Seven Words You Can’t Say-Carl Gerhardt

By Carl Gerhardt

No, I am not talking about George Carlin’s “Seven Words You Can’t Say on Television.” If you actually can repeat those seven words, you’ve been around as long as I have! I am talking about these words that I’ve heard a time or two when visiting our franchise members: “We have never done it that way.” It’s human nature to continue doing the things we believe will work rather than something that requires taking a risk...or something suggested by a staff member, a fellow shop owner or business advisor.

Why Should You Care?
The recession that began in 2008 changed everything. Business did not bounce back like it did in previous recessions. Combine this with the ever increasing impact of new technologies, and those companies that resist trying new things to increase sales and operating efficiencies face a very difficult future.

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Carl Gerhardt Author's page Carl Gerhardt is the chairman of Alliance Franchise Brands LLC, the parent company of Allegra Network LLC and Sign & Graphics Operations LCC, and a world leader in marketing, visual and graphics communications, linking more than 600 locations in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom. The company’s Marketing & Print Division, headquartered in Plymouth, MI, is comprised of Allegra, American Speedy Printing, Insty-Prints, Speedy Printing and Zippy Print brands of marketing, printing, mailing and Web services providers. Its Sign & Graphics Division, headquartered in Columbia, MD, is comprised of Image360, Signs By Tomorrow and Signs Now brands of sign and graphics communications providers.

Carl and his wife, Judy, owned and operated their own successful Allegra franchise for nearly 20 years before selling the $2.3 million operation in 2003. He is a PrintImage International/NAQP Honorary Lifetime Member and was inducted into NAPL’s prestigious Soderstrom Society in 2010 in recognition of his contribution to the industry.