Franchisor Marketing » Who’s Selling? Who’s Buying?

Nothing Attracts Attention Like a Good Hummer

Sean — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:09:57 +0000

Providing franchisees with a great Hummer might not be the secret to franchise sales success, but it can’t be hurt.

According to a story on FranBest, Adam & Eve franchise stores (part of the retail division of adult industry giant Adam & Eve) has doubled its number of franchise stores in the past two years. Adam & Eve currently have 27 stores and have agreements in place for 70 more, Adam & Eve Stores. The company plans to open an additional 12 stores in 2008, and to have 50 stores open by the end of 2009. Read more about the Adam & Eve franchise at FranBest.

With competition fierce for quality franchise prospects, it pays to stand out. What are you doing to set your concept apart from the pack?

WHAT DO YOU THINK? LEAVE A COMMENT.

_________________________

Unbiased franchise information, franchise interviews and detailed, searchable information on 400 franchise and business opportunities.

Franchisees, customers & experts vote for their favorite new franchises at Top New Franchise: Who’s hot. Who’s not.

Unhappy Franchisee: Franchising rumors, rants, controversies, issues, complaints & gossip… hopefully not about you.

Image source: Adam & Eve

Kidzart Children’s Franchise Heading to China

Sean — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:07:47 +0000

(Franchise Marketing) Children’s art education franchise company KidzArt is heading to China. KidzArt was founded in 1998 to let kids and seniors of all ages explore their inner artistic potential in a safe, structured, non-competitive environment. Franchising since July 2002, KidzArt has franchised units nationwide and growing.

Here’s the release from Kidzart Franchise:

KidzArt Announces International Expansion to China

US Art Education Franchise Organization Brings Right Brain Thinking to Children in Asian Marketplace

(New Braunfels, TX, February 11, 2008)– KidzArt, a children’s art education franchise company, today announced the sale of its first international and sole regional developer in Shanghai, China. Drawing on an increase in demand for children’s creative educational services in Asia, Mr. Jacky Tan has purchased exclusive rights to open a minimum of 10 KidzArt locations in China, starting in Shanghai and continuing throughout other regions of the country. The first location has a targeted opening date of April 2008. Lorne Barnes will serve as chief operating officer.

“It’s wonderful to witness the expansion of KidzArt into the largest growing market in the world. China is now poised to embrace educational programs like KidzArt which focus on igniting the imagination and developing the innovators of tomorrow,” says KidzArt CEO, Shell Herman. “We’re thrilled to be the first art education franchise in China and appreciate being recognized as the highest quality brand available. We are inspired by Jacky Tan’s dedication to bringing this concept to his country and could not have asked for a better business partner.”

KidzArt is only the third US children’s education brand to enter China behind Gymboree and FasTracKids who both now serve thousands of customers throughout that region.

KidzArt Shanghai partner Jacky Tan currently owns and operates a successful ESL enrichment program in Shanghai that has grown to serve over 7,000 students in just six years. In his pursuit of enhancing right-brain thinking and creativity in Chinese children, Tan evaluated all of the leading art education franchises throughout the US before choosing to invest in KidzArt.

“In addition to being well organized and professional, KidzArt was open and honest about their curriculum, philosophy and how they strive to develop strong life skills, such as problem solving, in their students,” says Tan. “Ultimately, we chose KidzArt because of their outstanding reputation, quality offerings and trustworthiness.”

KidzArt will be serving the Chinese market by catering to a new generation of parents who are looking to expand their children’s education beyond core subjects. To date, Chinese art education has focused on technical skills and copying with little personal expression. The Chinese government is now advocating the development of its children’s social and creative skills in preparation for a global economy favoring a workforce of “right brain” thinkers.

“Our new area development partners will build KidzArt brand strength in Shanghai and then advance our growth throughout the entire country,” says Joel Lazarovitz, international franchise development for KidzArt

Through KidzArt’s international expansion and new cultural exchange, the organization will leverage the partnership to enhance its curriculum to make it attractive to other countries and cultures around the world.

“Our Shanghai outlet will be a children’s art education model for all of Asia and it will set the standard for what KidzArt strives to become throughout the world,” says Herman.

_______________________________________________

Opportunity Alert: Know a great salesperson capable of developing an innovative sales-based franchise? Hook’m up with this franchise and get a $5000 referral fee.

Visit FRANBEST: Unbiased franchise information, franchise interviews and detailed, searchable information on 400 franchise and and business opportunities.

Franchisees, customers & experts vote for their favorite new franchises at Top New Franchise: Who’s hot. Who’s not.

College Hunks Sell West Coast Franchise Deal

Sean — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 21:45:53 +0000

The innovative junk removal company announces the sale of its first West Coast franchise.

(FranBest.com) Washington, DC – August 27, 2007 – College Hunks Hauling Junk (www.1800JunkUSA.com), the Washington, DC based junk removal company with franchises located in Orlando and Tampa, FL, recently sold its first West Coast franchise, an eight zone area development in San Francisco, CA. “With the completion of our proprietary software and centralized call center for our national number ‘1-800-Junk-USA,’ having a West Coast operation positions College Hunks Hauling Junk for expansion into every major metropolitan market in the country,” states Nick Friedman, College Hunks Hauling Junk President. College Hunks Hauling Junk recognizes the fact that they are not the first junk removal company to successfully franchise their concept. Vancouver based “Got Junk” has over 300 franchise locations.

READ ABOUT THE COLLEGE HUNKS FRANCHISE AT TOP NEW FRANCHISES

_____________________________

Vote for College Hunks Hauling Junk as a Top New Franchise See what others are saying about the College Hunks Hauling Junk franchise. Read the Interview with College Hunk’s Nick Friedman.

Discover the Top New Franchise Opportunities at TopNewFranchises.Com

Get the straight scoop on how to find the perfect franchise opportunity at FranBest.Com

Houlihans Flush With Dough, Ready to Grow

Sean — Sat, 26 May 2007 21:12:09 +0000

According to the Kansas City Star, Houlihan’s Restaurants Inc., is flush with $68 million to spend and is embarking on the next phase of a national expansion that will add 12 new locations by year end.

See the whole article at: More locations on menu for Houlihans

Here are the highlights:

According to the article, Houlihan’s has 30 company-owned restaurants in some phase of development. Some of those are in new markets, including San Antonio, Dallas, Charlotte, N.C., and Denver.

Houlihan’s is also focusing on developers that can build out entire markets. By year end, the company, which is expected to do $350 million in sales this year, will have 115 locations.

Houlihan’s has recently received a two-part equity infusion. It got $28 million in private equity from Goldner Hawn Johnson & Morrison, a Minneapolis-based investment firm, and a new $40 million senior credit facility from Wells Fargo Foothill Restaurant Finance, which Goldner Hawn helped place.

The investment firms are banking on resumed growth and a new Houlihan’s prototype, which they compare to P.F. Chang’s and Target (?) for its features “clean, modern lines,” open kitchen, and what one investor calls a “tres chic, cool bar.”

Can’t wait to see the new, tres chic Houlihans. Got to hand it to them for the necessary re-invention. Now if some other casual dining chains could realize that the eighties are TGI-Over…

______________________________________________________

Want to Pick the Perfect Franchise? Start by subscribing to Franchise Pick.

Salad Creations Signs Detroit Area Developer

Sean — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 13:03:02 +0000

Salad Creations, a Florida-based chain that recently signed its 50th franchise agreement, has signed Anthony Ciotti and Luciano Gonzalez as area developers. The new franchisees expect to develop 50 Salad Creations operating within the next seven years.

According to The Detroit News, the two men will open a Salad Creations of their own in downtown Detroit by March or April and Troy and Macomb Township franchises should debut by summer.

Read the story here: Salad Creations will grow in Metro area

First Franchise on MARS!

Sean — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 10:53:36 +0000

Congratulations to Jamie Gilleland and her team at MARS The Real Estate Store for awarding their first franchise! MARS is an innovative real estate concept that’s designed to give real estate agents a revolutionary marketing approach, and real estate consumers a superior way to buy or sell their home. They just recently completed the arduous process required to begin offering franchise opportunities.

Congratulations especially to the first MARS franchise group: LowCountry Lifestyles Group (Sherry Reed, Tara Lynam, Leigh Anderson and Barbara Pearson) of Bluffton, SC. FranBest.Com wishes Sherry, Tara, Leigh and Barbara the best of luck with their ambitious growth plans, and applauds them for being the first franchisees of MARS.

MARS The Real Estate Store was just named one of the Top 100 New Franchises by Franchise Market magazine. For more information, visit the MARS website.

Bob’s Big Boy Gets His Franchise

Sean — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 15:56:41 +0000

Bob’s Big Boy Restaurant Franchise has opened a second location in Las Vegas. To read more about the new, state of the art location, click here.

Cork and Olive aspires to be the ‘Starbucks of wine’

Sean — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 15:55:17 +0000

Cork and Olive, a retail store that sells fine yet inexpensive wine, is on the move. With a new CEO and a franchise plan underway, you should taste more than their best Merlot. Click here to learn more about Cork and Olive, and read about their franchise plans here.

Rita’s Water Ice Franchise Expands on East Coast

Sean — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 15:49:12 +0000

Rita’s Water Ice Franchise Co. signed 25 new franchise agreements last month, extending their reach from Connecticut to the Carolinas and Florida. Now with almost 400 locations in operation, Rita’s Water Ice claims they are the largest Italian ice chain in the United States. Click here to get the full scoop on Rita’s Ice.

The Sweet Taste of Franchising

Sean — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 20:05:33 +0000

Interested in learning how a franchisee not only gets a franchise up and running in the real world, but how they choose a franchise to join? Rita’s Water Ice Franchise Corp. has just opened up a new Rita’s location in New Holland, PA, and we had the opportunity to interview the new franchise owners. To discover what their process in opening the franchise doors looked like, click here to read their story.