Franchising World articles from September 2007

Franchising World archives from September 2007

Franchise expo gives industry a boost in the West.(IN THIS ISSUE)
September 1, 2007... Whether seeking new markets or to increase existing ones, franchise representatives should set their personal digital devices to receive updates about the upcoming West Coast Franchise Expo. The increasingly popular trade show, which is the...

Understand the issues and take action.(IFA PRESIDENT'S COLUMN)
September 1, 2007... Franchise Appreciation Day has arrived. As you and other representatives from your franchise systems take to the halls of Congress to relay inspirational stories and deliver urgent messages to lawmakers, it's a reminder to make sure that those...

Franchise expo seminars focus on working with government agencies.(WEST COAST FRANCHISE EXPO PREVIEW AND EXHIBITORS GUIDE)(Cover story)
September 1, 2007... An owner-operator has owned his franchise for early a year and things are running smoothly. But now its time to file taxes and he has a million questions, including what can be considered a deduction? Which forms need to be filed for employment...

Buying a franchise: what you need to know: find basic franchising information quickly and easily at Franchise.org.(WEST COAST FRANCHISE EXPO PREVIEW AND EXHIBITORS GUIDE)
September 1, 2007... "The Profile of Franchising: 2006" study series by the International Franchise Association Educational Foundation and FRANdata found that the number of concepts was growing in 17 of 18 industry categories. Only the travel industry declined....

How to buy a franchise: like any other form of business, there are no guarantees of success.(WEST COAST FRANCHISE EXPO PREVIEW AND EXHIBITOR GUIDE)
September 1, 2007... They're virtually everywhere. Franchised small-businesses are increasingly popular in urban areas and small towns across the United States and in more than 100 countries. From nationally-recognized brands to smaller, local concepts, the...

Key legal questions to ask: personal liability and obligations of franchisee and family members.(WEST COAST FRANCHISE EXPO PREVIEW AND EXHIBITOR GUIDE)
September 1, 2007... What entities and/or individuals will be responsible for performance of various obligations under the contract? If the franchisee is a corporation, will a personal guarantee be required, and if so, what obligations are covered? If the...

Franchise prospecting and how to maximize your ROI: there is a resurgence of trade shows and other events underway.(WEST COAST FRANCHISE EXPO PREVIEW AND EXHIBITOR GUIDE)
September 1, 2007... Twenty years ago, when franchise lead generation as much simpler, trade shows were the lifeline of franchise development teams. As the primary, and often only, source of prospects, franchise companies flocked to franchise trade shows and expos...

Lessons from a compulsive networker: networking out of one's comfort zone can be challenging and uncomfortable, but with a little time and effort one will find it to be very rewarding.(WEST COAST FRANCHISE EXPO PREVIEW AND EXHIBITOR GUIDE)
September 1, 2007... One may remember his parents coming home from a party and talking about the new people they had met, their careers, kids and all other details that seemed, for some reason or another, pertinent to them. Those casual evenings have turned into...

Exhibitor directory: Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA, October 19-21, 2007.(The West Coast Franchise Expo)(Directory)
September 1, 2007... 123 Refills Inc. Booth 531 IFA Member MinorityFran Member 7-Eleven Booth 420 IFA Member A Sweet Beginning Wedding Consultant & Event Planning Booth 436 IFA Member MinorityFran Member VetFran...

Franchise appreciation day activities strengthen industry congressional relationships.(FW FOCUS: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS)
September 1, 2007... With 535 members of Congress ailing from all walks of life, many may not know how franchising works. In fact, some representatives or senators do not understand the difference between a franchisor and a franchisee. They may not realize that...

Congress faces busy fall agenda: from the single-unit operator to multi-national franchise systems, the full spectrum of businesses involved in franchising must now be aware of the new political dynamics of Washington.(FW FOCUS: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS)
September 1, 2007... The past nine months have shown the franchising community that the partisan shift in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate produced, as expected, a shift in priorities. Many issues receiving little attention during the years of...

IFA welcomes Ohio Rep. Steve Chabot.(FW FOCUS: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] On July 12, the International Franchise Association's political action committee, FranPAC, hosted a fundraising breakfast for U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio-01). The event was a unique opportunity for many...

