Franchise Interviews

We are meeting with  Joe Giammona of The Drivers Training Group — Former Green Beret Joe Giammona has made it his mission to keep his community safe. Now, as the CEO of The Drivers Training Group, he runs The Drivers Training Group that employs off-duty or former police officers to teach drivers ed. The Driver Training Group is the parent company of two education schools for driving, the SWERVE Driving School and the 911 Driving School. Its mission is to inspire and educate, engage and motivate drivers to perform better behind the wheel. The company has developed a number of programs for new teen drivers that go beyond traditional driving lessons or driver’s ed. The Driver Training Group’s ultimate goal is to create an enhanced driving school experience and challenge student drivers to be collision free for life. The business’ innovative approach to driving lessons makes learning fun in a challenging way, and actually improves the rate at which drivers retain the information by incorporating leading mental

We are meeting with Melissa Chordock, President of AKT.  Founded in 2013 by international fitness expert, Anna Kaiser, AKT is a revolutionary fitness technique concept rooted in dance and functional training. With thousands of clients visiting per week, including celebrities like Kelly Ripa and Shakira, AKT provides members with an ever-changing curriculum that combines a customized mixture of its four core modalities (toning, dance, interval training and circuit training) to deliver a fun, high-energy and full-body workout experience like no other. Headquartered in Irvine, Ca. with studio locations in New York City, Hamptons, AKT is backed by Xponential Fitness, a team with more than 25 years’ experience in fitness franchising.  In Part Two, we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast.  

Marathons are boring. So are gyms. Tough Mudder Bootcamp reinvented endurance events, now they are reinventing your workout. Plus, big box gyms don't even work. That's why they spent the past year incognito, prototyping and developing a unique program designed to challenge and train all levels, combining high intensity interval training with team workouts. This is not an indoor jungle gym - there aren't any obstacles. It's functional fitness for life, not just a Tough Mudder event. Each day’s 45 minute class delivers a full-body workout that is fun, unique and challenging. Their 6 classes are built against four fitness pillars - Power, Strength, Endurance and Agility - and each class is supported by our custom tech platform that delivers movements at each class station, allowing coaches to actually coach. Plus, there are new workouts daily, keeping classes diverse and exciting. We have a great show today.  We are meeting with  Will Dean, founder and CEO of Tough Mudder Bootcamp.  At Tough Mudder Bootcamp,

Warren Greshes is one of the top motivational speakers in the world.   We start the interview discussing entrepreneurship.  Next, Warren discusses 16 rock solid rules for achieving sales success.  Lastly,if you want your employees to perform at their best, then you need to become the best damn manager ever, someone who can inspire and motivate your staff. The Best Damn Management Book Ever teaches frantrepreneurs, managers, executives, and business owners how to do just that. From the highly praised author of The Best Damn Sales Book Ever, this concise trove of management wisdom outlines the nine keys to creating self-motivated high-achievers.  

Every business has a story.  We are meeting with Morgan Rothschild — CEO of Party Princess Productions franchise opportunity.  Party Princess Productions provides high-end birthday party character entertainment specializing in princess parties, superhero parties and many other character themed events. Their custom handcrafted costumes and wigs, along with our quality cast, ensure the most authentic performance for every special occasion. 

It was almost twenty-five years ago; I was introduced to one of the most enlightening books on entrepreneurship I have ever read. The E-Myth Revisited is one of the most successful business books of the twentieth century. It was voted the #1 business book by the Inc. 500 CEOs. It has sold several million copies, has been translated into almost 20 languages, and is recommended reading for many new franchise owners.  This interview we discuss the success of The E-Myth Revisited, Michael’s inspiration for creating “In the Dreaming Room” and my personal favorite book, “Awaking The Entrepreneur Within”.  Michael E. Gerber is a true legend of entrepreneurship. Inc. Magazine calls him “the World’s #1 Small Business Guru” — the entrepreneurial and small business thought leader who has impacted the lives of millions of individuals and hundreds of thousands of companies worldwide for over 40 years.  Michael E. Gerber is the author of the mega-bestseller “The E-Myth Revisited” and five other E-Myth books concerning s

We are meeting with with Mike Weinberger from Maui Wowi.  Since 1983, Maui Wowi® has embraced the Hawaiian culture and has been serving paradise in a cup since the day it began, 35 years ago. From event carts, mall kiosks and stand-alone retail locations, Maui Wowi offers premium smoothies, as well as gourmet Hawaiian coffees and espresso beverages. The company maintains strong community involvement through fundraising efforts by its franchisees, in addition to Team Karma; an initiative that promotes corporate responsibility and giving back to the community. The brand has more than 450 operating units and an online store. In November 2015, Maui Wowi was acquired by Kahala Brands™, one of the fastest growing franchising companies in the world with a portfolio of 27 quick-service restaurant brands and approximately 2900 locations in 28 countries.  In Part Two, we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast. 

