks like, here’s a brief outline of its table of contents.

Table of Contents

  1. THE FRANCHISOR AND ANY PARENTS, PREDECESSORS, AND AFFILIATES
  2. BUSINESS EXPERIENCE 
  3. LITIGATION 
  4. BANKRUPTCY
  5. INITIAL FEES 
  6. OTHER FEES 
  7. ESTIMATED INITIAL INVESTMENT 
  8. RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES 
  9. FRANCHISEE’S OBLIGATIONS 
  10. FINANCING 
  11. FRANCHISOR’S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING.
  12. TERRITORY 
  13. TRADEMARKS 
  14. PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS, AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION 
  15. OBLIGATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE FRANCHISE BUSINESS 
  16. RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT THE FRANCHISEE MAY SELL 
  17. RENEWAL, TERMINATION, TRANSFER, AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION 
  18. PUBLIC FIGURES 
  19. FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REPRESENTATIONS 
  20. OUTLETS AND FRANCHISE INFORMATION 
  21. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
  22. CONTRACTS 
  23. RECEIPTS

Subway Operations Manual

One of Subway’s big secrets to success lies in its operations manual. And the simplicity of Subway’s operation manual is what makes it ingenious. 

What Is An Operations Manual?

It’s the document that allows Subway to run like the well-oiled machine that it is. It includes instructions on day-to-day operations, rules, and regulations for the franchisee and training materials, as its main talking points.

Let’s take a look at the Subway Training Manual,

Table of Contents 

  1. INTRODUCTION
  2. CHAPTER 1: THE TRAINING PROCESS
  3. TRAINING: DAY 1
  4. TRAINING: DAY 2
  5. TRAINING: DAY 3
  6. TRAINING: DAY 4
  7. TRAINING: DAY 5
  8. CHAPTER 2: RULES AND REGULATIONS
  9. HANDWASHING
  10. DRESS CODE 
  11. PUNCTUALITY
  12. WRITE-UPS
  13. SUB-WAY
  14. CLEANING
  15. CUSTOMER SERVICE 
  16. RESPECTING YOUR FELLOW EMPLOYEES
  17. CASH.
  18. SCHEDULE
  19. CHAPTER 3: MENU ITEMS 
  20. VEGETABLES
  21. MEATS
  22. OTHER
  1. CONCLUSION 
  2. INDEX 

By having only three main sections in its training manual, Subway has been able to refine and simplify its training process while streamlining its customer service. 

Branding

The Subway Logo

Unlike a lot of brands that revamp their logos with the times, the Subway logo has remained the same since its introduction. The arrows present on the logo refer to the entry and exit of the Subway store. Altogether the brand has managed to create and sustain a logo that’s remained consistent and relevant since its introduction.

New Menu Options

The 6-inch, lunchtime classic was initially called the Snak when it was added to the massive menu in 1977. Aside from sandwiches and foot-longs the menu also offers salads, wraps as well as donuts, muffins, and cookies. And of course, Subway’s signature model – The create your own sub sandwich.

In some countries, the brand has also included flatbreads, English muffins, and breakfast sandwiches in their menus to cater to local customers.

Recently, the company has shifted its focus from the customizable assembly line model to sizing down its menu and offering sandwiches with a broad appeal. So it required minimal decision-making on the customer’s part. This change was made to streamline the production process and improve customer satisfaction. This has been reported to be the brand’s most significant menu update in the last 60 years.

Subway’s Marketing Campaigns

In 2000, Subway introduced Jared Fogle during one of its marketing campaigns. He used to weigh 425 pounds and lost 200 of those pounds when he was on a diet of subway sandwiches. Fogle was often seen in a lot of ads holding up an old pair of his pants to show how much weight he had lost on his Subway-only diet.

This did wonder for the brand’s name, which at the time was promoting itself as a healthier alternative to fast food restaurants. This was in part due to diet fads and changing eating trends of the early 90s and 2000s. Subway released an ad that involved seven low-fat sandwiches and compared them to other fast food options like burgers and tacos. By tapping into customer preferences and the current trends of that time, Subway was able to leverage its success. Making them the largest restaurant chain and even surpassing McDonald’s in 2002 and 2010.

Adapting To Covid-19

With social distancing and stay-at-home regulations in place, a lot of restaurants and on-site businesses were struggling to stay afloat. However, Subway saw an opportunity. They introduced services like allowing customers to purchase ingredients (like fresh produce or packaged meats) and offering curbside pickups or contactless delivery options. 