2007 FranPAC report card: the International Franchise Association's current financial support to candidates for federal office as of mid-July is reflected in the following "report card.".(FW FOCUS: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS)(Statistical table)(Report)
September 1, 2007... IFA's political action committee, FranPAC, supports pro-franchise, pro-business candidates for U.S. Congress. 2007-2008 Receipts: $156,874 2007-2008 Expenditures: $120,000 FranPAC Supported Candidates U.S. Senate Baucus,...

In their own words.(FW FOCUS: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS)
September 1, 2007... Franchising World magazine introduces a regular feature that is designed to provide its readers public statements of leading policymakers on franchising and issues of concern to small businesses. Readers will "hear" directly from influencers of...

A study of franchise loan performance in the SBA loan guaranty programs.(FW FOCUS: FINANCE)(Report)
September 1, 2007... Many franchise businesses take advantage of the loan guaranty programs offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration. This report, conducted by FRANdata on behalf of the IFA Educational Foundation, examines franchise loan performance...

Patriot express pilot loan initiative offers new benefits: the new SBA patriot express pilot loan program brings broad appeal to the franchising community and its VetFran partners.(FW FOCUS: FINANCE)
September 1, 2007... The U.S. Small Business Administration recently introduced a new loan program that is targeted to benefit many U.S. citizens with military service backgrounds and those individuals seeking to transition into private-business ownership....

Collective banking: leveling the playing field of commercial banking: there are more than 80 value elements a franchisee may experience from membership in a banking syndicate.(FW FOCUS: FINANCE)
September 1, 2007... According to the recent International Franchise Association's Profile of Franchising study, about 20 percent of franchise organizations offer financial assistance programs to their franchisees. All of these programs are centered on financing,...

Home instead senior care supports VetFran.(Spotlight on Veterans)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In late 2007, we in the U.S. see the men and women of our armed forces engaged in daily combat in Iraq and Afghanistan--at the front lines of the war on terror. And, in various locations elsewhere in the world,...

Benjamin Franklin: father of franchising? Document shows evidence of first U.S. franchise, first female franchisee.(FS FOCUS: DID YOU KNOW ...)
September 1, 2007... His resume is impressive. While he is most known for his role in founding the United States, launching more than five inventions, serving as a diplomat during the American Revolution, scientific discoveries, writings and much more, his role as...

Optimizing markets for your franchise: achieve maximum market optimization with minimal "cannibalization" of customers through customer analytics.(FW FOCUS: MARKETING)
September 1, 2007... Market optimization is one of the major goals of any retail franchise. By optimizing a given market, franchises realize many significant benefits, including efficiencies of scale in distribution, staffing and marketing. However, in an...

Marketing with integrity is more than an oxymoron: it's a better way to do business.(FW FOCUS: MARKETING)
September 1, 2007... Is the phrase "marketing with integrity" really an oxymoron? If one is referring to traditional marketing, especially as practiced by many within the foodservice and hospitality industries, the answer is undoubtedly "yes." In perception and in...

Curing widespread disease: the missing piece of the puzzle may be franchising: franchised health outlets bring affordable health care to sub-Saharan Africa.(FW FOCUS: FRANCHISING FOR THE GREATER GOOD)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Picture this: in the span of one year, every single person in seven major U.S. cities dies. Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. are decimated. Inconceivable, right? Such...

Consider New Zealand your next franchise development stop: with a robust and fair legal system with no franchising legislation, New Zealand is attractive and high standards are being maintained by the Franchise Association of New Zealand through its membership having to comply with the Code of Practice.(FW FOCUS: INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT)
September 1, 2007... Franchising in New Zealand is a maturing way of doing business with annual growth between 15 percent and 20 percent. There are about 350 systems and with a population of about 4.2 million people which represents one system for every 12,000...

Are veterans sharing their talents with your franchise system? Take one qualified military veteran, match him or her with a popular franchised brand and repeat.(FW FOCUS: HONORING AMERICAN'S VETERANS)
September 1, 2007... Nearly 800 franchises have been acquired through the Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative, known as "VetFran" program. The International Franchise Association developed this program to give military veterans easier access to the franchising...

Welcome new members!(FW FOCUS: WELCOME MEMBERS)(Franchise Systems)
September 1, 2007... Franchise Systems 24Seven Fitness, San Ramon, Calif., Contact Mike Feinman Apple Montessori Schools, Kinnelon, N.J., Contact Lynn Morris Piccolo Cuppy's Coffee & More, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., Contact Rachel Clark Eyesthere,...

