Creative Marketing earns from 12 franchise businesses

A good marketing effort can bring all kinds of returns: More sales, more customers, more followers, more customer engagement, or perhaps more employee engagement – which then translates into more customer engagement. . After all, franchises are small businesses, so the best marketing efforts often involve informed, outside-the-box thinking about what will resonate most in a particular community. It's not about how big your budget is; it's about how much your campaign or event gets people thinking about your business. Here, we spoke to a diverse group of franchisees about their most effective marketing efforts ever.

Image Credit: Courtesy of Crust Pizza Co.

1. Host an annual family-friendly event.

“Every December, we host our highly anticipated 'Grinch Takes Over' event for two magical nights. A live Grinch character roams the restaurant, engaging with families, cracking silly jokes and posing for photos. He even accepts onion from the children who come Dressed as the Little Grinch We set up a large projector for movie screenings, serve special children's pizzas made with green dough and provide photo printing on site families an unforgettable memory to take home – complete with our brand 'Crust Pizza', perfect for the fridge. – Jessie and Jason ParkeR, franchisees of Crust Pizza Co. in Louisiana

Image Credit: Courtesy of YogaSix

2. Incentivize team members to create content.

“The best money we've ever spent on marketing wasn't on ads or influencers; it was on coffee. We believe our team members are the real power behind community awarenessso we created a Slack channel where our team can upload anything that captures the spirit of our studio: selfies, us-us, quick videos, artistic photos, silly moments, teacher tips, member celebrations, memes, or fails . For every image or video we use in our social campaigns, the contributor receives a Starbucks or Peet's Coffee gift card — in surprising amounts. What started as a fun way to collect content has grown into a vibrant culture of sharing and collaboration.” – Toni King and Audrey RydeR, franchises of YogaSix in California and Nevada

Image Credit: Courtesy of Padget Business Services

3. Propose a photo shoot of yourself at work.

“At Padgett, we believe relationships are at the heart of tax and accounting services. We provided tax and accounting services to Natalie, owner of Always Yours Bakery Cafe, and found a professional photographer through the local Chamber of Commerce directory to capture the partnership In action, just $500 and an hour of time resulted in stunning images that replaced generic images on our website, social media channels, and Google Business Profile centerpiece. of a client success story that highlights Natalie's entrepreneurial journey and high-profile corporate marketing efforts, adding a layer of authenticity to brochures, presentations and digital campaigns.” – Shinji taniguchi, franchise of Padgett Business Services in California

Image Credit: Courtesy of DonutNV

4. Partner with corporations on local disaster relief initiatives.

“Recently, I reached out to DonutNV Corporation about partnering in disaster relief efforts for communities in my territory of St. Pete, Florida, following Hurricanes Milton and Helene. DonutNV jumped at the chance and I was supported with enough products to serve over 4000 residents of the area of St return efforts. The response to this initiative was overwhelming and we continued to offer donations to local schools, communities and businesses in the following weeks. We just wanted to brighten the day of those who lost everything in these hurricanes, and we're proud to continue these efforts in 2025.” – Eric Koroknay, franchise of DonutNV in Florida

Image Credit: Courtesy of MaidPro

5. Set up a welcome table at community events.

“We try to have a presence at local events, setting up a MaidPro hospitality table and tent at every opportunity. Kids and adults alike are delighted by our popcorn machine and we also offer toys for the kids. We also include fuzzy friends by made dog treats and a dish of water available One of the highlights of our setup is the spinning wheel, where attendees can win exciting prizes, including a free cleaning service and various Swag items This no not only does it promote my business, but it also fosters a sense of community spirit. – Julie SolLinger, franchise of MaidPro in Massachusetts

Image credit: Courtesy of Huntington Learning Center

6. Don't count out old fashioned mailers.

“Direct mail continues to be a key driver of success. In June, I received a call from a mother as her son entered his senior year, saying that she had received our mailer and took it as a sign for her gave test prep a last ditch effort Her son's scores improved and he was accepted to his dream school knowledge from reputable sources, emphasizing how standardized test prep improves the chances of college admission In today's digital age, physical mail stands out as a tangible way to connect with parents often overwhelmed by the clutter of the Internet. – Cara Murray, franchise of Huntington Learning Center in New Jersey

