Alliance Franchise Brands’ Allegra Marketing Print Mail and Image360 were recently named to Entrepreneur’s list of Top Franchises for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. This distinction follows years of dedication and focused effort surrounding the topics at the company.
“We are honored to be recognized by Entrepreneur magazine for our dedication to fostering equality and representation within our franchise networks,” says Lisa Buehler, President, Marketing and Visual Communications for Alliance Franchise Brands. “We believe in creating opportunities for all individuals from all walks of life to succeed as entrepreneurs. Year after year, we remain committed to amplifying diverse voices and ensuring inclusivity remains a cornerstone of our franchise model.”
When it comes to promoting a diverse and inclusive environment amongst a network of franchisees, creating a sense of community is key.
“Our first core value is ‘member’s first,’ it really emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the needs and successes of our members. Not only our franchise members, but our team members at Alliance Franchise Brands as well,” says Buehler. “It includes fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all, championing diversity and inclusion. As we look at Allegra and Image 360, it ensures that every franchise member, regardless of their background, feels valued and supported. We talk about fostering a culture of inclusivity where every team member feels valued and respected. We like to help our franchisees through support and coaching.”
At Alliance Franchise Brands, they make it a priority to ensure that diversity and inclusion don’t become corporate lip service. The vision behind the brand is evident when simply looking at their leadership team.
“As I look at Alliance Franchise Brands in general, there’s a strong presence of women on our executive team,” says Buehler. “I think it’s great, it’s reflected in our leadership. I would say that diversity and inclusion aren’t just buzzwords, they’re principles for our operation.”
By developing a welcoming environment for all, Alliance Franchise Brands is able to fortify its network organically.
“The belief is that diversity enriches the network, helps foster creativity and innovation, and provides us a deeper understanding of our franchise base,” says Buehler. “We try to do a lot of community engagement. We just had our annual convention in St. Louis, and we supported a local nonprofit called Youth in Need. It’s an organization that serves more than 8,000 of the area’s most vulnerable children, teens and families. Nonprofits like that give children access to equitable opportunities,” Buehler continues. “It’s through partnerships like this that we inspire our franchisees to do the same in their communities. We also offer 25% off the franchise fees for veterans, first responders, women, BIPOC and members of the LGBTQ community.”
