EP.IC084 | EP.IC Events - The state of Franchising & Licensing in 2026
EP.IC Events Podcast – Franchising & Licensing in Asia 2026 Featuring Gan Shee Wen, President, Franchising & Licensing Association of Singapore (FLA)
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Thinking of buying a franchise? Scaling your brand overseas? Or just curious about what's actually driving business growth in Asia right now? This episode breaks it all down.
Edric sits down with Gan Shee Wen, President of FLA Singapore and founder of furniture retail brand Commune, to unpack the state of franchising and licensing in 2026 and what it means for you as a business owner.
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Timestamps
0:50 Welcome and intro
2:14 Introducing Gan Shee Wen and Franchising & Licensing Association
4:03 The franchising landscape in Singapore 2026
5:14 Why franchising is a smart model in a tough business climate
6:24 How digitalization and AI are reshaping franchising
7:38 What consumers want now (post-COVID, post-AI)
10:07 Should franchisors adopt tech? How to think about it strategically
12:15 What's up and what's down in the Asian market
14:42 Physical retail: consolidate, don't just expand
15:55 Omnichannel is now a must-have
16:37 Underrated sectors: furniture and why it's not a sunset industry
18:18 New innovations in franchising and licensing
20:03 AI and customer service: bots for low-tier, humans for high-tier
21:38 FLA's training courses and what's coming next
22:51 How fast is tech adoption in the world of Franchising?
24:32 Why approach FLA first before signing anything
26:20 Protecting your secrets: franchising vs licensing
30:33 Singapore has no franchise law
36:30 What to expect at FLAsia 2026
40:57 How to get in touch with FLA
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Action Points for Business Owners
• If you're exploring franchising (as a buyer or seller), talk to us — we have the network, training courses, and matchmaking portal to guide you.
• Thinking of expanding overseas? Register your IP and trademark in the target market before you license anything.
• Retail businesses: consolidate, not expand — fewer, better stores with a strong online presence beats many average ones.
• Furniture and home furnishings? Don't write it off. Singapore's BTO pipeline ensures steady demand.
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Connect and Take Action
🔗 Credits:@epicpodcasting
🔗 For more information on the Franchising & Licensing Association of Singapore, visit us at: FLAsia.org
📋 Register for Franchising & Licensing Asia 2026: https://franchiselicenseasia.com/