Franchising World articles from March 2009

Franchising World archives from March 2009

Going global: is now the time?(IN THIS ISSUE)(International Franchise Association)(financial crises)
March 1, 2009... Franchising industry businesses are struggling mightily to develop and implement strategies to deal with the sour economic environment. Many are reviewing processes to ensure that their businesses are operating as effectively and efficiently as...

Franchising is key to global economic recovery.(IFA PRESIDENT AND CEO'S COLUMN)
March 1, 2009... The World Bank in late January confirmed what most business people have known for a while--the financial crisis is global, affecting virtually every country whether developing or high-income. Unlike the 2009 Outlook for Franchise Businesses...

Focusing your global development: given the stagnant state of the U.S. economy, the recent financial crisis and lower expectations for growth in domestic markets many companies are looking to international markets to ignite growth and meet future development projections.("GOING GLOBAL" TO ACHIEVE MARKET EXPANSION)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A recent survey conducted by the International Franchise Association reported that 61 percent of respondents indicated they currently operate restaurants outside the United States and 74 percent indicated they plan...

International expansion: proven strategy during economic uncertainty: global growth allows a franchise to invest in more than one option so that you don't risk everything on a single opportunity. In other words, you hedge your bets.("GOING GLOBAL" TO ACHIEVE MARKET EXPANSION)
March 1, 2009... Rationale for International Expansion Let's face it, if you concentrate only on market penetration within the United States, you will eventually reach a point of saturation and be forced to look at relying solely on other market...

Understanding top legal issues in international franchising.("GOING GLOBAL" TO ACHIEVE MARKET EXPANSION)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dealing with international franchising legal considerations for numerous countries would require a large book rather than an article, and an article cannot do justice to more than a few of the concepts involved. The...

Vietnam: ready for franchising: with a consumer population growing faster than china's, thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs and a strong interest in established brands, Vietnam is rapidly emerging as a franchise-friendly nation.("GOING GLOBAL" TO ACHIEVE MARKET EXPANSION)
March 1, 2009... As this is being written, it's mid-December in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). The temperature is the mid-70s and Christmas is in the air. This is the last of 16 trips outside the United States for us in 2008--a very busy...

They don't call it the "International" Franchise Expo for nothing: Washington, D.C. is known as one of the most bustling, active international crossroads in the world, due in part to the many foreign embassies that are established here to maintain relations with the federal government.("GOING GLOBAL" TO ACHIEVE MARKET EXPANSION)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Regularly, visitors from outside the United States flock to the nations capital to enjoy a vacation among some of the most widely-recognized landmarks in the world. Try, for example, to find a square foot of ground...

Key business issues for U.S. franchisors expanding into Canada.("GOING GLOBAL" TO ACHIEVE MARKET EXPANSION)
March 1, 2009... Canada has long been the first choice for international expansion for many U.S. franchisors, given cultural similarities and geographic proximity between the two countries. Nonetheless, U.S. franchisors considering expansion in Canada must take...

Navigating access to capital: there is an upside to down credit markets.(SPECIAL REPORT: SUCCEEDING IN CHALLENGING TIMES)
March 1, 2009... Wet set sail for the New Year with a focus on a new horizon and with great relief that the turbulent storms that hammered our economy last year finally had ended. In one calendar year, our economy was hit hard and fully consumed by a historical...

Unit profitability: are your franchisees road warriors or road kill? A rising tide lifts all boats. Now that the economic tide has receded, many businesses will be left high and dry.(SPECIAL REPORT: SUCCEEDING IN CHALLENGING TIMES)
March 1, 2009... "I've been in this system for four years, when should I start making a profit?" This is a disturbing question at best. As if profits were somehow time-sensitive: just wait long enough and, "presto," profits. If it were only that easy. A...

Nothing to "LOL" about: simple ways franchisors can drive revenues and cut costs with basic technology: franchisors who use technology proactively and creatively will recover sooner than others.(SPECIAL REPORT: SUCCEEDING IN CHALLENGE TIMES)
March 1, 2009... When the clock struck midnight on Dec. 31, 2008, franchisors around the country made a silent pact: No more looking back. No more whining about the previous year's losses. No more cries of "Woe is me." They shifted from a mindset of...

The International Franchise Association's five-point economic recovery plan: leveraging the strength of franchising to expedite economic growth.(SPECIAL REPORT: SUCCEEDING IN CHALLENGING TIMES)
March 1, 2009... In conjunction with the Jan. 7 release of the IFA Educational Foundation's first Economic Forecast, IFA Pres. and CEO Matthew Shay unveiled a five-point recovery plan designed to focus Congress's attention on key funding issues that could...

Legal Symposium 2009 to focus on economic challenges: legal community and franchise executives will soon convene in Washington, D.C. to collaborate on successful strategies used by members to succeed in the current economic climate.(EVENTS)
March 1, 2009... This year will probably go down as one of the most challenging years in franchise history. The one-two punch of a crash of both the real estate and stock markets has consumed the most active pool of bankable investment capital, seemingly...

Profiling key new members of the 111th Congress: IFA's FranPAC contributes to the success of these newly-elected lawmakers.(GOVERNMENT RELATIONS)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The 2008 election was more than just the historic election of Illinois U.S. Sen. Barack Obama as the nations" 44th president, it also meant 62 new members would be representing their constituents in the U.S. House...

Should franchisors educate franchisees on immigration laws? "Teaching," rather than "regulating," best positions franchisors to aid their franchisees.(LEGAL)
March 1, 2009... Franchisors are often faced with difficult choices as they seek to become more competitive, help their franchisees succeed and strengthen their brands. Whether to educate their franchisees on employment related issues-including immigration laws...

