Real Life Lessons
Real Life Lessons:
Life is too dynamic to learn from books RUTHIE BURD, founder of the Lunch Lady, was the recipient of the CFA’s first Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award in 2018. Her company prepares and delivers good hot lunches to kids in over 140 Canadian communities. She created the Lunch Lady Foundation in 2018 to provide operational support to not-for-profit food programs, increase support for healthier choices, and advocate for more inclusive workplaces.
Franchising works best when everyone benefits
O
ften, necessity is, as they say, the mother of invention. So it was in 1993, when I sat quietly with my husband and our angelic little three-year-old at Sick Kids Hospital. Our lives changed forever with one word: AUTISM. Everything I read painted a rather bleak picture of the future, so I just stopped reading and focused on what we could do to navigate through this new reality. Our decision for me to start a little business to help offset the cost of anticipated therapies is what led to the creation of the Lunch Lady. I had neither a background in nutrition nor a love of cooking, but the timing worked and fit in with our son’s schedule. In reality, I was not much of a cook (had a bit of a phobia about the kitchen, in fact), but I thought the idea of helping other parents with a task they seemed to hate might be a big win for both of us. After a rough start, the idea of being able to order hot lunches for delivery to school kids caught on and I was faced with another decision – Should I expand and if so, HOW? I did not know much about franchising and to be honest, I did not read much. There was not a lot to read in 1999, but I still had to answer that burning question. Should I pick: • Door No. 1 - keep growing as is • Door No. 2 – trade my experience for a paycheck • Door No. 3 – franchise my concept When I found out that the franchise model could be applied to almost any idea and was not just for big brands, I made the decision that you have made. I chose Door No. 3. My dad taught me that “money works best when everybody has some.” Franchising at its best is a wonderful way to share a good idea with others, who get to be in business for themselves but not by themselves. And it allows a brand to achieve success for many participants, including its founder. I am so lucky to have been the face of the Lunch Lady for over 25 years, but the journey has been very much a joint effort. I have partners. I realize that many books advise hiring out the skills you do not possess (a very long list in my case) and not sharing equity, but I completely ignored that advice. I chose the camaraderie of partners over having complete control and I have never regretted it.
Canadian Franchise Association
Without their support and encouragement, we would not be who we are now as a brand and there would be no time for collaboration with public health agencies or a Lunch Lady Foundation serving healthier hot meals to kids in less advantaged school communities. Without them, I could not be ME. Because reflection is part of my role at the Lunch Lady, I’ve been thinking recently about the way current trends in the workplace may be changing the face of franchising. I believe small to medium brands need to be prepared for a new type of franchisee who may be more transient and not necessarily looking for a forever home under our umbrella. The rise of non-traditional systems has opened up our industry and made it easier than ever to own a business. This is good. But a smaller investment also means less to lose, less risk, and potentially less commitment - perhaps not as good. Consider our brands - with their ongoing support and training. They are really like business apprenticeships where you “earn as you learn.” Our systems provide awesome and practical business education for individuals looking for multiple experiences in a lifetime. Is this a millennial thing? Is it a personal resilience thing? Who can say! But it is important to account for it. Managing both the beginning and the end of a franchise relationship upfront may just be the new reality. Regardless, at the Lunch Lady, we are taking this seriously and ensuring the process is entrenched in our franchise agreements. And maybe we should all become business coaches. Why not!? Overall, I have found that books are not a substitute for experience and that trial and error is typically the best teacher. What works on paper may not always translate into real life, but that being said, the input of others is always worth considering. Regardless, the execution is always on you and that is where you are sure to learn the most.
The Franchise Voice // Winter 2020
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