by UFG | Apr 4, 2024 | News
Ray Titus is CEO of United Franchise Group (UFG), a global leader for entrepreneurs with brands in over 1,600 locations in 60 countries.
We’re well into 2024, but it’s not too late to set a new course with goals to move the needle in your career or business. In fact, this might be the perfect time. With mindsets focused on the path ahead, you’re in a position to move forward without distractions. It’s time to see where you want to go and determine the steps you’ll take to get there.
I’ve always believed in goal setting, and I believe so strongly in it that we’ve hired a manager at my company whom we call our “dream coach”—a designated professional who meets with all employees to guide them in achieving their business and personal goals. We don’t want them to focus all their energy on business at the expense of their personal lives; balancing the two makes for the kind of well-rounded person we want on our team, and adding new personal skills can make you a better business leader.
Setting Yourself Up For Success
One mistake many people make when setting goals is to have too many. I believe in setting three goals each year; if you’re stretching yourself with challenging objectives, three is plenty. I can see going as high as five if something really fires you up, but any more than that is a to-do list.
As you decide your goals, look for the sweet spot: not too hard but not too easy. They should make a significant difference for your company while exciting and inspiring you. For example, signing three new clients a week is probably impossible; you’ll likely feel defeated and want to give up in the first week. But three a year will barely register, and you’ll likely get bored.
A critical part of the goal-setting process is planning lead measures, the actionable steps you or your staff will take to hit each goal. You need two or three steps for each goal, making them measurable and time-bound so you’ll know if you’ve reached your mark. For instance, if your team decides to increase revenue by a certain amount, you might decide that each member will make a certain number of sales calls and hit a budget number each week. To earn the year’s target amount, how much must you bring in each quarter, month and week?
Once you’ve set your destination, here are some ideas for getting there.
Five Career Resolutions
These are not goals in themselves but projects and behaviors that can help you reach the big-picture objectives of your year.
1. Become a mentor. Offer to guide a new employee or one who’s just joined your team. Not only will you help the mentee learn new skills they can contribute to company growth, but you’ll stay up to date on technology and business terms. (I’ve found you never learn faster than when you have to teach someone else.)
2. Volunteer to manage a new project. Step up and take charge of a revenue- or knowledge-building endeavor. A project that needs you to recruit and assemble a team is ideal, but stepping into someone else’s leadership shoes also offers opportunity.
3. Read regularly. I encourage our employees to read at least one new book each month, more if possible. Whether it’s a business book or something that educates and motivates another aspect of your life, you will likely discover three or four ideas you can use.
4. Embrace change. Many people have trouble with change, but it’s the only constant in business; every day, it seems to come faster and faster. Change for change’s sake isn’t always good, but neither is resisting it because “that’s the way we’ve always done it.” Be one of the organization leaders who welcomes new developments and owns the change, and you may rise even faster than you dreamed.
5. Honor the winners. This is a critical step in any goal process. If you don’t acknowledge big goals when you hit them, what are you telling your team—that they weren’t important enough? When your team performs well, show your appreciation with recognition dinners, award ceremonies or anything else that makes a big deal about it. People love being part of winning teams, and shining a spotlight on them is essential.
Goal!
Knowing what you want in life for your career and your personal life is the key to getting it, and I’ve found that putting those dreams in writing is the most crucial step you can take toward achieving it; this solidifies your commitment and makes it more real. Get started now, and by year’s end, you’ll likely have many reasons to call it a successful year.
by UFG | Apr 3, 2024 | News
Vast Coworking Group™ (Vast), the world’s largest privately-owned franchisor of coworking spaces, announced today its year-over-year performance in 2023 where it closed out the year with double-digit increases in key benchmarks. Vast, which in 2023 was comprised of leading coworking franchises Venture X® and Office Evolution®, achieved a 21% increase in systemwide sales and 16.5% increase in systemwide membership, respectively.
The company also reported that it opened 11 new locations – nine Venture X and two Office Evolution – and added 295,578 square feet to its global footprint across both brands. Earlier this year, Vast expanded its network with the acquisition of pioneering flexible workspace concept Intelligent Office®, which elevated Vast to the third largest global coworking network with over 190 locations, 40,000 members, and 2.4 million square feet of space in eight countries worldwide.
“2023 was a remarkable year for Vast and positioned us for the strides we’ve already made in the first quarter of 2024. Our past achievements and successes have propelled our ongoing growth and opened us up to new opportunities that we’re excited to seize this year. We see ourselves as a dominant force in the private sector of coworking and we are excited to continue growing both our Vast network and member community as demand for flexible workspace remains at an all-time high,” said Jason Anderson, President of Vast Coworking Group™.
In 2024, Vast is accelerating franchise development among its brands with five Venture X and five Office Evolution locations forecasted to open within the next six months. The company signed 34 franchise agreements in 2023 across its Venture X and Office Evolution brands that will continue to fill its development pipeline with domestic and international locations. Both Venture X and Office Evolution expanded into Portugal last year, marking the initiation of Office Evolution and Venture X’s expansion into additional global territories.
Amid Vast’s ongoing growth and success, the company has promoted several longstanding leaders to its executive team, both recognizing their numerous contributions as well as strengthening the company’s leadership as it enters a significant growth period. They include:
- Paula Mercer, former VP of Operations, has been promoted to Vice President of Vast. Since joining United Franchise Group™ 16 years ago, Mercer has been an integral part of the team, known for her unwavering drive, exceptional leadership skills, and ability to motivate those around her. In her elevated role, Mercer will continue to steer Vast toward innovative solutions and more incredible successes.
- Tammy Senter has been promoted to Vice President of Operations, Venture X. Previously serving as a National Sales Manager for Venture X, Senter has significantly impacted the brand’s growth and service quality and has developed a strategic vision for Venture X which she will apply to her new role.
- Brad Johansson has been promoted to Vice President of Operations, Office Evolution. Johansson previously served as Director of Operations and has been a Franchise Business Consultant to the brand for over six years. A franchising veteran, Johansson will leverage his forward-thinking approach and deep understanding of the coworking model to spearhead initiatives that will elevate Office Evolution, with a focus on innovative solutions, community engagement, and operational agility to meet the evolving needs of members.
- Darcy Masciotro, CFE has been promoted to Vice President of Operations, Intelligent Office. With more than 16 years of multi-unit leadership and franchise operation experience, coupled with a high-energy leadership style, Masciotro will lead Intelligent Office’s operations with a focus on enhancing efficiency, fostering collaboration, and ensuring that the brand’s coworking spaces continue to be vibrant hubs of creativity and productivity.
“Having the right people in the right roles is fundamental to any company’s success and we are incredibly fortunate to have such passionate individuals as part of our team, many of whom have been involved with United Franchise Group for several years. Each of their unique experiences and strengths add so much to our organization and will be instrumental in taking Vast to the next level,” said Ray Titus, CEO of United Franchise Group. “The expansion of Vast’s leadership team signifies the fast-paced growth trajectory the company is on, and we are looking forward to what’s to come.”
Vast Coworking Group™ is an affiliated company of United Franchise Group™ (UFG), the global leader for entrepreneurs with over 1600 franchises in more than 60 countries and 2500+ franchisees.
by UFG | Apr 3, 2024 | News
Vast Coworking Group™ announced today the promotion of several longstanding leaders to its executive team, both recognizing their numerous contributions as well as strengthening the company’s leadership as it enters a significant growth period. They include:
- Paula Mercer, former VP of Operations, has been promoted to Vice President of Vast. Since joining United Franchise Group™ 16 years ago, Mercer has been an integral part of the team, known for her unwavering drive, exceptional leadership skills, and ability to motivate those around her. In her elevated role, Mercer will continue to steer Vast toward innovative solutions and more incredible successes.
- Tammy Senter has been promoted to Vice President of Operations, Venture X. Previously serving as a National Sales Manager for Venture X, Senter has significantly impacted the brand’s growth and service quality and has developed a strategic vision for Venture X which she will apply to her new role.
- Brad Johansson has been promoted to Vice President of Operations, Office Evolution. Johansson previously served as Director of Operations and has been a Franchise Business Consultant to the brand for over six years. A franchising veteran, Johansson will leverage his forward-thinking approach and deep understanding of the coworking model to spearhead initiatives that will elevate Office Evolution, with a focus on innovative solutions, community engagement, and operational agility to meet the evolving needs of members.
- Darcy Masciotro, CFE has been promoted to Vice President of Operations, Intelligent Office. With more than 16 years of multi-unit leadership and franchise operation experience, coupled with a high-energy leadership style, Masciotro will lead Intelligent Office’s operations with a focus on enhancing efficiency, fostering collaboration, and ensuring that the brand’s coworking spaces continue to be vibrant hubs of creativity and productivity.
“Having the right people in the right roles is fundamental to any company’s success and we are incredibly fortunate to have such passionate individuals as part of our team, many of whom have been involved with United Franchise Group for several years. Each of their unique experiences and strengths add so much to our organization and will be instrumental in taking Vast to the next level,” said Ray Titus, CEO of United Franchise Group.
Vast Coworking Group™ is an affiliated company of United Franchise Group™ (UFG).
by UFG | Apr 1, 2024 | News
Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lindsey Coffelt. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Lindsey thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We love asking folks what they would do differently if they were starting today – how they would speed up the process, etc. We’d love to hear how you would set everything up if you were to start from step 1 today
Building relationships and learning to network! I wish we would have gotten branded apparel and business cards, joined and attended networking events and meetings as soon as we decided to open our store.
Lindsey, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
When we decided to start our own business, we started researching business models and found franchising to be the most effective way to get up and running. We discovered Graze Craze while doing our research and instantly fell in love with the concept. Graze Craze is a unique business model based on charcuterie, the creative arrangement of meats, cheeses, fruits, and dessert items on an attractive board. Graze Craze is leading a nationwide food trend known as “grazing” by offering charcuterie-style grazing boxes for personal snacking or larger social gatherings. The grazing style allows people to enjoy small portions of food during the day or at special events.
My husband, Silas, and I did not have any experience or knowledge in this industry, but franchising provides a built-in support system and a framework that helps you get your business up and running. It’s one thing to know about a trend and a whole other thing to know how to make it a business. We’re incredibly grateful for Graze Craze because they lay out all the processes and structure for you. A franchisee’s role is to execute the ideas they’ve provided – which are really thoughtful, efficient, and fun!
I’ve owned the Okemos Graze Craze for a little over a year. I oversee all administration, marketing, sales, accounting, and human resources for the business. It’s hard work, but if you invest your time and energy in the right places, it truly pays off. I was very proud to receive the Social Media Presence Award at the annual Graze Craze Brand Expo. To be recognized in just my first year of ownership – that really blew my hair back. I am proud of my work marketing our location, and what an honor to be recognized by so many other marketing professionals!
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Start ASAP! I started a private Facebook group and took people along our journey of building out our store, training, etc. People felt included and loved the behind the scenes posts. When we opened, we had a fan base. Post everyday and anywhere they’ll let you. Make your posts entertaining, short, informational, and most importantly, authentic. People can smell AI from a mile away. Don’t forget to put your contact information or signature at the bottom of each post to make it easy for people to find you.
Let’s talk M&A – we’d love to hear your about your experience with buying businesses.
We were given an opportunity to purchase an existing Graze Craze store in a great area by Detroit. We jumped at the chance and are currently working on pivoting it from B2C to B2B. We are reaching out to businesses, venues, and getting involved with area chambers and networking groups.
by UFG | Mar 28, 2024 | News
Graze Craze, the world’s leading charcuterie franchise, is celebrating 2023 as a record-breaking year of growth where it nearly doubled its brand footprint, opening 35 new locations throughout the year. The brand made entry into new U.S. states including Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Nevada, and New Mexico, as well as launched international operations in Australia and France. The rapidly growing concept also signed 51 franchise agreements in 2023 and has plans to develop new locations in the coming years in key markets like Quebec, Southern California, and New England.
