Recover Sanity, Command Wealth, Live in Gratitude™
SWAG™ Conference
April 18-21, 2023
St. Louis, Mo
What was the last life-changing conference you attended?
If you are a franchisee or small business owner, you're likely laughing.
In the past, you've clawed your way free from your business to attend a conference hoping to get the answers to your most pressing questions. Instead, you get a lot of rah-rah, some surface level advice, and confirmation that owning a business is equivalent to buying a ticket on the struggle bus. The bright side? You make new friends on the same ride.
But, you return to your business facing the same plateau in revenue, still frustrated with staffing challenges and no closer to a life of SWAG™.
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SWAG™ is still the dream...
But, between covering shifts, training new employees, balancing the business checkbook, managing the marketing efforts, and every other responsibility, the dream may seem further away than ever.
What if you could capture SWAG™
in one place, at one time, with one mission?
Hi. I'm April Porter
and I get it.
I was an award-winning multi-unit franchisee who was tired of reviewing the basics year after year when I longed for the business education and mentorship to build a business empire. When I didn’t get it from my franchisor, I created it, and now I share it with other franchisees and business owners looking to create the life of their dreams.
So, where do franchisees that are eager to learn and ready to scale go to uncover the latest business tactics, cutting-edge growth strategies, and a network of highly successful entrepreneurs with the resources to shrink the time to their ultimate vision of success?
The SWAG™ Conference!

The SWAG™ Difference
General Conference Sessions
Business experts lead sessions focused on providing the tools to increase profits, reduce stress, inspire your team's performance, work less hours, understand the path to reaching your ultimate vision, make time for the things that bring you joy, and feel empowered to take actions that accelerate SWAG™.
Day 3 Claim Your SWAG™ Workshop*
(aka Get Sh!t Done Day)
Shrink your time to SWAG™ with a single day co-working intensive.
You'll focus on your individual business and work hand-in-hand with SWAG™ experts to customize the lessons for your industry and geographic area. Moving from station to station, you'll craft strategies and processes in the areas of marketing, hiring and employee retention, and time optimization.
*The workshop is included in VIP tickets and can be added-on to a General Admission ticket.
This Conference is
Your Chance to Experience SWAG™
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At Ask April Porter, we hear the same story from franchisees time and time again.
You invested your life savings, 401Ks, blood, sweat, and tears into opening a franchise unit to reach your unique vision of success, different from other franchisees’, and even the franchisor’s, definition.
But, once you mastered your franchisor’s training, you found your life didn't match your original vision - working more hours than ever, making less money than you expected, and sacrificing time with those that mean the most to you.
Now, you may be living in chaos, covering shifts and putting out fires, scarcity, wondering when the next customer will walk through the door, and fear that failure is just a few months away. You likely still have a million questions about how to reach that unique vision that inspired you to sign your franchise agreement in the first place.
The SWAG™ Conference fills that gap, introducing you to concepts “you don’t know, you don’t know,” and taking you to Sanity, Wealth, and Gratitude™.
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You hear us talk a lot about franchisees, so you may be wondering if the strategies and solutions taught at the SWAG™ Conference apply to you - a small business owner.
The answer is 100% YES!
We'll let you in on a little secret, - franchisees are small business owners. Just like you, they are responsible for hiring their teams, marketing their locations, doing all the bookkeeping and admin work, making all the decisions, and wearing all the hats.
The big difference between you is that franchisees signed a contract promising to follow specific rules and regulations set by the franchisor.
Basically, they have someone to, answer to whereas you have unlimited freedom in the way you run and grow your business!
So, grab a seat at the SWAGTM Conference to learn how to take your business and your life to Sanity, Wealth, and GratitudeTM as fast as possible.
Who knows? Maybe you'll decide your vision of SWAGTM includes becoming a franchisor...
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We noticed something…
The franchising industry is full of conferences – some to help educate franchisors, others to introduce future franchisees to their dream brand, and still others to influence legislators on the needs of the franchising industry.
