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MEMPHIS, TN – BUSINESS WIRE

Depending on where you live, it may or may not feel quite like springtime yet, but after a long winter spent indoors, it’s definitely the right time to start freshening up your living space with a good spring cleaning. Not only are you sure to enjoy a clean, uncluttered home, but there’s a good chance you may even enjoy some mental health benefits, too.

According to a recent survey from Merry Maids, one of the nation’s largest home cleaning services and a ServiceMaster (NYSE: SERV) company, more than three-quarters of Americans say they feel stressed when their home is messy.

To make it even easier to get started – and make a clean sweep – here are four smart spring cleaning tips from the experts at Merry Maids:

1. Make sure you have the right tools. If your idea of cleaning involves paper towels, a broom and an old-school mop and bucket, you’re in for a very long, unproductive spring cleaning. Merry Maids’ simple rule of thumb to remove dust or dirt: If it’s not microfiber (or a vacuum where it makes sense), you’re going to leave a lot of dirt and debris behind. Microfiber is affordable, machine washable, available online in bulk and can likely be at your doorstep in days…just in time for spring cleaning.

2. Create your own cleaning solutions. Use elbow grease sparingly. There are easy, homemade solutions that will help loosen grease and grime, so when it’s time to apply some manpower to cleaning, it’s more of a gentle wiping vs. intense scrubbing. For example, lemon can be used to clean your microwave, baking soda and vinegar can remove residue from glass stovetops and bleach can rid shower curtains of mildew.

3. Involve the family, and make it fun. There are many different and fun ways to bring the entire family in on spring cleaning, and make it worth their while. Assign each person a task you know they’ll put their all into. Whether it’s organizing, vacuuming or cleaning the baseboards, make it fun. You can turn it into a game, create a music playlist that you can sing and dance to while cleaning, or reward the family with a fun outing once it’s complete.

4. Treat yourself. If you’ve been cooped up all winter and can’t imagine spending a second more indoors looking at dirty baseboards and dust bunnies, call the professionals and let the local Merry Maids cleaning experts take this task off your to-do list. Merry Maids’ cleaning specialists create home cleaning plans customized for each household’s needs to ensure a consistent, reliable and thorough cleaning every time.

To find the nearest Merry Maids location or receive an online quote, visit merrymaids.com.

WALLINGFORD, CT – PRNewswire

Looking to spread goodness and maternal cheer by making “Deliveries for Deliveries” this Mother’s Day, Edible Arrangements^® (Edible^®) will be delivering signature fruit arrangements to new moms in New York City and Connecticut hospitals in early May, kicking off a nationwide Mother’s Day celebration.

Media outlets are invited to join and record Edible’s^® deliveries on May 1 at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City and on May 2 at two Yale New Haven Hospital locations (20 York St. and at their Saint Raphael Campus, 1450 Chapel St.) in New Haven, Conn. Video footage will be provided to those who are unable to join the live-action deliveries of Edible’s^® hand-crafted and locally made arrangements featuring fresh fruit and real chocolate.

Mother’s Day is routinely the busiest weekend of the year for the world’s largest franchisor of creatively designed fresh cut fruit arrangements and fresh fruit treats as children, husbands and more look to show appreciation for that one person who does so much for them every day: mom. This year, the fresh fruit experts expect to deliver more than:

• 179,000 strawberries
• 13,500 pounds of grapes
• 41,000 pieces of pineapple
• 50,000 pounds of chocolate

“Mother’s Day is an opportunity for us to celebrate the women in our lives who deserve so much for the joy and comfort they bring,” says founder and CEO Tariq Farid, whose mother was the first to support Farid’s entrepreneurial idea to launch Edible Arrangements^® as a business. When business consultants were telling him the idea of selling fresh fruit arrangements would never work, it was his mother who encouraged him to go for it. Today there are more than 1,300 franchise locations open or under development worldwide.

“Mother’s Day always brings back memories of everything my mom meant to me, and we are happy to be able to help others celebrate the goodness of their mothers not only on Mother’s Day but every day of the year,” Farid added.

Whitefish, MT  – RestaurantNews.com

Due to popularity and strong demand, a 406 Summer Fare limited time only menu will be in all MacKenzie River locations this summer May 21, 2018 through the end of August 2018.

In sticking with MacKenzie River’s heritage, the 406 Summer Fare menu offers guests the opportunity to experience some of Montana’s unique local favorites. Menu items include a huckleberry salad, smoked trout dip, bison chili, big sky bison burger, going-to-the-sun flatbread, great northern pie, huckleberry cheesecake, Doc Holliday and unique huckleberry drinks.

