[penci_text_block title=”The CFA’s Recent Accomplishments” block_title_align=”style-title-left”]Over the past 12 months, the Canadian Franchise Association (CFA) has adapted its offerings and launched new programs and initiatives to help our members tackle the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Developments across the CFA pillars of community, education, advocacy, and lead generation helped the CFA meet the changing needs of our members as they sought to protect and build their businesses in this tough economic climate.

Working under the mission statement of Growing Together™, these key developments of the last year were about growing our CFA member community, delivering learning opportunities, advocating on issues that impact franchising, and connecting Canadians with franchise opportunities, all while navigating the new obstacles brought about by the pandemic.

With a strong focus on innovation, the CFA celebrated many “firsts”:

Community (Membership & Networking)
Education
Advocacy
Lead Generation

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The CFA is focused on Growing Together™ with our members. This past year, we provided an extensive range of new member programs and benefits, including opportunities for members to share their experiences and learn from one another.

Brought the CFA community together. Held 8 virtual Franchise Social events, where members came together through Zoom calls to engage in conversation, share a few laughs, and learn from one another.

Facilitated peer-to-peer learning. Monthly mentorship roundtables provided the opportunity for new members to receive tips, advice, and best practices directly from CFA veterans.

Celebrated franchise excellence (virtually). Winners of the 2020 CFA awards program were celebrated virtually through videos that featured video acceptance speeches and photos.

Recognized member contributions. All CFA franchise company members received the Special Hall of Fame Award in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the franchise community during COVID-19.

Created an even more welcoming environment. The CFA launched the Member Onboarding committee and monthly onboarding webinars to help educate new members about the CFA and its offerings.

Focused on maintaining our member community. The CFA launched the Member Renewal Committee and encouraged members to renew before the final deadline by offering incentives, including one complimentary Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) program registration and credits for pre-determined CFA programs.[/penci_text_block][vc_column width=”1/3″][penci_text_block block_title_align=”style-title-left”]

• Held the FIRST virtual Franchise Social event
• Launched the FIRST Monthly Mentorship Roundtable
• Started the FIRST Membership Renewal and Membership Onboarding committees
• Held the FIRST Membership Onboarding webinars
• Offered membership renewal incentives for the FIRST time
• Celebrated our CFA award winners virtually for the FIRST time
• Recognized all CFA member franchises with the FIRST Special Hall of Fame Award
• Launched the FIRST CFA Salesforce database

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[/penci_text_block][penci_text_block style_block_title=”style-title-13″ title=”Education” block_title_align=”style-title-left” background_title_color=”#00a651″]The CFA is committed to providing our members with the educational information and tools they need to help strengthen and protect their franchise businesses. As the needs of our members changed during COVID-19, so too did the educational programs and offerings the CFA provided.

Kept members informed throughout COVID-19. The CFA established daily COVID-19 updates, a COVID-19 resources page on cfa.ca/, and a robust COVID-19 webinar program to ensure members received timely and relevant information about government programs and much more.

“Went virtual” for all educational events. The CFA transitioned from in-person events to entirely virtual events using a new virtual platform. All event registration, including payments, also took place through this virtual platform.

Engaged members through a month-long event series. The CFA’s Business Recovery Summit Series featured four different Summits over a month-long span, targeting key areas of focus for franchises during COVID-19, including franchisee recovery, franchise recruitment, franchisee support, and franchise marketing.

Focused on franchisee education. The CFA introduced a franchisee-focused event as part of the Business Recovery Summit Series, as it works to provide education beyond the c-suite and to the franchisees of our member brands.

Enhanced the Members Only Area experience. The CFA redeveloped the Members Only Area to include more resources for members, including The Franchise Voice new branded content channel.