And in honor of National Nurses Week, they donated 6-inch subs to healthcare workers with every Subway order on the post mates app. Subway has launched many programs during the pandemic to help uplift communities. By partnering with Feeding America they donated a free meal with every foot-long purchase. And they also donated food across the US, UK, Ireland, Latin America, and New Zealand.

The Future – Some Brand Updates and Campaigns

Following the death of their previous CEOs, Subway welcomed a new CEO – John Chidsey. Who kickstarted the brand’s transformation journey. Subway launched a new healthy eating program to promote its low-fat sandwiches as a part of its Eat Fresh Refresh campaign. As a call-back to its Refresh tagline, the company has also had a complete relaunch of its menu coupled with a revamped mobile app.

The Subway Series Campaign also did wonders for the brand’s sales. Trevor Haynes, president of Subway North America stated, “The results from the Subway Series launch and the positive reaction from guests and franchisees demonstrates that our transformation strategy is working,” on the launch earlier this year.

And as of 2022, Subway has launched a Subway cares foundation as an independent, non-profit, global organization. To support today’s youth through hunger relief, tuition assistance, mentoring, and leadership programs.

In the future, the company will continue to embrace the digital age, pursue sustainability, and handle any curve balls thrown its way.

Conclusion

Subway is a brand and franchise that’s had its ups and downs like any successful organization. Through consistent efforts to adapt to changing trends, and proper planning, they’ve managed to come out on top every time.

You can be the next franchise successful brand like Subway, connect with sparkle★minds to know more about franchising your business.

Loading

Do you know the franchise success story of McDonald’s?

Written by Sparkleminds

McDonald’s is a brand and franchise that’s reached worldwide popularity. Today, the brand is synonymous with burgers, fries, and shakes. Coupled with its iconic logo, anyone can recognize the brand no matter where they are.

Let’s talk about the MC Donald’s franchise success of the brand

In this blog, we’ll discuss the brand’s history, the founder of the brand, some of the business models McDonald’s has used for its franchisees, and its marketing strategies. 

 

A Brief Introduction to the Brand and Franchise

The McDonald’s corporation is a North American fast-food organization. Its best known for its burgers, cheeseburgers, and fries, but the menu also includes other popular items like its Happy Meal, that’s a hit with its younger customers, the Big Mac, the McFlurry, or even its separate breakfast menu.

And in light of changing preferences, McDonald’s has recently introduced fruit and vegetable choices in its meal packages. By bringing in healthier options the brand hopes to inspire healthy-eating choices in its younger customers.  

A History of McDonald’s

McDonald’s was first established in 1940 by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald in California, United States. Originally a drive-in, the brothers decided to revamp the business in 1948. The new model was designed to produce huge amounts of food at low prices. To achieve this, the brothers limited the menu, only offering a select few items, and developed a high-Speed Service System.

This system allowed them to introduce a self-service counter and eliminate the need for staff. The burgers were made ahead of time and placed under heating lamps which allowed them to charge 15 cents a burger – almost half the price of competing restaurants at the time.

Ray Kroc

Ray Kroc, the former CEO of McDonald’s was originally a salesman who supplied appliances for the restaurant. In 1954, he visited the shop to see how one small store can sell so many milkshakes and realized the potential the brand held.

Kroc became a franchising agent for the brand and launched McDonald’s System Inc., which later came to be known as McDonald’s Corporations. In 1955, he opened the first franchise east of the Mississippi River in Des Plaines, Illinois. And in 1961, he bought out the McDonald’s brothers for $2.7 million.

The Brand’s Mission and Ethos

McDonald’s mission of “Quality, Service, Cleanliness, and Value”, is what has kept the brand in the business. The McDonald’s franchises focus heavily on five fundamentals – people, products, place, price, and promotion. Along with their business strategy “Plan to Win”.

And the McDonald’s business model depends heavily on three core principles – retaining, regaining, and converting. It focuses on retaining old customers, regaining lost trust, and converting casual customers into regular/loyal ones. Additionally, it’s embraced digital advancements and food delivery. The company has always been open to reshaping its customer experience through innovation and human endeavors.

The McDonald’s Franchise System

Kroc soon realized that franchisees were integral to the success of the brand and launched a franchise system. As he once stated, “McDonald’s can’t be successful unless our franchisees are successful.”

He prepared exact standards of how each McDonald’s was supposed to be run from cleaning to food preparation. And to ensure consistency, he created Hamburger University in 1961, to train franchisees.   

He eventually changed the format of the restaurants by adding counter staff to take customer orders and also added a drive-through. An addition that’s become prevalent in almost all fast-food franchises today.  

What Does Owning a McDonald’s Franchise Look Like?

McDonald’s opened its first international outlet in 1967 in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. And by the early 21st century the brand had over 34,000 outlets across 115 countries worldwide. Growth was so quick that it became the most popular family restaurant, with its affordable food, separate menu options catered towards children, and flavors that appealed to nearly everyone.

With over 60 years in the business, as a franchise, McDonald’s has a proven framework for success. It’s a classic example of a heavily franchised brand. As of 2021, over 56% of its revenue came from franchised restaurants. While the company owns and operates (COCO model) a small percentage of its restaurants, McDonald’s plans to reduce that number to 5%, with a long-term goal to transition towards 95% of its outlets being franchised (FOFO model) restaurants.

In 2021 the company generated over $23 billion in revenues, of which $9.78 billion was from company-owned restaurants and $13 billion from franchised restaurants. And the success of their overseas franchise models has resulted in the term, “McDonaldization”

Developing McDonald’s Marketing Plan

In less than ten years, after Kroc became the sole owner of the franchise, the number of outlets exceeded 1,000. Through its success, the company began trading publicly in 1965.

The first ever McDonald’s mascot was a burger wearing a cooking cap who was alluded to as Speedee. In 1962 the golden arches were introduced and have continued to be the face of the brand, even today. The logo was inspired by the tall yellow arches that dominated earlier McDonald’s rooftops.

And lastly, in 1965, their newest mascot, Ronald McDonald was introduced. However, the growing negative perception of clowns in the 21st century resulted in them sidelining the character.

The most notable addition to the brand was the introduction of the Big Mac to the menu. The iconic hamburger was an instant hit and the company’s top-selling product, after its French fries. These changes helped the brand grow and gain popularity among the masses.

Criticisms Leveled at the Brand

The success of McDonald’s also brought its fair share of criticism of the brand. A lot of this was concerned with the brand’s association with the global increase in obesity. In the early 2000s, various lawsuits and complaints were filed and registered against the company in the United States, alleging that its food caused health problems. The company also received a lot of negative press from the documentary Super-Size Me (2004), in which the filmmaker documented a decline in his health while on a diet of only McDonald’s foods.

In response, the brand started developing vegan options for its menus, like McVegan, P.L.T., and McPlant. And in 2017 the company released its first plant-based burger. In 2018, the company announced that it had stopped using preservatives in most of its burgers and eliminated its super-sized menu options. And its US and Canadian branches stopped using Trans fats in a number of its food items. However, this did little to curb the health concerns regarding the brand.

Additionally, the company also faced a spike in the number of calls to increase employee wages. The term “McJob” was added to Merriam-Webster to mean a low-paying job. Recently, the company has come under fire, similar to other large corporations for its negative impact on the environment, especially concerning greenhouse gas emissions.

In answer to this, the company increased employee wages and launched initiatives to cut down on its carbon footprint. Like launching programs to move towards using recyclable bags, utensils, and other items. And making moves to be increasingly transparent in their production processes.

The Future of McDonald’s

As of 2022, McDonald’s is still a leading franchised brand in the fast food industry. Frankly, there’s little doubt about the company’s ability to attract customers. Even during a bad year, McDonald’s still makes a profit.

As for the future expansion of the brand, McDonald’s has already been taking steps to improve upon its already successful business model. This can be evidenced by the introduction of automated ordering stations in their outlets, digital or contactless payment options, and more plant-based food items in their menu to cater to a more diverse customer base.

They also plan on remodeling their restaurants to cut down on carbon emissions by either replacing their equipment or altering their practices. McDonald’s plans to fully achieve company-wide, net zero emissions by 2030.

In Conclusion

McDonald’s is a great business model for startups or experienced entrepreneurs to read up on if you’re currently looking up references to start your franchise. It’s got a proven working model and over 60 years’ worth of experience in the industry to back it up. All of which can be evidenced by the franchise’s worldwide success.

So what are you waiting for? Take action now! Your business can be the next global franchise successful brand. Start franchising today with sparkle★minds. Connect with us now!

