Franchising World articles from September 2008

Franchising World archives from September 2008

Communication key to fruitful franchise relations.(IN THIS ISSUE)(franchisor-franchisee relationship)
September 1, 2008... What separates franchise systems from other independent businesses is the relationship between the franchisor and its franchisees. The interdependence between the two parties indicates that the whole is no stronger than its parts. No matter how...

Investing in your association will pay dividends.(IFA PRESIDENT AND CEO'S COLUMN)(Column)
September 1, 2008... James Carville, the political pundit and former advisor to President Bill Clinton famously--or, depending on your political perspective, infamously--said during the 1992 campaign, "It's the economy stupid!" More than 15 years later, economic...

Coaching franchisees to success in a challenging economy: the tough economy has invaded every aspect of the business world. The affects of rising gas prices, food costs and curbing spending habits among consumers are being felt in every industry. In franchising, the softening of the economy is serving as a loud wake up call to franchisors.(BEST PRACTICES IN FRANCHISE RELATIONS)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Taking Action Franchisors have two options: they can sit back and commiserate with their peers about lagging system-wide sales or fewer eager franchise buyers or they can take proactive steps to combat the...

Talk to me: good communication as a business strategy: the cornerstone of franchisee communications is field support.(BEST PRACTICES IN FRANCHISE RELATIONS)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Franchises depend a lot on trust. Like any relationship, they require open, honest communication. A good franchise relationship is a valuable business asset to be nourished and developed. By providing consistent,...

Optimize franchisee talents for growth with multi-brand franchisors.(BEST PRACTICES IN FRANCHISE RELATIONS)
September 1, 2008... Franchisors operating multiple brands have unique opportunities and challenges. Companies become multi-branded through various means and for different reasons. Likely, these come in the form of the following: * The ownership has an...

Helping franchisees develop a strategic plan: the strategic-planning process offers a stronger approach to running the business by the numbers.(BEST PRACTICES IN FRANCHISE RELATIONS)
September 1, 2008... "What is the strategic plan for growing the business?" Now there's a question that can derail a Discovery Day. What's the answer? Is there one? If so, is it the same for new franchise members and established franchise members? Is there help...

Managing product sales to franchise owners: fulfillment service companies can handle distribution needs and free franchise systems of difficult chores.(BEST PRACTICES IN FRANCHISE RELATIONS)
September 1, 2008... One of the many benefits franchisors offer to franchise owners is to provide competitive sources for quality products and services. As Abrakadoodle grew, we found that this service became more and more time-consuming and costly for both...

Congress speaks out: the Business Activity Tax Simplification Act.(FW FOCUS: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS)
September 1, 2008... With aggressive tax nexus battles continuing their strain on the franchising business model, the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law held a hearing June 24 on the Business Activity Tax Simplification Act of...

In their own words.(FW FOCUS: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS)(HealthStore franchise)(Senators Norm Coleman )
September 1, 2008... In July, U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman of Minnesota provided a statement of support for the HealthStore Foundation's work to increase affordable quality health care in Africa. In doing s0, Sen. Coleman also highlighted the importance of the franchise...

Franchise Appreciation Day checklist: practical pointers: while preparations for the Ninth Annual Franchise Appreciation Day will include brushing up on the issues facing the industry, attendees can also benefit from a few practical pointers to make their grassroots lobbying experience more enjoyable. ADP Small Business Services is Founding Sponsor of the event and sponsor of the Franchisee of the Year award.(FW FOCUS: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS)(Conference news)
September 1, 2008... September has arrived, which means a trip to the nation's capital is on the agenda of hundreds of members of the franchising community. The center of the legislative universe awaits the steady patter of feet when franchisees, franchisors and...

FranPAC report card: supporting federal candidates: 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)
September 1, 2008... IFA's political action committee, FranPAC, supports pro-franchise, pro-business candidates for U.S. Congress. 2007-2008 Receipts 451,977 2007-2008 Expenditures $318,500 FranPAC Supported Candidates U.S. Senate Alexander,...

Turning up the heat: seeking a solution to the energy price squeeze.(FW FOCUS: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS)(Report)
September 1, 2008... "rising energy prices are impacting every level of business, most dramatically on consumer spending. This translates directly into slower franchise sales, meaning businesses won't expand as quickly or create jobs at the rate we have seen...

Minnesota: a profile: this profile is part of an occasional series examining the issues and atmosphere guiding politics and policy in the various states.(FW FOCUS: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS)(Conference news)
September 1, 2008... Minnesota in the National Spotlight All eyes are on the state of Minnesota as the Republican Party convenes its quadrennial convention Sept. 1 to 4 to nominate a candidate for president. Presumptive nominee Sen. John McCain (R) will...