Harnessing the benefits of fleet tracking: vehicle-fleet tracking saves money.(MANAGEMENT & OPERATIONS)
March 1, 2009... If your franchisees use vehicles to deliver services or products, consider how much more efficient and effective that business could be if they could ride in the passenger seat of each vehicle every day. When responding to this imaginary...

The basics of franchising: the relationship.(FRANCHISING 101)
March 1, 2009... Although franchising's largest and most popular brands represent the images most people hold about the industry, recent research revealed that franchising has been significantly influenced by the growing number of new concepts appearing in the...

Franchise leader honored as Rosenberg award recipient: Irl Marshall lent much of his expertise and energy to the IFA Educational Foundation.(EDUCATION AND HONORS)
March 1, 2009... Irl Marshall Jr., CFE, one of the founders of the International Franchise Association, was honored posthumously with the William Rosenberg Leadership Award during the group's 49th annual convention in San Diego. Marshall, who died in 2007,...

Four entrepreneurs capture educational prizes: scholarships benefit franchise professionals seeking to advance their careers.(EDUCATION AND HONORS)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Four entrepreneurs aiming for success in business-format franchising were named to receive the Irl Marshall Certified Franchise...

Brian Schnell, CFE, honored for leadership.(EDUCATION AND HONORS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Brian B. Schnell,, CFE, leader of Faegre & Bensons franchise team, was honored for extraordinary leadership by the International Franchise Association's Women's Franchise Committee and presented the Crystal Compass. As the first male to receive...

International Franchise Association programs and calendar of industry events.(IMPORTANT DATES IN FRANCHISING CALENDAR)(Conference news)(Calendar)
March 1, 2009... 2009 MARCH 10-12-The 25th Franchise Show Japan Franchise Association Tokyo International Exhibition Center Tokyo E-mail Yuko Fukunaga at tradefairs@smj.co.jp 20-22-International Franchise Expo Walter E....

Franchising's a bright spot for veterans: although the financial crisis continues to darken the horizon of the U.S. economy, there is one bright spot: the franchising industry, poised to lead the way out of the downturn.(HONORING AMERICAN VETERANS)
March 1, 2009... The February issue of Franchising World reported that franchise business leaders are "cautiously optimistic," according to survey results. Another International Franchise Association survey conducted in May found that 85 percent of respondents...

Lewis G. Rudnick.(IN MEMORIAM)(In memoriam)
March 1, 2009... Lewis G. Rudnick, a senior counsel in the Chicago office of DLA Piper US LLP who served for more than three decades as legal counsel to the International Franchise Association, died Jan. 24. He had practiced domestic and international...

Donatos Pizzeria.(People)
March 1, 2009... Donatos Pizzeria named John Houck vice president of development.

Gowling Lafleur Henderson.(People)
March 1, 2009... Law firm Gowling Lafleur Henderson hired Chad Finkelstein as an associate in its Toronto office.

InterContinental Hotels Group.(People)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] InterContinental Hotels Group appointed Jim Abrahamson president of its Americas region.

Nixon Peabody.(People)
March 1, 2009... Law firm Nixon Peabody partner Rick Pedone was named Fellow by the International Association of Restructuring, Insolvency & Bankruptcy Professionals.

Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal.(People)
March 1, 2009... Law firm Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal partner John R. E Baer was named vice chair of the International Bar Association's International Franchising Committee.

The Travel Franchise Group's.(People)(Peter Thomson has been appointed)(Mark Schiffner has also been appointed)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... The Travel Franchise Group's former vice president of Cruise Holidays Peter Thomson was tapped to lead TFG's strategic initiatives and SeaMaster Cruises Gen. Mgr. Mark Schiffner assumed oversight of Cruise Holidays.

Fitness Together honored Amy Frank-Lewallen of Issaquah, Wash.(Awards & Honors)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Fitness Together honored Amy Frank-Lewallen of Issaquah, Wash. as Franchisee of the Year, Keoni Subioni of Honolulu with the Best Turnaround Franchise award and Pete Piranio of three Wisconsin locations with the Annual Achievement award.

Hilton Hotels garnered 26 awards by the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International with its Homewood Suites brand earning the most titles for its innovative PR and employee programs.(Awards & Honors)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Hilton Hotels garnered 26 awards by the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International with its Homewood Suites brand earning the most titles for its innovative PR and employee programs, public service announcements, integrated...

MaidPro.(Milestones)
March 1, 2009... MaidPro has opened its 100th location.

Sonic.(Milestones)
March 1, 2009... Sonic opened its 3,500th drive-in with the launch of a location in Algonquin, Ill.

Dunkin' Donuts.(Marketing)
March 1, 2009... Dunkin' Donuts unveiled a $100 million-plus integrated advertising campaign "You Kin' Do It!" for 2009.

Uno Chicago Grill.(Marketing)
March 1, 2009... Uno Chicago Grill became the first casual dining chain to offer a virtual gift card.

HoneyBaked Ham Co. and Cafe's.(Community Service)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... HoneyBaked Ham Co. and Cafe's Diana Nausley of Olympia, Wash., along with co-owners Randy Knighton and Julie Gore, ensured that an elderly and ailing couple received a Christmas meal requested by their daughter in Fredericksburg, Va. Not only...

Correction.(Correction notice)
March 1, 2009... Correction: The February Franchising World erroneously included information in a sub-headline of the article "Atracting Franchisees: Grow With the Right Candidates" by David Scrivano. The information was not related to the article.

Motel 6.(Accor North America. Motel 6)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Motel 6 broke ground on its new corporate-build, environmentally--conscious Phoenix prototype property in Northlake, Texas. From left, Motel 6 and Studio 6 COO Jim Amorosia, Northlake Mayor Peter Dewing, and Accor...