Franchising World articles from April 2005

Franchising World archives from April 2005

A new "Golden Age" of franchising.(IN THIS ISSUE)
April 1, 2005... As one International Franchise Association leader recently remarked, franchising is moving into a new "Golden Age." At every turn, new franchises are being launched into new sectors of the economy never before attempted, new technologies are...

Franchises provide big boost to nation's economy: study measures jobs, payroll, overall output.
April 1, 2005... Franchised businesses generate jobs for more than 18 million Americans and account for 9.5 percent of the private-sector economic output, a study released March 2004 by the International Franchise Association Educational Foundation reported....

Find it at franchise.org.
April 1, 2005... The International Franchise Association Web site, www.franchise.org, averages more than 220,000 unique visitors per month and this April, these visitors and many more can look forward to a new and more sophisticated look. And not only will the...

Self-evaluation: is franchising for you?
April 1, 2005... Visit almost any town in America today and on many streets you will find franchised businesses. So accepting has the American public been of franchising that financial experts refer to franchising as the "wave of the future." For example,...

Franchising World Q & A with Steve Toporoff of the Federal Trade Commission.(Interview)
April 1, 2005... Steve Toporoff is an attorney in the Division of Marketing Practices, Bureau of Consumer Protection of the Federal Trade Commission. He is the principal attorney responsible for coordinating the commission's Franchise Enforcement Program. These...

The Federal Trade Commission's: consumer guide to buying a franchise: a U.S. Government Publication created by The Federal Trade Commission.(2005 INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISE EXPO)
April 1, 2005... Many people dream of being an entrepreneur. By purchasing a franchise, you often can sell goods and services that have instant name recognition and can obtain training and ongoing support to help you succeed. But be cautious. Like any...

The 10 commandments of franchise sales: everyone in the franchisor's organization must understand the legal "do's" and "don'ts" of franchise development.
April 1, 2005... Every successful franchise system has built its foundation with several key components. One of the essential building blocks is a franchise development program that effectively finds and then convinces high-quality franchisees to join the...

Using retirement assets to purchase a franchise.
April 1, 2005... In the early 1990s, the rock music group Barenaked Ladies had a cult hit with the song "If I Had $1,000,000". In the song, they think of all kinds of crazy ways to spend the money, much like many people do after purchasing a lottery ticket. The...

Small-business franchisees share their thoughts.
April 1, 2005... Franchising World highlights franchisees from five businesses that represent the variety of brands, products and services available in the sector. The businesses include a mobile, on-site technology services company, a floral retailer, an...

Why franchisors prefer face-to-face contact with prospective franchisees: a scientific formula could simplify the process of selling franchises, but until someone comes up with such a formula franchisors agree that an integrated approach is the best approach.
April 1, 2005... Franchisors long ago decided there's no science to selling franchises, but if there were it would revolve around an integrated system. Consequently, franchisors who are most successful at selling franchises do not rely on just one or two...

SBA opens doors to franchise ownership: a primer for International Franchise Expo visitors.(Small Business Administration)
April 1, 2005... Franchising is a critical component to America's growing small business sector as evidenced by the International Franchise Association's recently published study, The Economic Impact of Franchised Businesses. The U.S. Small Business...

Finding the right international master franchise partner: master franchisees, who have the right to grant franchises to unit franchisees in their territory and, usually, to open franchised units themselves, become the brand's alter ego.
April 1, 2005... With decades if collective experience to guide them, today's franchise executives usually can recite a host of reasons about why finding the right franchisee is critical to the survival of a franchising organization. Franchisor executives...

IFE 2005 exhibitor directory.(International Franchise Expo)(Directory)
April 1, 2005... 1-800-DryClean, LLC Mr. Paul M. Wiljanen 3948 Ranchero Drive Ann Arbor, MI 48108-2775 Phone: (734) 975-1100 Fax: (734) 975-9000 1-800-FLOWERS.Com Ms. Eileen Harris-Brooks 2550 North Hollywood Way Suite...

Why Franchise Appreciation Day? IFA has created a golden opportunity to bring franchising to the attention of our legislators.(International Franchise Association)(Interview)
April 1, 2005... We often hear about "democracy in action." At its core lies the election process in which citizens choose, sometimes by the slimmest of margins, people to represent their interests in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. But whose...

