While the labor shortage has impacted businesses across the board, franchisees know firsthand how the hospitality space is getting hit especially hard. Many workers in hospitality, who lost their jobs during the pandemic, don’t intend to return to work in the industry, according to research from the career site Joblist that examined the second quarter…
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At no point since Independent Joe began publishing in 2012 has there been as strong a push to unionize quick-service restaurants as there is today. In the last edition of this magazine, with the cover echoing patriot Paul Revere’s call, “The unions are coming! The unions are coming!” we saw how a nascent effort to…
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In the face of a historic labor shortage, there are several levers franchisees can pull to help recruit and retain workers. One that may not be top of mind is to communicate their plight to state and federal lawmakers. “They are aware of the labor shortage, but they need specific examples from their constituents,” says…
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“You have to ask yourself, ‘Do we really even need dining rooms?’” That question, from Florida franchisee John Griffey, is on the mind of virtually every QSR operator. “I think the world has changed forever. More and more, people don’t really want to come inside the stores, and Covid moved everybody to the digital world,”…
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You would have to look far and wide to find a franchise owner who does not think the nature of the franchisor/franchisee relationship could be improved. Entrepreneurs buy franchised businesses because they believe it gives them the opportunity to be their own boss, join an established chain and build wealth. But as most everyone knows,…
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The Build Back Better (BBB) Act is a signature piece of legislation that President Joe Biden put forth ahead of his inauguration. In Nov. 2021, the House of Representatives approved the $2 trillion plan that initially included funds for Covid-19 relief, social services, welfare, infrastructure and reducing the effects of climate change. But, Democratic Senator…
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For Army veteran George Hart, a second career as a Dunkin’ franchisee began as a joke. “I’m from New Jersey originally, and I grew up on Dunkin’. To me, that’s what coffee tastes like, but when I was in the Army, I couldn’t get a good cup of coffee anywhere,” laughs Hart. “I would joke…
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Customers attracted by savings of money and time We are undoubtedly in a subscription economy. While streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and Spotify are the masters of it, you can also subscribe to dog food, wine, gyms, razors and car washes. And restaurants, of course, have long sought a way into this now $64 billion…
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In 2009, when Joe Biden came to the White House as President Barack Obama’s vice president, the business community responded with a flurry of lobbying activity—seeking to affect legislation on such issues as healthcare reform, financial regulatory reform, cap-and-trade legislation and the 2009 stimulus bill. According to research by the Center for Responsive Politics, more…
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Many long-time Dunkin’ franchisees still point to the introduction of the bagel as the rocket fuel that ignited this brand. Others may say it was the relentless commitment to marketing and advertising. For Dunkin’s new owner, Inspire Brands, the next great thing may be created soon at the company’s new Inspire Innovation Center in Atlanta.…
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