Accor's Sofitel Worldwide.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2007... Accor's Sofitel Worldwide named Dale Wielgus as human resources manager. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Batteries Plus.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2007... Batteries Plus promoted Cathleen Stewart to vice president of marketing. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Brooke Franchise Corp.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2007... Brooke Franchise Corp. named Cynthia Weber as chief legal officer and general counsel.

Burger King.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2007... Burger King appointed Mike Kappitt as senior vice president global business intelligence and strategy.

Chester's International.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2007... Chester's International hired Ben Lucky as manager of franchise business consultants. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Dermacare.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2007... Dermacare named Sidney B. Smith, M.D., as chairman of its corporate medical board of directors.

DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen by Worldwide.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2007... DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen by Worldwide appointed Jimmy Bartlett as special projects director and Jim Young as a franchise support manager.

FranNet.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2007... FranNet hired Heather Gough as marketing and communications manager and Todd Bingham as information technology director.

Hilton Garden Inn Hilton.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2007... Hilton Garden Inn Hilton named Barbara Bejan as vice president of international brand performance support.

Kinderdance.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2007... Kinderdance appointed Darlene Van Der Wal as vice president of operations and Richard Maltese as vice president of franchise development.

Kitchen Tune-Up.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2007... Kitchen Tune-Up hired Beth Schmitz as marketing director.

Nixon Peabody.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2007... Nixon Peabody added Steven Feirman as a partner and co-leader of the law firm's franchise and distribution practice.

Pet Butler.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2007... Pet Butler named Patricia Cannon as chief financial officer.

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton.(PEOPLE)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Law firm Sheppard Mulling Richter & Hampton named Christopher S. Reeder as part of the firm's Business Trial Practice Group along with his team of special counsel Beverly Lu and associates Gabriel Green and Gene Wu.

TAB Boards International.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2007... TAB Boards International appointed Lee Vala as senior vice president of international development.

Valpak.(David Fox, Erika Morris, Valerie Olbrick promoted)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Valpak promoted David Fox to vice president of manufacturing; Erika Morris to director of sales training and development; Valerie Olbrick to director of project management; Gall Dove to human resources director; Keith Malo to director of...

Wingstop.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2007... Wingstop promoted Bruce Evans to vice president of franchise recruitment. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Carlson Restaurants Worldwide.(Awards & Honors)(Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Carlson Restaurants Worldwide was honored by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals with three Platinum Hermes Creative awards for its crisis communication plan, strategic communication plan, and video/ internal...

DLA Piper.(Awards & Honors)
September 1, 2007... DLA Piper Franchising practice group garnered a top-tier ranking in the newly published, Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business.

Guidant Financial Group.(Awards & Honors)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Guidant Financial Group was honored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce with the Small Business of the Year award for the northwest and a Blue Ribbon Small Business award.

Haynes and Boone law firm was recognized in Chambers USA rankings as among the top in the nation.(Awards & Honors)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Haynes and Boone law firm was recognized in Chambers USA rankings as among the top in the nation. Attorney's Joyce Mazero and Deborah Coldwell were named as examples of the firm's excellence in the field.

Liberty Tax Service franchisee Annie Fuller of Newberry, S.C. won the award.(Awards & Honors)
September 1, 2007... Liberty Tax Service franchisee Annie Fuller of Newberry, S.C. won the award for Best Performing First Year Liberty Tax Service Franchisee in 2007.

Mr. Rooter named Derek Moreland and Mike Kolakovic of the Greater Toronto Area location.(Awards & Honors)
September 1, 2007... Mr. Rooter named Derek Moreland and Mike Kolakovic of the Greater Toronto Area location as franchisees of the year.

Mark Loberg, founder and CEO of PremierGarage, was recognized as one of Ernst & Young's regional winners.(Awards & Honors)
September 1, 2007... Mark Loberg, founder and CEO of PremierGarage, was recognized as one of Ernst & Young's regional winners of an Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Proforma.(Awards & Honors)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Proforma was recognized for its excellence in the printing industry with a 2007 PEAK Award by Print Solutions magazine and it was ranked by the Document Management Industries Association as the Largest Print Distributor in North America.

re:group.(Awards & Honors)
September 1, 2007... The Women's Business Enterprise National Council in partnership with the Michigan Women's Business Council has certified re:group as a Women's Business Enterprise.

