Check out the latest edition of our newsletter!
December 2023
600 Stewart Street #1300, Seattle, WA 98101 | westcoastfranchiselaw.com | (206) 724-0846
Heartfelt Homecoming A Welcome That Never Wears Out
We all know how the story goes. Life gets busy, time passes, and, if you’re not careful, so can relationships.
it was almost better that way for me. It just reinforced that my trip back to Madison was about something a lot deeper than who could make more lights shine on a scoreboard.
I had been. No one wants to wear out their welcome. But here, in this place, I realized that hasn’t happened. In life today we hear a lot of references to inclusion and belonging. But there’s a big difference between the two. Inclusion is about being invited, which is fine. But belonging is that sense of being comfortable — of knowing that you’re in a place that feels truly like home. “As the band played, and the throng of red-clad Badger fans prepared to go into the stadium for the game, I felt this strong sense of belonging that hadn’t been dulled at all by the decade I had been gone.” My hope for you is that wherever your travels may take you during this holiday season, whether it’s down the street, across the country, or around the world, you find yourself in a place where it feels like you’re meant to be again — so that you can have your own heartfelt homecoming — just in time for Christmas. – Nate Riordan 1 (206) 724-0846
That’s the realization I had recently when one of my good friends from college invited me back to my alma mater, the University of Wisconsin,
This was the first time in 10 years that I was back on campus. As my friend and I made our way around the stadium and interacted with others who were there for this traditional
to attend a game to watch the Badgers
play a big-time football game against Ohio State.
rite of a college community, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride in and gratitude for the place where I had gotten a good part
For years, he had been great about continuing to invite me back to the Midwest — back to
Madison, Wisconsin — the town where I got my undergrad degree and the place that I left — though it has never really left me. Finally, I said, “I need to do this.” When we talked about the particular weekend in October when I was going to make the trip, he sounded a bit wary and said, “Oh, that’s the Ohio State game. We aren’t playing that well and Ohio State is really good.” I assured him that I wasn’t looking for a guaranteed win in a football game. After all, that was never the point. I was going to see him. As expected, the Badgers (whom I have avidly followed for years) couldn’t pull out a win against the Buckeyes. But, in a way,
of my education in life.
As the band played, and the throng of red- clad Badger fans prepared to go into the stadium for the game, I felt this strong sense of belonging that hadn’t been dulled at all by the decade I had been gone. As I walked around campus that day, I thought about the classes I attended, the people I knew, and the people I miss from those years. This was a place of opportunity for me. And I could still feel it in the air. In the end, I was struck by how seamless the process of returning was for me. I had been gone for so long. Yet, it didn’t feel like
Explore America’s Most Magical Christmas Towns From Snowy Villages to Year-Round Holiday Cheer
It may be too late for less spontaneous travelers to start planning a Christmas vacation. But that shouldn’t stop you from planning next year’s holiday journey! The good news is you don’t need to venture to another continent to find a Christmas wonderland. There are countless picture-perfect Christmas towns across the country. Make your next Christmas trip feel like a Hallmark movie at one of these festive towns! LEAVENWORTH, WASHINGTON Many have dubbed Leavenworth the most Christmas-centric in the U.S., and it’s easy to see why. This Bavarian-style village experiences nearly 96 inches of snowfall every year, and they certainly don’t hold back when it comes to the holidays. The town lights up and decorates almost 21 miles, where you can find reindeer farms, carolers, gingerbread competitions, and Christmas markets. Every step of the way offers an Instagram-worthy photo opportunity! SOLVANG, CALIFORNIA A slice of Denmark right in sunny California, Solvang brings endless holiday cheer, especially with their annual Julefest. Pronounced “Yule-fest,” this month-long festival takes place every December and features picturesque events, including a ballerina-filled tree lighting
ceremony, visits from Santa, culinary delights, traditional Danish celebrations, and much more!
WOODSTOCK, VERMONT During Woodstock’s Wassail Weekend, you’ll find the town in peak Christmas mode, where you can experience parades, horse-drawn carriages, carolers, and the Billings Farm, a local favorite of the season. Stroll down Main Street to witness an idyllic Christmas spot filled with cozy small-town shops and restaurants. NORTH POLE, ALASKA If you ever feel like celebrating Christmas in the middle of summer, we know the perfect destination. North Pole, Alaska, offers Christmas decor and festivities year-round! Here, you can get up close and personal with Santa’s reindeer, meet the man himself, and enjoy the snow that covers the entire town. Be sure to check out their ice sculpture competition, which features artists from all over the world! Ready for the Christmas celebration of your dreams? Start planning your next holiday vacation at any of these destinations, and we promise your dreams will most definitely come true!
How Creative Can Your Franchise Be?
WAYS OF HAVING AN IMPACT WITHIN THE NATIONAL BRAND
Some may believe that it’s impossible to use the word “creativity” in the same sentence as “franchise.” However, by choosing your spots, you can find new ways to build business while holding true to your parent brand. You continually develop new ideas, gain inspiration from other industries, and dream about the what-ifs of your plans. But where do you begin? While there are some similarities in the general franchising model, all brands are carried out in different markets in different ways. That’s why it’s a must to find out which areas you can have more say and creativity. In general, there are a few areas where you may have more leeway. ADVERTISING ON A LOCAL BASIS As you think about how your business gets word to your clients, you’re undoubtedly thankful for the national ad spend that
your brand pumps into the world to build valuable brand visibility. Your local advertising direction is just as important. No one knows quite how the brand fits into the community like you.
different from each other. Again, the key is to discover the options you have and then put your local expertise to work.
