Faltering Economy Spurs Interest In Franchising

St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

Jason Coleman, 50, used to be a middle manager at Chevron Corp. in San Francisco. But if you’re looking for him now, you might find him scooping ice cream at the Baskin-Robbins that recently opened at the intersection of Manchester and McKnight in Rock Hill.

No, it’s not because he’s hit hard times. Instead, Coleman is right where he wants to be. After all, he’s his own boss and a franchisee in the world’s largest chain of ice cream shops. And despite the worsening economy, this Chesterfield resident plans to open up 3 more stores.

‘I’m a fairly long-term investor,’ said Coleman, a Jamoca Almond Fudge fan who grew up on Baskin-Robbins. ‘The economy goes up and down, and you anticipate that as a businessman.’

Indeed, the economy is not a deterrent to franchising. It appears to be fueling it.

Spurred by the faltering economy, corporate downsizings are producing a pool of seasoned managers and executives considering self-employment. The once well-compensated baby boomers also are facing tough competition from younger, less experienced job candidates willing to work for lower pay. Read more.

Photo: Whitney Curtis / P-D.