A strong brand doesn’t just build recognition. It drives growth.

For franchise businesses, aligning marketing with business goals means creating a brand strategy that works at every level, from local locations to national expansion.

In this week’s Marketing With Purpose Kit from The Bliss Business Podcast, we’re joined by Abby Fogel, Vice President of Brand Management & Communications at Unleashed Brands, to explore how marketing can support business growth.

With more than a decade of experience in franchising and agency-side marketing, Abby brings a broad perspective spanning local store marketing, franchise development, consumer brand strategy, public relations, and enterprise communications. Today, she leads brand marketing for Water Wings Swim School during a significant period of franchise growth and national expansion, while also guiding brand and communications strategy for Unleashed Brands.

🎙️ Hosted by Tullio Siragusa

🎧 Produced by Martha Huerta

🧭 In this episode, we explore:

• How to align brand strategy with business growth objectives

• Why franchise marketing needs to connect local and national efforts

• How marketing supports franchise development and expansion

• Building consistent brand experiences for customers, franchisees, and employees

When marketing and business strategy work together, brands can build stronger connections while supporting sustainable growth. Join us for a conversation about making that alignment happen.

Culture is not something that happens in the background.

It shapes how people lead, how franchisees feel supported, how teams handle pressure, and how a brand grows without losing the heart that made it special.

In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we welcome Rob Flanagan, CEO/President and Cultural Co-Founder of Hounds Town USA, a dog daycare, boarding, and pet care franchise with more than 100 locations across the country. Hounds Town began with a mission rooted in dog psychology and pack-based care, and today the brand continues to grow around the idea of creating a place where dogs can socialize, play, and thrive.

Rob is a 20+ year franchising veteran who has built his career helping emerging brands scale without losing the founder’s vision, culture, or operational focus. His leadership philosophy is simple and powerful: profitability is a byproduct of culture.

In The Mindful Culture at Hounds Town, we explore:

• Why culture should be treated as an intentional business system

• How mindfulness helps leaders develop self-awareness and better decision-making

• Why accountability and humanity can coexist in franchise leadership

• How franchisors can support franchisees as individuals, not just operators

• What pet care brands can teach us about connection, community, and emotional intelligence

• Why strong financial performance and people-centered leadership are not competing ideas

🎙️ Hosted by Stephen Sakach and Tullio Siragusa🎧 Produced by Martha Huerta

Mindfulness in the workplace is not just about slowing down. It is about seeing people more clearly, leading with more self-awareness, and building cultures where performance and humanity grow together.

Coffee has a way of bringing people together.

It breaks the ice, softens the room, creates a pause in the day, and gives people a simple reason to connect.

In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we welcome Natalie Fairchild, Founder and Chief Inspirational Officer of Pacific Perks Coffee, a mobile café company built around creating fun, personalized food and drink experiences for events, teams, businesses, and life’s special moments. Pacific Perks was created to help organizations promote their business, reward their teams, and celebrate meaningful occasions through made-to-order café experiences.

Natalie brings more than 25 years of experience in HR, leadership, and mentorship, and has built Pacific Perks around warmth, service, flexibility, and memorable human experiences. She also serves on the Alzheimer’s Association of Oregon and SW Washington board and has spoken about building a dynamic team while thriving personally.

In Coffee, Care, and Inspired Leadership, we explore:

• How empathy shapes customer and team experiences

• Why small moments of care can change the energy of an event

• How leaders can create a culture of fun, balance, and service

• Why hospitality begins with noticing what people need

• How mobile cafés can help teams, clients, and communities connect

• What it means to lead with inspiration, warmth, and practical care

🎙️ Hosted by Stephen Sakach and Tullio Siragusa🎧 Produced by Martha Huerta

Empathy in leadership often shows up in the little things: the way people are welcomed, the way a team feels supported, and the way a simple cup of coffee can make someone feel seen.