“If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African Proverb
Those who know me best would undeniably say that my main priority, no matter the workplace or job title, is relationships. This has become a core value of mine in both my personal and professional life.
According to the dictionary, a relationship is an emotional connection, association or involvement between people. People are at the center of relationships, and our relationships in life not only contribute to our growth, but they help us overcome hardship, learn new things and can bring us a sense of peace, joy and fulfillment. Research shows that good relationships help people live longer, deal with stress better and build healthier habits.
Franchising is a Relationship
Franchising at the core is a relationship– a relationship between the franchisors and franchisees that consists of mutual interdependence and reliance. The IFA notes that for this relationship to succeed, it must be a cooperative relationship. I would argue that for these relationships to genuinely thrive, be mutually beneficial and life-giving, they need to be much more than cooperative. These relationships should be strong, respectful, understanding, compassionate, trusting, forgiving and kind.
When it comes to the world of franchising, good relationships are essential for several reasons–they create space for open communication between the franchisor and franchisee, build trust and encourage collaboration, all of which lead to the ultimate goal of franchise growth. A good relationship is what leads franchisees to trust a vision that’s bigger than themselves.
Unleashed Brands – A Network Built on Relationships
At Unleashed Brands, we understand the importance of relationships and how they contribute to franchise growth and the overall success of our brands– The Little Gym, Snapology and Urban Air. That’s why it’s our goal to walk alongside our brands and provide them with value, giving them the resources and tools they need to reach their true potential.
We believe a strong relationship between the franchisor and the franchise network will lead to a strong relationship between the franchisor and the franchisee, ultimately leading to strong relationships between franchisees and their customers. Again, people are at the core of it all. In our case, kids are at the center of everything. Strong relationships are needed to empower the next generation of world-changers and limit-pushers.
A Conference for Community
Great relationships start by setting aside time to learn about one another, celebrate your successes, be open about your struggles and collaborate on ideas. At Unleashed Brands, we’re committed to creating a network and culture built on solid relationships, which is why we couldn’t wait to host our first ever Unleashed Brands Franchise Conference.
Formerly known as the Urban Air Franchise Conference, this year’s conference welcomed each of our three brands to a week’s-long event in Orlando last month. It’s been 894 days since our last conference. With so much change happening in the world and within each of our brands, we wanted to invite everyone to celebrate overcoming a challenging year and create anticipation for what’s to come.
The conference consisted of vision castings from all three brands, collaborative sessions, and the opportunity to honor some of our very deserving and hardworking franchise owners. Our franchisees reflected on their humble beginnings, collaborated on ideas, and shared resources to help one another grow their business. For us, that’s what it’s all about– reconnecting and coming together to make a difference.
Ready for Takeoff
The conference was the birthing place of many new relationships, memories, solutions and ideas. We’re proud to not only be connected to so many great franchisors and franchisees but also get the opportunity to come alongside them in helping kids learn, play and grow. Each of our brands is passionate about kids, changing kids’ lives and unleashing their potential, and now we’ve got more momentum than ever.
Unleashed Brands is the first and only children-centric and family-focused franchise network made of a collection of category-leading brands. We invest in brands with unique ideas, bold visions and the courage to take their brands to the next level. Our platform gives you the team, processes, systems and infrastructure, so you can focus on growing your brand and perfecting your product.
Now is the time to unleash your future! Contact us to learn more today.