But, the only business education opportunity for franchisees is their brand’s annual conference.
For emerging franchisors, an annual brand conference is a huge undertaking, often beyond the budget and bandwidth of the corporate team at the early stages of brand development.
Until now.
The SWAG™ Conference is specifically designed to provide high-level business education to franchisees and make emerging franchisors look good.
To learn more about how to participate in the SWAG™ Conference click here.
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April Porter is in the business of helping owners build business empires. That includes YOU!
An enthusiastic franchisee can onboard more clients for a supplier than the best franchisor.
Unfortunately, in the franchising world, you have many opportunities to complete for the attention of franchisors, but only limited opportunities to interact and connect with franchisees.
And, meaningful connections rarely happen when you are stuck behind a booth waiting for the right franchisee to find you.
AAP is acknowledges that suppliers are valued members of the franchising and community. That's why, when you choose to sponsor the SWAG™ conference, you are treated as a customer, provided quality services for your investment, and given the appreciation you deserve.
To learn more about sponsoring the SWAG™ Conference click here.
Where the swag™ party starts!
The gateway to the West is your gateway to SWAG™ in April 2023!
St. Louis is home to a thriving business and franchising community, amazing food scene, and sports teams and fans that are always ready for a good time.
Central to everywhere, visiting St. Louis is easy, with short flights from major airports. Upon arrival, expect affordable accommodations and a friendly reception from the Midwest!

Vue 17
1034 S Brentwood Blvd, 17th Floor
St. Louis, MO 63117
Picturesque and ultra-modern, Vue 17 is the perfect spot to experience Sanity, Wealth, and Gratitude, during the conference and as the catalyst to taking SWAG™ home.
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Accommodations
Drury Inn & Suites - St. Louis Brentwood
8700 Eager Road
Brentwood, MO 63144
Drury Inn & Suites St. Louis Brentwood is just a 5 minute drive from the conference venue Vue 17 and less than 15 minutes from Lambert St. Louis International Airport.
Click Here for SWAG Conference Room Reservations
Use Group #10038569
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Transportation
Nearest Airport
Lambert St. Louis Int'l (STL)
10701 Lambert International Blvd
St. Louis, MO 63145
(12 minute drive to hotel)
Nearest Train Station
Amtrack Train Station
110 W Argonne Dr
Kirkwood, MO 63122
(14 minute drive to hotel)
Early Bird
General Admission
This Package is Awesome!
$350
Early Bird Pricing Expires Soon!
General Session Admission
Tuesday, April 18 - Thursday, April 20
SWAG™ Bag
Option to Purchase Claim Your SWAGTM Workshop*
Friday, April 21, 2023
*This package excludes admission to the Claim Your SWAG™ Workshop
on Day 3 without purchase of a separate ticket.
Best Value at Early Bird Pricing
VIP Tickets
This Package Has It All!
$700
Limited Number Available
Tuesday, April 18 - Thursday, April 20
Friday, April 21, 2023
April is amazing in what she does. She helped me get un-stuck by helping me shift my mindset, create better sales and marketing strategies, and by teaching me to manage my time better. April is genuinely interested in my success, and she makes advanced strategies easy to understand. With April, you truly have someone in your corner who will listen, give it to you straight, and who will help your business grow.
Marcela B.
I first spoke with April about her business at a networking event and was immediately drawn to her confidence and eagerness to help other people also succeed in business. I quickly joined one of her free masterclass sessions and realized my first impression was accurate in that she is genuinely invested in the success of others. In such a short time, she has helped me to shift my business mindset, focus on my time management and is helping to develop me into a better leader as I grow my business. If you feel like you are spinning your wheels and getting nowhere as a business owner, I would highly recommend that you reach out to April.
Cheryl P.