“I’m confident that 2023 will go down in our company history as a landmark year that set the stage for our future growth and success,” says Cory Hibbard, President of Graze Craze. “It was a banner year for our brand and our franchise owners were a mainstay of our tremendous performance. In keeping a curated convenience mindset, we’ve developed a winning recipe for success that will remain paramount as we continue to grow in 2024 and well beyond.”
In addition to its significant unit growth in 2023, Graze Craze also achieved notable sales success with Q4 marking its 10th consecutive quarter of positive growth, which has propelled the brand’s performance in the first two months of 2024. Graze Craze has already seen a 38% increase in comp sales for existing stores over 2023 and is on track to close out Q1 as another positive quarter.
Contributing to this growth was the brand’s ongoing commitment to menu innovation. Graze Craze introduced a new signature board to its menu in 2023, the Brunch Board, which allowed the brand to target and serve a new daypart and has become the perfect bagel-and-donut brunch alternative, well-received by customers and franchise owners alike. Graze Craze also rolled out several limited-time boards throughout 2023, including its Game Day Board in September and Holiday Board in November, the latter of which accounted for 27% of the brand’s systemwide sales in the month of December.
Looking ahead, Graze Craze will maintain its focus on providing its customers with curated convenience, offering catering and dining solutions that appeal to a variety of taste palettes and diets. The brand is on track to open 60 locations in 2024, 15-20 of which are projected to open in the first quarter alone. The brand is also accelerating its international expansion with the opening of its first store in Quebec in Canada. By year-end, Graze Craze has a goal to surpass 100+ locations and have an established footprint in five countries worldwide. With 175 total locations in its development pipeline to be opened in the next several years, Graze Craze is well-positioned for long-term and sustainable future growth.
“Graze Craze is aptly named because there is a definite craze around this concept, and our growth is a testament to that,” says Ray Titus, CEO of United Franchise Group, of which Graze Craze is an affiliated brand. “We only opened the first franchise location for this brand in 2022 and to be on track to surpass 100 locations by the end of 2024 really reinforces the viability of this franchise opportunity and the strong demand among consumers and businesses. With a record-breaking year behind us, we’re looking forward to 2024 being another year of explosive growth.”
Graze Craze is a part of the Big Flavor Brands foodservice division of United Franchise Group (UFG), the global leader for entrepreneurs with over 1600 franchises in more than 60 countries and 2500+ franchisees.
by UFG | Mar 28, 2024 | News
Graze Craze, a charcuterie franchise, had a a record-breaking year in 2023, nearly doubling its footprint opening 35 locations and entering Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Nevada and New Mexico. The brand also launched international operations in Australia and France and signed 51 franchise agreements for Quebec, Southern California and New England, according to a company press release.
“I’m confident that 2023 will go down in our company history as a landmark year that set the stage for our future growth and success,” Cory Hibbard, president of Graze Craze, said in the release. “It was a banner year for our brand and our franchise owners were a mainstay of our tremendous performance. In keeping a curated convenience mindset, we’ve developed a winning recipe for success that will remain paramount as we continue to grow in 2024 and well beyond.”
In addition to its significant unit growth in 2023, Graze Craze achieved its 10th consecutive quarter of positive growth, seeing a 38% increase in comp sales for existing stores over 2023. It is on track to close out Q1 as another positive quarter.
Contributing to this growth was its commitment to menu innovation. For example, Graze Craze introduced the Brunch Board, allowing it to target and serve a new daypart and rolled out several limited-time boards, including its Game Day Board in September and Holiday Board in November.
The brand is on track to open 60 locations in 2024, 15-20 of which are projected to open in the first quarter. By year-end, Graze Craze will surpass 100 locations.
Graze Craze is an affiliated brand of United Franchise Group.