Loading

Why Are American Brands More Successful In Franchising?

Written by Sparkleminds

American brands have always had a huge presence in the Indian market. This includes American franchises and 40% of all American businesses are franchises. In India, the franchising business is growing at 30% – 40% annually and is the second-largest franchise market in the world after the US.

In this article, we have found out why American brands are more successful in franchising, and how international brand franchises differ from Indian franchises. Stay tuned to know more!

What Is A Franchise? How Does It Work?

In a franchise system, someone else owns the brand. Meaning the franchisee or investor, pays an initial cost to the company to open a branch of their business in a specified area or location.

The franchisee is in charge of managing and running the business under the company’s license. And franchisees get to keep the bulk of the profits they earn through those sales after paying a small percentage to the parent company through royalties.

And the parent company provides any initial or ongoing support to the franchisee for the duration of their contract.

Licensing and Franchising In International Businesses

In international businesses, franchises and licenses are agreements where certain facets of the brand are exchanged for a fee. Franchise agreements are about the business’ entire brand and operations, whereas licensing agreements to apply to registered trademarks.

In a licensing agreement, a third party is allowed access to the brand’s trademarks. And to use those trademarks, the licensee pays the brand an agreed-upon fee. Compared to a franchisee, a licensee has more autonomy over their business.

So to summarize, franchises are mostly used for service-based businesses and licenses are more suited for product-based businesses.

Now that we’ve covered the basics let’s get into the whys and the how’s.

Why Are American Brands Successful Than Others?

Let’s take a look at some of the qualities international businesses and franchises have:

Communication

In the entrepreneurial world, Proper communication is the lifeline that saves your business.

US entrepreneurs can communicate in business situations with certainty, knowing they are getting their point across accurately.

Risk Culture

Risk-taking is deeply embedded in American culture. While playing it safe might sound like the easier option, you need to remember that change always brings discomfort. Companies with a high tolerance for uncertainty are better at dealing with consequences and making difficult decisions.

Strong In-House Presence

American brands have the advantage of starting from a strong base with a large GDP, and an addressable audience with similar buying patterns. This allows them to develop a strong in-house presence before expanding to an international market.

What Indian Franchises Overseas do?

Let’s take a look at how Indian franchises perform overseas in comparison.

Adaptability

When some Indian businesses with strong in-house audiences try to expand overseas, they often fail. Or they aren’t as successful. Why a lot of Indian brands fail to is, they try to adapt to the local market of the country or region they’re expanding to. Strictly sticking to one strategy or one way of doing things often doesn’t work if you’re looking to win over a diverse market.

Novelty

Most Indian franchises, when they expand to overseas locations, their products are mostly viewed as novelties. This goes back to the adaptability problem. Relying on authenticity might win over a niche audience, but if you’re looking to win over the masses. You need to cater to them.

Risk Averse

Indians have a pervasive culture of, “What will others think?” Which will eventually affect the way you run your business. This mentality can be detrimental to both your personal life and professional life. It prevents you from making hard decisions or taking risks even when they are necessary for your business to grow.

How Can We Solve These Issues?

Working With the Local Market

Might seem obvious but you’d be surprised at how a lot of brands don’t do enough market research when expanding to a new territory. Working with local franchisees and local business owners can be a huge advantage for your brand. They will be able to provide a lot of insight into the local audience’s spending habits, local trends, and local tastes and customs. Employing local counsel can also prevent you from stumbling into legal hiccups, which can severely impact your brand’s image.

Building Robust yet Flexible Businesses and Franchises

Most international franchises do well in the Indian market because they have models that are robust and flexible. Developed markets have better ways to support their infrastructure and they invest more money into branding and advertising to develop their image and brand name.

Indian businesses and franchises need to invest more into having the infrastructure to support all their real estate, banking, and supply-chain requirements.

Working with Master Franchisors

This can also tie into working with the local market. Sometimes, employing a master franchisor – a well-funded, local individual. Who works directly with the international parent company to set up and run sub-franchises within the region is a good approach. This strategy can have wide-reaching implications for your business and can overall improve your business growth.

In Conclusion

While international businesses and franchises may have more success in franchising within the Indian market. Let’s not forget that the Indian franchise market is still growing at a rapid pace each year. There is always room for improvement, and more in-house brands and companies are stepping up to the challenge.

If you’re interested in starting your franchise, visit sparkle★minds and sign up.

