According to the Canadian Federal Government 2022 statistics, there are 1.19 million small businesses and of these, the Canadian Franchise Association reports an estimated 657,000 are franchise small businesses.
Why is this important? Small businesses help drive the Canadian economy from creating employment to giving back to the community. They may be small but they play a big role in our lives!
Here is the story of one of a million small business owners who support us:
Meet John Ribson – Wendy’s in Ontario and Quebec
This year, John Ribson is celebrating 30 years as a franchisee with Wendy’s Canada. His career within the quick service restaurant industry began in 1994, when he started as an Assistant Manager at a Wendy’s restaurant in Hamilton, Ontario.
Working his way up the management chain to General Manager, and then becoming a District Manager, it was then that John had an opportunity to partner with a fellow franchisee, where he purchased his first Wendy’s restaurant. Since then, he has grown to become the proud owner of 46 Wendy’s restaurants across Ontario, with John recently signing a new development agreement to build 19 restaurants in Quebec.
Fostering professional development and clear communication are just some of John’s secrets to success. Once a month, he brings his team together to discuss not only upcoming plans, but also to provides his staff with the opportunity to share what they are doing, respectively, to strive for success. This environment serves as a ‘think tank’ in real-time where teams can review metrics to reinforce strengths and provide each other with advice on areas of opportunity. These meetings ensure that John and his whole team are maximizing efficiency, giving them access to the collective resource, while aligning on shared goals.
John also recognizes that investing in and celebrating talent helps to build a strong cohesive team. He has actioned this through training and development, but also through offering unique experiences to his team. For example, when a store is recognized for outstanding performance, whether it be for sales, customer service, or operations related metrics, the team from that store is treated to a unique experience such as, Toronto Maple Leafs or Toronto Raptors games, which has been a rewarding opportunity for many. They will also be hosting their second team cruise with representation from each of his restaurant locations.
Beyond developing his Wendy’s team, John is also a great supporter of his community. He has been involved in many philanthropic projects for over 25 years, including sponsoring local children’s sports teams, to previously running a bingo in Hamilton to help raise funds for the local hospice.
Starting with one restaurant and growing to where he is today, John’s advice for franchisees is that whether you’re a single or multi-unit owner, it’s your people that make or break you. It’s what they do every day to keep those customers coming back, so it’s important to make sure we invest, train and develop our people – because that will make us all successful.
Support local small business owners like John! Treat yourself to a meal at your local Wendy’s.
