In this compelling episode of Franchise Today, Stansits down with Greg Muzzillo, founder of Proforma, a $600 + million provider of printing and promotional products, serving businesses of all sizes around the world. Through its network of more than 600 franchisees, distributors and affiliates, Proforma is a market leader in this $300 billion market segment.

As Stan unpacks Greg’s amazing story, you will hear how mentorship, resilience, and smart pivots have shaped ProForma’s franchise success. From early rejections, to life-changing guidance... from mentors like Subway founder FredDeLuca and recruitment and franchising icon, Alan Schonberg, founder of Management Recruiters, Greg opens up about evolving his business from cold leads to a purpose-driven powerhouse.

Learn how his wife Vera, who just happens to be Proforma's CEO has provided the leadership that has been instrumental to their growth, as a woman-owned business. Learn too, why genuine connections—and asking the right questions—are everything in business.

Greg confesses that he never planned on building a franchiseempire—but how one simple conversation changed his life. He also shares the highs, lows, and transformative lessons behind Proforma's success. From spiritual growth, to philanthropic impact... from selling products, to empoweringpeople, Greg reveals how values and vision can turn a business into a legacy.

This week we hear from Scott Thompson, Chief DevelopmentOfficer at Radiance Holdings, the franchisors of Sola Salons and Woodhouse Spa. Listen in, as Scott reflects on his unexpected journey into franchising, which began after he faced rejection in his initial career, as a cardiac rehab specialist. Pivoting to his passion for fitness, Scott joined Fitness Together, ultimately becoming a successful, multi-unit franchisee in New York City, before pivoting again to the corporate side of the business, as a franchisor.

Scott shares insights from his hands-on experiences, including the challenges of navigating the 2008 financial crisis, emphasizing his belief that determination and a willingness to learn are essential for success in franchising.

Discover how a chance encounter with a mall retailer led Dawn Kane, co-founder and CEO of Hot Dish Advertising, to revolutionize franchise marketing. After managing an in-house agency for a mall developer, Dawn, along with two of her cohorts, ventured out to establish her own agency, bringing her fast-paced retail expertise to the franchising world.

The Minnesota-based agency, named after the beloved regional casserole, transformed from a consumer-focused marketing firm into a franchise development powerhouse. Their innovative approach replaced generic messagingwith data-driven strategies, setting new standards in franchise marketing.

The COVID-19 pandemic became a catalyst for positive change, as Hot Dish successfully transitioned to a fully remote operation. This move expanded their talent pool nationwide while maintaining team cohesion throughthe Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS).

Ready to dive into the fascinating story of how mall marketing experience evolved into franchise industry expertise?

Listen to this episode to learn how Dawn Kane and Hot Dish Advertising are reshaping the franchise marketing landscape.