Franchise systems take center stage as corporate retailers scale back: as corporate America retreats, the ability of the franchise industry to weather a tough economy will create unique real estate opportunities in the coming years for franchisees.(FW FOCUS: MANAGEMENT & OPERATIONS)(Report)
September 1, 2008... After years of playing second fiddle in the competition for prime retail space, the tables will turn in 2008 as growing franchise systems fill the void left by shrinking corporate retailers. With national retailers such as the Gap, Disney...

Building compensation packages for sales pros: franchisors need to understand their salespeople and what is required to keep them producing at their maximum potential.(FW FOCUS: MANAGEMENT & OPERATIONS)
September 1, 2008... Franchising is first and foremost a business about people. Whatever the concept, the entire franchising business model revolves around successful relationships. Most franchising professionals will agree that the health and success of any system...

Leaving money on the (Internet) table? Imagine learning that the word "franchise" was searched 14,123 times and "franchising" was searched 4,007 times yesterday alone?(FW FOCUS: ADVERTISING)(Reprint)
September 1, 2008... Imagine franchisors being able to place an advertisement at the top of a Google search in five minutes and only paying if someone clicks on the ad? Imagine franchise companies "geo-targeting" markets where they wanted to sell franchises...

Getting the word out: building a co-op program: aim for flawless execution of your advertising plan, but be prepared to change strategies if your customer base shifts.(FW FOCUS: MARKETING)
September 1, 2008... Economically-challenging times make franchisors and franchisees acutely aware of the cost of doing business. With commodity and labor costs on the rise and consumers' disposable income in jeopardy, brands need to make their dollars work as hard...

Litigation insurance: is your franchise protected? Franchisors should take a closer look at their directors' and officers' insurance policies.(FW FOCUS: LEGAL)
September 1, 2008... At a recent franchise industry event, a group of franchisors sat around a table, joyfully exchanging local-store marketing success stories. Everyone was eager to offer anecdotes and have a turn to brag about how their brilliant marketing team...

Buying a franchise company: do your due diligence: looking under the hood, kicking the tires isn't enough.(FW FOCUS: LEGAL)
September 1, 2008... While a pre-acquisition investigation (due diligence) should be part of every acquisition, there are special issues that potential purchasers of a franchise company should consider. Some of these special issues arise because of certain...

Exemptions can work for you.(FW FOCUS: LEGAL)
September 1, 2008... As the franchising industry recovers from the impact of adjusting to the new Federal Trade Commission's Franchise Rule disclosure format, a topic that looms increasingly large on the horizon is the increase in the sheer number of franchise...

The "new" rule: amendments and requirements: promptly following the updating requirements of the new franchise rule will enable franchise systems to be in compliance with state franchise sales laws and avoid many claims.(FW FOCUS: FTC FRANCHISE RULE)
September 1, 2008... Effective July 1, all franchisors were to have implemented the new franchise disclosure format prescribed by the Federal Trade Commission's recently-amended Franchise Rule or "New Franchise Rule." It closely tracks the Uniform Franchise...

Foundation awards scholarships to deserving students.(FW FOCUS: AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS)(International Franchise Association)
September 1, 2008... The International Franchise Association Educational Foundation has awarded nine scholarships to deserving students. The foundation thanks DLA Piper US LLP, Figaro's Italian Pizza, the Marriott Foundation, the PepsiCo Foundation, Luce, Smith and...

IFA expanding outreach to China market.(FW FOCUS: INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS)(International Franchise Association)
September 1, 2008... China has a population of 1.3 billion. That is more than four times the population of the United States. These days, no matter where you go, China is a subject of conversations. China has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. More...

The right place, the right time, the right match: IFE celebrates another year of franchise matchmaking.(FW FOCUS: EVENTS)
September 1, 2008... Wondering who attended the 17th annual International Franchise Expo? Actually, a better question would be who didn't? After nearly two decades, the Number One franchise event in the country continues to attract the largest, most qualified...

Members making a difference: VetFran participant boosts franchise ownership.(FW FOCUS: HONORING AMERICA'S VETERANS)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Matco Tools National Franchise Sales Manager Richard Dayton, CFE, has been quite successful in attracting former U.S. military personnel to franchise ownership. Of the more than 1,150 franchises sold to...

Welcome new IFA members!(FW FOCUS: WELCOME TO IFA)(International Franchise Association)(Bacon Whitney LLC)(Bookkeeping Express Enterprises, LLC)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Franchise Systems Bacon Whitney LLC, Newton, Mass., Contact Carolyn Alberto Bookkeeping Express Enterprises, LLC, McLean, Va., Contact Greg Jones Clockwork Home Services, Inc., Sarasota, Fla., Contact Tab Hunter HomeGamers,...

