This month, on Saturday, Nov. 26, America celebrates Small Business Saturday – an annual shopping event that’s become Main Street’s answer to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This is a holiday that Unleashed Brands is proud to support because despite what some may think, franchises are small businesses! And each of these franchise owners deserves to be included when U.S. consumers patronize the smaller Mom & Pop-style stores. At Unleashed Brands, we believe it’s the small, community-based businesses - including the six youth enrichment franchises in our portfolio - that represent the backbone of our commerce and industry. To date, there are 850+ franchisees in the Unleashed Brands family.
How did Small Business Saturday become a thing? Well, back in 2010, American Express created a campaign for consumers to put their support (and pocketbooks) behind the small businesses that often get overshadowed. A dozen years later, the concept of Small Business Saturday is still with us. In fact, according to American Express’ Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey, 2021 saw some of the highest participation rates, as consumers spent a staggering $23.3 billion! Not only is that an increase from 2020 figures, but it also tops any final numbers from the pre-pandemic years.
Franchises are Small Businesses Too!
Many people mistakenly think franchises are corporate-owned operations, and thus aren’t recognized the same as family-owned Mom & Pop operations. They fail to realize that the majority of franchise establishments are independently owned and operated – run by the same type of Mom & Pop owned businesses in their own communities.
Benefits of Franchises as Small Business Contributors
What are the benefits of franchises as small business contributors? Number one - they’re employers. The International Franchise Association, which tracks industry statistics, puts the total number of franchise establishments in the U.S. at nearly 800,000, employing some 8.5 million Americans. According to a recent franchise census, conducted by Oxford Economics, franchises pay higher wages and provide better benefits than traditional small businesses. Second, franchises are by nature entrepreneurial, with a third of all franchise owners reporting the desire to become their own boss. Lastly, franchises are our neighbors. Franchises also give back to their communities. And according to SCORE, they do so with a higher financial and manpower contribution than traditional small businesses.
A Community Focus
Small businesses contribute to their localized economies, making them community oriented in nature. The taxes paid by the owner and consumers fund local infrastructure and civic organizations. They also play an outsized role in giving back to the communities that support them. They do this through charitable contributions, fundraisers, and sponsorships that benefit the local citizenry. Not only do the Unleashed Brands family of franchises offer opportunities for children to learn, play, and grow, but they also give back much in the way of support.
This year on Saturday, Nov. 26, do your part to patronize the local small businesses and franchises in your community. Remember that the money you spend in your community supports those who live, work, and play there. In a way, it’s a shame that we don’t treat every Saturday like Small Business Saturday. As such, the least we can do is our part in making it a success.
A Little More About Us…
The Unleashed Brands platform includes Urban Air Adventure Park, Snapology, The Little Gym, XP League, Class 101, and Premier Martial Arts family entertainment franchises. As the parent company, Unleashed Brands was founded to curate and grow the most innovative and profitable business opportunities that help kids learn, play and grow. Over the last 10 years, the team at Unleashed Brands has built a proven platform and know-how for scaling businesses that focus on serving families. All have become first-in-category brands by providing fun, engaging, and inspiring experiences that help kids with their No. 1 development goal – to become who they were destined to be.
To speak with one of our franchise experts and learn more about our children’s business opportunities, simply fill out this form and an Unleashed Brands representative will be in touch shortly.