We are meeting with Ken Petersen, Founder of Apricot Lane Boutique – a national fashion boutique franchise offering branded apparel, accessories and gifts.  Apricot Lane has 75+ boutiques nationwide, and is the leading women’s fashion boutique franchise. With the company’s business model, franchisees are individual expert merchandise buyers who take advantage of vendor-leveraged discounts to curate their boutique with quality, affordable merchandise that keeps up with their community’s style. Every Apricot Lane boutique is locally-owned and carries a mix of established and up-and-coming brands – many of which are not yet available at traditional retailers.   Firefighter to Fashion – Many grow up with a dream of being a firefighter. For Ken Petersen, this was only half of his dream. While working as a firefighter in Vacaville, California in the 70’s, Ken opened his own retail store that specialized in collectables (like Beanie Babies), a popular consumer trend at the time. Midway in his career, Ken suffe

We are meeting with franchise author and expert Christy Wilson Delk…As a Business Professor at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida and with over 15 years of franchise ownership (including a very successful franchise exit), Christy Wilson Delk has the business acumen to inspire franchise owners and help them achieve their greatest potential. Her new book, Adventures in Franchise Ownership outlines her 4 Pillars Approach to Strengthen, Protect and Grow Your Business and includes advice from over a dozen other top performing franchisees representing multiple business segments. My Adventure In Franchise Ownership -I admit, there were many times that I felt tired, alone and frustrated about my ability to run my business consistently well. I was disappointed that there was nothing available to help me and other franchisees get through the tough times. I learned quickly that the franchisor could only do so much and that the rest was up to ME.That’s when I put the 4 Pillars Approach in place at my franchise. Aft

We are meeting with John O' Brien of Poolwerx.  Founded in 1992, Poolwerx is one of the world’s largest pool and hot tub / spa maintenance providers. Their United States operations are headquartered in their 10,000 sf, state-of-the-art training facility and support center in Dallas, TX. From here, the corporate team supports our dedicated Franchise Partners and thousands of satisfied clients throughout the Sunbelt Region. Ranked #183 on Entrepreneur magazine’s 2018 Annual Franchise 500 List, our goal is to continue our growth and further expand our operational footprint. Up until the age of 25, John O’Brien had no clue that franchising existed. Then when a colleague told him about the industry – his entire life changed. O’Brien began traveling the world learning more about the franchise industry, and eventually returned home to Australia to begin his own franchise, Poolwerx. The brand quickly expanded from a 10 truck fleet to a booming international business with locations in Australia, New Zealand and the

We are meeting with Charlie Graves, CEO of Athletic Republic, the industry’s leading performance sports training center franchise, proving that science-based training is the best way for serious athletes to improve. The company has been using its method for the last 27 years using their Test-Teach-Train approach, and athletes are continuing to see results. Athletic Republic is known for its individualized, small-group training and proprietary equipment, like the ice-skating treadmill. The company currently has over 115 locations and is actively franchising to grow by 100 franchises in the next three years.  In part two, we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast.

We are meeting with  Lou DeFrancisco, the President of StretchLab.  With people all over the country flocking to boutique fitness concepts of all kinds that demand rigorous workouts to help transform the body, the importance of active recovery and overall wellness is beginning to take a front seat. After only announcing its franchise opportunity five months ago, StretchLab has signed its initial agreements to debut 31 new studios nationwide. Carving out an inclusive niche in the fitness industry for all ages, fitness levels, genders and sizes, StretchLab is the first boutique wellness franchise that offers one-on-one assisted stretching services in a fun, energetic, communal environment. These agreements will propel the concept into all four regions of the U.S.    The assisted stretching market is larger than any boutique fitness studio’s clientele, as it’s not siloed for specific types of fitness levels or abilities and is inclusive to all ages, sizes and capabilities. Even though stretching is time-te

