I started thinking about this article in late February, weeks before COVID-19 crisis got its grip on our economy, our businesses and our way of life. At that time, I believed that our franchising system was in dire need of a shake-up, a re-think and an innovative re-boot. What has happened in the meantime, is that the Coronavirus crisis has forced a lot of franchises to embrace inventive thinking and to display real agility in how they deliver their products and services – and that may be, in the long run, a blessing.
But let’s rewind the clock and examine my thoughts pre-Coronavirus.