"In this together."

These words ring true when talking through and uncovering the fears, uncertainty and action that summed up the pandemic response in franchises.

Franchise leaders and franchise owners told us there stories...

Video by magnetic business media

Kristy Pendlebury, franchise owner, Gutter-Vac.  "March April 2020. Covid hits. What the hell is going to happen next, really? 

And for us, we were in our first year, so it was like, Oh, what is this going to mean? Really? What is it going to mean? How is this going to affect us? And really, what comes next?"

Warren Ballantyne, Founder, Gutter-Vac.  "We were sort of terrified. We didn't know what to expect.

 And we thought 2020, oh my God, how is this going to roll out? So we were just completely confused." 

Jayvirsingh Kishoresingh Rao, franchise owner, Pizza Hut.  "That was very uncertain time. I wasn't sure like which direction we're going to go in and how are we going to cope with the deal." 

Phil Reed, CEO, Pizza Hut.  "Oh, crikey. Yeah, well, that was a really interesting time. You know, COVID was was starting and affecting many, many businesses in our industry." 

Rowan Hodge, CEO, Andersens.  "In March of 2020, the first thing that hit us was uncertainty. Our franchisees were terrified of what was going to happen to them, to their businesses. They were worried for their payrolls. They were worried for their rents." 

Warren Ballantyne, Founder, Gutter-Vac. "Well, I mean, what I did in the beginning was I had no idea how to manage it, how to handle it, because we've never been through it before. 

So we didn't know this thing had to unfold, but we did it in a community involvement. We actually talk to our franchisees every day on teams meetings just to say where, Hey, you're there. You know, the old cliche. 

We're in this together. Well. Probably nothing was more true." 

Phil Reed, CEO, Pizza Hut.  "It's been a whirlwind. I mean, you know, transformation of the Pizza Hut brand has been great fun. 

And it's confirming that our industry is all about people. And yeah, a lot of my time is spent in restaurants. 

The reality is our business is not about sitting in an office or a boardroom. The reality of our business is being in the field, being in the stores and helping our franchise partners deliver 100% experience for our customers." 

Warren Ballantyne, Founder, Gutter-Vac. "I think it just confirms for me the franchise and the only way to do business. And I mean, that's not a sales pitch that I mean, honestly. 

Franchising was the one that came out of this smelling the best because we could help each other. You can't do that in private sector. We helped each other. And I just take my hat off to the whole industry." 

Rowan Hodge, CEO, Andersens. "What I did learn personally was that there's courage demonstrated through a little bit of vulnerability. 

There's nothing wrong with admitting that you don't have an answer, and there's nothing wrong with saying you don't know, but you're trying. 

There's nothing wrong with enlisting a franchisee to help you find the best solution. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with the group being better than an individual." 

Phil Reed, CEO, Pizza Hut. "Well, supporting the franchise partners without doubt is was ensuring that we remained open. 

That meant not only ensuring that supply chain was there, but all of the support for the franchise partner was there, now maintaining labour, etc., etc., but also lobbying as well with the authorities. 

And I have to say the partnership with the Franchise Council of Australia was really useful for us because we were able to show to them that we were an essential service and we also had the capability to deploy, help, support resource within the communities where that help and support was required. And we did." 

Jared Bourke, franchise owner, Andersens. "So, look, I just want to thank the franchise all for all the support. You know, they've really been there for for the whole group, no matter how much or how little support was needed at different times. 

Certainly there's been some challenges over over the last couple of years for all. But overall, I'm very grateful to be part of the Anderson's brand and everything that they've been able to provide to the group.

Kristy Pendlebury, franchise owner, Gutter-Vac.  "And myself personally, I'd love to say thank you to our support team and our franchise or, you know, the guys that head office were fantastic. 

They were supportive, the communication, the contact. 

They were always there. So, you know, thank you for for what they did and what they've done and what they continue to do for us."

What movie or song best describes the last two years?

Phil Reed, CEO, Pizza Hut. 

"A movie or a song? That's a big challenge."

Jayvirsingh Kishoresingh Rao, franchise owner, Pizza Hut. 

Really?

‘Clueless.’

Warren Ballantyne, Founder, Gutter-Vac.

"Belfast, I would say Belfast not long ago, a fabulous movie, high rating from Warren. 

But it was all about community and it showed different communities how they reacted and how they supported each other. I just thought it was a fabulous movie and very indicative of what franchising and small business support is all about."

Phil Reed, CEO, Pizza Hut. 

"Probably Days of Thunder. 

I was just thinking of that Tom Cruise movie. You know, he's there in the cars where we're partnering with the Supercars, and now it's about fighting, it's about winning. 

It's about being a champion at the end."

Video by magnetic business media