sales: 
sales: 
Welcome to Creme de la Creme: Franchise Industry News - a publication that brings you the latest news from the franchise world’s most influential characters.
Sit back and relax as SeoSamba brings you highlights from the incredible world of franchise influencers, shedding light on the latest developments and achievements within the franchise industry.
SHAKERS & MOVERS
Franchise World Updates: Who's Moving Up and Who's Taking New Roles
Congratulations to all the professionals making strides in their careers! Here's a quick look at the latest movements in the franchise industry:
Cindy Savich, CFE- Wingstop Restaurants Inc.
New Role: Director of Franchise Development
Company Overview: Since opening its doors in 1994 in Garland, Texas, Wingstop Restaurants Inc. has redefined the restaurant flavor experience. With over 1,500 locations worldwide, Wingstop has become one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains globally. Cindy Savich, CFE, now joins the team as Director of Franchise Development, bringing her expertise to drive continued growth and innovation.
Kyle Christie- Premium Service Brands New Role: VP of Franchise Development
Company Overview: Premium Service Brands recently appointed Kyle Christie as Vice President of Franchise Development. "We are thrilled to welcome Kyle as our new VP of Development at Premium Service Brands. With his established career in franchise development, he will play a key role in growing our franchise family," announced the company. Kyle’s extensive background positions him to make an impactful contribution to Premium Service Brands' expanding portfolio.
Luke Schulte- Buzz Franchise Brands
New Role: Director of Franchise Development
Company Overview: Buzz Franchise Brands is excited to welcome Luke Schulte as the new Director of Franchise Development. “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Director of Franchise Development at Buzz Franchise Brands!” Luke posted on his Linkedin profile. Buzz Franchise Brands is a multi-brand company specializing in high-quality home services. Its portfolio includes Pool Scouts, Home Clean Heroes, British Swim School, and Wonderly Lights, providing essential services ranging from pool maintenance to holiday lighting installation.
Barbara Engle, CFE- Propelled Brands
New Role: VP of Franchise Operations
Company Overview: Propelled Brands™, a multi-brand platform supporting growth in service industry franchises, recently promoted Barbara Engle, CFE, to Vice President of Franchise Operations. Propelled Brands oversees several industry leaders, including FASTSIGNS®, Camp Bow Wow®, MY SALON Suite®, and NerdsToGo®. With a focus on franchisee satisfaction, profitability, and strong financial performance, Propelled Brands is dedicated to helping each franchise achieve its full potential across diverse industries, from signage to IT services and salon suites.
FRANCHISE DEVELOPMENT
Are You Ready To Take Your Franchise To The Next Level? Leveling Up Franchise Success with Jerry Akers
For franchisees eager to grow or franchisors aiming to enhance brand performance, Zdynamix, founded by Jerry Akers, offers tailored solutions to support and elevate franchises in today’s competitive market.
Zdynamix specializes in guiding both emerging franchisors and franchisees through the unique challenges of the industry. From weekly coaching and on-demand training to operations consulting and franchise development strategies, their services are designed to provide flexible, needs-based support.
Founder Jerry Akers brings decades of experience as both a multi-unit franchise owner and corporate executive, making him a trusted resource in franchise consulting. A sought-after speaker and a recognized leader in the field, Jerry serves as Chairman of the International Franchise Association's Franchisee Forum Board and holds active roles with the National Federation of Independent Business, the Iowa Board of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences, and the Great Clips Advisory Board. Jerry also operates as a franchisee with Great Clips and The Joint Chiropractic.
Originally from the Midwest, Jerry now enjoys time at his family farm in Iowa and his lake house in Arkansas, maintaining close connections to his roots while continuing his work with franchisees across the country.
For those interested in learning more, Zdynamix offers a complimentary consultation. Explore how Zdynamix’s expertise can benefit your franchise at zdynamix.com.
FRANCHISE BRAND MARKETING
The Power of Personalized Communication
Personalizing communication with your customers brings substantial benefits. Addressing customers, prospects, or potential franchisees by name makes interactions more memorable and impactful. This small but significant touch can improve closing ratios and increase the likelihood that customers will choose your business over competitors. Personalization is a powerful way to stand out from the crowd.
Key Benefits of Personalized, Automated Communications:
- Increased Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty
- Higher Revenue and Conversion Rates
- Repeat Customers
- Enhanced Brand Image and Reputation
- Boosted Email Open Rates
- Reduced Generic Advertising
- Higher Product Recommendation Response Rates – In fact, 75% of consumers are more likely to make a purchase after receiving personalized recommendations.
Implementing and Automating Personalization
Today's email marketing platforms make personalization effortless with features like "tokens," which pull customer information directly from CRM records and seamlessly embed it into messages. With just a few clicks, you can automatically insert details like {first name}, {organization name}, or even {city, state}—creating tailored messages with minimal effort.