Franchising World Q & A with U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe: U.S. Sen. Olympia J. Snow (R-Maine) chairs the Senate Committee on Small Business. She recently introduced S. 406, the Small Business Health Fairness Act (association health plan legislation) with Sens. Jim Talent (R-Mo.) and Christopher Bond (R-Mo.).(A FRANCHISING WORLD Q & A)
April 1, 2005... In November, 2000, Sen. Snowe was re-elected to a second six-year term with 69 percent of the vote. With her election in 1994, she became only the second female senator in history to represent Maine, following the late Sen. Margaret Chase...

Franchising cheers new legal reform law: President Bush's signing of the Class action Reform Act on Feb. 18 drew high praise from the nation's franchising community, led by the International Franchise Association, one of the founding organizations of a litigation reform coalition of business groups.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... "This is great news for franchised small businesses," said IFA Pres. Matthew Shay. "It is an important first step in limiting unnecessary lawsuits against franchises, which has been a high priority for the franchising community for a long...

IFA hosts legislator lunch sessions on Capitol Hill.(International Franchise Association)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The International Franchise Association has begun hosting a series of lunch meetings in Washington, D.C. to allow members of the U.S. Congress and representatives of the franchise community to meet and learn more about each other. Thus far, the...

IFA pushes association health plans.(International Franchise Association)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The International Franchise Association has launched an aggressive effort in support of legislation that would allow small businesses to band together to purchase more affordable health insurance for themselves and their workers through...

Veterans' ownership of franchised small businesses would be boosted by Baker bill.(Richard Baker)
April 1, 2005... Legislation that would allow U.S. veterans to use a portion of their educational benefits to pay for the training costs of purchasing a franchised small business is drawing praise from the International Franchise Association. The "Veterans...

IFA state government relations takes its show on the road: from health-care plans to wage-hiking legislation, the association's voice is heard in the states.(GOVERNMENT RELATIONS)
April 1, 2005... The International Franchise Association's state relations team hit the ground running in 2005. Feb. 7 to 11 Matt Lathrop, IFA's director of government relations, teamed up with IFA members McDonald's Corp., Darden Restaurants and several other...

Building crossing boundaries & dreams: IFA 4th Annaul Convention.(International Franchise Association)
April 1, 2005... IFA 45TH ANNUAL CONVENTION PHOTO SCRAPBOOK SUNDAY March 6 Outgoing IFA Chairman Sid Feltenstein, left, accepts a cigar humidor from IFA Pres. Matthew Shay IFA Ambassadors greet First Timers Expetec's Lonnie Helgerson tastes...

2005 convention-goers support FranPAC: showing their strong support for the International Franchise Association's government relations effort, attendees to the organization's 45th Annual Convention voted with their wallets, contributing more than $125,000 to FranPAC.(IFA CONVENTION PHOTO SCRAPBOOK)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The week's biggest fund-raising draw was the exclusive FranPAC reception featuring convention keynote speaker former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Attendees to that event chatted with "America's Mayor" and posed for photographs with the...

International Franchise Association Franchisees of the Year honored during 45th Annual Convention: sponsored by the PepsiCo Foodservice Division.(IFA ANNUAL CONVENTION)
April 1, 2005... Franchise small-business owners who have helped elevate their brands' reputation and customer loyalty were honored by the International Franchise Association last month. The IFA annual convention was conducted at the Westin Diplomat Resort and...

Kressner honored with Irl Marshall CFE Scholarship Award.(William Kressner, Certified Franchise Executive)
April 1, 2005... IFA Educational Foundation Chairman Steve Greenbaum, CFE, CEO, PostNet International, recently announced that William Kressner, franchise consultant, Buffalo Wild Wings International, is the fourth recipient of the Irl Marshall Certified...

Creating an in-house compliance team: some basic principles for getting the job done.
April 1, 2005... Is your company interested in creating an in-house team to oversee compliance with the various franchise registration and disclosure laws? If the answer is "yes," congratulations are in order for a wise decision. All franchisors should devote...

Legal Symposium zeroes in on key franchising issues.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... This year's Legal Symposium, slated May 8-10 at the Capitol Hilton in Washington, D.C., will provide participants tools to better understand franchise laws and regulations affecting international franchising. For the first time, the program...

IFA, SCORE to explore small-business resource program.(International Franchise Association, small and medium enterprises collaborative research)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The International Franchise Association, in partnership with SCORE Counselors to America's Small Business, which provides entrepreneurs with counseling and business workshops, met Feb. 2 to discuss plans for development of the IFA Educational...

In-house or out-source? Three key elements for IT development: careful planning is required before taking the leap.(information technology)
April 1, 2005... When franchise systems begin to consider--how to develop software applications-either internally or by out-sourcing to technology consultants--they should make sure they have first considered why they want the information technology resource....

