NIFA Looks Ahead to Franchising in 2020 With a Panel Discussion During the 2019 September Luncheon
September 19, 2019
The Northern Illinois Franchise Association (NIFA), co-founded by Jamie and Lauren Izaks and Andrew Bleiman, recently hosted its 2019 September Luncheon at Carmine’s in Rosemont.
With more than 50 guests in attendance and hosted just a day before the start of Franchise Expo Chicago, the September Luncheon featured a spirited panel discussion, Franchising in 2020: The Opportunities and Issues for Franchisors and Franchisees. Focused on three core topics, 1.) Franchise Sales Predictions; 2.) Maximizing Franchise Lead Generation; 3.) The 2020 Franchisee, the panel included:
- Peter Baldine, President, Moran Family of Brands and Accelerated Development, Inc.
- Ed Yancey, Vice President of Franchise Development, B.GOOD
- Cameron Cummins, Co-Founder, Pivotal Growth Partners
- Lizi Wahl, Director of Marketing, Young Rembrandts
The group of distinguished franchise executives discussed a variety of issues and opportunities that the future of franchising faces, including the impact of the 2020 election on franchise sales, site selection in “hot” markets, the ins and outs of social media lead generation and the millennial franchisee. The panel emphasized the importance of ensuring that every prospect is properly educated on the franchise opportunity and that they share the same culture and brand values.
Other key focal points included insights on the risks and advantages of multi-unit ownership for franchisors and franchisees, as well as setting up expectations and ample support for franchisees in the changing landscape of franchising. An audience Q&A followed the discussion.
The September Luncheon was sponsored by Shambliss Security, a provider of cybersecurity solutions with a specialized offering for franchise organizations, Plante Moran, dedicated to providing audit, tax and consulting services to the franchise industry with an understanding of the unique nature of franchise operations and Laner Muchin, the premier law firm concentrating exclusively in the representation of employers in labor relations, employment litigation, employee benefits and business immigration.
In addition to the discussion, panelists and guests of the NIFA 2019 September Luncheon enjoyed time to network and eat delicious food, including Fried Calamari and Stuffed Mushrooms, a choice of Whitefish Piccata, Boneless Chicken Milanese or Rigatoni Alla Vodka, followed by a Chef’s Selection of Mini Desserts.
We want to thank all of the panelists, guests and sponsors for another incredible event, and look forward to our next gathering! These events allow NIFA to continue its work educating the Chicagoland community about the most pressing franchise-related topics of the day and encourage exclusive networking opportunities.
Stay tuned for details on the upcoming 2019 December NIFA Luncheon, and visit www.northernilfranchise.org for more information about the organization.