When integrated with SeoSamba's Marketing OS and CRM solutions, personalization reaches new heights, allowing you to leverage any data point stored within the CRM for deeply customized, automated communications. This could include contact-specific elements like organization logos or anniversary dates, enabling you to stand out from your competition with personalized touches that are relevant and impactful. Learn more about how SeoSamba’s platform can help you deliver customized marketing campaigns here.
Additionally, SeoSamba’s MensaHero chatbot feature enhances personalization by supporting mobile-friendly, text-based interactions that offer two key advantages:
1. Convenience – With mobile texting, customers aren’t tied to a desktop, allowing conversations to flow seamlessly without interruption, while collecting prospects' cell phone numbers for future outreach.
2. Valuable Contact Data – Capturing cell numbers opens ongoing opportunities for direct, personalized marketing, nurturing relationships that drive conversions.
By delivering personalized, data-driven communications across multiple channels, your brand can create memorable interactions, deepen customer connections, and secure a competitive edge.
FRANCHISE ADVOCACY & LEGAL NEWS
The Importance Of Staying Competitive In Today's Market
With rising costs affecting nearly every sector—from food and manufacturing to fuel and maintenance—the pressure on brands, especially in the food industry, has intensified over the past year. One notable example is a Pizza Hut franchisee operating 127 locations across five states, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year. The franchisee cited the increasing cost of ingredients and the franchisor’s failure to adapt to market trends as key factors. EYM Brands, which acquired these locations in 2015, expressed that Pizza Hut’s lack of menu innovation and outdated ordering app hindered its ability to compete effectively against brands like Domino’s and Little Caesars.
Other brands have faced similar challenges, with Red Lobster, BurgerFi, and Mod Pizza also grappling with financial strain. Mod Pizza managed to avoid bankruptcy at the last minute, highlighting the narrow margin for error that many brands face in today’s economy.
The lesson here is clear: staying in tune with consumer preferences and keeping pace with industry advancements isn’t just beneficial—it’s essential. In an economy where inflation rates are at historic highs, consumers are spending carefully, choosing brands that meet their needs and provide value. For businesses, this means that remaining competitive and responsive to market trends can make the difference between thriving and struggling to survive. (Source: DailyMail)
Cardinal Business Financing: Redefining Franchise Funding With a White-Glove Approach
Under the guidance of Dan Casanta, Cardinal Business Financing has become a valuable resource for both new and established franchise owners, easing the often complex journey of securing funds. With a background in corporate finance and a keen understanding of small business challenges, Casanta founded Cardinal to offer a more flexible, tailored financing alternative to traditional options.
What makes Cardinal unique is its commitment to understanding each client’s specific goals and needs from the very first consultation. Offering a range of financing options—from equipment leasing and lines of credit to bridge loans and working capital—Cardinal tailors each solution to support sustainable growth and profitability. Casanta’s personal mission centers on reducing the obstacles franchise owners face by delivering financing solutions that are transparent, swift, and efficient, with funding often secured within days instead of weeks.
Through partnerships with over 75 lenders, including SBA specialists, institutional lenders, and private investors, Cardinal provides an extensive array of financing options. This network enables Cardinal to secure funding even when traditional banks may be limited by governmental policies or minimum loan requirements. For franchisees who may be unaware of non-traditional financing routes, Cardinal fills this gap with solutions like equipment financing, lines of credit, and purchase order financing, empowering franchise owners with options beyond conventional bank loans.
For Casanta, the rewards of his work go beyond just financing; he’s driven by a passion for helping franchisees achieve their business dreams, particularly those who might not have had access to funding otherwise. By building strong, ongoing relationships with clients and lenders alike, Cardinal provides a supportive, stress-free experience, allowing franchise owners to focus on growing their businesses.
In an industry where securing funding can be daunting, Cardinal Business Financing has positioned itself as a trusted partner, offering franchisees the guidance and resources they need to succeed in today’s competitive market.
MEDIA & LEARNING
Spotlight: The Man Behind The Brand: Loyalty Brands
Loyalty Brands, John Hewitt, joins Joe Dimino, host of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino podcast. Known as the "Hewitt" behind "Jackson Hewitt Tax Service," John later founded "Liberty Tax Service," which grew to over 6,000 locations. He eventually sold his interest in Liberty for nearly $500 million.
Today, John, along with his partners and friends, is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs become CEOs and "build their empires" with a mission inspired by his faith. He is the author of the insightful book iCompete and currently serves as CEO of Loyalty Brands. With a legacy marked by innovation and strategic foresight, John Hewitt continues to make a profound impact on the business world.
Find out how the COVID pandemic affected John’s businesses and how they overcame the difficulties that were a result of it. John also shares his advice to young entrepreneurs to achieve success and the importance of being a leader.
Franchise Business News is brought to you by SeoSamba, a marketing and sales automation software suite provider, with turnkey franchise development and franchise brand marketing solutions for emerging franchise brands. Each year, SeoSamba reviews thousands of nominees and awards the Top 100 Global Influencers in Franchising award to the most influential characters in the franchise world.
If you have news that you’d like to have published in an upcoming edition, you may submit it to influencers@seosamba.com for consideration.
Thanks for reading!