Loading

5 Proven Franchise Development Marketing Strategies in India

Written by Sparkleminds

Are you an entrepreneur or a business owner looking to expand your business into a franchise, and looking to attract new franchisees?  Well, now is the right time.  2023 is a potential year for investors and entrepreneurs looking to start a new franchise business in India.  A recent survey shows that more than 67.9% of entrepreneurs believe that now is the opportune time to start a business in India. But, the question arises in the mind of every business owner, how do you market your franchise to attract potential franchisees in India?  Don’t worry.  sparkle★minds is going to guide you through this article, giving you 5 proven franchise development marketing strategies in India, which you can implement today to start attracting your ideal franchisees.

5 Proven Franchise Development Marketing Strategies in India
5 Proven Franchise Development Marketing Strategies in India

What is Franchise Development Marketing in India?

FDM or franchise development marketing is a marketing activity that a franchisor, uses to sell more business locations to potential franchisees. In addition, franchise development aims to expand the franchise into new territories or untapped markets.  Using the help of the inbound marketing team, or a franchise marketing agency, it is possible to incorporate several different traditional and digital marketing strategies to attract prospects.

Investing in the development process will give you the experience to maximize franchise growth, which in turn will lead to authority, more franchise sales, and as a result, give more profits than ever before.

How to attract potential franchisees in India?

Here are the 5 top marketing methods in India which will help you attract potential franchisees from across the country.

Establish Your Brand as an Authority

Making your brand the best in its industry will help you build a strong reputation with potential consumers and franchisees for your business. Furthermore, because every franchise investor wants to buy a well-known brand, they will be far more likely to choose your brand over those of your competitors.

Hosting and participating in events and webinars where you deliver speeches to share your professional knowledge will help you build your brand as an authority. Potential customers will develop a positive perception of your brand because of this.

Community Marketing

Community marketing, also known as local marketing, helps target prospective franchisees located in a specific geographical location.  There are several different platforms or methods, like social media marketing, community events, sponsorships, and print advertising, which can attract people living in those communities.

The best part about community marketing is that you can get to choose locations where you want to focus. This means, if there is a particular area where you want to move into, all you need to do is target that area with campaigns and these proven methods specifically suited to that set of people.

Be sure to mention the benefits of becoming a franchisee owner, while doing this kind of marketing, so it grabs the attention of potential investors.  You can use an example of stating the income potential of your brand, which will motivate most entrepreneurs as that is what entrepreneurs expect usually when buying a business in India.

Other motivators could include.

  • Being your boss
  • Income potential – returns on investment
  • Lifestyle rewards
  • Side business to supplement income
  • Get rid of a monotonous corporate job

Optimize Your Web Presence / Website

The use of SEO (search engine optimization) is a process for optimizing your website’s content, technical configuration, as well as link popularity so that you can rank higher on search engines like Google.  It becomes easier for ideal customers to find your products or services related to your business once you optimize your presence on the website.

Furthermore, by using the appropriate keywords to optimize your web pages, you might draw customers looking to open franchise businesses in your sector. You can achieve this through link building on and off your site, as well as content marketing initiatives (like blogging).

You may optimize your website for lead generation in addition to SEO so that it is prepared to turn potential franchisees into prospects as soon as they land on your site. You may accomplish this by including compelling writing, gorgeous design, and powerful calls to action on your website.

Once you have these prospects’ contact information, you may use a variety of digital marketing strategies to directly sell to them, including direct mail, retargeting campaigns, and more.

Use Current Franchisees as advocates

Another extremely powerful and effective tool for obtaining new franchisees is advocate marketing.  This is a process that refers to turning your most enthusiastic clients or franchisees, into your brand advocates.  This can be achieved by building a strong relationship with your franchisees, making them feel that they are most invaluable to your business.

At the end of the day, word of mouth will work well, if your current franchisees are happy to be a part of your brand and will be inclined to tell others about it.  Along with brand awareness in the business community, this will help you obtain new franchise owners and make them see your brand as a great investment opportunity.

Use Websites that offer Franchise Opportunities

The use of unbiased websites like franchise directory websites provides aspiring franchisees with all the information they need regarding different franchise brands, opportunities, and industry analysis.  Furthermore, franchisees can compare different franchise brands and apply to opportunities using these websites.

The use of these directories can be more effective since they target people who already want to become franchise owners.  Another benefit of these sites is that they are already conducting their marketing campaigns to attract potential investors.  It may be a little difficult to make your presence reach the right audience without the use of such sites because most people rely on these sites when looking to buy a business.

