Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue III, 2011 | Page 62

Glenn Mueller, Domino’s Pizza
multi-unit franchisee.

Ron Millard, partner, Redstone
Capital Partners.

with economist and FRANdata President Darrell Johnson and services that are “more unique and customizable.” On
presenting his annual report on the state of franchising and a positive note, he said a franchising boom driven by the
health-related and specialty food sectors makes franchising
the economy to a fully packed general session.
In a data-filled presentation, Johnson dug into the nuts a great place to be.
In keeping with this year’s theme, “Plan Tomorrow Toand bolts of issues including the rising cost of capital, U.S.
demographic shifts, sector trends, and unit performance. He day,” futurist Jim Carroll followed with a dynamic presentation of trends likely to affect franchising in
said there would be “an uneven but steady climb
the coming years, including the accelerating
out of the downturn” the economy has been in
Over
penetration of mobile devices, 24-hour access
that would continue over the next 3 to 5 years.
to information, the increasing speed at which
He acknowledged there has been a “fareconsumers move, and the generational shift
well to cheap capital,” but also said that “dofranchise
now taking place.
mestic opportunities still exist.” A trend of
UNITS WERE
One example of his thought-provoking ob“mass customization” is also taking hold,
REPRESENTED AT servations: “65 percent of kids in elementary
he said, driven by changing demographics skewing younger and older generations,
the conference school today will work in a job or career that
doesn’t yet exist.” How do plan for that? He
with the younger group demanding products

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Multi-Unit Franchisee Is s ue III, 2011