Franchises Look To Veterans To Fill Ranks

Franchises look to veterans to fill ranks

By DARRELL SMITH
November 29, 2006

Stanley White could very well be the poster child of the military veteran-turned-franchise owner.

After a six-year U.S. Army stint in the mid-1990s, White became a highly successful insurance salesman, hitting a six-figure income by the time he was 30.

The Sunlink.com
By 2005, however, he was restless. His long commute, the hours missed as a husband and father to two growing boys and the desire to 'do my own thing' - all nagged at him.

'I wanted to run my own business,' White said. 'I wanted to do a 180, go crazy and jump off the cliff all the way.'

That kind of abandon took some careful planning. In August, after more than a year of research, he dove into small-business ownership, opening his own Cartridge World outlet, an ink-cartridge refill company tucked into a small shopping center.

White, 35, is among the growing force of military veterans who've plunged into the world of franchise ownership, thanks in part to the franchise industry's nationwide push to recruit more vets.

Franchise opportunities in the pharmacy business

The consolidation of the drugstore industry pushed hundreds of independent pharmacies out of business during the last 20 years.

Unable to fight off bigger competitors, many pharmacists running neighborhood shops closed their businesses or sold their prescription files to one chain or another.

But some independent pharmacists continued on, competing against the big chains just as business owners do in other retail sectors.

The independents dispense 1.6 billion prescriptions annually, about 42 percent of all prescriptions, according to the National Community Pharmacists Associations in Alexandria, Va.

But independent-minded people in some retail sectors _ such as the restaurant, automotive and hotel industries _ have an alternative to going it alone that hasn't always been a viable option for pharmacists: franchising.

Franchise networks give otherwise independent businesses the power of volume. They can buy inventory in bulk, combine back-office functions and share advertising costs.

If you want to run a coffee shop, you can open a Dunkin' Donuts or a Honey Dew Donuts franchise.

Like getting your hands greasy? You can open an AAMCO Transmissions garage.

You're a fitness nut? Try Curves, to round up customers.

Like animals? You can be best friend to man's best friend by owning a Pet Butler
http://www.rocklintoday.com/news/templates/business_news.asp?articleid=4173&zoneid=3

IHOP hits Waikiki starting June 13

IHOP hits Waikiki starting June 13
Another IHOP planned for Windward Mall faces delays
By Alyssa S. Navares
anavares@starbulletin.com

Oahu residents craving IHOP pancakes will soon be indulged with the opening of the first IHOP in Waikiki. The restaurant is scheduled to open June 13 in the Ohana Waikiki Malia Hotel on Kuhio Avenue.

"I'm glad to be a part of such a strong demand for pancakes," franchise holder Vince Espino said.

Espino and his wife, Sarah, who is president of Hawaii-based Union MAK Corp., moved from San Francisco to open the new Waikiki IHOP. Although restaurant hours have not been determined, 24-hour operation is a possibility.

"I love pancakes so much that I sometimes have pancake get-togethers at my house," local resident Michael Sakaba said. "Now my friends and I will have a new place to eat pancakes."

The Waikiki IHOP may be the only franchise to open on Oahu this year, IHOP spokesman Don Miller said.

Plans submitted for an IHOP at Windward Mall failed to meet several federal and state regulations, and the restaurant's opening has been delayed.

According to franchisee Rennie West, no contractor has been hired for the Windward Mall IHOP yet, but the blueprints have been drawn. West, who also owns the IHOP in Kahului, Maui, applied for a building permit last July.

Once West submits plans with the necessary agency approvals to the city, a building permit can be issued that day, said Honolulu building division chief Timothy Hue.

"It really is not typical for a store to take this long to open," said Windward Mall marketing manager Sherri Coronas.

Many people stop by or call Windward Mall's management office with questions about IHOP's status. Coronas said she tells them that the project has been "put on hold."

Working across from the IHOP site, Local Motion employee Mallory Tavares is often asked the same question.

"It's been pretty frustrating, especially since I have no idea when they will open," Tavares said. "I don't think anyone knows, not even the owner."

http://starbulletin.com/2006/06/03/business/story01.html

halal subs

Chron.com | Fast-food chains tap halal market
ISELIN, N.J. - There's just one place in North America where an observant Muslim can follow Jared's diet — the two-sandwich-a-day plan that helped Subway pitchman Jared Fogel lose 245 pounds.

The Subway restaurant that adheres to Islamic restrictions is off Route 27 here, and it is indiscernible from other Subways, except for a neon green sign in the window spelling out 'Halal,' the Islamic equivalent of kosher.

In the two years that she has served halal food at her Subway, Ruhila Khan has built a following from all over the area. The success can be seen in the Sales Volume awards on the wall behind the register.

'I don't have enough space to hang up all of them,' Khan said, smiling. 'I did something for Allah, and he has blessed us.'

Makes business sense
follow link to article above

Cereality On The Move

Cereality Cereal Bar & Cafe(R) Partners With Dodge to Drive Cereal Sales:

Dodge Sprinter Vans Upfitted as Cereal Cafes on Wheels Creating Innovative Franchising and Promotional Opportunities

CHICAGO, May 15 -- Cereality Cereal Bar & Cafe(R) today announced that it has teamed up with Dodge to create a unique mobile format for bringing their 'All cereal. All day. All ways.(TM)' promise to customers everywhere; it's also a unique opportunity for the company's prospective franchisees.



With the introduction of the new 'Cereality Sprinter,' a fully outfitted Cereality Cereal Bar and Cafe on wheels, cereal lovers everywhere can get their favorite hot or cold cereal combinations, distinctive cereal-based bakery and snack items, hot and cold beverages and other standard cafe menu offerings in an even more convenient fashion.

'We wanted to create a cereal-based version of the much-loved neighborhood ice cream truck, where we could take our 'Always Saturday Morning(TM)' experience right to our customers where they live, work and play at any time of day or night-showing up at special events, schools, office parks and sporting venues,' said David Roth, Cereality's CEO. 'And from a business perspective, the fully customized Dodge Sprinter van is also a quick and effective way for our prospective...
View article with link above.

Cereality

Article Link Hudson Star Observer
FRANCHISING -- Crunch time for your mouth
By CARYN ROUSSEAU
Published Monday, May 01, 2006

Usually when a trend gets the kind of buzz that Cereality restaurants received two years ago, the idea explodes and it's just a matter of months before it becomes an also-mentioned on one of VH1's string of 'remember when' shows.

But not Cereality, thanks to shrewd co-founders David Roth and Rick Bacher, who have refined their business plan in the three years since the opening of their first restaurants -- kitsch storefronts that serve custom combos of 30 cereals and 40 toppings. Now they're ready for their next move. Coming later this year: franchises.

'What you're going to see from this point forward is a limited number of big company-owned stores in certain cities,' Roth said last week, sitting in his Chicago financial district store amid the din of the breakfast rush. 'Then the whole country blanketed with Cerealities. We'll be in malls. We'll be in airports. We'll be in downtown urban corridors and big in the suburbs.'

With more than 6,000 franchise requests since the first shop opened at Arizona State University, Cereality won't be hurting to fill the demand, Roth said. Interest has come from every state, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Follow link to article above

IHOP

IHOP's Profit Surges on Franchise Revenue - Los Angeles Times:
From the Associated Press
April 27, 2006

IHOP Corp., which owns and franchises IHOP restaurants, said its first-quarter profit rose 25%, aided by higher franchise revenue, lower restaurant expenses and other costs.

Results breezed past analyst estimates, sending shares of the Glendale-based company up 80 cents to $47.10.

For the quarter ended March 31, IHOP reported net income of $12.6 million, or 68 cents a share, compared with $10.1 million, or 50 cents, a year earlier. Revenue rose 3.1% to $88.5 million.

Wall Street had forecast a profit of 54 cents a share on sales of $88.2 million, according to Thomson Financial.

Sales in restaurants open at least one year, a closely watched performance gauge called same-store sales, rose 5.1%.

IHOP credited the profit rise to improvement in franchise operations, driven by higher same-store sales. It also attributed the quarter's results to reduced general and administrative expenses and a lower number of outstanding shares after share buybacks.

The company forecast 2006 earnings of $2.25 to $2.35 a share, including stock option and other expenses. Analysts' consensus view for the year is $2.37 a share.

follow link above for the full article.