Crumbl's remarkable growth offers plenty for franchise owners and buyers to learn from.

In this episode of Franchise Secrets, Erik and Jeff reflect on Crumbl's rise and the challenges that can come with scaling a successful brand. Looking back, they explore questions worth asking while a business is still growing.

A few lessons stand out:

• Successful concepts attract competitors. What helps a brand stay distinctive as others enter the market?

• Strong openings are only part of the story. What supports lasting customer demand and franchisee profitability?

• Owners still have levers. How can local relationships, catering, and corporate events create new opportunities?

The conversation also explores changing customer habits, real estate costs, and the differences between novelty-driven and occasion-driven purchases.

Erik and Jeff share outside observations and possible explanations, rather than inside knowledge of Crumbl's operations.

Whether you own a franchise or are considering one, this episode offers questions to help you evaluate growth and think beyond opening day.

Timestamps:

00:00 Erik reflects on an early Crumbl opportunity

01:19 Crumbl's remarkable growth

03:18 Novelty, customer appeal, and competition

07:25 Looking beyond strong opening sales

11:58 How franchise brands evolve as they grow

14:53 Different reasons customers buy sweet treats

18:44 Discussing possible changes in consumer habits

21:20 Real estate costs and franchise economics

24:25 Timing, risk, and selling a business

27:09 Building local relationships and new revenue opportunities

Explore the podcast and resources:

https://franchisesecrets.com

Get help starting or growing a franchise:

https://scalablefranchise.com

Connect with Erik Van Horn:

🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/

📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/

👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/

💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/

Best Franchise Starter Playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMlgRgsBAo4LWNCMSOthnK0r&si=TD1z25-ie2d23rGm

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMle5_OUXiuLbc_UPBtz1vTE&si=uCOgDya1VnnCarDf

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMk2Kw07KwZGWgF8UTx9N5_T&si=ZldjBOqFanGE-JUL

#Crumbl #Franchising #FranchiseSecrets

Someone asked me whether my social posts were really coming from me or from AI. Here's my answer.

In this episode of Franchise Secrets, I share how I use AI to turn years of podcasts, mastermind conversations, and firsthand business experience into content that still sounds like me.

I break down how I brainstorm, refine my posts, and organize my knowledge into a central "brain." I also explain how franchise owners and entrepreneurs can start doing the same.

There's a difference between using AI to sharpen your thinking and letting it do your thinking for you. I share the shortcut that frustrates me most, why copying and pasting AI replies creates problems, and what leaders should teach their teams instead.

If you want to create more content without losing your voice, this episode is for you.

Explore Franchise Tribe:

https://franchisetribe.com

Learn more about working with me:

https://scalablefranchise.com

CHAPTERS

00:00 The wrong way to use AI

01:03 Business wins, challenges, and honest conversations

04:24 Finding potential buyers among your customers

07:03 "Is this really Erik or AI?"

08:15 How I created content before AI

11:47 How I turn my experience into content

17:09 Scheduling content and keeping my voice

18:51 Why business owners should build an AI brain

22:12 Using your knowledge across different AI tools

22:41 Using AI to think better without taking shortcuts

Connect with Erik Van Horn:

🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/

📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/

👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/

💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/

Best Franchise Starter Playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMlgRgsBAo4LWNCMSOthnK0r&si=TD1z25-ie2d23rGm

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMle5_OUXiuLbc_UPBtz1vTE&si=uCOgDya1VnnCarDf

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMk2Kw07KwZGWgF8UTx9N5_T&si=ZldjBOqFanGE-JUL

#AIForBusiness #ContentCreation #FranchiseSecrets

A great product and a friendly conversation don't automatically close a sale. So where does the deal fall apart?

Erik talks with Morgan, a sales leader at Zingas, about the mistakes that cost businesses customers and how to improve the process from the first conversation to the follow-up.

They break down how to build trust without forcing small talk, ask questions that uncover what customers actually need, handle objections before they become roadblocks, and ask for the sale without being pushy.

Plus, Morgan explains why you should pause after presenting your price, what to ask when someone says "Can you email that to me?", and why half of their sales come from follow-up.

Whether you're a franchise owner, building a sales team, or selling a service, this conversation offers practical ways to strengthen your sales process.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Half Their Sales Come From Follow-Up

00:41 Meet Morgan: In-Home Sales and Franchise Growth

03:19 Starting in Sales at 19

05:01 Building Trust Before Asking for the Sale

10:37 Better Questions and Reading the Room

14:08 Coaching Salespeople to Listen

20:14 Match the Product to the Customer's Needs

25:56 Handle Objections Before They Become Roadblocks

32:40 Closing the Sale: Price, Silence, and Budget Questions

39:02 Turn Follow-Up Into a Second Appointment

Explore Franchise Secrets: https://franchisesecrets.com

Learn more about starting or growing a franchise: https://scalablefranchise.com

Connect with Erik Van Horn:

🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/

📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/

👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/

💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/

Best Franchise Starter Playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMlgRgsBAo4LWNCMSOthnK0r&si=TD1z25-ie2d23rGm

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMle5_OUXiuLbc_UPBtz1vTE&si=uCOgDya1VnnCarDf

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMk2Kw07KwZGWgF8UTx9N5_T&si=ZldjBOqFanGE-JUL

#Sales #SalesTraining #FranchiseSecrets