Have you ever had something go wrong at the worst possible time? A call comes in with the most DEVASTATING NEWS when you simply have no more capacity. On January 26, 2022, I got that call. It was 5 weeks before our wedding and 6 weeks before Cork & Candles King of Prussia (our first location) was scheduled to open. Rocky slipped loose from …
Franchising vs. Starting from Scratch: How to Choose the Right Path
If you’ve ever thought about starting a business, you’ve probably run into this question: Do you build something completely from scratch, or step into a system that alreadyexists? There’s no single right answer.But there is a right answer depending on how you think, work, and want to build your life. Two Paths — Same Goal At a high level, there …
Why Gift Cards Matter More Than You Think
When most people think about gift cards, they think about convenience. Something quick.Something easy.Something you grab when you’re out of time. From an operator’s perspective, they’re a lot more than that. What a Gift Card Really Represents In an experience-based business, a gift card isn’t just a future transaction. It’s a future visit. And often, it’s more than one person …
What Team Events Reveal About This Business
Last week, we hosted a corporate team building event at one of our Cork & Candles locations. From the outside, it looked like a typical group booking. People walked in, found their seats, and got settled. But within about 15 minutes, something shifted. Conversations picked up.Laughter replaced silence.People who had only met on Zoom calls before started engaging differently. And …
Experience-Based Franchises: The Future of Retail
For decades, franchising has followed a familiar playbook: Fast food. Retail. Fitness. And for a long time, that model worked. But something is changing. Today, a new category is emerging—one that is less about transactions and more about connection.
Why Experience-Based Businesses Are Replacing Traditional Retail
The 2025 economy proved one thing: stability is no longer guaranteed. Here’s why franchising in 2026 may be the smartest move for your future.
Why Experiential Franchises Outperform Traditional Retail in 2026
For decades, traditional retail franchises followed a familiar playbook: open a storefront, stock products, rely on foot traffic, and compete on price or convenience. But as we move into 2026, that model is no longer enough. Consumers aren’t just shopping differently. They’re valuing differently. The franchises that are outperforming today, and will continue to outperform in the years ahead, aren’t …
Lighting the Way: Cork & Candles Expands to Pittsburgh
Bob and Mary Kirk are bringing Cork & Candles to Pittsburgh, blending creativity, connection, and community in an inspiring new chapter of franchising.
The Story Behind Cork & Candles: From Family Business to National Franchise
For co-founder Dave Straub, the journey of Cork & Candles began in his childhood, making candles with his dad and selling them door-to-door. “When I was around 12 to 14 years old, I made candles with my dad,” he recalls. “I put them in a wagon, walked around my neighborhood, knocked on doors, took orders, came back to the basement, …
Understanding Franchise Fees and Royalties
When considering a franchise, it’s important to understand the fees involved and what they actually cover. The two primary fees are the royalty and the brand fund, sometimes called a marketing fund.