VetFran sales nearing 300 mark.
April 1, 2005... Franchise systems that support America's veterans can tap additional resources in their efforts to offer opportunities to former military personnel. Through an alliance with the Destiny Group, the International Franchise Association has taken...

The 10 Minute Marketer's Secret Formula--A Shortcut to Extraordinary Profits Using Neighborhood Marketing.(Book Review)
April 1, 2005... Tom Feltenstein, the architect of Neighborhood and Four Walls Marketing and founder and CEO of the Power marketing Academy, has produced a book that should get executives in general management, sales and marketing rethinking their marketing...

Small business jobs, lending set growth pace: the U.S. Small Business Administration is assuring small businesses that it understands the effects of overly burdensome regulations and is reaching out to non-profit, grassroots groups.
April 1, 2005... Federal agencies that listened to small businesses early in the regulatory process saved America's job creators more than $17 billion in 2004, according to a report issued by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration....

Forward operating base Applebee's?(Applebee's International Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Baghdad, Iraq-- With the handiwork of some 1st Cavalry Division mechanics and help from an American restaurant chain, the dining facility on Forward Operating Base Union I took on a whole new look. Its once lackluster and barren walls are...

Burger King.(appointments)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Greg Brenneman has been named Burger King's chairman of the board. He adds these duties to his current responsibilities as CEO. Brenneman joined the company in 2004. Prior to that, he was the chairman and CEO of TurnWorks Inc., a Houston-based...

Burger King also appointed Edna Boone Johnson as senior vice president, global communications to be responsible for all corporate communication functions both domestically and internationally, including media relations, internal communications and community relations and named Steven F. Grover as vice president, food safety, quality assurance and regulatory compliance.(PEOPLE)
April 1, 2005... Burger King also appointed Edna Boone Johnson as senior vice president, global communications to be responsible for all corporate communication functions both domestically and internationally, including media relations, internal communications...

Carlson Leisure Group.(appointments and promotions)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Carlson Leisure Group announced that Bill Baltes will become chief information officer, a role previously held by Dave Zitur, who was promoted to serve in the newly created role of program executive for enterprise resource planning.

Carlson Restaurants Worldwide.(appointments)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, parent of T.G.I. Friday's, hired Glad Markunas to serve as vice president of consumer research and strategic insights. Most recently, she held a similar post at Burger King.

Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associate Division.(appointments)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associate Division announced that Marc Moore has been promoted to director of franchise sales. In his new role, Moore will be responsible for growing the travel agency powerhouse's nationwide network of experienced and...

Church's Chicken.(appointments)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Church's Chicken selected Doug Pendergast has been appointed chief franchise officer and executive vice president. He has nearly 20 years business experience, including four years as vice president of corporate strategy for AFC Enterprises Inc....

ComputerTots/ComputerExplorers.(appointments)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... ComputerTots/ComputerExplorers named Deb Evans president. She is also the owner of a CTCE franchise in Burlington County, NJ.

Cookies By Design.(appointments)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Plano, Texas-based Cookies By Design Inc., parent company of Cookies By Design, named Gwen Willhite CEO, Mary Thompson president and David Patterson, CPA, chief financial officer.

Denny's Inc.(appointments)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Denny's Inc. appointed Craig E. Herman to the new position of senior vice president of company operations. Herman, who joined the company in April 2001 as a vice president of operations for the Central U.S., most recently headed up Denny's...

The Dwyer Group.(appointments and promotions)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The Dwyer Group has announced the promotions of Steve Truett to vice president of marketing and Nick Greville to vice president. The company's brand, Glass Doctor, promoted Mark Dawson to chief operating officer and Mr. Rooter, elevated Larry...

Federal Direct.(PEOPLE)(Erik Weiss appointed)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Erik Weiss was appointed senior vice president of marketing and sales at Federal Direct. He will lead the company's efforts in selling and marketing its services as well as developing the firm's strategies for growth. Weiss was previously vice...

Gymboree Play & Music.(appointments)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Gymboree Play & Music has elevated Jill Johnston. She will oversee operations, business development, marketing and programming.

McDonald.(appointments)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... McDonald's announced several key management changes and promotions recently. Marvin Whaley, president of McDonald's Asia, Middle East, and Africa, has announced his plans to retire at the end of this year after 32 years of service; Tim Fenton,...

Papa John's International, Inc.(appointments)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Papa John's International, Inc. has named former Blockbuster Inc. President and COO Nigel Travis as president, CEO and a member of the board of directors.

Sign-A-Rama.(appointments)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Sign-A-Rama named Larry Trimble international director. A 16-year company veteran, he was promoted from vice president of International Affairs.