“We consider our customers the ‘culinary curious’ – they are enthusiastic foodies with adventurous palates and a craving for something new – yet they also want flavors that are approachable and appealing,” said Brian Lind, director of culinary innovation for MacKenzie River. “Our team has found a way to incorporate a few of the Montana treasures into our summer LTO menu, while also ensuring the traditional favorites that we are known for remain.”

In addition, MacKenzie River will be donating $4.06 for every “I’m Your Huckleberry” wearable sold in store and via the website to the official non-profit fundraising partners of Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park. “We are lucky to have these national treasures in our state as their majesty and beauty inspire us each and every day,” said Ryan Fuller Chief Operating Officer of Glacier Restaurant Group.

The MacKenzie River concept delights diners with its innovative menu with mouth-watering food choices, creative specialty cocktails and diverse beer selection. From parents with kids, to senior citizens and everyone in between, guests can always have it all at MacKenzie River. The casual rustic atmosphere is achieved with refurbished hand-crafted felled lumber furnishings, antique outdoor sportsman finishes, and photographs that depict the heart and soul of the Rocky Mountains.

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA – Students studying franchising at Palm Beach Atlantic University will have the opportunity to enter the Kobel Franchise Challenge to compete for up to $300,000 to be used to acquire a franchise, according to Dr. John P. Hayes, director of Titus Center for Franchising at the University.

Ed Kobel, president and chief operating officer of Tampa-based DeBartolo Development, said that the gift to establish the competition has three goals:

1. to advance the Kingdom of Jesus Christ by sharing the gospel message with franchise employees, vendors and customers;
2. to generate profits to sustain the franchise and nurture its employees; and
3. to contribute financially to Palm Beach Atlantic University in support of the Titus Center for Franchising.

“To my knowledge, this is a unique competition for students studying through the Titus Center” Hayes said. “Most of our students say they want to buy a franchise but many are concerned about how to raise the investment money. The Kobel Franchise Challenge will be the answer for one or more students.”

“The University is grateful for the visionary leadership and free enterprise commitment of the Kobel Family Foundation in establishing this franchise challenge to offer an incomparable opportunity for students studying the dynamic business sector known as franchising,” PBA President William M. B. Fleming, Jr. said. “Franchising is growing nationally and internationally. Students who meet the Kobel Franchise Challenge will be perfectly positioned for success.”

Hayes said that details concerning the Kobel Franchise Challenge will be released in the fall with the competition set to begin in 2019. Watch a short video of Ed Kobel introducing the franchise challenge here.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – PRNewswire

On Tuesday, May 8, 2018 between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., ice cream fans across the U.S. can make their day a little more extraordinary by visiting participating Häagen-Dazs^® Shops locations to indulge in one free scoop of ice cream in a sugar cone, cake cone or cup. Since this year marks the 10^th anniversary of the brand’s honey bee support, Häagen-Dazs is dedicating Free Cone Day to the hard-working bees by asking consumers to support the buzz by enjoying a free scoop, learning more about the bees’ needs and offering their support to the cause.

One-third of Häagen-Dazs ice cream flavors rely on pollinators, but bees are disappearing at an alarming rate and need help. Over the past 10 years, Häagen-Dazs has supported honey bee research and education by donating more than $1 million and working with ingredient suppliers, the Xerces Society and agronomists to create bee-friendly environments on farms where some of the brand’s most essential ice cream ingredients are grown – such as almonds and strawberries. To date, more than 11,000 plants have been planted, impacting 840 acres of farmland. The brand is also working toward the Bee Better Certification for products using these ingredients by helping farms create pollinator habitats and eliminate harmful pesticides.

“Free Cone Day is an opportunity to say thank you to our loyal fans, and we want to continue to recognize the pollinators that make our ice cream possible,” said Adam Hanson, The Häagen-Dazs Shoppe Company, Inc. President and General Manager. “Last year, we shared information about why the bees need our help and how everyone can play a role, which received great feedback from our customers. With this year marking the 10^th anniversary of the brand’s honey bee support, we wanted to build on that information and encourage everyone to band together for this important cause.”

Thanks to The Extraordinary Honey Bee, a new, award-winning immersive VR experience created by Häagen-Dazs, consumers can view the world through a bee’s perspective, learning more about the plight of the honey bee and simple steps that can help these vital pollinators thrive. On Free Cone Day, consumers in a few select Shop locations will have the opportunity to experience the video using VR technology.

