Group’s 1st Woman Leader Sets Priorities
For the first time in its 40-year history, the International Franchise Assn. has named a woman, coffee entrepreneur JoAnne Shaw, to head the world’s largest and oldest franchising organization. Shaw, the 56-year-old president of Coffee Beanery Ltd., a Flushing, Mich.-based chain with 200 outlets nationwide and sales of about $50 million annually, said she plans to work hard to bring more women into franchising. She spoke with staff writer Marc Ballon on Monday at the IFA’s annual convention in San Diego about the relative lack of women franchisees and what, if anything, can be done about it.
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Question: What is the percentage of women franchisees?
Answer: I’m going to estimate about 20%. No one really knows because of all the consolidations that are going on. There’s really no way to capture that information at the current time.
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Q: That seems rather low. Would you like to see more women franchisees?
A: I absolutely would. I think women are inherently good in business, particularly franchising. They are good at working with people and training and nurturing employees. I think customers have a better all-around experience when they use the goods and services of women franchisees.
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Q: Why do you think there are relatively so few women in franchising?
A: It’s never been particularly easy for women to get funding for business ventures. But that is changing. Bankers seem to like women entrepreneurs and especially women entrepreneurs in franchising, where you have a proven business system and lots of support. I believe the number of women franchisers and franchisees will grow, because women are seeking opportunities beyond working for someone else and beyond the home.
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Q: What is the significance of your selection as the International Franchise Assn.’s first female chair?
A: I think my selection says that women have a lot to offer in the business world in general and in franchising specifically. I think it gives more visibility to women.
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Q: Given the scarcity of women franchisees, are any companies trying to recruit women?
A: I don’t know of any companies trying to recruit only women or women in particular. But I would say that franchise companies are trying to recruit as many good women and men as possible. There are more franchise concepts than ever before, and most franchise systems are growing at a good, steady pace. Good people are needed.
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Q: What are your goals as chairwoman?
A: My No. 1 goal is to bring franchisers and franchisees together to prevent more governmental intrusion into . . . franchising. I’d also like to see franchisers and franchisees do grass-roots lobbying on small-business issues that affect us. For instance, I’d like us to unite in preventing an increase in the minimum wage. Let the marketplace dictate wages, not big government. I also favor the elimination of the estate tax. Most franchises are family-owned businesses run by people who have worked hard all their lives to become successful. It’s not fair for government to come in and take 50% of the value of the business when somebody dies. In some cases, families have to sell their businesses to pay those taxes, which isn’t fair.
