For all intents and purposes, the union movement began in the United States back in the early 20th century with a host of strikes leading up to the start of the “Roaring Twenties.” Strikes in the coal industry mostly lead the way at that time with the mines being shut down due to labor unrest…
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Since the coronavirus pandemic was first declared an emergency here in the United States, we’ve been making slow, but steady progress and we’re now starting to see the fruits of those efforts. Oh, not with regard to COVID. I’m talking about the FTC Franchise Rule and government efforts to clamp down on abusive franchisors, and…
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It’s been a long journey since the coronavirus pandemic reached our shores back in early 2020. Over the course of those first few months, governments ordered non-essential businesses shut, indoor dining was banned and people who left their homes were told to wear masks (even for a solitary jog). Houses of worship were ordered closed;…
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In this article, I have to ask your indulgence a little bit. As a political scientist by education, I always tend to look at the political winds that blow across the electoral landscape as an abundance of teachable moments. The famous 1948 Chicago Tribune headline “Dewey Defeats Truman” should have taught all journalists to wait…
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At the recently concluded Multi-Unit Franchise Conference in Las Vegas, a common thread throughout was the unique problems the coronavirus pandemic has created for all kinds of businesses. In fact, most of the speakers wove throughout their presentations consideration of the challenges – and opportunities – that COVID-19 served up to franchisees and, in particular,…
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Thankfully the worst of the coronavirus pandemic – with its requisite business restrictions, lockdowns and mask mandates – appears to be contained to our rear view mirror. So, as we settle in to something that resembles ‘normal’, I thought this would be an opportune time for us to look at how franchisor/franchisee relationships are holding…
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When you stop and think about it, the amount of change we have endured over the last 15 months is astonishing. Without warning, virtually every aspect of our lives changed. But, at the same time, certain fundamental principles remained the same. Among those, that franchise owners have to protect themselves from uncertainty and unfair practices.…
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Not necessarily being able to pinpoint its origins without looking it up (it was first used in a book by Walter Brandenburg in 1917), we’ve recently resurrected the phrase, “teachable moment,” as part of our modern-day lexicon. It is meant to identify a spontaneous moment when an individual is positioned – by circumstances of every-day…
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There’s a story that many of us in the Association Management profession hear when we first enter the field. It is generally told to underscore the importance of volunteerism and illustrate that associations need to rely on the engagement of their members to ensure their success. It goes like this. There were four people named:…
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Smack in the middle of the COVID-challenged 2020 NFL season, Inspire Brands sealed the deal to acquire Dunkin’ Brands International for the phenomenal price of $11.3 billion. Congratulations to all the players on these two (soon to be one) teams. A new owner is taking over an established and successful franchised brand. What could possibly…
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