Behind the Franchise

Paul Ehlinger
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Marketing
  • Monthly

Welcome to "Behind the Franchise" by Flamel.ai, the podcast where we dive deep into the world of franchising and explore the marketing strategies that fuel the growth of the industry's most successful brands. Join us every other week as we sit down with the leading marketing minds behind top franchises, uncovering the secrets to their success and sharing insights that franchisors and franchisees can apply to their own businesses. "Behind the Franchise" is your go-to resource for the latest in growth marketing strategies for franchising.

  1. 5d ago

    Episode 79: Dissecting Data with Michele Henry

    In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Michele Henry, the founder and CEO of FACE FOUNDRIÉ. Michele shares the story behind building FACE FOUNDRIÉ from a single concept in the Twin Cities into a rapidly growing facial bar franchise with 86 locations open and more than 100 expected by the end of 2026. From launching a franchising program just as the COVID-19 pandemic shut down businesses to building a leadership team capable of supporting accelerated growth, Michele reveals the lessons, mindset, and strategies that have helped FACE FOUNDRIÉ scale. Listeners will hear: How Michele transitioned from being deeply involved in the day-to-day business to building a leadership team of “rock stars.” Why staying connected to franchisees, managers, and frontline employees remains critical as the brand grows. How FACE FOUNDRIÉ is using data, dashboards, and franchisee insights to identify opportunities and make better decisions. Why hiring ahead of growth can be worth the short-term investment when preparing for rapid expansion. How Michele believes simplicity is one of FACE FOUNDRIÉ’s biggest advantages as the brand continues to scale. How FACE FOUNDRIÉ approaches real estate and strategically chooses co-tenants to support its growth. 🎧 A must-listen for franchise leaders and entrepreneurs looking to understand what it takes to navigate rapid growth, build a scalable leadership team, and know when to evolve alongside the business. #BehindTheFranchise #FACEFOUNDRIÉ #FranchiseGrowth #FranchiseSuccess #ScalingSmart #Franchising #Entrepreneurship

  2. Oct 22

    Episode 78: The New Dot-Com with Liz Bauer

    In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Liz Bauer, Senior Director of Marketing for RoHoHo. Liz shares her 27-year journey from the retail world into franchise marketing and how she has adapted through the rise of digital marketing, social media, and now AI. From going digital to testing dozens of AI platforms today, Liz breaks down how technology is changing the way franchise marketers work, and why the human element still matters. Listeners will hear: How Liz went from a traditional, analog marketing world to leading digital marketing across multiple franchise brands. Why AI has helped her work smarter, not harder, without replacing human judgment and experience. How AI adoption differs across franchise brands and why corporate teams need to simplify AI for franchisees. Why data fragmentation is one of the biggest challenges in franchise marketing. How AI can help franchisees identify what to focus on, understand their data, and make smarter marketing decisions. Why Liz believes corporate teams should provide franchisees with streamlined, turnkey AI tools. How AI is changing SEO, customer service, reviews, and the way consumers discover businesses. Why she believes AI is the “new dot com” and is only at the beginning of its impact. Her advice to franchisees who feel intimidated by AI: get your hands dirty and start using it. 🎧 A must-listen if you want to understand how AI is changing franchise marketing, why human judgment still matters, and how franchisees can start using AI to work smarter. #BehindTheFranchise #FranchiseMarketing #FranchiseGrowth #AI #AIMarketing #FranchiseSuccess #MarketingTechnology #Franchising #Franchisees #DigitalMarketing

