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At first glance, it can feel like a no-brainer. In a world where customers can order and pay for almost any kind of food from a handheld device, doesn’t it make sense for onsite menu boards to go digital, too? The answer isn’t as straightforward as you might guess. Yes, digital menu boards have the potential to offer your customers a sleek, tech-friendly vibe –– and research has shown that the presence of digital menu boards does reduce perceived wait time by as much as 35% –– but there are some trade-offs to consider. Let’s take a closer look at what menu boards do for your location, and why it might not necessarily always make sense to switch to digital.

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Established business models and name recognition help many multi-unit restaurant brands take on all kinds of challenges. The past several months have proved that adaptability is the name of the game, and many of today’s rapidly accelerating industry trends were already gathering steam before the pandemic hit. What changes are here to stay, and how do restaurants and retailers shift their strategies to meet the needs of a changing world?

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Halloween is right around the corner, and you know what that means: Christmas. Kidding, but it feels like that, huh? How early is too early to start planning for the upcoming holiday retail season?

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When it comes to multi-unit franchise marketing, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach. UMI knows that not all franchise locations are cast from the same mold. From windows to floor plans to aisle width, sizes vary. Shapes vary. Needs vary. You need point of purchase solutions with the flexibility to adapt to the needs of your space, no matter how many locations your brand operates. And if you're trying to manage marketing operations from headquarters, without having truly established your diverse locations as individual units, you've lost the battle before it's even begun.

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Lately we’ve been thinking about the intricate web of connections that unites our communities and cities. Helping your franchisees know their trade area means knowing a lot about your target market, of course, but there’s so much more to success than marketing demographics. How do you position your brands to feel like an integral part of each neighborhood?

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Planning to host an event this summer? You’ve probably already been thinking about ways to ease the transition from online to in-person events. Safety is a concern, of course, but so is comfort: some of your guests might feel tentative about sharing indoor together time again, while others are hankering for the return of handshakes and hugs. Here are some ideas about how to please everyone.

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Print's Not Back - It Never Left. At UMI, we understand how essential print is to your business and how crucial meeting deadlines while staying in sync with the newest innovation is.

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The weather is getting warmer, the sun is out, and new marketing trends are HOT! Advertising tactics are never at a standstill - each month and season brings new opportunities and strategies...

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Marketing your business can feel overwhelming when you’re faced with reduced budgets and staffing, ever changing pandemic pivots and an overly competitive climate. Or maybe you’re growing faster than you can keep up with. That’s where UMI comes in!

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Data-driven marketing is the key to short and long-term success. So much so that 2 out of 3 marketers said data-driven decisions were more successful than gut feeling advertisements...

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Having a variety of advertising mediums and strategies is key to building a successful marketing model. Through the variety of advertising tools UMI offers, you’re able to tap into PESO advertising...

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If you haven’t started your planning for the holiday season, it’s time to start thinking of holiday marketing ideas! The buzz is already beginning over holiday shopping, and your brand should be a part of the conversation. Of course, this holiday season will be a bit different...

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If you haven’t started your planning for the holiday season, it’s time to start thinking of holiday marketing ideas! The buzz is already beginning over holiday shopping, and your brand should be a part of the conversation. Of course, this holiday season will be a bit different...

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If you haven’t started your planning for the holiday season, it’s time to start thinking of holiday marketing ideas! The buzz is already beginning over holiday shopping, and your brand should be a part of the conversation. Of course, this holiday season will be a bit different...

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If you haven’t started your planning for the holiday season, it’s time to start thinking of holiday marketing ideas! The buzz is already beginning over holiday shopping, and your brand should be a part of the conversation. Of course, this holiday season will be a bit different...

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Local businesses can benefit greatly from using what we consider the golden ticket to success: trade area marketing. If you’re using a one-size-fits-all approach with your local marketing and not diversifying your efforts based on location, we urge you to...

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A key part of local marketing is building and maintaining relationships within the local community and at the top of that list are schools and educators. Even during the pandemic, this remains a priority although the execution may shift. Students and teachers are...

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It is truly encouraging and speaks directly to the dedication of each brand and its franchisees that despite the current climate, many are still opening new locations! While the traditional means of a grand opening are not currently an option during COVID-19...

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Pierret brings with him over 15 years of experience working with large national brands on their sales and business development. His robust background in franchise, healthcare, finance and hospitality centers...