Today’s guest is Shawna Hicks Cranston, a 15-year PostNet franchisee and longtime entrepreneur who’s built something special — a community-driven, people-first business that’s thriving in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. Before PostNet, Shawna and her husband owned a staffing franchise for 20+ years — so she knows exactly what it takes to succeed in multiple franchise systems. In this episode, Shawna shares her “Mayberry Approach,” why customer connection beats competition, and how her focus on mindset and relationships made her an award-winning owner.
Today’s guest is Shawna Hicks Cranston, a 15-year PostNet franchisee and longtime entrepreneur who’s built something special — a community-driven, people-first business that’s thriving in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.
Before PostNet, Shawna and her husband owned a staffing franchise for 20+ years — so she knows exactly what it takes to succeed in multiple franchise systems. In this episode, Shawna shares her “Mayberry Approach,” why customer connection beats competition, and how her focus on mindset and relationships made her an award-winning owner.
You’ll learn:
✅ The mindset shift that separates average franchisees from top performers
✅ How AI and automation are boosting small business profits
✅ Real PostNet financials (revenues & startup costs)
✅ The “Tenacious Mindset” that earned Shawna national recognition
✅ Her best advice for anyone ready to buy their first franchise
00:00 – Welcome to Eye on Franchising
01:10 – Meet Shawna Hicks Cranston: 15 years of PostNet success
03:30 – The “Mayberry Approach”: turning customers into family
06:45 – From cows to community: building a thriving location
10:05 – Winning PostNet’s Tenacious Mindset Award
13:15 – The real secret behind long-term franchise success
16:20 – AI, tech, and new machines that save time & money
20:00 – The biggest early struggles new franchisees face
24:10 – How to market your location & stand out locally
27:35 – Money talk: PostNet’s average revenue & startup costs
31:00 – How PostNet evolved with customer demand
36:20 – Funny (and wild) customer stories you won’t believe
39:55 – The power of franchise community & peer support
44:10 – How to know if a franchise is truly the right fit
48:25 – Building generational wealth with your franchise
51:50 – Shawna’s final advice for new owners
55:00 – Closing thoughts — purpose, passion & people first
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