  3. Oct 15

    Episode 77: The Power of Communication with Nick Dan Bergman

    In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Nick Dan Bergman, Chief Marketing Officer of LT Agency, to explore how consumer discovery is changing and what franchise marketers need to do about it. Nick shares insights from LT Agency’s franchise research on the rise of social media as a search engine, the growing influence of AI, and the evolving balance between national brand consistency and local authenticity. Listeners will hear: Why consumers are increasingly using Instagram and TikTok as search engines and what that means for franchise content. Why brands shouldn't chase every viral trend and should instead focus on creating useful, searchable content for the right audience. How AI and zero-click search are changing SEO, AEO, and the way consumers research businesses. Why the fundamentals of good marketing haven't changed, even as the technology and channels continue to evolve. How franchises can combine the consistency and infrastructure of a national brand with the local identity and community consumers still value. Why franchise marketers should look to their franchisees for grassroots ideas that can be turned into successful playbooks across the system. How community-driven marketing can create organic advocacy that money can't simply manufacture. Why proactive communication with franchisees is more important than ever as marketing technology continues to change. 🎧 A must-listen for franchise marketers navigating AI, changing consumer behavior, local discoverability, and the challenge of building a brand that feels both consistent and genuinely local. #BehindTheFranchise #LTagency #FranchiseMarketing #FranchiseGrowth #LocalMarketing #AIinMarketing #DigitalMarketing #FranchiseSuccess #MarketingStrategy

  4. Oct 8

    Episode 76: Holding True to Your Brand Values with Kim Gubera

    In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Kim Gubera, CEO of PIRTEK. Kim shares her journey from accounting and commercial landscaping into franchising, eventually becoming CEO of a 200+ location franchise system. From learning franchising by doing to leading PIRTEK through major growth and a private equity partnership, she breaks down what it takes to build a resilient franchise brand in a rapidly changing economy. Listeners will hear: How Kim went from knowing almost nothing about franchising to becoming a CEO and Certified Franchise Executive. Why getting out into the field and visiting franchisees has shaped her approach to leadership. Why AI resistance has become one of the top reasons franchise candidates are exploring PIRTEK. How PIRTEK uses sales coaching and ongoing training to help franchisees grow across multiple customer verticals. How private equity changed PIRTEK’s approach to growth, marketing, franchise development, and infrastructure. Why Kim believes businesses should always be run as if they are for sale. How PIRTEK is using AI to create better tools, documentation, and data-driven insights for franchisees. Why continuous improvement is essential when a franchise system is growing quickly. Why franchise brands need to protect their culture and values as they scale. 🎧 A must-listen if you’re curious about building an AI-resilient franchise, scaling without losing your culture, and using technology to make franchisees more successful. #BehindTheFranchise #PIRTEK #FranchiseGrowth #FranchiseLeadership #FranchiseSuccess #AIandFranchising #Franchising

  5. Oct 1

    Episode 75: Analytics and Creativity with Amy Byrne

    In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Amy Byrne, Marketing Director for BELFOR Franchise Group. Amy shares her unconventional journey from the music industry and life on the road to leading marketing strategy across a portfolio of franchise brands. Together, they explore what it takes to balance analytics with creativity, empower franchise owners, and adapt marketing strategies in an AI-driven world. Listeners will hear: How Amy's background in the music industry shaped her belief that human connection is the foundation of great marketing. Why franchise marketing should be built for the average owner, not just experienced marketers. How BELFOR Franchise Group balances national marketing initiatives with local market flexibility. Why community involvement and personal branding are becoming more valuable than ever for franchise owners. How Amy uses data and analytics to make confident marketing decisions without overwhelming stakeholders. Her perspective on AI search, structured data, FAQs, and why conversion quality matters more than traffic volume. 🎧 A must-listen for franchise marketers looking to blend strategy, analytics, and authentic human connection while preparing for the future of AI-powered marketing. #BehindTheFranchise #BELFORFranchiseGroup #FranchiseMarketing #MarketingAnalytics #FranchiseGrowth #AISEO #LocalMarketing

