The bfahave announced plans to launch their “Proud to Franchise”
scheme in an effort to encourage more and more people across the UK to give their custom to British franchisees.
This seems like a great idea. Especially during an economic downturn, people want to support local businesses and jobs. If businesses remind the public that they are a franchise outlet, they are also reminding them that this is a local business person who has taken on the brand of a bigger company which may also be British. It is important, especially now, that people understand that buying from a franchise does not mean they are supporting a big corporation but that they are supporting a local business person who decided to bring the franchise’s business concept to their local area. Supporting your local businesses means keeping jobs alive for your neighbours, including franchises regardless of where the franchisor originates.
The bfa's Dan Archer comments:
"Franchising allows the perfect combination of big company best practice delivered passionately by dedicated local business owners. This mix of good practice and great client focus enables customers to experience a consistent level of service which is rooted in a closer customer relationship. In a time when the service received by customers is regularly questioned, the fact that in most franchise businesses the customer is closer to the owner, should be recognised for the benefit that it brings. "At one level 'Proud to Franchise' is just about franchisees changing the language that they use to describe the business or themselves, so 'Franchised Outlet' or 'Franchise Owner'. It could however, also involve the 'Proud to Franchise' logo being used on adverts, press releases being sent out or stickers being placed in their windows or on their vans."
So keep an eye out for those “Proud to Franchise” logos displayed by your local businesses.