This Free Cone Day, consumers can support the buzz by:

• Visiting a Häagen-Dazs Shops location to try one of the many bee dependent ice cream flavors
• Learning more through The Extraordinary Honey Bee VR experience and spreading the word
• Donating to the Xerces Society to help reach a goal of planting 1 million acres of habitat for bees: www.xerces.org/hd

For more information about Häagen-Dazs Shops’ Free Cone Day and to find out which local Häagen-Dazs Shops are participating, please check the Shop Finder at www.haagendazs.us/freeconeday.

The Häagen-Dazs Shoppe Company is always seeking new franchise owners with a passion for Häagen-Dazs super-premium ice cream to open shops in premier locations. To learn more about Häagen-Dazs Shops or how to open a franchise, please visit the www.haagendazsshoppecompany.com.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – PRNewswire

Smoothie King, the leading smoothie brand committed to inspiring guests to live a healthy and active lifestyle with more than 900 locations worldwide, has collaborated with the American Cancer Society to create the Daily Warrior, a great-tasting, high-calorie smoothie that is designed to help people who face challenges meeting their daily caloric and nutritional needs. The Daily Warrior smoothie is blended with fruits and vegetables as well as protein, fiber, calcium, iron and potassium to help those individuals power through their day.

Smoothie King food scientists, with input from American Cancer Society nutritionists, developed a great-tasting smoothie to deliver a high level of calories and important nutrients for overall health. The Daily Warrior smoothie, when added to an individual’s diet, helps support those caloric goals. American Cancer Society nutritional guidelines call for a healthy diet with an emphasis on fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

“The Daily Warrior is one of our ‘Smoothies With A Purpose,’ conveniently and deliciously helping deliver important nutrients for overall health, including protein, fiber, calcium, iron and potassium, but with a higher caloric value, which makes it a great addition to a diet for people who struggle to maintain or increase their weight regardless of the reason,” said Mitchell Grittman, food scientist for Smoothie King. “It goes back to the company’s mission since 1973, when our founder experimented with different blends of real fruit and nutrients to help others support their health goals in a delicious way. We continue to inspire people to lead healthy and active lifestyles through our purpose blends and Cleaner Blending initiative.”

The 20-ounce, 660-calorie smoothie is made with bananas, wild blueberries, dates, peanut butter, organic spinach, almonds, blueberry juice blend and stevia plant-based sweetener. It has 31 grams of fat, 15 grams of fiber, 16 grams of protein and, true to Smoothie King’s Cleaner Blending initiative, has no added sugar, trans fat, high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils or gluten.

“The American Cancer Society attacks cancer from every angle, and this collaboration is an innovative, hands-on way to meet the needs of our most important audience – those facing cancer directly,” said American Cancer Society Chief Development and Marketing Officer Sharon Byers. “We’re also inspired by the Smoothie King backstory, because that same desire to help people led to the formation of ACS 105 years ago.”

For more information on the new smoothie, the Cleaner Blending initiative, and Smoothie King’s mission to inspire people to live healthy and active lifestyles, go to www.smoothieking.com.

LANCASTER, PA – PRNewswire

In honor of its 30^th birthday, Auntie Anne’s^®, the world’s largest hand-rolled soft pretzel franchise, has partnered with six artists to create a bold, graphic design-inspired line of clothing and accessories. The eclectic “For the Love of Pretzels” Collection is debuting just in time for National Pretzel Day on April 26.

All profits from the “For the Love of Pretzels” Collection will be donated to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), Auntie Anne’s national charitable partner. ALSF’s mission is to change the lives of children with cancer through funding impactful research, raising awareness, supporting families, and empowering everyone to help cure childhood cancer. Since establishing a partnership with ALSF in September 2011, Auntie Anne’s has raised more than $3.7 million to fund childhood cancer research.

“Over the last 30 years, we’ve established deep connections with our loyal fans worldwide,” said Heather Neary, president of Auntie Anne’s. “Now, for the first time, those fans can showcase their love for Auntie Anne’s by wearing our clothing while also contributing to the fight against childhood cancer. This is going to be a ton of fun for a great cause.”

Fans can visit auntieannes.threadless.com to purchase items from the “For the Love of Pretzels” Collection. The e-store is hosted by Threadless, an online creative community helping art unknowns become art totally-knowns. The collection features men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing, as well as shoes from Bucketfeet and a variety of lifestyle accessories including phone cases, water bottles, mugs, shower and bath gear, and more. The “For the Love of Pretzels” Collection starts at $13.

