Franchise Resources | Franchise & Small Business News

IFA’s information hub provides resources designed to keep you informed on the latest franchise thought leadership.

Choose from a list of topics. Select curated content that explores what’s important to the franchise community - franchise and small business news, small business trends, advice from franchise experts, valuable insight and resources from IFA Toolkits, and engaging articles from IFA’s franchise magazine Franchising World.

5 Creative Sources to Inspire Your 2023 Marketing Plans

It’s hard to believe we’re already well into the fourth quarter of 2022, and with that, the planning season for 2023 has begun. When preparing your annual marketing plans, you should always include a mix of the tried-and-true marketing tactics (for our brands that includes things like search marketing and direct mail marketing) as well as a space to test new tactics. But sometimes that feels easier said than done. If you find yourself stuck with the same old ideas for your 2023 marketing plans, here are a few places to look for inspiration.
Marketing

Tackling 2022: How Hand & Stone Leveraged Digital Marketing Innovation

Without question, Hand & Stone has rapidly established itself as one of the leading massage and facial service brands in the world. With over 500 locations across North America, the brand’s growth represented incredible success, but with aggressive expansion plans came a need for a strong digital marketing strategy. We asked Eric Haberacker, Social Media Director of Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa, to hear firsthand about the strategies the brand used as they scaled.
Marketing

Getting the Most Out of Trade Shows

Don’t let summer’s trade show slow down lull you into losing touch with what lies ahead…and just how important it is to make the most of your trade show presence. In fact, now is the time to be getting into tip top shape so you can go the distance and cross the finish line, proudly looking back at your trade show performance.
Marketing

Woofie’s – A Pet Care Franchise with a Personalized Touch

In September of 2004, two neighbors and friends, Leslie Barron and Amy Reed, left their corporate jobs to pursue a career involving their love and passion for animals. The business eventually evolved into what Woofie’s is today: the first and only all-encompassing pet services franchise brand that includes pet sitting, dog walking and mobile pet grooming.
Marketing

Yes, Brand Audits are a Thing. Here’s How to Pull One Off for Your Franchise

A brand audit is exactly what it sounds like, a meticulous study of your franchise’s current position in the market and customers’ minds. An effective audit will:

Establish the brand’s performance compared to its arch nemeses (cough, competitors)
Determine strengths/weaknesses and opportunities for growth
Align your franchise’s strategies with customer expectations
Marketing

HomeWatch Caregivers Diversity Fran Dev Efforts around Diversity

ALLIES has a mission to "advance diversity and inclusion" within the brand. In addition, they are peers who hope to learn alongside each other and develop acceptance of everyone's differences, ideas, and beliefs. In 2021, Homewatch CareGivers added a Diversity Discount of $5,000 for minorities and women that own 51% of the business or more, which led to an increase in the diversity of candidates to own a franchise.
Marketing