With 2018 behind us, it’s worth reflecting on the Canadian franchise industry’s growth over the past year. The Canadian Franchise Association’s (CFA) first-ever Franchise Economic Forecast and Economic Impact studies indicated significant growth, including 520 new franchise units opening up across the country in 2018. Entering the New Year, I am focused on the future of franchising and the needs of our members. We help our members grow by connecting them with everyday Canadians who dream of business ownership, creating shared success that benefits everyone. I look forward to serving our members as they grow and thrive.
Diving head-first into 2019, we reflect back on what has been a whirlwind year with no shortage of exciting changes that disrupted Canada’s franchising industry for the better in 2018. According to franchise experts, it’s the franchise systems that are adapting to the growing demand for convenience that are thriving right now and are set on a due course towards growth in the coming years.
The January/February issue of Franchise Canada, The Trends Issue, is your guide to where the franchising industry is heading, and how franchise systems throughout the country are responding to the consumer trends that are shaping the industry. If you’ve made it your New Year’s resolution to fulfill your dream of owning a franchise business, then this is the issue for you.
In the 2019 Franchising Trends Report, we offer a glimpse into what’s currently happening in Canadian franchising, and what’s on the horizon. In this feature, franchising experts Gary Prenevost and Wayne Maillet provide insight into what the CFA has identified – based on both an increase in Franchise Canada Directory listings and anecdotally – as trending, emerging, and growing franchise sectors. From new and categories such as cannabis, to constantly evolving Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) systems, we break down the franchise categories that savvy investors should be keeping their eyes on.
We’ll also dive deep into how various industries are keeping up with the latest trends impacting their respective industries. We hear from two franchise systems in the B2B space that are equipping businesses with the digital tools they need to drive success. We hear from major players in the automotive franchise sector, to hear how they’re keeping up with the latest trends in automotive technology. When it comes to Canada’s newly established recreational cannabis industry, we take a look at three franchise systems that stand to benefit massively from the legalization of cannabis.
As always, we hear from the most important asset driving Canada’s franchise industry: the people. We share the story of first-year CleanQuip franchisee Jamie Wallace, Merry Maids’ Margaret Hammond, and 19-year-old millennial franchisee Kianna Jensen of Little Caesars.
No matter what’s trending in the industry, one thing remains a constant: franchising is built upon a foundation of passionate people, working within an established system to achieve success. This will never change, no matter where the latest trends take franchising. Knowing yourself, your passions, your capabilities, and conducting proper due diligence on the opportunities is your best path to success. This issue is packed with the franchise opportunities, information, and expert advice you need to know to make 2019 the year you set your sights on your franchise goals. We wish you great success in 2019 and beyond!