Blogger Sean Kelly Moves to FranBest.Com

FranchisePick.com was launched in November, 2006, as one of original blogs in the newly-formed b5 media business channel (later renamed bizzia.com).  I was one of the original b5 Business Channel bloggers, the only one of the 16 to be active on the bizzia channel up until today.

Since that time, I have published 1011 blog posts that generated 12,752 comments, often on controversial franchise topics and companies.

I recently received notice from b5 that, after tomorrow, Franchise Pick will no longer be published as a stand-alone blog, and that the Bizzia channel is being assimilated into the EveryDayJoe.com channel. 

So far, I have been unable to reach anyone to ask them to reconsider or work out an arrangement that would allow me to maintain Franchise Pick.

So, after tomorrow, I will be blogging on franchise topics and companies on my blog, FranBest.com.

Please come visit me there, subscribe to my feed, sign up for my newsletter.

I will also be blogging at the other sites in the FranBest.com network, including TopNewFranchises.com, UnhappyFranchisee.com, FranchiseeMarketing.com, & FranchisorMarketing.com.

It’s been a great 3 years at Franchise Pick, but I guess it’s time to move on to a new venue.  

Let’s keep the conversation going at FranBest.com, UnhappyFranchisee.com and TopNewFranchises.com.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

Image:  FranBest.com

Post from: Franchise Pick

Send Jared to Gitmo Update: Batie v. Subway

Last June, I published a post (SUBWAY: Send Jared to Gitmo!) that included a modest proposal:  That the U.S. Armed Forces launch a predawn raid and whisk Subway spokesperson Jared (and his famous pants) off to Gitmo to be held until there’s a satisfactory resolution to the conflict between Lt. Col. Leon Batie, Jr. and Subway.

The idea took off, and variations and parody press releases were circulated across the globe, making their way to military bases and naval warships (Military Considers Abducting Subway’s Jared).

Leon Batie Jr. is a former multi-unit Subway franchisee and a U.S. Army Reservist deployed to Afghanistan.  While serving his country abroad, Batie’s two Subway franchises fell behind on the rent (by $13,500, claims Subway;  less according to Batie & his attorney).  While he was dodging roadside bombs in Afghanistan, Subway seized ownership of the 2 businesses he had poured his savings and dreams into.  The Subway area developer (OPM Ventures LP) allegedly turned around and resold Batie’s franchise locations for a profit, pocketing $100,000 profit off one of Batie’s units alone.

Batie and his attorneys (MULLIN LAW, PC) sued for $6M under the Servicemembers Act, a law that bars anyone from terminating an active-duty service member’s installment contract, including leases, without a court order.

Last week was a productive week for Leon Batie and his legal team.

On Wednesday, a Texas District Judge ruled that Subway did, in fact, violate federal law (Servicemembers Civil Relief Act) when it terminated Lt. Col. Batie’s leases without a court order while he was serving in Afghanistan.

Then, on Thursday, a Dallas County Judge announced in open court that Subway’s 2006 eviction proceedings against Batie were a “train wreck” and she ordered one of the two eviction judgments to be vacated and set aside.  Batie’s team also has a pending motion to vacate the second eviction judgment on the other store.

The Dallas Morning News reported on the newest developments:  Soldier wins 2nd ruling in legal battle with Subway

Will Jared’s Fat Pants Ne’er Fly O’er Gitmo?

Congratulations to Lt. Col. Leon Batie, Jr. and Mullin Law on their wins.  I’m told that having a judge rule that Subway’s actions violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act is a significant milestone on the march toward a trial win.  What Subway hopes to gain by not settling this worsening PR nightmare is beyond me.

On a purely selfish note, I must say that the Batie courtroom wins are, to me, bittersweet.  While I’m happy that the courts are defending those who are risking their lives to defend America, I am sad that I may ne’er see my dream of Jared’s fat pants flapping proudly against the azure sky o’er Guantanamo Bay come to fruition.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

Image of Subway Spokesman Jared Fogle: NewsCom.Com

Post from: Franchise Pick

Starbucks Meets Viagra: Magic Power Coffee

From scantily clad baristas in Sexpresso drive thrus to aphrodisiac instant coffee, entrepreneurs are trying to cash in by making the beverage associated with Juan Valdez and Mrs. Olsen sexy.

Aphrodisiac instant coffee?  Yes, you read that right.  That’s the claim made by Bedroom Coffee, purveyers of Magic Power Coffee.  According to the Bedroom Coffee website:

Magic Power Coffee is the world’s first “fantasy” beverage. It’s like someone dropped two Viagra® in a

Can instant coffee be sexy? Magic Power thinks so.

Starbucks® latte!… then stirred in a potent “passion elixir” for her! Increase the sensation and the satisfaction of your love making, every time…

All Natural – Magical Ingredients.

Magic Power Coffee’s combination of natural herbs, vitamins and minerals has been shown to improve overall sexual experience. Our ingredients are combined using the highest quality standards. Through rigorous research and analysis we have created a safe and effective product. The magical ingredients in our proprietary formula include: Horny Goat Weed, Goji Berry & American Ginseng.

Tap the Lucrative Market for Coffee With Horny Goat Weed!

According to David, a reader who represents this new wonder-beverage, Magic Power Coffee is initiating a nationwide search for resellers and distributors of the Cupid’s new wonder-beverage.  According to his affiliate website (Bedroom Java :

Learn how to build a successful and profitable home-based business with Magic Power Coffee. We’ll give you everything you need to begin Earning a Sizable Income from home; simply promote the coffee.
You could dramatically improve your lifestyle and your love life…

Actually, I guess Magic Power Coffee is less like Viagra Meets Starbucks, and more like Viagra Meets Folger’s Mrs. Olsen at an Amway Rally.  But hey, the Sexpresso huts are cleaning up in the Pacific Northwest, so maybe aphrodisiac instant coffee will be the next big thing.  Something’s got to perk up those aging baby boomers!

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  HAVE YOU TRIED MAGIC POWER COFFEE?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

Images:  Franbest.com, Magic Power Coffee

Post from: Franchise Pick

New Educational Franchise: Creative Tutors

Creative Tutors franchisees operate a home-based educational tutoring business serving students from grades PK-12. Creative Tutors franchisees enjoy training and support systems and an Internet-based reporting and accounting system that enables them to concentrate on marketing their services and building their businesses in their protected territories.

Top New Franchises had a chance to learn more from Creative Tutors founder Jan Van Blarcum.

Learn more at our Creative Tutors franchise listing. Share a comment on the Creative Tutors FanWall.

Read the entire interview:  Creative Tutors, Jan Van Blarcum

Top New Franchises: How do you describe the Creative Tutors franchise concept?

Jan: Creative Tutors franchise is designed to be an opportunity that’s both personally and financially rewarding for professional educators who desire their own businesses. Purchasing a Creative Tutors franchise will gives franchisees all the advantages of owning a home-based business, while allowing them to avoid the initial conception and inevitable learning curve associated with beginning from scratch.

Top New Franchises: What is the need in the marketplace that Creative Tutors franchise owners will meet?

Jan: Creative Tutors provides expert, one-on-one assistance tailored to the specific needs of each child. Our highly trained educators evaluate each student’s individual learning style and develop a customized program pinpointing the skills that require extra attention.

In order to develop a personalized learning plan for the child, our staff discusses concerns with parents, the students and, often, with the student’s teachers. Once a plan is in place, our tutors continually monitor student progress and make any changes necessary.

This customized approach combined with individualized attention allows children to experience less adjustment time and makes their sessions much more productive. Results are quickly realized. Children reach their potential and develop a love for learning that will last a lifetime.

Top New Franchises: What are the qualifications of your tutors?

Jan: Our expert tutors are certified to teach all subject areas – including mathematics, language arts, foreign languages, social studies, science, and history – for grades PK-12. Parents feel confident, as their child is working with a professional, licensed educator. In fact, many of our tutors have received Teacher of the Year and Presidential Awards; hold master’s degrees; and possess highly specialized training in education and child development.

Learn more about iPreserve and the iPreserve franchise opportunity at Top New Franchises:
Interview with iPreserve Founder Matt Bills: iPreserve, Matt Bills
iPreserve franchise investment: iPreserve
iPreserve comments & testimonials: iPreserve FanWall
Also read: Interview With iPreserve CEO Matt Bills
WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

Image:  iPreserve

Our Top New Franchises program is designed to identify, investigate and spread the word about innovative and promising new franchise opportunities. If you know of a top new franchise you’d like to see featured, email us at info[at]topnewfranchises.com.

Post from: Franchise Pick

OXI FRESH Franchise on The Economic Report

The Economic Report, featured on CNN Headline News with Greg Gumbel, recently featured Oxi Fresh and Oxi Fresh President Jonathan Barnett in their segment on Unique Franchise Opportunities of the 21st Century. The segment highlighted Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning® for being a green and environmentally friendly company.

Read more about the Oxi Fresh carpet cleaning franchise at FranBest.com, the franchise information site.

Post from: Franchise Pick

New Franchise: iPreserve Digital Imaging

According to iPreserve CEO Matt Bills, the average home has something like 4500 precious but aging &  fading print photographs that could be preserved and stored.  It has miles of family movie film and videotape in a wide range of outdated analog formats.

The average office has years worth of accumulated documents, photos, videos and files that could be compactly stored and efficiently organized by converting them from mountains of paper to digital files.

So what has prevented American families and businesses from preserving their priceless documents and uncluttering their livesthrough the use of today’s digital technology?  Three things stand out:  Time.  Equipment.  And expertise.

Meeting the needs of this massive market is what the iPreserve digital imaging franchise is all about.  According

to CEO Matt Bills in an interview with Top New Franchises, “iPreserve is a franchise that focuses on saving memories and simplifying life. iPreserve franchisees provide on-site conversion of physical media–photos, documents, videos, slides, film, etc. to a digital file.   iPreserve caters to both residential and business customers.  Once we have digitized the media, we can assist in recommending tools for organizing, sharing, and enjoying those memories.”

While iPreserve franchise owners have the option of opening a storefront business (such as the one pictured above), the business can be home-based as much of the scanning other tasks are performed at the clients’ locations.  iPreserve franchise owners offer their customers a variety of ways they can work together depending on whether they want to tackle imaging as a one-time or an ongoing process.  Customers have the option of paying upfront or contracting on a subscription basis.

Learn more about iPreserve and the iPreserve franchise opportunity at Top New Franchises:
Interview with iPreserve Founder Matt Bills: iPreserve, Matt Bills
iPreserve franchise investment: iPreserve
iPreserve comments & testimonials: iPreserve FanWall
Also read: Interview With iPreserve CEO Matt Bills
WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

Image:  iPreserve

Our Top New Franchises program is designed to identify, investigate and spread the word about innovative and promising new franchise opportunities. If you know of a top new franchise you’d like to see featured, email us at info[at]topnewfranchises.com.

Post from: Franchise Pick

Interview With iPreserve CEO Matt Bills

Our Top New Franchises program is designed to identify, investigate and spread the word about innovative and promising new franchise opportunities.  If you know of a top new franchise you’d like to see featured, email us at info[at]topnewfranchises.com.

*  *  *  *  *

The unique iPreserve franchise opportunity was “discovered” by the franchise investment, consulting and development firm Franchise Foundry.  The iPreserve franchise is a digital imaging and storage franchise that is truly unique in the industry.

In an exclusive interview with Top New Franchises, iPreserve Founder & VP of Franchise Support Matt Bills explains both the iPreserve service and the iPreserve franchise opportunity.  (Also visit:  iPreserve

Top New Franchises: How do you describe the iPreserve franchise concept?

iPreserve CEO Matt Bills

Matt: iPreserve is a franchise that focuses on saving memories and simplifying life. iPreserve franchisees provide on-site conversion of physical media–photos, documents, videos, slides, film, etc. to a digital file.   iPreserve caters to both residential and business customers.  Once we have digitized the media, we can assist in recommending tools for organizing, sharing, and enjoying those memories.

Top New Franchises: Do franchisees work from home or do they operate a retail storefront?

Matt: Franchisees have the option to do either, and we help them decide based on what’s best for their local market and their personal preference.  We encourage franchise owners to keep their overhead as low as possible, so many choose to operate from home offices or other inexpensive space.  Others have locations where the marketing benefits and visibility of a storefront more than offset the costs of having a retail space.  iPreserve concept is both flexible and scalable, allowing the franchisee to choose.

Top New Franchises: When did you launch the your franchise program? How many franchises are up and running? Is the chain growing?

Matt: Yes, growing quickly. We just recently launched the franchise program and the response has been great.  We have franchise locations in Princeton, New Jersey, Twin Falls, Pocatello, and Boise, Idaho and Salt Lake City, Utah.  We’re developing company-owned locations in Salt Lake City, Provo and Southern, Utah and Arizona.

Top New Franchises: Where are you looking to expand? What types of markets and demographics work best?

Matt: We’re looking to expand in places that contain a strong suburban population.  Our largest market is residential, with businesses a close second.  Demographically, suburban households are the greatest market opportunity since they are constantly creating media and making memories, with continuously shrinking time to digitize and/or manage it all.  The nice part about iPreserve is that franchisees have the flexibility to market to both consumers as well as businesses.  With businesses, they will be doing mostly document scanning, and with consumers, they will be digitizing almost every type of media, from video to slides, negatives, photos, and film.  (Continue reading…)

Read the rest of the Interview here: iPreserve, Matt Bills

Read iPreserve franchise investment & contact: iPreserve Franchise

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE iPRESERVE FRANCHISE PROGRAM?  WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Image:  iPreserve

Post from: Franchise Pick

Interview With iPreserve CEO Matt Bills

Our Top New Franchises program is designed to identify, investigate and spread the word about innovative and promising new franchise opportunities.  If you know of a top new franchise you’d like to see featured, email us at info[at]topnewfranchises.com.

*  *  *  *  *

The unique iPreserve franchise opportunity was “discovered” by the franchise investment, consulting and development firm Franchise Foundry.  The iPreserve franchise is a digital imaging and storage franchise that is truly unique in the industry.

In an exclusive interview with Top New Franchises, iPreserve Founder & VP of Franchise Support Matt Bills explains both the iPreserve service and the iPreserve franchise opportunity.  (Also visit:  iPreserve

Top New Franchises: How do you describe the iPreserve franchise concept?

iPreserve CEO Matt Bills

Matt: iPreserve is a franchise that focuses on saving memories and simplifying life. iPreserve franchisees provide on-site conversion of physical media–photos, documents, videos, slides, film, etc. to a digital file.   iPreserve caters to both residential and business customers.  Once we have digitized the media, we can assist in recommending tools for organizing, sharing, and enjoying those memories.

Top New Franchises: Do franchisees work from home or do they operate a retail storefront?

Matt: Franchisees have the option to do either, and we help them decide based on what’s best for their local market and their personal preference.  We encourage franchise owners to keep their overhead as low as possible, so many choose to operate from home offices or other inexpensive space.  Others have locations where the marketing benefits and visibility of a storefront more than offset the costs of having a retail space.  iPreserve concept is both flexible and scalable, allowing the franchisee to choose.

Top New Franchises: When did you launch the your franchise program? How many franchises are up and running? Is the chain growing?

Matt: Yes, growing quickly. We just recently launched the franchise program and the response has been great.  We have franchise locations in Princeton, New Jersey, Twin Falls, Pocatello, and Boise, Idaho and Salt Lake City, Utah.  We’re developing company-owned locations in Salt Lake City, Provo and Southern, Utah and Arizona.

Top New Franchises: Where are you looking to expand? What types of markets and demographics work best?

Matt: We’re looking to expand in places that contain a strong suburban population.  Our largest market is residential, with businesses a close second.  Demographically, suburban households are the greatest market opportunity since they are constantly creating media and making memories, with continuously shrinking time to digitize and/or manage it all.  The nice part about iPreserve is that franchisees have the flexibility to market to both consumers as well as businesses.  With businesses, they will be doing mostly document scanning, and with consumers, they will be digitizing almost every type of media, from video to slides, negatives, photos, and film.  (Continue reading…)

Read the rest of the Interview here: iPreserve, Matt Bills

Read iPreserve franchise investment & contact: iPreserve Franchise

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE iPRESERVE FRANCHISE PROGRAM?  WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Image:  iPreserve

Post from: Franchise Pick

COLD STONE CREAMERY Franchise Encroachment?

The test that launched 100 co-branded locations may have put one Cold Stone Creamery franchisee out of business.

Last February, Cold Stone Creamery announced that they had concluded a successful test co-branding two stores with Tim Horton’s, Canada’s largest coffee and doughnut chain.

The results of the two Rhode Island test stores were so impressive that Cold Stone Creamery and Tim Horton’s were initiating a 100-store co-brand expansion nationwide.

However, not everyone was pleased with the co-branding test or initiative.  According to a post on Unhappy Franchisee, (COLD STONE CREAMERY: Bitter Franchisee Alleges Encroachment) an established Cold Stone Creamery franchisee in Providence, Rhode Island blames the recent failure of her previously successful franchise on encroachment from one of the initial Cold Stone Creamery – Tim Horton’s co-branded locations.

“I am bitter…” franchisee Kristina Gedutis reportedly said. “It wasn’t really fair.”

Read why Kristina & Craig believe Cold Stone Creamery cannibalized their sales and destroyed their business here:

COLD STONE CREAMERY: Bitter Franchisee Alleges Encroachment

Franchise tip: Encroachment is one of the most often litigated complaints by franchisees.  Before you sign a franchise agreement, be sure you understand whether you have an exclusive territory and where that territory begins and ends.  If you don’t have it in writing, you may find yourself competing with another franchisee or company-owned location.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

Photo:  A closed Cold Stone Creamery franchise location, Lancaster, PA (FranBest Photo library)

Post from: Franchise Pick

Do CURVES Franchisees Struggle Alone?

The most oft-repeated cliche in franchise marketing materials is that when you buy a franchise you are in business FOR yourself, but not BY yourself.  And that is the way it should be.

Two important ways franchisees expect their franchisors to be there for them are:

1) that the franchisor will police the franchise system to ensure that the systemwide brand image is being upheld by their fellow franchisees, and

2) that the franchisor will be concerned for their success and will lend extra assistance to struggling or failing franchises.

An Unhappy Franchisee post today, titled CURVES: In Oregon, Curves Franchises Die Alone, tells of a financially troubled Oregon franchisee couple whose house has been foreclosed upon and whose three clubs are exhibiting serious warning signs, including erratic hours, operational problems and numerous member complaints.

In a local newspaper story on the Curves problems, the other Curves franchisees in the area express concern that the struggling clubs could damage the reputation of their businesses.  Some of the allegations are serious, including overbilling members and having a “hostile” environment.

Read the reaction of Curves spokeswoman Becky Thrusher on CURVES: In Oregon, Curves Franchises Die Alone.  Is it me, or does this franchisor seem content to let these infractions go unaddressed, to let this franchisee’s clubs fail without intervention or help, and to only get involved after they are “notified” that the clubs have closed?

Am I alone in my worry that, in this case, Curves franchisees are in business BY themselves?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

Image:  Franbest.com

Post from: Franchise Pick

Next Page »