So, are you ready to attract potential franchisees?

Now that you have understood the ins and outs of franchise development marketing, you can go ahead and implement these methods.  If you are looking for any business-related opportunities to franchise your business in India, sparkle★minds consultants are trained to take your search in the right direction.

Loading

How do I protect my Brand’s quality in Franchise?

Written by Sparkleminds

Protecting the real essence of a brand is the key responsibility of a franchise and this can only be done once he designs the right business model as well as standardizes the franchise agreement.  Don’t worry we can tell you more about this.

how to protect brand quality in franchise model
how to protect brand quality in franchise model

Brand, a constructive structure of any business thought, is made up of various elements like logo, graphics, tagline, shapes, colors, etc.  Furthermore, this becomes a defined symbol that differentiates a company providing products and services from others.  Nevertheless, this plays a vital role in creating a quick and emotional impact on customers’ minds, attracting them to the brand.  In short, a franchisor puts in many years of hard work and efforts to make and successfully establish the brand, which can be easily acceptable by a wider consumer base. 

Selecting a franchise model for expanding the business, comes with an expectation to grow and strengthen the brand across new and untapped markets. Though local partnerships bring along with them immense benefits to a company’s growth, it also has a risk of brand dilution. Thus, it is the responsibility of every franchisor to guard his brand against the risk of dilution though he wants to leverage it to sell as much as possible.  But remember, the strategies used to pursue this end often bring the danger of tampering with the quality of the brand.

What is Brand Dilution?

No business model is perfect.  Though this is also known as the weakening of a brand, this can also happen by overuse or because of ill-judged brand expansion, resulting in undue competition or price cutting, in turn, hampering the brand image.  Thus, companies need to maintain uniformity throughout all their stores or network, be they company owned or franchised, to maintain the quality of the brand.   This can be done, by SOPs (standardizing operating processes), uniformly keeping the store interiors, uniformity in HR or other company policies or not to forget even the accounting and reporting systems.  This will thus protect the originality of the brand, which is the primary task of the franchisor.

How does a Franchisor protect his brand’s quality in Franchising?

Difficult to accept, but brand tarnishing is an unfortunate reality of franchised operations.  Franchising means where a company expands its network and grows.  This growth may sound good for the franchisor, but it also weakens its control over the systems which are in place.  There may be instances when you must compromise on the quality of the product or service.  This results in a loss of customers and gradual market share.  A franchisee owner usually thinks about what he is going to do best to grow his business and, in such times, he may fail to adhere to the systems set in by the franchisor, which will eventually lead to damaging the brand image locally.  To put a stop to this tarnishing, it is only the franchisor who can do as much as possible to save the reputation of his brand.  And the best solution against brand dilution is the franchise agreement.

A franchise agreement can help franchisors to get over the risk of brand tarnishing.  Before recruiting a franchisee, the franchisor must prepare a good quality legal agreement using the guidance of a knowledgeable person who knows both legal as well as commercial aspects of franchising.  Using this tool makes it mandatory for the franchisee to operate the franchise strictly under the adherence and system laid out by the franchisor.  However, as instructed by the franchisor, the franchisee should advertise and promote the brand.  Emphasis on the use of a common brand name, logo, identity, and quality with a regular inspection plan of tours to the franchisee can also be laid out in this agreement.

Uniformity across the Franchise System

By uniformity, we mean using a common name, logo, identity, and color theme.  But that’s not all that requires uniformity.  The franchisor needs to ensure that the pricing of the products should also remain the same as discussed by the franchisor which would be standard across all the franchisees.  When a customer comes to a particular brand franchisee, he expects to obtain the same look n feel, and comfort that he would have experienced at the original outlets.  Keeping these aspects in place, would make the customer experience far better and keep them coming back to give you more business. 

Key Takeaways

Protecting the brand quality is a step taken usually when you first develop your business.  But in the case of a franchise model, it is harder because it is in the hands of the franchisee to keep the integrity of the national brand image at the local level.  Thus, right from the time you have finalized your franchisee, it is imperative to reinforce the brand image continually before it becomes too difficult later.  Continuous efforts from the franchisor’s end are thus an important point to protect brand dilution.  Still confused?  Don’t worry, sparkle★minds will help you gain clarity!  Connect with us today.

Loading