1-800-GOT-JUNK?(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1-800-GOT-JUNK? named Starbuck's former U.S. President Launi Skinner as president and chief operating officer.

Checkers Drive-In Restaurants.(PEOPLE)(Valerie McCartney has been appointed )(Diane Phibbs has been appointed)(Don Miller has been appointed)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Checkers Drive-In Restaurants hired Valerie McCartney as director of franchise development, Western United States, and Diane Phibbs as director of franchise sales and support; Don Miller assumed the role of director of franchise development,...

Cuppy's Coffee.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2008... FranSynergy's CEO Dale Nabors will serve as acting president of Cuppy's Coffee.

Dunkin' Brands.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dunkin' Brands promoted Nancy Bigley, CFE, to senior director of operations for its Core and Growth markets for Baskin-Robbins.

DUCTZ International.(PEOPLE)(Tom Handyside has been appointed)(Tom Yacobellis has been appointed)(Stephanie Teague has been appointed)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... DUCTZ International restructured its senior management by appointing Tom Handyside vice president of franchise operations, Tom Yacobellis vice president of corporate operations, and Stephanie Teague vice president of franchise administration....

Educate, Inc.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jeffrey H. Cohen was named chief executive officer of Educate, Inc.

FASTSIGNS International.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2008... FASTSIGNS International hired Teresa Rector as the director of training.

F.C. Dadson.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2008... F.C. Dadson named Sandi Dahlke senior designer.

FETCH! Pet Care.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2008... FETCH! Pet Care appointed Elyse A. Marks director of marketing.

Great Clips.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Great Clips hired Stephen Hockett as vice president of operations.

Krass Monroe.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2008... Law firm Krass Monroe appointed W. Barry Blum as of counsel.

Merchants Leasing.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2008... Merchants Leasing named Glen Villano chief operating officer.

Retail Franchise Group.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Daniel Sladek was named vice president of Retail Franchise Group and ownafran.com.

Two Men And A Truck International.(PEOPLE)(Pare Batten and Cari Sullivan )(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Two Men And A Truck International hired Pare Batten as franchise sales coordinator. Safety Manager Cari Sullivan was invited to serve on the American Trucking Associations' tax and highway policy committees.

Valpak.(PEOPLE)(Mark Anderson, Judy Andrews and Matt Biasini )(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Valpak named Mark Anderson director of franchise development for small and micro markets; Judy Andrews national sales financial analyst; Matt Biasini director of business planning and development; Kim Dominguez...

Veterans have edge in franchising efforts.(HeraldTribune.com)
September 1, 2008... ... Meanwhile, more than 300 franchisor members of the International Franchise Association are offering discounted franchise fees to veterans through the VetFran program. Additionally, PepsiCo Foundation has established a fund to provide...

Findley Group.(Mergers, Acquisitions and Transactions)
September 1, 2008... Findley Group has partnered with Games2U and Snap Fitness.

Primrose Schools entered into a strategic equity partnership.(Mergers, Acquisitions and Transactions)
September 1, 2008... Primrose Schools entered into a strategic equity partnership with Roark Capital Group.

Snap Fitness.(Mergers, Acquisitions and Transactions)
September 1, 2008... Snap Fitness received a minority equity investment from Summit Partners.

Foot Solutions.(Awards & Honors)
September 1, 2008... Foot Solutions was named top small business of the year by Georgia's Cobb Chamber of Commerce and the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

GolfTEC Enterprises' Joe Assell and Mike Clinton received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of The Year 2008 Award.(Awards & Honors)
September 1, 2008... GolfTEC Enterprises' Joe Assell and Mike Clinton received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of The Year 2008 Award in the service category in the Rocky Mountain region.

Hilton Hotels Corp.(Awards & Honors)
September 1, 2008... Hilton Hotels Corp. was named a finalist in the Corporate Information: Franchise Web Sites category in the 2008 American Business Awards.

InterContinental Hotels Group's Staybridge Suites.(Awards & Honors)
September 1, 2008... InterContinental Hotels Group's Staybridge Suites was honored by Market Metrix for superiority in customer satisfaction.

Luce, Smith & Scott was awarded Vendor of the Year.(Awards & Honors)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Luce, Smith & Scott was awarded Vendor of the Year for the fifth year in a row for all seven franchise concepts affiliated with The Dwyer Group.

Mr. Appliance recognized outstanding franchise owners and team members during the company's international conference in Grapevine, Texas.(Awards & Honors)(Conference news)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Mr. Appliance recognized outstanding franchise owners and team members during the company's international conference in Grapevine, Texas, including Franchise Owner of the Year Bob and Nita Tuck of Punta Gorda and Naples. Fla.