April is excellent at zeroing on "the" issue and giving clarity to what needs to happen for your preferred outcome. Working with April, I have a clear plan, am working that plan, and make sure that I am noticing the WINS along the way. While I might have accomplished this on my own, working with April and her team has definitely shortened this process considerably.
April's marketing ideas are amazing! She truly is a gifted outside of the box thinker in this area and she generously passes along these ideas to many of us in her program. The same could be said of her genius for teaching how to stand out from the crowd in recruiting quality employees. I had to turn off my job listings so that I could keep up with the number of applicants.
Her knowledge of franchising is extensive and her contacts in that world are exceedingly helpful as her client.
Most importantly, you can tell that April cares about me as a client and about her team - which truly is a great team. She is invested in the outcome for me as a client and this matters to me. I highly recommend working with April and her team if you are a frustrated franchise owner.
Andrea T.
Frequently Asked Questions
While this is does cover a wide range of questions, it is not exhaustive. If you have a question about the SWAG™ Conference and do not see it here email us at SWAG@askaprilporter.com
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What does SWAG™ stand for?
SWAGTM stands for Sanity, Wealth, And GratitudeTM.
April recognized that small business owners often get stuck "in the weeds" of business, focusing on the day-to-day operations, and forget about why they are working so hard. Losing their inspiration leads to burnout, sacrifice, and too often, giving up.
SWAGTM is a simple way to focus your efforts as you drive toward your ultimate vision of success.
Using SWAGTM as a guidepost, April teaches strategies and tactics that focus efforts into three things:
Sanity - eliminate chaos, like scrambling to cover shifts or a mental to-do list that lasts from the moment you wake up until your heavy eyelids close, and embracing a truly flexible schedule and confidence that your team is not just running the business, but growing it for you.
Wealth - exchanging thoughts of scarcity, watching the revenue number like a hawk to reassure yourself you will be able to make payroll, not paying yourself a salary, too scared to invest in growth strategies, etc., for the security of knowing that money comes to you quickly and easily and that more is always coming.
And - this little word represents wholeness, that you get to have a successful business and a fulfilling personal life; you get to invest both time and money in the things that bring you joy; you get to have it all!
Gratitude - banishing fear from your mind and your nervous system, such as thoughts of failure, being scared that an employee will quit, or feeling like you are letting your family down, and instead, fill your heart and mind with gratitude on the regular, living a life of calm abundance. -
Is this conference for me?
Franchisees - YES!
Most franchisees attend one conference a year – their brand’s annual conference, where they usually soak up the energy of the brand culture, build amazing relationships with their fellow zees, and leave feeling like they didn’t learn anything new.This conference is designed with you in mind by an award-winning, multi-unit franchisee who has been where you are. If you are feeling overwhelmed and underprepared, or just lost on what to do next to build your business empire, this conference will have the answers and be the catalyst to taking you to your vision of SWAGTM.
Small Business Owners - YES!
Just like franchisees, you are responsible for hiring your team, marketing your locations, doing the bookkeeping and admin work, making all the decisions and wearing all the hats. The main difference between you and a franchisee is that a franchisee signed a contract promising to achieve SWAGTM through a specific set of brand rules and standards.You don't have those limits. you have complete freedom in deciding how you will accomplish your SWAGTM, and the SWAGTM Conference will teach you the best and fastest ways to do so.
Emerging Franchisors - YES!
The franchising industry is full of conferences – some to help educate franchisors, others to introduce future franchisees to their dream brand and still others to influence legislators on the needs of the franchising industry.But, the only business education opportunity for franchisees is their brand’s annual conference.
An annual brand conference is essential to solidifying the brand culture, reinforcing the importance of following brand standards, creating a community of trust, teaching franchisees best practices.
But, for emerging franchisors, a brand conference is a huge undertaking, often beyond the budget and bandwidth of the corporate team at the early stages of brand development.
Unless the franchisor partners with the SWAGTM Conference...
Suppliers - YES!