Auntie Anne’s teamed up with the following designers to create the “For the Love of Pretzels” Collection:

• Mike Perry Studio: Mike created the hand-painted “Auntie Packs” (fanny packs) which are only available via social media giveaway. Mike is an illustrator in Brooklyn, N.Y.
• Huebucket: Bangkok-based Chalermphol Harnchakkham designed the collection of Pretzel Pug Yoga items. Chalermphol is a self-taught illustrator whose unique work is inspired by pugs, French bulldogs and his dreams.
• Rick Crane: Rick made the Pretzel Heaven products and is inspired by nature and minimalist designs.
• Daniel Allen Stevens: Daniel, a graphic designer and illustrator, produced the print for A Twisted Day.
• Luis Romero: Luis, creator of the Pretzels Forever design, is inspired by his childhood in Panama and his adulthood in Chicago.
• Shawnimals: Shawn designed the Pretzels for Everyone print and has also created a number of public art displays in his hometown of Chicago and around the world.

To add to the National Pretzel Day celebration, on April 26 Auntie Anne’s is distributing a special offer for My Pretzel Perks members: buy any variety of pretzel, get a free handmade classic pretzel. The offer will be available for members in the rewards section of the app and is valid from April 26 – April 29.

For the latest “For the Love of Pretzels” Collection news, including an opportunity to win one-of-a-kind hand-painted “Auntie Packs,” follow the brand on Twitter @AuntieAnnes, on Instagram @AuntieAnnesPretzels, and on Facebook at Facebook.com/AuntieAnnesPretzels. To get exclusive offers and information before anyone else, download the Auntie Anne’s My Pretzel Perks app.

CANTON, MA – PRNewswire

Dunkin’ Donuts today announced the appointment of Stephanie Meltzer-Paul as Vice President, Digital and Loyalty Marketing, Dunkin’ Donuts U.S. With more than 20 years of experience in customer loyalty and digital marketing, Ms. Meltzer-Paul will lead the further development of the brand’s DD Perks® loyalty platform, continue the expansion of On-the-Go Mobile Ordering, and further strengthen the brand’s strategic partnerships. She will report to Tony Weisman, Chief Marketing Officer, Dunkin’ Donuts U.S., and will officially join the company in early May.

Ms. Meltzer-Paul joins Dunkin’ Donuts after most recently serving as Vice President, Member Engagement and Loyalty at BJ’s Wholesale Club. In this role, she led a team responsible for developing and spearheading the marketing strategy for the My BJ’s Perks® Program and customer relationship management efforts. Meltzer-Paul also drove membership engagement and retention for the company, and leveraged data to improve conversion rates in-store and drive member visit frequency.

Previously, Meltzer-Paul was Senior Director of Global Loyalty Marketing for Starwood Hotels & Resorts where she transformed, rebranded and greatly increased membership in the Starwood Preferred Guest® program. She also served as Director of Marketing, Loyalty & Communications for American Express, leading a highly successful team responsible for increasing Card spend in the Company’s Blue rewards program. Earlier in her career, Ms. Meltzer-Paul was in marketing and customer acquisition for TIME Inc.

A native of New Jersey, Ms. Meltzer-Paul received her B.S. in Marketing from Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York. She is the recipient of numerous marketing industry awards including a prestigious Freddie Award for Best Hotel Loyalty Promotion.

According to Tony Weisman, Chief Marketing Officer, Dunkin’ Donuts U.S., “Stephanie is a talented business leader who has excelled at delivering exponential customer growth, retention and revenue generation through best-in-class marketing strategies, and we are thrilled to have her head up our digital and loyalty marketing efforts. This is a very exciting time in the evolution of the Dunkin’ Donuts brand, and we believe Stephanie is exactly the right person to help us further engage with our customers, including building on the strength of our DD Perks program, one of the fastest growing loyalty programs in the quick service restaurant industry.”

“I am excited to join Dunkin’ Donuts and look forward to leading the digital marketing and loyalty team,” said Meltzer Paul. “This is a brand renowned for its digital technology innovation, and I can’t wait to be part of the efforts to deepen our customer relationships and make Dunkin’ Donuts ever more convenient for guests.”

Dunkin’ Donuts has invested in new technologies and digital innovations in recent years to offer guests greater speed and convenience for ordering their favorite menu items. As of the end of 2017, with more than 18 million app downloads and over 8 million members in the DD Perks® Loyalty Program, the Dunkin’ Mobile App is one of the most successful and highest-rated merchant applications in the quick service restaurant industry.