The Bistro Group, the nation's largest privately-held franchisee of T.G.I. Friday's restaurants, selected Jim Rieger as president and CEO.(appointments and promotions)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The Bistro Group, the nation's largest privately-held franchisee of T.G.I. Friday's restaurants, selected Jim Rieger as president and CEO. Rieger has more than 30 years of food service experience. Most recently he served as senior...

Subway.(appointment at Subway Restaurants)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Subway has picked Tom Coba, formerly vice president of Allied Domecq, to serve as senior director of operations. His focus will be building restaurant sales, franchisee and development agent profitability and improving brand strength, both...

Days Inn owners, operators, vendors and corporate staff members contributed more than $10,000 for tsunami victims.(tsunami relief)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Days Inn owners, operators, vendors and corporate staff members contributed more than $10,000 for tsunami victims. The donations, collected during the chain's international conference, were slated to be contributed to the American Red Cross to...

Caribou Coffee Co.(tsunami relief)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Caribou Coffee Co. announced it would contribute $106,000 to the Coffee Kids "Sumatra Relief Fund." On the one-month anniversary of the devastating tsunami that struck Sumatra, the company committed one dollar from each sale of Sumatran coffee....

DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary.(donations)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary law firm offices worldwide contributed nearly $1.5 million, including matching contributions made by the firm. Contributions went to the Red Cross, Red Crescent and CHF International. Donations included 366, 201 in...

The Dwyer Group.(donations)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The Dwyer Group committed to match dollar-for-dollar, through January, any donation made through their associates, up to $25,000. The funds were to be donated to Antioch Ministries International and Catholic Relief Services.

FASTSIGNS.(donations)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... FASTSIGNS raised $10,000 from franchisees and the corporate office which was donated to the America Red Cross.

Figaro's Pizza.(tsunami relief)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Figaro's Pizza stores will donate $3,000 raised from a series of events to Mercy Corps to aid in disaster relief for tsunami victims in Southeast Asia. Franchised Figaro's stores donated a percentage of their receipts from all sales on two...

The Hilton Americas-Houston donated accommodations for several of the world's greatest tennis players taking part in the one-night tennis exhibition for tsunami relief.(tsunami relief)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The Hilton Americas-Houston donated accommodations for several of the world's greatest tennis players taking part in the one-night tennis exhibition for tsunami relief. The event contributed to the estimated $520,000 that the event raised for...

InterContinental Hotels Group.(tsunami relief)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... From Feb 14-21, InterContinental Hotels Group hotels decreased the cost of room nights by $2, asking guests to donate that amount to UNICEF's tsunami relief efforts. IHG matched each $2 donation it received. Participating hotels included...

RE/MAX associates in North America contributed and raised $8.1 million for Children's Miracle Network, bringing total contributions from RE/MAX members to more than $56 million since RE/MAX named Children's Miracle Network as its primary cause marketing charity in 1992.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... RE/MAX associates in North America contributed and raised $8.1 million for Children's Miracle Network, bringing total contributions from RE/MAX members to more than $56 million since RE/MAX named Children's Miracle Network as its primary cause...

Sign-A-Rama raised more than $35,000 to promote awareness of three charitable organizations: Junior Achievement, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Shriner's Hospitals for Children.(tsunami relief)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Sign-A-Rama raised more than $35,000 to promote awareness of three charitable organizations: Junior Achievement, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Shriner's Hospitals for Children. Also, a portion of the monies raised will go to help the tsunami...

Franchising World has noted relief efforts in previous issues.(TSUNAMI RELIEF & COMMUNITY SERVICE)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Franchising World has noted relief efforts in previous issues. These contributions have included 7-Eleven, American Leak Detection, Batteries Plus, ExxonMobil, It's a Grind, Liberty Tax Service, Sylvan Learning Center and the US-Thailand...

Doug Dwyer, owner and president of DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen by Worldwide will join the Remodeling Futures program's steering committee.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Doug Dwyer, owner and president of DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen by Worldwide will join the Remodeling Futures program's steering committee. Launched in 1995, the committee's mission is to produce a better understanding of the U.S. home improvement...

For the second consecutive year, The Melting Pot Restaurants Inc. recognized The Melting Pot of Charlotte University in Charlotte, N.C. as Franchise of the Year.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... For the second consecutive year, The Melting Pot Restaurants Inc. recognized The Melting Pot of Charlotte University in Charlotte, N.C. as Franchise of the Year. The franchise is owned and operated by Todd Dennis, Brandon Kirby and Brian Ned.