We are in the business of building businesses, and that means YOU too! When you sponsor, we will provide opportunities to connect with our attendees at a level you've never experienced before at a conference, but you will also get the benefit of the conference content. Everything our experts are teaching in the sessions can be applied to your business to create the fastest path to your SWAGTM. -
When and Where is the SWAG™ Conference?
The SWAGTM Conference will take place in
Brentwood, Missouri (a suburb of St. Louis County)
April 18-21, 2023April 18, 2023 - Travel day with Registration and Welcome Reception taking place in the evening
April 19 & 20, 2023 - General Conference Sessions
April 21, 2023 - Interactive Co-working Workshop, The Claim Your SWAG™ Workshop, to customize the lessons for your business and create the materials to implement the strategies upon arriving home. This workshop is an optional add-on event to General Admission tickets and included with VIP tickets.
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What do I get with a General Admission ticket?
General Session Admission
Tuesday, April 18 - Thursday, April 20
Including all sessions, meals, and networking events listed on the agenda, which can be found here.SWAG™ Bag
Option to Purchase Claim Your SWAGTM Workshop
Friday, April 21, 2023*This package excludes admission to the Claim Your SWAG™ Workshop on
Day 3 without purchase of a separate ticket. -
What do I get with a VIP ticket?General Session Admission
Tuesday, April 18 - Thursday, April 20
Including all sessions, meals, and networking events listed on the agenda, which can be found here.Exclusive VIP SWAG™ BagsClaim Your SWAGTM Workshop
Friday, April 21, 2023Laser Coaching Session with AprilVIP Gourmet Breakfast with April and SpeakersProfessional Headshot PhotographReserved Front Row Seating during main stage sessions -
Can you explain the Day 3 Workshop option?
Friday, April 21, 2023, we will hold the Claim Your SWAGTM Workshop.
Admission to the workshop is included in the VIP ticket and can be added on to a General Admission ticket.
The workshop is a co-working event with our expert presenters. You will have the opportunity to move between stations receiving hands-on instruction and guidance in applying the new concepts and strategies learned throughout the conference. So, when you go home, you won't have a bunch of work to put all of your new knowledge to use - you'll be able to just plug-and-play.
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Are tickets refundable?
Tickets are non-refundable.
However, tickets are transferrable. To change the name associated with your registration, the buyer of the ticket must email swag@askaprilporter.com from the email address associated with your registration with the name of the person who will attend in your place.
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Is Lodging, Transportation, and Food Included in the Ticket Pricing?
The SWAG™ Conference includes food and beverages to the extent indicated on the Agenda.
Conference attendees are responsible for their individual lodging and reputation, and receive a discounted room rate at the Drury Inn & Suits - Brentwood, MO when booked through the SWAGTM Conference booking link.
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How Many Tickets are Available?
To provide the intimate SWAGTM experience, in-person attendance is extremely limited and expected to sell out.
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Are Payment Plans Available?
Payment plans are available for Emerging Franchisors and Suppliers.
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Are Virtual Tickets Available?
Not at this time.
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Can I purchase tickets for other people?
Yes.
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Do I have to currently be a franchisee or small business owner to attend?
Franchisees and Small Business Owners may purchase General Admission or VIP tickets on this site.
Any others wishing to attend the SWAG™ Conference should reach out to swag@askaprilporter.com to inquire as to available ticket options and pricing.
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Is there a way to find other attendees to room with?
Ask April Porter hosts the Franchisee Infinite Success Facebook Group where franchisees and small business owners connect, collaborate and learn together. You may post in that group asking for other attendees looking for a roommate to contact you.
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Is this a kid-friendly event?
No. This is a professional event.
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How can I sponsor this event?
We are so glad you asked!
Visit our Sponsor page for general information and email sponsor@askaprilporter.com to receive the sponsor packages.
This conference will be life-changing
Thank you to our sponsors:


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