LRM Best Practices from DHC Franchisees

Franchisee Al Graziano and Collaborating with Influencers:  

I've tapped into the power of social media and influencer collaborations to propel our brand's presence and draw in crowds. Here's how we make it work:  

Objective: Our main aim is to amplify Dave's Hot Chicken's visibility and draw in a crowd by deploying targeted social media initiatives and building relationships with key influencers.  

Tactic: We've honed a robust presence on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, which are pivotal for our target demographic. We collaborate with local influencers, those with a follower count between 75,000 and 200,000, to craft authentic content that resonates with our audience. These influencers are instrumental in creating buzz through their posts, stories, and by hosting events in tandem with our brand.  

Expected Outcomes:

Employee of Franchisee Ron Stokes about fundraising: 

We've discovered that hosting fundraisers is an effective strategy to connect our restaurants with our communities, ultimately resulting in greater brand awareness, loyalty and repeat visits.  

Objective: Our goal is to boost Dave's Hot Chicken's visibility and customer base by partnering with our target audience to support an organization that’s meaningful to them.  

Tactic: We partner with local non-profits by hosting fundraising nights in our restaurants. The non-profit is responsible for marketing the event, and we donate a percentage of sales during the fundraising period back to the organization.

Expected Outcomes: 

• Increased sales during fundraiser periods as a result of organization promoting the event within their networks. 
• Greater brand recognition among a key demographic. Students, athletes, and their families are the most likely to be involved with hosting a fundraiser, and their events drive trial within that demographic. 
• Increased visit frequency from fundraiser guests post-event due to trial and positive brand association. 
• Greater opportunity to feed the organization on a large scale as a trusted partner (awards banquets, post-game meals, team events). 
• Positive sentiment within community as a vendor that is involved with and gives back to local organizations. 

Time to Execute: Setting up the program and accounts can take a few weeks, however training teams to use the program can be turned around quickly. Once the fundraising platform is set up to the brand’s liking, the administrative portion of fundraising should not take more than an hour or two per week.

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Franchisee Aaron Van Kuren on Supporting High School Athletics: 

We've discovered that supporting local high school athletics is a fantastic strategy for ingraining our brand into the community. Here's how we do it effectively:  

Objective: Our goal is to boost Dave's Hot Chicken's visibility and customer base by actively engaging with our community. 

Tactic: We partner with local high schools by sponsoring their sports teams. This includes placing Dave's Hot Chicken banners at sports venues and handing out free slider cards during key games. 

Expected Outcomes: 

Time to Execute: 

Setting up this initiative can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months, mainly due to coordination efforts with the schools and the production of promotional materials. 

Materials Needed: