Global Franchise Issue 10.1

strong associations worldwide – like the IFA and others – that give us platforms to share best practices and have meaningful discussions. This collaboration happens both between brands and within systems. Franchise businesses have a strong sense of community, not just between franchisors and franchisees, but with suppliers too. Maintaining open and constructive dialogue is key. You’ve got to have franchisees at the table for those conversations. It can’t be a one-way conversation where it’s the franchisor’s way or the highway. I always point to Gary Robins, one of my officers on the IFA Board. He says, if you’re just looking at a map and not staying in touch with the people on the ground, you’ve probably got a problem. You need to be out there. How are economic pressures showing up in real life – IRL, as the kids say – not just on a spreadsheet? Q: How is the IFA advocating for franchising right now, especially around tariffs and policymaking? A: We don’t have a formal advocacy position on the President’s tariff policy. What we’ve done is highlight the real- world impact of that policy to our members and share that with theWhite House and Congress, both through written materials and private conversations. It’s the topic everyone’s talking about in Washington and, frankly, around the world right now. But we’re not saying it’s wrong or bad in a heavy-handed way because that’s just not the approach that works with this administration. You’ve got to pick your battles. Some folks would like us to be louder, but we focus on policy issues that directly impact franchising: things like the franchisor-franchisee relationship, or regulatory changes like joint employer rules that we’ve dealt with over the past decade. Q: Are there any opportunities to come out of this for franchising? A: We’ve got to stay engaged with each other about our challenges. These are long- term relationships between franchisors, franchisees, and suppliers, and most people want those relationships to last. One of the biggest opportunities right now is that people are looking for more control over their own destiny. From a franchise development standpoint, if you’re a brand looking to grow and attract people who want to grow with you, now’s the time to lean into that sense of community and stability. There’s no guarantee of success in any business, but franchising gives people access to proven systems and strong support networks. The strongest brands and the best business models are going to stand out. It’s about communicating your value proposition and your differentiator clearly because that’s what people are looking for in times of uncertainty. “We’ve got to stay engagedwith each other about our challenges. These are long- termrelationships between franchisors, franchisees, and suppliers, andmost peoplewant those relationships to last” 49 GLOBAL-FRANCHISE.COM Ins ight