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Expert Advice: Ed Yancey, Director of Franchising, PizzaRev
How to Choose a Franchise That Will
Stand Out from Competition “A brand’s customer service reputation is integral to establishing long-lasting customers, so you want to be certain the brand you’re investing in is committed to choosing the right franchisees to build and maintain that reputation.” While these are essential to running a business in today’s environment, they are not especially unique and won’t make the consistent impact on your bottom line that you’re after.
Ed Yancey
There are many tactics successful fast-casual restaurants use to distinguish their locations from competitors, including state-of-the-art technology designed to save time, strategic marketing to reach customers across touchpoints, and menu innovation to keep guests interested in your product. Franchising USA
To truly move the needle, do what many fast-casual restaurants have overlooked in today’s fast-paced environment: the customer experience. In an era of on-thego lifestyles and quick in-and-out service, putting extra effort towards guests takes a back seat to racing toward the next task. Sometimes going back to the basics is just what a business needs to stand out in a crowded field. Marketing and technology will surely build brand awareness and bring convenience to customers, but creating an unmatched customer experience is what will keep those customers coming back and sharing every welcoming interaction with other potential customers.
What to Look for in Franchisors Identify the Right Brands Early On When you begin exploring potential franchisors to partner with, you’ll want
to make sure you’re aligned with their brand’s approach to customer service. Remember, a brand’s customer service reputation is integral to establishing long-lasting customers, so you want to be certain the brand you’re investing in is committed to choosing the right franchisees to build and maintain that reputation. One way to do this early on is by analyzing the questions they ask you. Do they dig deep into your values and your approach to customer service? Are you being asked about your commitment to the community, and how you plan to engrain your business locally? Are They Committed to Your Success? As you get further into your selection process, make sure that any potential franchisors you are considering will be dedicated to empowering you to run the most profitable business possible. Do they provide ample customer service training sessions? Are continued education courses on customer experience best practices available? Do they provide you with resources dedicated to online reputation management? Do they provide