Dunkin' Brands reached agreements with 20 franchisees in January with commitments to open 59 new Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins stores.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Dunkin' Brands reached agreements with 20 franchisees in January with commitments to open 59 new Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins stores. As part of the company's market expansion efforts, the new franchise deals include 10 stores in the New...

Golden Corral awarded 93 franchise markets and opened 32 new franchised and company restaurants in 2004, reported Senior Vice Pres. of Franchise Sales Larry Tate.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Golden Corral awarded 93 franchise markets and opened 32 new franchised and company restaurants in 2004, reported Senior Vice Pres. of Franchise Sales Larry Tate. The system has 470 restaurants, 350 of them operated by franchisees, and...

My Gym.(signs franchise agreements in France and New Zealand)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... My Gym has signed master franchise agreements in France and New Zealand. The company also has masters in Hong Kong, Korea and Singapore.

Supercuts, a division of Regis Corp., celebrated its 2000th salon milestone with the opening of an Emmaus.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Supercuts, a division of Regis Corp., celebrated its 2000th salon milestone with the opening of an Emmaus, Pennsylvania location.

Pierre-Andre Bornet and Steve Groux helped RE/MAX enter its 54th country by purchasing the company's Southeastern Region in France.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Pierre-Andre Bornet and Steve Groux helped RE/MAX enter its 54th country by purchasing the company's Southeastern Region in France. The pair, who will serve as co-region owners and regional directors, have been operating six RE/MAX franchises...

Subway.(opens 2000th Canadian facility)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Subway opened its 2,000th Canadian location.

Cendant Hotel Group.(marketing for it's TripRewards loyalty program)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Cendant Hotel Group launched a spring promotion designed to encourage enrollment in its TripRewards loyalty program. TripRewards members in the United States and Canada who book through May 18 and stay through May 30 at a Cendant-franchised...

CiCi's Pizza announced a seven-year beverage contract.(MARKETING)
April 1, 2005... CiCi's Pizza announced a seven-year beverage contract with Coca-Cola.

Microtel Inn & Suites.(to provide communication services in guestrooms)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Microtel Inn & Suites has completed Project Reveille, which provides free, wireless Internet access, long-distance and local telephone calls in all guestrooms.

McDonald's and MTV Networks announced a global partnership that takes MTV's new music talent showcase to nearly 400 million homes in 162 countries.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... McDonald's and MTV Networks announced a global partnership that takes MTV's new music talent showcase to nearly 400 million homes in 162 countries. The collaboration launches with McDonald's exclusive support of MTV Advance Warning, a program...

RE/MAX.(RE/MAX World Long Drive championship)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Qualifying is underway for the 2005 RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship, through which golfers will be seeking to advance through local and district qualifying events and earn a spot in the 256-hitter field at the 2005 RE/MAX world finals, set...

Meineke Car Care Centers, Inc. and electronic payment systems company Comdata Corp. have implemented a data-logging system designed to bring online maintenance service tracking to Meineke's commercial fleet customers throughout the U.S. and Canada, at no additional cost to the customer.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Meineke Car Care Centers, Inc. and electronic payment systems company Comdata Corp. have implemented a data-logging system designed to bring online maintenance service tracking to Meineke's commercial fleet customers throughout the U.S. and...

PostNet locations will become authorized shipping centers.(DHL Airways Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... PostNet locations will become authorized shipping centers for express shipper DHL.

Clients and franchisees of Solana MedSpas are expected to order more than $1 million in Syneron medical equipment in the first half of fiscal 2005, with estimated purchases in excess of $2 million for the fiscal year.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Clients and franchisees of Solana MedSpas are expected to order more than $1 million in Syneron medical equipment in the first half of fiscal 2005, with estimated purchases in excess of $2 million for the fiscal year. Syneron manufactures and...

Distance Learning Inc.(growth forecasts for e-learning)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Distance Learning Inc., a New York-based e-learning software company, says its research predicts 35 percent to 40 percent annual growth in e-learning and blended learning programs.

Federal Direct.(direct mail solutions)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Federal Direct, a Clifton, New Jersey based printing and direct mail company, offers direct mail solutions to franchises. The firm provides corporate offices the ability to centralize the branding and offering of direct mail campaigns....

International Franchise Association programs and calendar of industry events.(Calendar)
April 1, 2005... 2005 APRIL 7 FTC Franchise Rule & IFA--FTC Sales Compliance Seminar * Washington Convention Center Washington, D.C. Contact: IFA 8-10 International Franchise Expo Washington Convention Center ...