We are meeting with Shane M. Dunn, Chief Development Officer of Pedal Pub.  A few years ago, the thought of pedaling a party bike for entertainment would have seemed ludicrous, but now human-powered taverns are sweeping the nation as popular social excursions for birthday parties, bachelorette parties and more. The pedal pubs have become fixtures in more than two dozen U.S. cities – I thought you might be interested in having the brand behind the craze on your show!  Pedal Pub – a Minneapolis-based business spearheading the bike tavern experience. Following initial success with over 40 licensed locations, the brand just announced its formal franchise opportunity as it seeks to grow to 1,200 bikes by 2023. The party bikes provide guests with a uniquely fun, safe, environmentally-friendly way for groups of eight to sixteen adults to get some light exercise and fresh air while touring interesting parts of town, visiting local bars, breweries, and restaurants. COMPANY FACTS: Pedal Pub has 40 licensee locati

We are meeting with Ramon Castillon, President of Row House.  Row House, is a boutique fitness concept was created with a specific objective: To give people of all different shapes, sizes, and abilities an efficient, effective high cardio, full body workout in an inclusive group environment — and one that builds bodies up instead of breaking them down.  In Part Two, we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast. 

We are meeting with Paula Hope, the President of Booked Solid.  Paula helps business professionals, and their teams, create the revenue they deserve.  Through the strategic development of a referral/personal marketing plan which includes online activities, Booked Solid business professionals learn to create, manage and leverage their social capital (their personal good will) into a system that will grow their revenue for themselves and their firms.Paula consults and develops referral partner programs within progressive corporations who really want to get serious about creating high quality referrals for their organization. Paula is the author of Stop The Saboteurs: Conquer Negative Thoughts that Hurt Your Revenue and Your Brand.  In Part Two, we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast

We are meeting with Ajay Singh, Vice President of Brand Development for Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse.  Johnny's Italian Steakhouse is a leading dining destination offering an everyday indulgence that provides a high-end experience without the high-end price. Johnny's creatively blends sophistication of the past with a modern edge. As a distinctly upscale dining experience with reasonable prices, Johnny's features a traditional speakeasy ambiance that is brought to life by timeless steak and Italian dishes, entertaining service and its trademarked Blue Bar where hand-crafted cocktails are skillfully prepared.

We are meeting with Sanjay Ravi Gehani, Partner and Chief Marketing Officer for Building Kidz Worldwide, LLC- Building Kidz is unique in that their unparalleled proprietary curriculums, references, and highly qualified faculty combine a world class academic setting with a specialization in Performing Arts. Their creative philosophy is stitched throughout our curriculum which we customize to meet the specific needs of every child by delicately balancing our time between structured elements and play.  They offer weekly lessons in music, dance, and theater embedded in our daily routine. Their children, from the age of 3, perform one recital and one Broadway style production annually such as: The Wizard of Oz, Annie, Rio, and Where the Wild Things Are.  In Part Two, we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast.  

We are meeting with Larry Oberly, CEO for SpeedPro Imaging…SpeedPro Imaging is the nation’s leading wide-format printing and graphics franchise. Through extreme resolution levels and unparalleled color matching technology, SpeedPro studios provide innovative marketing solutions to elevate businesses nationwide.  SpeedPro’s unique business model offers franchisees the ability to control their working hours and have the flexibility to live their life how they want to, while also giving them the tools they need to succeed. With proprietary technology, thorough training, and ongoing support, SpeedPro owners are set up to hit the ground running, grow, and thrive.  In Part Two, we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast. 

In 2013, Angry Crab Shack launched in Mesa, AZ. This concept has a vibrant, memorable dining environment and offers high-quality seafood at a more affordable price. Angry Crab Shack combines Cajun- and Asian-inspired seafood, affordable prices and strategic real estate practices into the winning franchise combination the brand operates today.  We are meeting with Andy Diamond, the President of Angry Crab Shack.  In part two, we will play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast.  

This week (May 31 to June 2) Franchise Interviews will be visiting the International Franchise Expo in New York at the legendary Javits Center. Many refer to this show as the Super Bowl of franchising. Today you will hear numerous interviews on how to prepare for a franchise show.First you will hear our conversation with Tom Portesy, the President of Mart Franchise Ventures Expositions.  Mr. Portesy will discuss what aspiring frantrepreneurs can expect from a franchise show.  Next you will hear our interview with the franchise expert Terry Corkery who gives his advice to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to buy a franchise as well as some fantastic tips on attending franchise shows.  The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, or Javits Center is a large convention center located on Eleventh Avenue, between 34th and 40th streets, on the West side of Manhattan in New York. http://www.ifeinfo.com/ Top 10 Reasons You Should Attend The International Franchise Expo: Meet face-to-face with over 400 of the top fran