Franchising: What I Need to Know

Presenter
John W. Francis
PostNet Area Franchisee for Minnesota and Wisconsin

Description:
Franchising is an opportunity – is it right for you? Come and learn the basics of how franchising works, how and where to learn more, and what types of things to consider when you are investigating a franchise. Presented by someone with 25+ years in franchising, and NOT a broker trying to sell you something!

If you’ve got questions or curiosity about FRANCHISE business – this is the session for you.

Presenter Biography:
• Born in 1966, in St. Paul, MN.

• Educated at St. Thomas Academy (1985 graduate) and The College of St. Thomas in Minnesota (1989 Graduate, BA in Business and Finance).

• Since an early age, Mr. John Francis has been involved with his family’s assortment of businesses. John began his experience at age 15 working with his older brother as an employee of his family’s electronic entertainment business from 1981 to 1986.

• Next, John was involved with his family-owned franchised hair salon operations from 1985 to 1987, which included more than 50 Cost Cutters and City Looks salons in MN and PA.

• Then, John became responsible for the management of his family’s commercial real estate and Development Company from 1986 to 1990, managing 14 commercial properties in the Twin Cities area.

• In 1989, after graduating from college, John became involved in his family’s primary business “The Barbers," which was a publicly traded hair salon franchisor of Cost Cutters, City Looks, We Care Hair and The Barbers salons in the USA and 3 foreign countries. Joe and Flo Francis founded the Barbers in 1963.

• John’s first position at The Barbers involved the beginning of the international expansion activity which included the opening of a “City Looks” joint-venture salon in Moscow in 1992, and dealing with and supporting a Master Franchisee in France which opened salons in Paris in 1992.

• John then moved into various operational positions at The Barbers, from Franchise Sales and Real Estate in 1994, to Marketing for “Cost Cutters” in 1996. John was the lead person in The Barbers acquisition of the “We Care Hair” system in 1997, which were 149 franchised salons in the USA.

• John became Vice President of Credit and Strategy in April 1998, as well as gaining visibility and involvement with the Board of Directors. In May 1999, The Barbers with three brands and nearly 1,000 salons system-wide negotiated a merger into the Regis Corporation. John was involved in the negotiations and was heavily involved with the move of offices and warehouses and integration of many departments and transition of the company and Franchisees into Regis.

• John departed Regis in November 1999 to pursue other more “entrepreneurial” ventures on his own. In early 2000, John was engaged in a dot-com start up building franchisor utility systems using Internet technology. After that business model passed in late 2000, John focused on more traditional consulting work consisting of various franchisors, a chemical technology manufacturer, and other Internet technology firms.

• John became involved with “PostNet”, which is a franchise system with over 950 locations open around the World. As an Area Franchisee with the territory of MN and WI, John currently has seventeen locations open in the Minnesota and Wisconsin market; one of these units remains owned and operated by John personally. Plans are for 50 units in the area of MN and WI, which is the goal for John’s 15-year sales plan with PostNet. (www.postnet.com). in 2008 John received PostNet’s “Franchisee of the Year” award.

• John is also a past owner / partner of Franchisor company Inner Circle International, LTD, which is the Franchisor of “Inner Circle” businesses. Inner Circle’s are facilitated peer-groups exclusively for business owners, focusing on business and personal issues to help Members achieve a better business and richer life. (www.theinnercircle.com) Inner Circle was sold in 2008 to Merry Meetings of Ohio.

• John is also an Advisory Board Member to local MN company Spa-Central, a spa outfitter and distribution company which is privately held.

• John Serves the International Franchise Association as a Board Member since 2009, and was 2008 Chairman of the IFA’s Franchisee Forum, and also a member of various IFA committees: Membership, Vet Fran, Marketing and PR for IFA.

• John joined the Board of Directors for Sport Clips in 2009.

 

* Some events and topics listed in the schedule are subject to change