<p>The Founderz Lounge Episode #71 with Don Varady and Steve Bon.</p><p>Don and Steve are back with another round of Business &amp; Bullsh*t, where real entrepreneurs break down wins, screwups, and what actually moves the needle, without the corporate fluff.</p><p>At one point, Quiznos had more than 5,000 locations and was one of the fastest-growing franchise brands in the world. A few years later, it was in bankruptcy. This episode digs into how greed, broken incentives, and poor franchise decisions helped collapse a once-dominant brand, and what current and future franchise owners often overlook as a result. Don lays out hard lessons every franchise buyer should understand before signing a deal.</p><p>The conversation expands into brand recognition becoming a liability, why naive design is gaining traction as consumers push back on overly polished marketing, and how operators get hurt when corporate decisions drag their name through the mud.</p><p>Along the way, Don and Steve riff on waterbeds somehow making a comeback, Air New Zealand weighing passengers, entitlement in business, and why showing a little gratitude still matters. The episode wraps with a Founderz Hot Take and a fast-paced Founderz Fast Five.</p><p>Tune in to hear more...</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Timestamps:</strong></p><p>[00:00] Trailer</p><p>[01:06] Founderz Roundup: Quiznos</p><p>[04:51] Lessons for franchise buyers</p><p>[09:02] Naive brand design in 2026</p><p>[13:03] Random Bullshit</p><p>[13:28] Waterbeds</p><p>[15:08] Airline weighing passengers</p><p>[16:43] Founderz Hot Take</p><p>[21:02] Founderz Fast Five</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Key Takeaways: </strong> </p><p>• “Franchisors should use their buying power to get you better rates, and not just to make more profit.” ~Don Varady [05:01]</p><p>• Brand recognition cuts both ways. When a brand fails, even the best operators get hurt. ~Don Varady [08:13]</p><p>• Show a little gratitude when someone gives up their time to give you knowledge or money.</p><p>~Steve Bon [18:10]</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Connect with Don and Steve…</strong></p><p><strong>Don Varady:</strong></p><p>Facebook:<a href="http://www.facebook.com/realbusinessconnections"><u> </u></a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/don.varady/"><u>https://www.facebook.com/don.varady/</u></a> </p><p>Instagram:<a href="http://www.instagram.com/realbenalbert/"><u> </u></a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/donvarady/"><u>https://www.instagram.com/donvarady/</u></a> </p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-varady-450896145"><u>https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-varady-450896145</u></a> </p><p><br></p><p><strong>Steve Bon:</strong></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenbon"><u>https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenbon</u></a> </p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://instagram.com/stevebon8"><u>https://instagram.com/stevebon8</u></a> </p><p><br></p><p><strong>Tune in to every episode on your favorite platform:</strong> </p><p>Website: <a href="https://www.thefounderzlounge.com/"><u>https://www.thefounderzlounge.com/</u></a> </p><p>YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheFounderzLounge"><u>https://www.youtube.com/@TheFounderzLounge</u></a> </p><p>Spotify: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0Nurr4XjBE747qJ9Zjth0G"><u>https://open.spotify.com/show/0Nurr4XjBE747qJ9Zjth0G</u></a> </p><p>Apple Music: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-founderz-lounge/id1461825349"><u>https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-founderz-lounge/id1461825349</u></a> </p><p><br></p><p><strong>The Founderz Lounge is Powered By:</strong></p><p><strong>Clean Eatz:</strong></p><p>Facebook:<a href="http://www.facebook.com/realbusinessconnections"><u> </u></a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CleanEatzLife/"><u>https://www.facebook.com/CleanEatzLife/</u></a> </p><p>Instagram:<a href="http://www.instagram.com/realbenalbert/"><u> </u></a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/cleaneatzlife/"><u>https://www.instagram.com/cleaneatzlife/</u></a> </p><p>Website:<a href="https://www.realbusinessconnections.com/"><u> </u></a><a href="https://cleaneatz.com/about"><u>https://cleaneatz.com/</u></a></p><p>Youtube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJRGrE-Xv4IMW_DbxSOTGGA"><u>https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJRGrE-Xv4IMW_DbxSOTGGA</u></a> </p><p><br></p><p><strong>Bon’s Eye Marketing:</strong></p><p>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bonseyemarketing"><u>https://www.facebook.com/bonseyemarketing</u></a> </p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/bon's-eye-marketing/"><u>https://www.linkedin.com/company/bon&#39;s-eye-marketing/</u></a> </p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/bon's-eye-marketing/"><u>https://www.linkedin.com/company/bon&#39;s-eye-marketing/</u></a> </p><p>Website: <a href="https://bonseyeonline.com/"><u>https://bonseyeonline.com/</u></a> </p><p>YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@bonseyemarketing9477"><u>https://www.youtube.com/@bonseyemarketing9477</u></a>  </p>