FBR Issue 1 - 2021

FBR SPECIAL REPORT
Franchise owner Terry Baker of Christian Brothers Automotive in Pearland, TX.
Kaysi Curtin purchased her Sandler
Training franchise two-and-a-half months
before the pandemic hit, a particularly precarious
time to be launching a new business.
But, by adapting early on and moving her business
to a 100% virtual model in mid-March she
was able to get in front of more people at once
and quickly grow her business. Since opening
her franchise, she has tripled her annual s
ales goals. “I know it sounds so cliché to say,
but I say it with conviction each time I talk
about owning a Sandler Training franchise …
Best decision I have made in my career,”
said Curtin.
Sean Pettit, a Payroll Vault franchise
owner in San Antonio, Texas, said they were
unsure of the impact the pandemic would
have on their business, but were surprised to
see an increase in sales and client acquisition.
Payroll Vault, a boutique-style local payroll
service, “was put in a unique position to
help business owners navigate the new and
changing economic stimulus resources that
were made available to business owners and
their employees through payroll related legislation
and loans,” explained Jessica Martin,
director of marketing and executive project
manager at Payroll Vault.
FORCED TO ADAPT, MANY FRANCHISES
SEE THE CHANGES AS POSITIVE
To stay afloat during the pandemic, many
businesses were forced to adapt to a new world
in which virtual communication, curbside
pickup, and cleanliness are of utmost importance.
As a result, many brands have learned a
lesson or two about their resilience in the face
of challenge.
“What this has taught us is that we can
create and implement at record speed and will
continue to do so,” said Pickett. Wild Birds
Unlimited shifted to curbside pickup at many
locations and migrated over 45 stores to online
platforms. Unsure if in store shopping will
ever return to 100%, Pickett says that the curbside
option will probably always be in place.
Christian Brothers Automotive, an
automotive repair concept, added several new
services to adapt to the pandemic including
vehicle pick up and drop off, contactless service
options, and digital vehicle inspections.
For most, the changes they’ve made in
response to the pandemic have been positive
ones that will live on long past the year 2020.
Tim Lightner, owner of four Two Men
and a Truck franchises in Wisconsin says that
their business has undergone many changes
since the pandemic began in March—“almost
all of them are for the better,” he says. They
have moved from voice to video conferencing,
which has proven much more effective
for internal company meetings. “It’s just good
to see people AND it improves the quality of
our communication while we are working at
Continued on page 19.
8 | For more information on the companies in this report, visit www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com