Developed CFE program content to fuel professional growth. The CFA worked to “Canadianize” the content of the Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) program that was licensed from the International Franchise Association (IFA) in 2019. This program will allow members to expand their franchise-specific expertise as they work to receive official CFE accreditation.[/penci_text_block][vc_column width=”1/3″][penci_text_block block_title_align=”style-title-left”]

• Held the FIRST virtual Franchise Your Business seminar in June
• Held the FIRST virtual event – Franchise Law Day – in September
• Held the FIRST multi-day virtual event – the Business Recovery Summit Series – in October 2020
• Held the FIRST franchisee-focused event as part of the Business Recovery Summit Series
• Held the FIRST “Franchising Meets the Money” Growth and Exit Strategies event in October
• Held the FIRST Smart Growth for Emerging Franchisors event to help newer members expand operations
• Launched the FIRST digital-only edition of The Franchise Voice member magazine in Spring 2020
• Redeveloped The Franchise Voice magazine into the FIRST branded online content channel of the CFA Members Only Area in Spring 2021

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[/penci_text_block][penci_text_block style_block_title=”style-title-13″ title=”Advocacy” block_title_align=”style-title-left” background_title_color=”#ed1c24″]Since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, the CFA has worked tirelessly to help make governments understand the needs of franchised businesses and to ensure that the programs they rolled out to help businesses worked for Canadian franchises.

Kept CFA members informed throughout COVID-19. The CFA established daily COVID-19 updates to ensure members regularly received the latest and most relevant information about government programs and more.

Held key meetings with government representatives across Canada. The CFA participated in more than 350 calls and virtual meetings with elected officials, political staff, and public servants.

Continued to provide vital education to government about the franchise business model and franchising’s positive contributions to the Canadian economy.

Raised awareness about franchising in Ontario. Held the first-ever Virtual Franchise Awareness Days in November, which included 24 virtual meetings with Conservative, Liberal, and NDP MPPs.

Helped franchise businesses pay wages. The CFA lobbied government to put in place a wage subsidy to help franchised businesses at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. We then lobbied for the 75 per cent Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and successfully got it extended to June 2021.

Helped franchise businesses pay their rent. The CFA lobbied government to create the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program. We also lobbied government to fix problems that arose from the program, which resulted in the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS).

Helped franchise businesses get access to capital. The CFA actively pushed for the creation of a business loan program, which culminated in the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA). We also lobbed for a top-up loan and for those operating with personal accounts to be included in the program.[/penci_text_block][vc_column width=”1/3″][penci_text_block block_title_align=”style-title-left” custom_markup_1=””]

• Launched the FIRST series of COVID-19 updates to keep members informed during the pandemic
• Held the FIRST Virtual Franchise Awareness Days targeting Ontario
• Held the FIRST advocacy-focused webinars to educate members about new government programs
  

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[/penci_text_block][penci_text_block style_block_title=”style-title-13″ title=”Lead Generation” block_title_align=”style-title-left” background_title_color=”#f47920″ custom_markup_1=””]This past year, the CFA continued to educate the general public about the benefits of franchising as a path to self-employment, and to connect prospective franchisees with opportunities in franchising. We increased awareness of franchising and specific opportunities through magazine and website content, social media, tradeshows, podcast episodes, and videos.

Promoted franchising to those seeking self-employment opportunities. Through Franchise Canada content, social media, PR work, and educational seminars, the CFA educated our general public audience about the strength and resilience of the franchise business model, and why it’s a strong self-employment option during tough times.

Shared franchisee success stories. We highlighted the stories of Canadian franchisees who are continuing to find success in this challenging climate. We did this in the pages of Franchise Canada magazine and through exclusive web content, on our social media platforms, through the Franchise Canada Chats podcast, and in Franchise Canada TV videos.

Grew our general public audience to more than 17,000 Franchise Canada E-News subscribers and more than 14,000 social media followers.

Increased engagement with Franchise Canada readers, with an 80.7% increase in magazine reads and a 77.7% increase in clicks.

Connected franchisors with prospects through virtual events. The CFA transitioned the in-person Franchise Canada tradeshow to a fully virtual event, with 10 events taking place in six different regions.

Developed new opportunities to engage with franchisees. The CFA launched Franchisor Spotlight Webinars to allow franchise members to provide more details about their opportunities to interested prospective franchisees.

Improved the franchise search experience. We upgraded our LookforaFranchise.ca online franchise directory, through improving the browsing experience for users, and providing enhanced results for our franchise members.[/penci_text_block][vc_column width=”1/3″][penci_text_block block_title_align=”style-title-left” custom_markup_1=””]

• Held the FIRST Virtual Franchise Canada Show in May
• Launched the FIRST Franchisor Spotlight Webinar in July
• Launched the FIRST digital-only issue of Franchise Canada magazine in November/December 2020
• Launched the FIRST new strategic marketing plan to promote Franchise Canada content
• Held the first multi-day, national Virtual Franchise Canada Show in February

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