Franchises are often local businesses, too

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I recently attended the Localtopia event at Williams Park, which reminded me of the need to support local businesses.

Certainly, it’s important to support our locally owned St. Petersburg businesses. The city’s local restaurants and retailers are a major part of what makes St. Pete interesting.

But as we focus on giving these outlets our business, it’s important to know that franchises are often owned by local entrepreneurs and also deserve our support.

Obviously, there are large franchisee owners that own multiple units and may be absentee owners. What I am referring to are locally owned businesses that operate as franchises. And while they might seem at first glance to be a faceless organization, they are not.

In my work at Silvestri Law, I have worked with numerous local franchisees in the area, from BODYBAR Pilates, The UPS Store, and Island Fin Poké to Smoothie King, MADabolic, Raining Berries and the soon-to-open Dill Dinkers Pickleball Club.

They are local in so many ways – employing local residents, buying local advertising, and getting involved in the community.

Smart franchisors recognize the importance of local leadership and community involvement, enabling franchisees to make informed decisions and manage their operations independently, as long as they adhere to the franchisor’s established guidelines.

One example of this, among many, is Caribou Coffee on Central Avenue in downtown St. Petersburg. While the brand is well-established in the Midwest, the local franchisees, who reside in St. Pete, also own other Caribou locations around Pinellas County.

The Caribou Coffee location next to the Morean Arts Center has a cool vibe that’s far from generic. Locations run by quality franchisees like this contribute to the downtown area’s fabric instead of detracting from it.

The keys to success for such franchisees are simple: Don’t use a cookie-cutter approach. Get to know the community in meaningful ways. And price your products or services in a way that allows people to afford to visit regularly.

As rental rates continue to rise downtown, it’s clear that not all local businesses will be able to afford to be in the heart of St. Pete. Therefore, it’s essential for locals to support local franchisees while recognizing that a mix of locally owned and franchise businesses can still provide our town with the variety and charm we are proud of.

Franchised restaurants and shops will help St. Pete continue to grow, bringing involvement from larger, well-known brands. It’s up to us to support them if they’re doing a good job – and to let them know if they’re not meeting our needs.

Larry Silvestri is president of St. Petersburg-based Silvestri Law. The firm works in the real estate transactions sector, including commercial leases, title insurance, and closings.