HOUSTON – A strategic alliance agreement has been reached between FranchisEssentials, a Houston-based franchise industry consulting firm, and Strategic Growth Concepts, a Detroit-based small business consulting firm. The firms have elected to consolidate their efforts to provide services to franchise organizations. This decision enables a joint strategy of utilizing Web 2.0 technology to contribute toward national economic recovery efforts thru the development and expansion of franchise organizations. The ultimate goal of the alliance is to offer franchise organizations a variety of growth solutions including: training programs, turn-key marketing solutions, and individual projects which address targeted areas of need for specific chains.
The debut program offered by the alliance is an educational webinar series targeting potential, start-up and emerging franchise organizations (up to 30 existing units). This series of 12 webinars, with topics ranging from the Legal Aspects of Franchising, to the Franchisee Award Process, to Franchise Marketing Strategies and more will be offered online over a 12-week period. Each webinar will be led by experts in the designated topic area, and will provide participants with extensive information designed to enable them to achieve success in growing their franchise organization. Participants will be able to purchase the complete series, a mini 5-unit package, or a single webinar. Further details on this program will be released in the near future.
The firms’ strategic alliance and their joint programs will uniquely position both firms to take advantage of growth trends currently taking place within the franchise industry. According to FranData, a franchising research and information firm, the 4th quarter of 2008 brought 71 new franchising concepts to the national forefront. FranData indicates that each of these firms have been franchising their concepts less than 4 years. It is firms such as these that the strategic alliance will be targeting.
With franchising overall providing more than 11 million jobs and $880 billion in goods and services production annually according to the International Franchise Association, it’s not surprising that the franchising model is a strong consideration for anyone planning to expand their firm. The industry has seen increased interest as a result of recent economic conditions. A recent report by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch indicates that the economy “is not a deterrent to franchising. It appears to be fueling it.” In fact, Eric Reiss, an attorney who specializes in franchising law at St. Louis-based Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale states, “Franchisors absolutely love it because everybody’s getting canned. The recession is a boon for them. I’ve never been busier.” And IFA spokeswoman Alisa Harrison states, “The franchise sector fares well during downturns in the economy, and we expect that to continue.”
With all this expected growth taking place within the franchising industry, the FranchisEssentials / Strategic Growth concepts joint venture appears to be uniquely positioned to achieve increased success in their own right, while aiding franchises to achieve growth which helps the overall economy. Those having questions on this unique alliance may contact either Paul Segreto at 713-483-4694 or Linda Daichendt at 248-470-3257.
