Micro-franchising: a great idea that I'd put in a mental box

I wrote an essay on micro-franchising and it's potential use in water service provision and but have since been distracted, and was slightly put off by someone telling me that it seemed like one of these new ideas that would never catch on. Little did I know that there were a fair few companies already doing it at scale to great effect, so successfully. I'd seen it's potential for success in a few other sectors but this is the best I've seen yet!! How had I never heard of Living Goods before?

Also, read this:

http://www.good.is/post/should-fighting-hunger-be-a-franchise-business/

So, take a look at that, if you're the person who told me this would never take off. It already did - I just didn't know about it at the time. :P