Executive Insights

A tight job market means fierce competition to attract top talent, and in today’s climate, businesses can’t get by with mediocre hiring practices. U.S. unemployment figures continue to hit historic

Rapid growth is a good problem for many franchise companies to experience. They’re able to leverage greater economies of scale, which can lead to lower costs and better profitability for franchisees.

As we consider making any changes to the technology that ultimately ends up in our franchisee-operated locations, one of the guiding principles for Smoothie King is that we’re stewards of fiscal

Influencer marketing has become all the rage in recent years, but there’s an even more valuable way for franchise brands to drum up business on social media – brand advocates. A brand advocate is

Core values inspire your team to live your brand’s mission and vision and represent what your business strives to be. But times change, and what represented your core values five years ago may not

At the Multi-Unit Food Service Operators (MUFSO) Conference in Dallas in 2018, I stood among a group of brand CEOs and presidents as a recipient of the Golden Chain award and a nominee for Operator of

Clean food and product labeling was arguably the top trend in the food and beverage industry in 2018. There is a growing body of research demonstrating just how important clean labels and product

Owned media marketing has become one of the best ways to reach consumers and franchisees. Owned marketing is any digital medium you build and control, like social media channels or your company blog

It’s one thing to develop a mission statement for your brand. It’s another thing entirely for your business to have a mission that guests are excited to participate in and support. So how do you

At Smoothie King, we’ve dedicated ourselves to helping our guests achieve their health and fitness goals. To challenge our guests to find their purpose and accomplish their wellness objectives, we

When our guests walk into a Smoothie King store, they expect a superior level of service and smoothie. Whether they visit one of our stores in Chicago or Las Vegas, our guests deserve the same

It’s a quandary in which any international franchise can find itself – with thousands of locations across the world, how do you make sure you’re living your brand vision and mission at each location

With a concept like Smoothie King, there’s no way we’d ever consider automating all operations. When you take into account initiatives like Clean Blends and the brand promise of Smoothies With A

We try our best to make decisions based on our vision – to be an integral part of every health and fitness journey. It’s important for our vision to influence every decision we make because that’s

Among the recent trends in the franchise industry, we’ve seen an especially impressive surge in the number of restaurant franchises cropping up in non-traditional locations. For franchisors and

With news of robots being able to perform more advanced tasks, people get nervous about them taking over customer service roles, especially in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry. But what is

One of the biggest factors in keeping your franchise thriving is your supply chain. The supply chain delivers what you need in order for you to deliver what consumers want. If guests do not get what

The Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is one of the most important documents you will need to review carefully when deciding to buy a franchise. It provides the answers to 22 questions about the

We’ve all likely thought about it at some point—quitting our current gigs to start our own businesses. Whether you’re tired of the industry you’re in or are ready to unveil an exciting new concept,

Most franchisors’ marketing programs are completely consumer-facing. Marketing professionals develop brand themes and encourage franchisees to implement those themes in their local efforts

For franchisees without strong finance backgrounds, it can be tough to make heads or tails of detailed profit and loss (P&L) statements. These statements, however, are a valuable tool for evaluating

When investing in a franchise opportunity, there are many factors to take into account – from brand recognition and profitability to training and support. However, one of the most important qualities

Businesses that are good neighbors tend to do well in their communities for the very simple reason that they are liked and trusted. It’s important for new businesses to remember this as they plan on

Product samples have been a mainstay in traditional marketing for many businesses – from perfume samples in magazines to free food samples at grocery stores. Offering product samples to prospective

There’s no denying the risk of starting a business in a small market, and a franchise is no exception. A smaller local population means that you might get only one chance to impress guests and turn

Every brand starts at its roots and grows outward – an ongoing process known as branding. There’s a reason the term is in a “verb” form, ending with an “-ing.” That’s because your brand is never

In 2018, you will see the nutrition and wellness market, such as quick-service concepts and franchising, continue to evolve and influence other markets rather than make any sudden changes. Menus and

It’s no secret multi-unit ownership is a growing trend within the franchise industry, particularly in the restaurant segment. Multi-unit franchisees now own 76.5 percent of franchised restaurants

You’ll find that every successful Smoothie King location has one thing in common – a great team. But a great team doesn’t come together by chance. In fact, a franchisee’s most important responsibility

Unlike traditional investments such as buying a car or a home, purchasing a business involves a multitude of steps that can take months or sometimes a few years. Whether you’re a first-time franchisee

OnCampus Brands is proud to be working with Smoothie King to help develop the brand in the higher education channel. Our company takes a targeted, strategic approach to expansion on college campuses.

You are a slave to convenience, and so am I. Everyone is. We have become accustomed to it. We expect things faster today. We want to be able to order and pick up, sometimes without having to speak

In our increasingly data-driven world, businesses have plenty of numbers they can use to measure the success of products, systems and locations. However, there’s one huge measure of success that

The supply chain is the lifeblood of the brand and its franchisees. When the supply chain is healthy and running effectively, franchisees receive their goods on time, the product is made and delivered

At its core, franchising is a system that lends itself to multi-unit ownership. You buy into a brand you believe has staying power. You follow the brand’s systems and you take advantage of the support

A guy walks into a smoothie bar and leaves with a box of protein snacks. That’s no joke; rather it’s a common occurrence at Smoothie King franchises worldwide. Guests often walk out of a Smoothie King

Multi-unit franchise ownership within a single brand can be an attractive option for franchisees. Owning multiple units allows franchisees to expand their portfolio and create additional revenue

Investing in a food concept isn’t something you just jump into without careful consideration. First, there are multiple formats, including: Full-service Fast casual Quick service (QSR) That said, each

In moments of high stress or anxiety about their respective companies, industry peers often ask me, “Wan, why do you always seem so happy? What’s your secret?” While I don’t think I’m the keeper of

How many times has this happened to you? You pull into the drive-thru line at a fast food restaurant during the lunch or dinner rush—the chaos behind the counter is audible through the speaker when

At one time, it was good enough for a smoothie franchise to just be better than fast food. Then the goal was to produce the “better” better-for-you product. Today, it’s all about constant innovation

With thousands of franchise brands for prospects to choose from, the process of choosing a brand that fits your goals and personality can be daunting. This is especially true for first-time

What is your company’s purpose? As a business leader, your instinctive response might be to make quality products, earn profits, gain market share or perhaps even create and sustain jobs. While these