  6. Sep 24

    Episode 74: From Notebooks to Systems with Brian Gross

    In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Brian Gross, President of Bach to Rock. Brian shares how a summer rock band program evolved into one of the nation's leading music education franchises and explains why music is about much more than learning an instrument. From building proprietary technology and embracing AI to navigating private equity investment and preserving company culture, Brian offers an inside look at scaling a purpose-driven franchise while staying true to its mission. Listeners will hear: How Bach to Rock grew from a summer camp into a national franchise with more than 60 locations. Why music education develops teamwork, confidence, creativity, and lifelong skills beyond the classroom. How Bach to Rock built its own technology platform to improve operations, curriculum, and the student experience. Brian's perspective on AI, digital learning, and why technology should enhance, not replace, great teaching. What the company's partnership with Spark Harbor means for the future of Bach to Rock and its ambitious growth plans. Why culture, transparency, and leading indicators are critical to successfully scaling a franchise system. 🎧 A must-listen for franchise leaders, educators, and entrepreneurs looking to build a mission-driven business that grows through innovation, strong culture, and a relentless focus on customer impact. #BehindTheFranchise #BachToRock #Franchising #MusicEducation #YouthEnrichment #FranchiseGrowth #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Innovation

  7. Sep 16

    Episode 73: Building the Right Team with Amy Freeman

    In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Amy Freeman, Co-Founder and CEO of The Spice & Tea Exchange. Amy shares how she built a niche retail concept into a thriving 100+ location franchise by combining curiosity, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to quality. From sourcing spices and teas around the world to navigating supply chain disruptions, COVID, and rapid franchise growth, Amy reveals how culture and relationships have become the foundation of the brand's long-term success. Listeners will hear: How The Spice & Tea Exchange grew from a small concept with just 13 teas into a national franchise built around experience and education. Why Amy believes franchising is both an art and a science and how giving franchisees guardrails instead of restrictions fuels innovation. How building strong vendor relationships and controlling the supply chain helped the brand navigate tariffs, shortages, and economic uncertainty. Why curiosity, continuous learning, and finding work you genuinely love are essential qualities for successful franchise leaders. How franchisee collaboration has led to some of the company's most successful products and strongest culture. Amy's vision for growing from 100 stores to 400 locations by focusing on multi-unit operators and stronger franchisee connectivity. 🎧 A must-listen for franchise leaders looking to build a resilient brand, create an exceptional customer experience, and grow through collaboration instead of control. #BehindTheFranchise TheSpiceAndTeaExchange #Franchising #Leadership #SupplyChain #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship

  8. Sep 10

    Episode 72: Stay Humble, Hustle Hard with Tom Mirabella

    In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Tom Mirabella, founder and CEO of Wingman Planning. Tom shares how he left corporate America to build a marketing agency from the ground up, eventually growing it into a team of more than 25 employees before expanding into franchising. From learning every role in the business himself to creating systems that help entrepreneurs succeed, he explains what it really takes to build a scalable service business while staying true to your values. Listeners will hear: Why Tom believes the best franchisees are community builders, not absentee owners. How Wingman evolved from a local marketing agency into a franchise opportunity. The lessons learned from systematizing a business after 17 years of growth. Why AI should be viewed as a powerful tool, not a replacement for human relationships. How corporate layoffs are creating a new generation of entrepreneurs. Why staying humble, hustling hard, and remembering where you came from are the principles that continue to drive his leadership. 🎧 A must-listen for entrepreneurs, franchise leaders, and anyone looking to build a business rooted in service, relationships, and long-term growth. #BehindTheFranchise #WingmanPlanning #Franchising #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #MarketingAgency #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #AI

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to "Behind the Franchise" by Flamel.ai, the podcast where we dive deep into the world of franchising and explore the marketing strategies that fuel the growth of the industry's most successful brands. Join us every other week as we sit down with the leading marketing minds behind top franchises, uncovering the secrets to their success and sharing insights that franchisors and franchisees can apply to their own businesses. "Behind the Franchise" is your go-to resource for the latest in growth marketing strategies for franchising.

Information

  • Creator
    Paul Ehlinger
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    77
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Paul Ehlinger
  • Show Website
    Behind the Franchise