Image Credit: Courtesy of Ivybrook Academy

7. Get an unforgettable mascot.

“Ivy the Owl has proven to be a fantastic asset to the Ivybrook Academy franchises. This beloved mascot serves many purposes, making it one of the best investments to promote brand visibility. As a teaching assistant, Ivy the Owl brings joy and excitement to classrooms, helping children feel more relaxed and engaged. Ivy helps make important announcements at events and provides a pleasant and engaging presence for promotional campaigns. Ivy visits new locations to photograph and create anticipation for school openings, as well as representing us at events such as graduations and community fairs. Students can even travel with Flat Ivy, a portable version of Ivy the Owl that families can take to different locations.” – Jamie Smith Flatow, Chief Marketing Officer of Ivybrook Academy

Image Credit: Courtesy of Clean Eatz

8. Partner with local celebrities who love your product.

“Claudia Coffey, a local TV personality, was a customer at our locations, so we proposed creating a signature drink inspired by her. This resulted in the Claudia Coffee, a triple espresso frappe with almond milk and chocolate syrup. Claudia's launched the drink on her TV show, discussing her busy lifestyle and indirectly supporting Clean Eatz by promoting it on her social media, while Clean Eatz paid for three on-air spots – one on location and two in the studio, worth a total of $1,000 – Claudia's personal promotion was an added and valuable boost Claudia's demographic matches ours perfectly – female, educated, 30 to 50 years old — making her endorsement even more influential.” – Matt Hall, franchise of Pure Eatz in Kentucky

Image Credit: Courtesy of SafeSplash Swim School

9. Bring delightful guests to your events.

“At the Grand Opening of my Knoxville location, I was talking to a friend who had just won a World Series title and I jokingly asked him, 'Why don't you bring the trophy to the event?' I was surprised when he replied, “What time is it?” As an Olympian, I wanted the event to celebrate excellence in all forms, so we brought in another Olympian to sign autographs. that having something concrete to trade is essential. It is much easier to generate traction with your digital marketing effort if there is a unique aspect to your event. – Davis Tarwater, franchisee of SafeSplash Swim School in Tennessee and South Carolina

Image Credit: Courtesy of Gong Cha

10. Come up with an interactive campaign.

“During our Peanuts-Themed launch featuring our new Pumpkin Pie Milk Tea flavor, we wanted to bring It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown to life in a way that resonated with fans. So we partnered with influencers for a nationwide scavenger hunt in six cities, where consumers had the chance to find hidden pumpkins and win a month of free Gong cha. It was an absolute hit. The buzz around the event was contagious, with customers eagerly sharing their pumpkin finds on social media. As a result, we saw double-digit sales growth within the first two weeks and a significant increase in store traffic. On the media side, our campaign generated over 500,000 views, with incredible engagement across channels.” – Emily Lee, Franchise Master of Gong cha

Image Credit: Courtesy of HTeaO

11. Give the product to a good cause.

“In May 2024, for two weeks, nurses and teachers across the country enjoyed 50% off cups of tea to recognize their incredible contributions. In Oklahoma City, we took our appreciation one step further when our Tea Truck stops at two hospitals and a Each nurse and teacher received a free cup of tea, along with a “Certifically Awesome” bag filled with .HTeaO goodies like balm for lips, an energy drink and exclusive brand products were served and the response was overwhelming Beyond spreading brand awareness and deepening community relationships. – Mackenzie Jewell, franchise of HTeaO in Oklahoma

Image credit: Courtesy of CertaPro Painters

12. Start an annual feel-good charity campaign.

“During our 'Paint it Pink' campaign, in partnership with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Breast Cancer Canada, franchisees pledge to donate a percentage of every painting project completed between October and November. They also support the cause through pageants their website, marketing materials and social media campaigns The most exciting way to get involved is by wearing hot pink and teaming up with local businesses Pink ice cream shops, pink cafes, and even 'painted pink' country clubs will go pink Since the campaigns, Paint it Pink has raised $555,000 – the equivalent of funding 11,000 hours of groundbreaking research! – Mike Stone, CEO of CertaPro Painters

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