FBR Issue 2 - 2020

FBR SPECIAL REPORT
Rebecca Feldman has owned a Two Men and a Truck
franchise in Greenville, SC with her husband Bryon
since 2002.
“As you grow, you learn to hire employees
with multiple skill sets who can aid you in
your day-to-day functions, to free up your
time,” she said. “Find the strengths in those
who are willing to work to better themselves
and empower them to work in those areas and
produce results. Pay them well! You have to be
willing to delegate some of the responsibility
in order for it to get done and allow time for
the other things in life that feed you.”
Paul Pickett, chief development officer
of Wild Birds Unlimited, said that more
than 50% of its franchises are led by women.
The hobby of backyard bird feeding doesn’t
discriminate, he said, adding that the
corporate office incudes a large percentage of
women in leadership positions, including a
chief operating officer, a vice president of retail
concepts, and two other female executive team
members. It’s the culture of Wild Birds Unlimited
that makes franchise ownership attractive
to women, men, couples, and people from
many diverse backgrounds, Pickett said.
“No one even notices if you’re a man or
a woman, or if you’re gay or straight. In our
values, we embrace diversity—we like people
from all walks of life,” he said. “People who are
smart and thoughtful and have a greater view
than just of themselves make great leaders and
great franchisees. Empathy is an important
trait to look for in both men and women.
Women do a really good job of engaging with
their customers.”
Women particularly make great franchisees
because they often don’t let their egos get in
the way of decision making and understand
the importance of building connections in
their communities, Pickett said. The corporate
office continues to place value on each individual
and the uniqueness they bring to Wild
Birds Unlimited, he said, adding that the
brand built and maintains a culture that leaves
no room for misogyny.
For Brubaker, Wild Birds Unlimited not
only provided her with a fun business opportunity,
but it also gave her the confidence and
support she needed for her business to take
flight and remain prosperous for 15 years.
“I wasn’t considering starting a business
from the ground up, and after 15 years in this
system, I realize I couldn’t have done it by
myself and have been happy. I’ve got a fabulous
built-in support system that wants to see
me flourish!” she said.
LEVERAGE SKILLS FROM
PREVIOUS CAREERS
For those with other interests, hundreds
of franchise brands offer relatively low
investment fees and the flexibility many
women investors desire. For example, Carol
Nunnery of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, found
her franchise niche helping clients travel well
beyond their backyards. As the owner of the
home-based Nunnery Travels and Associates-
Dream Vacations, Nunnery leveraged years
of hospitality experience in the Las Vegas
8 | For more information on the companies in this report, visit www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com