No Franchise Is An Island: Franchisees And Franchisors Rely On Each Other

Franchising World:

In 1993 during the International Franchise Association’s annual convention held at the San Francisco Hilton, a group of franchisees, designated by their franchise systems met, with leaders of the association in an organizational meeting of the first IFA Franchise Advisory Council.

Chuck Sternod, a franchisee of Mr. Rooter, recalled the IFA board of directors created the FAC to provide recommendations to the board about ways to improve communications between franchisors and franchisees. Until then, communication and conflict resolutions between franchisor and franchisee had been rudimentary at best.

The first council participants were leaders laying a path for others to follow. They understood the need for the encouragement of meaningful dialogue between franchisee and franchisor and recognized a FAC would be instrumental in addressing and resolving concerns of mutual interest before they developed into major issues. The first chairperson, Regina Gardner, UNIGLOBE Dynamic Travel, Inc. said, “We are making history, and I am honored to serve with a group which has shown strength, commitment and a genuine desire to move toward a common goal, that of bridging the gap between franchisor and franchisee in an effort to create a better world with ample opportunity for all of us.”

Read full article.