TEAM BUILDING You have decision-making authority to build your team. While exercising that creative freedom, consider the power of bringing on those team members who are creative thinkers. Every year, you naturally lose more of your ability to see things
Whether you’re going it alone or involving professionals at a marketing agency, you can support the national brand by touching on elements of the local fabric, such as history.
PRODUCT INPUT While most of your inventory
in fresh ways. By bringing new talent with fresh ideas, they can help you identify new ways to stretch your creativity within the franchise model. Most likely, the opportunities for creativity in your franchise exist. The key is finding them and enacting them.
decisions come from your franchisor, you may have the flexibility to add regionally or locally pertinent offerings. A good example comes from the retail world. A franchise in Orlando and a sister store in Maine may offer clothing, but their September inventory items could be considerably
2
westcoastfranchiselaw.com
Winning Teams Depend on Building and Maintaining Them
When reaching a goal, one person with a vision is powerful. A team of like-minded individuals is unstoppable. That is easier said than done, but great coaches have the ability to continue the same winning tradition through time. Here are some key plays to make. RECRUIT TEAM MEMBERS WITH HEART Almost every achievement in the world begins with action. The engine of that action is passion. If you find a group of people who care about what they’re doing, they will care enough to drive for the team’s overall success. EXPRESS YOURSELF Open communication between you and your team helps to meet challenges and identify new opportunities to move forward together. SHARE THE KNOWLEDGE Great leaders don’t just climb the ladder for their own benefit. They help others elevate themselves by sharing their knowledge.
You can help this dynamic come to life by supporting your team’s learning and training opportunities. GIVE HIGH-FIVES When team members feel appreciated, they channel their energy in positive ways. You can recognize their successes publicly to help them feel appreciated and to encourage others to move forward, too. MAINTAIN A BALANCE While dedication is an outstanding quality, team members who feel their commitment is being taken advantage of won’t be able to maintain their edge. It’s important for them to have time to recharge. You can lead them and gain their respect by supporting their work/life balance.
building helps employees better appreciate each other — and the fact that you care about their well-being. EMBRACE CHANGE Part of leading is moving in a forward- thinking direction. Your team will trust your leadership when you incorporate new, thoughtful enhancements into their day-to-day work. ADD TIMELESS VALUE One of the best antidotes for feeling down is helping others. When you do that, your focus goes to a greater cause than yourself. Recruiting your team members to engage in a community-giving project can provide a powerful rallying point for all involved. You continually hone the edge of your business. Now, you can do the same for your greatest resource — your team members — by involving and engaging them to take pride in your organization’s overall success.
PROVIDE TEAM-BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES
When a team plays together, they are much more likely to enjoy staying together. Team-
TASTY HOLIDAY CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
TAKE A BREAK
Add even more cheer to the holidays with this decadent chocolate mousse
Ingredients: •
10 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped
• •
4 tbsp butter
• •
2 tbsp granulated sugar
4 large eggs, separated
1/2 cup heavy cream
Directions: 1.
In a medium heatproof bowl, add chocolate and butter. Set the bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water and stir until chocolate and butter are melted and blended, then remove from heat and let cool slightly. 2. In a medium bowl, beat egg yolks until thick. Then gradually add melted chocolate mixture, stirring until blended. 3. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Then gradually add sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. 4. In another bowl, beat cream until stiff peaks form; fold egg whites and then cream into the chocolate mixture. 5. Pour into individual serving dishes and chill for 3 hours or until set.
Solution:
3
(206) 724-0846
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
600 Stewart Street #1300 Seattle, WA 98101
westcoastfranchiselaw.com | (206) 724-0846
IN THIS ISSUE 1 2 Heartfelt Homecoming Discover the Most Enchanting
Christmas Towns in the US There’s Room for Creativity Winning Is a Team Sport
3
Tasty Holiday Chocolate Mousse Your Essential Digital Marketing Resource Guide for Small Businesses
4
Small Business, Big Impact: Your Resource for Digital Marketing Success
As a small business owner, the internet can become one of your best sources for growth. In fact, 86% of businesses report having increased their brand awareness by using digital marketing, and 75% say doing so also boosted their brand’s credibility with their audience. However, not everyone knows where to go to learn more about digital marketing and how to use it in their businesses successfully. That’s why we compiled a list of FREE resources to learn more about digital marketing and boost your business’s online presence. RESOURCE NO. 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF DIGITAL MARKETING BY GOOGLE DIGITAL GARAGE This self-paced course contains 26 modules covering several aspects of digital marketing, including how to use analytics and plan your online business strategy. It also features videos for more visual learners,
and after completing the 40-question exam at the end of the class, you’ll receive an officially recognized digital marketing certificate from Google. You can find the course by Googling “Fundamentals of Digital Marketing by Google Digital Garage.” RESOURCE NO. 2: DIGITAL MARKETING TRAINING BY NEIL PATEL If you haven’t heard of Neil Patel, you should know he’s one of the leading voices in digital
marketing today. He’s wildly successful and offers to teach others what he’s learned over the years for free. You can learn more about SEO, conversion optimization, YouTube, and more using his courses and the worksheets he provides. To access Neil’s library, visit NeilPatel.com/training and use the “What do you want to learn?” table of contents on the left of the page to choose what you’d like to learn about. RESOURCE NO. 3: ANSWER THE PUBLIC One of a business’s biggest struggles when growing an online presence is creating content that results in profitable engagement. The best way to discover what matters to people is to ask them! That’s essentially what Answer the Public does FOR you. It pulls the most popular internet searches regarding any topic you type into the site so you can see what people want to know about your niche.
4
westcoastfranchiselaw.com
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator