DailyFranchiseNews.com

Happy Birthday Spring-Green Lawn Care!!

I sure wish I wasn't old enough to remember this company in its earliest days, but alas, I AM!!!  This company was founded 35 years ago today by a wonderful man named Rick Gretz.  Like all of us in franchising he struggled to build a substantial business. In 1987 Tom Hofer, a successful franchisee in the system came aboard as CEO.  The characters of Rick and Tom permeate the whole company and its culture to this day.  Good people helping other good people run great franchises.  With the help of wonderful execs like Barry Matthews, James Young and Brad Rusin, not to mention the new leadership of Ted Hofer, Tom's son, this company has turned into one of the most quietly successful stories in franchising....Happy Birthday/Anniversary you guys!  

2012 off to a good start for Franchising

After a slow 2 weeks during the holidays we watched as many franchisors declared 2012 is starting off for them so much better than last year at the same time. Great news. Franchising and this blogger have weathered many recessions in the past 30 years but none quite as decimating as this one. Once the housing market is hurting we all are! Just returned from Pillar To Post convention and CertaPro Painters 2 weeks ago and there was lots of joy all around. Awesome, hard working, middle class franchisees all and they seem to have a much more down to earth and less stressful attitude and existence.

Gotta Love It!!!

Just when I was afraid to go back in the kitchen ala Jaws, I see this fabulous post: http://www.thegoodstuffguide.com/organizing-2011-meet-shelfgenie/ and say, 'hey maybe I can redo this kitchen' AND actually find a place for everything once it’s done.  I had vowed to knock out a wall but then, where to put all the excess stuff that was in the cabinets on THAT WALL?

Well, if you are this organized it’s no worry.  Also a great franchise opportunity - Shelf-Genie is rocking it all over the country.  They currently have more than 100 locations and expect to grow to 150 to 175 franchises by the end of 2011.

First Watch restaurant chain plans expansion

 

First Watch is growing far beyond its Florida roots. Last week Nation’s Restaurant News reported on the chain’s nationwide expansion plans including recently inked deals for Nashville and Milwaukee.

The country’s largest and fastest-growing, privately owned, daytime-only restaurant company in the United States plans to grow to 115 restaurants, with about a dozen franchised locations open and more than 30 in various stages of development by the end of 2012. 

The chain of casual eateries, known best for inspiring menu items such as carrot cake pancakes and the signature, Crepeggs, has enjoyed positive same-store sales growth for 25 consecutive years. Total sales were $83 million in 2009 and $89 million in 2010. Average unit volume is approximately $1.2 million per year.

While annual sales for First Watch have continued to grow despite the recession, other concepts have been hit hard by a decline in the lunch daypart. Packaged Facts said that after a 4% decline in 2009 and another 3% decline in 2010, lunch daypart sales are set to pick up in 2011 which bodes well for the continued success of First Watch.

Businesses Turn To LED Lighting

 

Businesses all over the country are opting to install LED lighting in their establishments in an effort to "go green." As a result, Wellington, Fla. based-LED Source, a national and international supplier of LED lighting that specializes in full-scale evaluations and retrofits, is at the top of its game! Bedonna Flesher, owner of Nature’s Table also in Wellington, consulted with LED Source after her employees were complaining about the excessive heat from the halogen bulbs in her café.  Ultimately, she decided to replace 60 percent of the halogen bulbs in her business with LED lights.

According to AMEX OPEN Forum, LED lights are 300 percent more efficient than compact fluorescent bulbs and 1,000 percent more efficient than incandescent bulbs. LEDs also last an
average of 60,000 hours and use 90 percent less energy. This means business is booming in the LED industry.

LED Source has opened three franchises and has over 20 in various stages of development.  President and CEO Marcel Fairbairn explains, “LEDs are one of the very few things that you can buy that makes a huge difference and makes you money. If the entire world would convert to LED, the number of power plants and nuclear plants needed would be substantially reduced.” 

 According to AMEX OPEN Forum, LED lights are 300 percent more efficient than compact fluorescent bulbs and 1,000 percent more efficient than incandescent bulbs. LEDs also last an average of 60,000 hours and use 90 percent less energy. This means business is booming in the LED industry.

LED Source has opened three franchises and has over 20 in various stages of development.  President and CEO Marcel Fairbairn explains, “LEDs are one of the very few things that you can buy that makes a huge difference and makes you money. If the entire world would convert to LED, the number of power plants and nuclear plants needed would be substantially reduced.”