Educating Mayors on Franchising
MIAMI (Blue MauMau) - The International Franchise Association is attending the 76th Conference of Mayors (pdf) taking place from June 20 – 24 in Miami, Florida. Hundreds of the nation’s mayors have gathered there to weigh in on domestic policy issues that impact urban America and metropolitan areas. Already presidential candidate Barack Obama has spoken with this gathering of mayors on Saturday and ex-president Bill Clinton is scheduled for Sunday.
Mr. French, Vice President of Government Relations for the International Franchise Association, explains why he is there as part of the IFA. "Mayors and cities are an important nexus point for a whole lot of policies that impact franchising," he states. "The IFA has had long-term involvement with cities as a focus from our minority franchise program to our education initiatives."
"This meeting is an opportunity for the IFA to educate a broader audience of mayors at the US Conference in Miami. This gives us an opportunity to talk with mayors on how they can help or hurt franchise businesses."
Mr. French spoke about how mayors often pass ordinances to restrict or penalize chain stores in their municipalities. These city leaders see franchise brands as national corporate chains. Mr. French elaborates, "Mayors need to think of franchising as local business owners."
One of the issues that the IFA is educating mayors on are "menu labeling mandates." New York City has recently called for calorie labeling on foods that are served in restaurants. Other cities look poised to follow.
French adds, "Cities have been active in anti-chain store ordinances designed to limit the number of national chains or formula businesses that can operate within their borders. We think that is a mistake."
The IFA government relations specialist elaborates on how such thinking can hurt municipalities. "When cities pass an ordinance thinking that they are socking it to an out of state franchisor, they are actually socking it to a local business owner. We think that they do not understand enough about franchising that local business owners choose a franchise because they want to participate with a national brand, quality assurance, training, and support – all the things that make franchising a strong engine of growth. Cities sometimes overlook that and think they are regulating some big chain store monolithic entity when in fact they are really hurting a local business owner."
Related Reading:
- Franchise topic:
