Innovation Has Been Reinvented

By: Kerry Pipes | 4,493 Reads | 7 Shares

Featured in: Franchise Update Magazine: Issue 3, 2020

%3Cp%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-weight%3A+400%3B%22%3ECovid-19+has+left+its+mark+in+every+corner+of+the+world%2C+and+franchising+is+no+exception.+Brands+everywhere+have+been+forced+to+look+for+ways+to+stem+financial+losses%2C+adjust+business+models%2C+meet+customer+needs%2C+stanch+losses%2C+invent+new+revenue+streams%2C+and%2C+in+too+many+cases%2C+simply+to+come+out+alive.+For+many+brands+this+year%2C+innovation+has+been+the+lifeblood+of+their+survival.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-weight%3A+400%3B%22%3ESo+when+we+chose+to+extend+the+deadline+for+our+2%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-weight%3A+400%3B%22%3End%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-weight%3A+400%3B%22%3E+annual+Franchise+Innovation+Awards+competition%26mdash%3Btwice%21%26mdash%3Bit+was+clearly+with+Covid-19+in+mind.+How+were+brands+developing+and+using+technology+and+innovation+to+weather+the+crisis%3F+What+future+plans+did+they+rush+off+the+shelves+and+into+action+on+an+accelerated+timetable%3F%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-weight%3A+400%3B%22%3EBy+extending+the+deadline%2C+we+gave+franchise+brands+the+opportunity+to+share+their+stories%26mdash%3Band+a+little+more+time+to+adjust+to+the+effects+of+the+virus%2C+share+the+problems+they+encountered%2C+and+evaluate+the+solutions+they+came+up+with+during+the+worst+global+pandemic+in+more+than+100+years.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-weight%3A+400%3B%22%3EIn+this+issue%2C+we+cover+these+awards+extensively%2C+highlighting+innovation+in+franchising%2C+but+this+year+in+a+radically+different+environment.+As+the+Internet+shook+up+business+as+usual+in+the+mid-1990s%2C+the+coronavirus+in+2020+also+has+%26ldquo%3Bchanged+everything%2C%26rdquo%3B+again+with+no+clear+idea+of+what+the+future+will+hold+as+the+coronavirus+resurges+across+the+U.S.+South+and+West.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-weight%3A+400%3B%22%3EDespite+all%2C+entries+poured+in%3A+113+in+19+different+categories+describing+innovative+initiatives+and+campaigns+in+four+areas%3A+Marketing+%26+Branding%2C+Operations%2C+Products+%26+Services%2C+and+HR.+As+you%26rsquo%3Bll+see%2C+creativity%2C+disruption%2C+and+adaptation+were+abundant%26mdash%3Band+so+were+the+results+%28and+ROI%29.+Some+of+the+biggest+%28and+smallest%29+brands+turned+to+innovation+and+technology%2C+not+only+to+gain+an+edge+on+the+competition%2C+but+just+to+make+it+through+the+pandemic+in+one+piece.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-weight%3A+400%3B%22%3EOur+panel+of+8+judges+evaluated+all+entries+this+year%2C+examining+their+objectives%2C+the+problem%28s%29+they+sought+to+solve%2C+their+goals%2C+and+the+improvements+they+hoped+to+achieve+through+innovation.+If+you+missed+out+on+submitting+an+entry+this+year%2C+now%26rsquo%3Bs+the+time+to+think+about+next+year%26rsquo%3Bs+competition.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-weight%3A+400%3B%22%3EElsewhere+in+this+issue%2C+you%26rsquo%3Bll+find+our+columnists+and+contributors+continuing+to+write+about+how+the+pandemic+is+affecting+franchising%2C+its+people%2C+and+its+future.+International+franchising%2C+sales%2C+lead+development%2C+real+estate%2C+customer+service%2C+hiring%2C+and+more+are+all+explored+here.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-weight%3A+400%3B%22%3EIn+other+news%2C+we%26rsquo%3Bve+also+rescheduled+our+annual+Multi-Unit+Franchising+Conference+to+next+year%2C+April+6%26ndash%3B9%2C+2021+at+Caesars+Forum+in+Las+Vegas.+As+valuable+as+it+is+meeting+in+person+to+explore+opportunities%26mdash%3Bas+well+as+reconnect+with+friends+and+acquaintances+face+to+face+%28remember+hugs%2C+even+handshakes%3F%29%26mdash%3Bthe+safety+and+health+of+all+attendees+was+paramount+in+our+decision%2C+as+we%26rsquo%3Bre+sure+it+is+in+yours+as+you+reopen%2C+reclose%2C+and+navigate+your+brand+through+this+crisis.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-weight%3A+400%3B%22%3EAll+of+us+are+hopeful+that+we+can+soon+put+Covid-19+in+the+rearview+mirror.+Until+then%2C+we+must+remain+diligent%2C+support+one+other+as+best+we+can%26mdash%3Bfranchisees+and+their+employees%2C+corporate+staff+and+management%2C+and+customers%26mdash%3Band+simply+do+what%26rsquo%3Bs+necessary+to+get+through+this%2C+healthy+and+alive.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3E

Published: August 18th, 2020