Proforma.(Awards & Honors)
September 1, 2008... Proforma was ranked by the Print Services & Distribution Association as the largest print distributor in North America for the second consecutive year.

El Pollo Loco.(Milestones)
September 1, 2008... El Pollo Loco opened its 400th restaurant.

Computer Troubleshooters sold master franchise rights for Guatemala.(Growth)
September 1, 2008... Computer Troubleshooters sold master franchise rights for Guatemala to Helmuth Contrer-as and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Claude Ibalanky.

Petland.(Growth)
September 1, 2008... Petland opened its first store in China at a location in Shanghai.

Choice Hotels International.(Marketing)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Choice Hotels International launched its Collection program in North America and the Caribbean to offer upscale independent hotels the opportunity to affiliate and benefit from marketing services.

Cinnabon.(Marketing)
September 1, 2008... Cinnabon was the exclusive and sole promotional quick-service restaurant partner in the Paramount Pictures movie "The Love Guru," starring comedian Mike Myers.

Cruise Planners.(Marketing)
September 1, 2008... Cruise Planners, a member of IFA's VetFran program, launched its "Corps Care" sweepstakes program designed to help entrepreneurial veterans transition to civilian careers.

Law firm Gray Plant Mooty received the Hennepin County, Pa.
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Law firm Gray Plant Mooty received the Hennepin County, Pa. Bar Association's 2008 Diversity Award for a Legal Employer for its commitment to diversity in the legal profession and Managing Officer Tamara...

Biggby Coffee opened its 100th store at a location in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Biggby Coffee opened its 100th store at a location in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. From left, co-founder Mary Roszel; co-founder and CEO Bob Fish; and franchisees Rose and Joe Glendenning.

SIGNARAMA granted a master license for Croatia, Slovenia and Montenegro to Robert and Kata Bilic.
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: SIGNARAMA granted a master license for Croatia, Slovenia and Montenegro to Robert and Kata Bilic. From left, back row, United Franchise Group Global Operations Manager Ameen Khaleeli; UFG Dir. of Franchise...

Doubletree Hotels.(Marketing)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Doubletree Hotels celebrated the spirit of romance this summer by launching its Weddings by Doubletree Web site and sponsoring an interactive "Ceremony + Vows" Web page at TheKnot.com.

Findley Group.(Marketing)
September 1, 2008... Findley Group introduced a new line of services including: legal compliance, lead generation marketing, franchise sales, territory development and royalty collection.

Moe's Southwest Grill.(Marketing)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Moe's Southwest Grill conducted its Moe's Passport to Adventure sweepstakes online where contestants can win grand prizes including a VIP package on Lynyrd Sknyrd's 2009 Simple Man Cruise, a VIP concert package to 3 Doors Down or a vacation...

Netsolace.(Marketing)
September 1, 2008... Netsolace has attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner program.

Pop-A-Lock.(Marketing)
September 1, 2008... Pop-A-Lock was chosen as a strategic partner for FoneKey's hospitality technology.

re:group.(Marketing)
September 1, 2008... re:group launched an integrated marketing campaign for the American Cancer Society targeting the medically-underserved.

Red Roof.(Marketing)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Red Roof launched its entertainment and multi-media Red Roof Loves Country Road Trips campaign targeting country music fans featuring a series of 30-second promotions will be broadcast on television network Great American-Country.

Wing Zone.(Marketing)
September 1, 2008... Wing Zone unveiled its first delivery vehicle which runs on recycled frying oil.

Big O Tires.(Community Service)
September 1, 2008... Big O Tires contributed more than $100,000 to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Pediatric Cancer.

Franchisors waive fees, use other lures amid financing lag, battle for operators.(Nation's Restaurant News)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... ... Some franchisors are offering unusual incentives, including outright waivers of franchise startup fees, to convince operators to sign development deals.... Other new franchise incentives, usually steep discounts in franchises fees if not...

Proforma Awards Print & Promotions built a 35-member team and helped raise nearly $10,000 during the Third Annual Bridge Walk.
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Proforma Awards Print & Promotions built a 35-member team and helped raise nearly $10,000 during the Third Annual Bridge Walk hosted by local cancer resource center LtvingWell.

International Franchise Association programs and calendar of industry events.(IMPORTANT DATES IN FRANCHISING CALENDAR)(Calendar)
September 1, 2008... 2008 SEPTEMBER 15-16-Franchise Appreciation Day: IFA's Public Affairs Conference JW Marriott Hotel Washington, D.C. 15-16- How to Recruit Better Candidates & Close More Franchise Sales Management 2000 Tucson 18-19-How to...