US Franchise Systems honored John Murphy with the Mike Leven Culture award.(Awards & Honors)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... US Franchise Systems honored John Murphy with the Mike Leven Culture award for modeling the company's guiding principles and values of being service-oriented and always putting the franchisee first.

Fitness Together.(Milestones)
September 1, 2007... Fitness Together sold its 500th franchise.

Homewood Suites by Hilton.(Milestones)
September 1, 2007... Homewood Suites by Hilton celebrated the opening of its 200th hotel.

Mr. Handyman.(Milestones)
September 1, 2007... Mr. Handyman opened its 250th franchise with a unit in Salt Lake City.

Wyndham Hotel Group.(Growth)
September 1, 2007... Wyndham Hotel Group converted The Conrad London to The Wyndham London-Chelsea Harbour marking its first property in the United Kingdom.

Accor North America.(Marketing)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Accor North America conducted a new diversity program titled the Accor Pinnacle Program at the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators & Developers where it offered knowledge, guidance, and tools through a wide-range of services...

HomeVestors.(NEWS BRIEFS)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: HomeVestors' franchisee Eric Nales purchased the Petersburg, Va. home marking the 30,000th house bought by the company.

Dunkin' Donuts.(Marketing)
September 1, 2007... Dunkin' Donuts opened its first location in a theme park in Hershey Park, Pa. to help celebrate the park's 100th anniversary.

Goin' Postal.(Marketing)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Goin' Postal offered free replacement American flags to anyone who brought a tattered, torn or faded flag into one of its participating locations as part of its patriotic beautification plan in July.

Holiday Inn.(Marketing)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Holiday Inn launched its second annual online "Design A Car" contest where the winners will receive a trip for two to the race to see their design featured on Jeff Burton's car during the NASCAR Busch Series finale, receive V.I.P treatment and...

HomeVestors.(Marketing)
September 1, 2007... HomeVestors unveiled a new series of television commercials aimed at a new message about selling houses.

Microtel Inns & Suites.(Marketing)
September 1, 2007... Microtel Inns & Suites launched a new Spanish-language Web site at espanol.microtelinn.com and a dedicated toll-free number offering reservations and sales assistance in Spanish.

Motel 6.(Marketing)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Motel 6 rolled out of the first national fluorescent light bulb and battery recycling program within the hospitality industry. The company, official partner of the National Hot Rod Association, teamed up with BRUT and Nitro Fish Wear to select...

NexCen Brands.(Marketing)
September 1, 2007... NexCen Brands was added to the broad-market Russell 3000 Index.

Papa Murphy.(Marketing)
September 1, 2007... Papa Murphy's hosted an in-store sweepstakes for Traeger Pellet Grills to promote summer time pizza grilling.

Play N Trade.(Marketing)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Play N Trade announced David Briers as the first Play N Trade National Guitar Hero II Champion winning the grand prizes of a $1,000 in-store gift card and an Xbox 360 Guitar Hero multiplayer bundle.

Schlotzsky.(MARKETING)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Schlotzsky's conducted its first online Winning Combination Game where customers could get a game card with any purchase and have the chance to win $25,000 a year for life.

TruePresence.(MARKETING)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... TruePresence developed a new search marketing service that combines company expertise with an optimization technology to deliver the highest volume of leads and new customers at the lowest possible cost.

Valpak.(MARKETING)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Valpak is giving away a five-day trip to Paris to promote Disney's Pixar movie Ratatouille in addition to distributing 2,000 free movie vouchers in their envelopes.

Wendy's and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption generated at least $1 million.(MARKETING)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Wendy's and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption generated at least $1 million to support the cause of foster care adoption with its Father's Day Frosty Weekend.

Big O Tires.(Community Service)
September 1, 2007... Big O Tires donated $50,000 to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation and partnered with them to help raise funds for pediatric cancer research.

Rita's Water Ice.(Community Service)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Rita's Water Ice pledged to raise $750,000 for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation through the sales of $1 paper lemons that will be posted in local company locations.

Programs and calendar of industry events: International Franchise Association.(IMPORTANT DATES IN FRANCHISING CALENDAR)(Calendar)
September 1, 2007... 2007 SEPTEMBER 6-8-Franchise Center Educational Seminar Amarillo Hispanic Chamber of Commerce UTEP Licensee Program Amarillo, Texas 8-12-American Hotel & Lodging Assn. Resort Committee Annual Meeting The Fairmont Southampton...