For more information about Dunkin’ Donuts, please visit www.DunkinDonuts.com.

CARROLLTON, TX – PRNewswire

FASTSIGNS International, Inc., franchisor of FASTSIGNS^®, the leading sign, graphics and visual communications franchise, announced today its worldwide partnership with 1HUDDLE, a workforce training platform that converts unique training content into science-backed, quick-burst training games that are proven to accelerate workforce productivity. FASTSIGNS^® is known in the industry for equipping its franchises with focused and advanced training techniques, and is the first in its category to offer gamification as part of its support suite for franchisees.

“We are thrilled to partner with 1HUDDLE to offer franchisees a mobile training platform that will propel our mission to position them for success and grow their businesses,” said Mark Jameson, EVP of Franchise Support and Development, FASTSIGNS International, Inc. “FASTSIGNS’ training and support is unmatched in the industry and we know the 1HUDDLE platform will allow our franchisees to quickly onboard and train new employees in every aspect of their business — in a way that resonates with the growing workforce of millennials and Gen Z.”

FASTSIGNS’ 1HUDDLE content will be focused on the franchisor’s proprietary training program and customer relations, both in-center, via telephone, and online.

“Eighty-seven percent of what we learn in a live training or seminar, we forget within 30 days. And, currently, only 1 percent of training is done on mobile platforms,” said Sam Caucci, CEO and founder of 1HUDDLE. “Training employees shouldn’t be difficult and 1HUDDLE is designed to make it fast, fun, and, most importantly, effective. In just three minutes a day, 1HUDDLE’s mobile-based training games are proven to accelerate your workforce’s productivity and we are confident FASTSIGNS franchisees will love the ability to train their employees using a single platform that tracks ROI and allows them to easily create new training games to keep their teams excited and engaged.”

FASTSIGNS International, Inc. was ranked the #1 franchise opportunity in its category and 70 overall on Entrepreneur magazine’s 2018 Franchise 500^®, the world’s first, best and most comprehensive franchise ranking. Acknowledged by entrepreneurs and franchisors as a top competitive tool of measurement, the Franchise 500^® recognizes FASTSIGNS, the only sign, graphics, and visual communications franchise to be recognized in the top 100, for its exceptional performance in areas including financial strength and stability, growth rate, and brand power. FASTSIGNS also has been recognized for its franchisee satisfaction by being named a World Class Franchise by the Franchise Research Institute for five consecutive years and has been ranked by Franchise Business Review as one of the “Best of the Best” for franchisee satisfaction for the last 10 years. Additionally, FASTSIGNS also was named to Franchise Business Review’s “Innovative Franchises” list in 2017 and a “Best-in-Category” franchise by Franchise Business Review in 2018.

For information about the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity, contact Mark Jameson (mark.jameson@fastsigns.com or 214-346-5679).

SAN FRANCISCO – Fifteen cities. Six weeks. Junk King’s one goal -Cleaning up America.

Fueled by its ecofriendly mantra to recycle, reuse and repurpose, the nation’s leading junk removal company is embarking on its first cross-country road trip to tidy up cities coast-to-coast.

Departing on Earth Day, April 22, 2018, Junk King’s patriotic-branded Cleaning Up America truck is leaving San Francisco to visit various homeowners, small businesses and nonprofit groups across the United States. Throughout the six-week journey, Junk King’s team is lending its services to help these groups declutter while raising awareness about recycling. Junk King’s work these 6-weeks will involve no cost for the groups and individuals that participate.

“Cleaning Up America is by far the larges, longest running and most exciting giveback initiative we have put together yet,” said Michael Andreacchi, CEO of Junk King who personally kicks off the tour on April 20. “The process of clearing out is liberating and necessary, and its heartbreaking to know not everyone has the manpower or resources to haul everything away or maintain a clean space. That’s why we’re inspired to make this trip -to provide some relief to folks all over the States, hear their story and make a meaningful difference in their lives.”

Making the environmental movement a brand-wide effort, the Cleaning Up America truck will be driven and passed forward from one Junk King franchisee to the next in each local market. To capture the moments of generosity and gratitude, Junk King will be documenting the entire journey by recording the visits and later releasing city-themed episodes for the rest of America to see.

The cities on the Cleaning up America tour include:

• Peninsula, California
• Los Angeles, California
• Las Vegas, Nevada
• Salt Lake City, Utah
• Denver, Colorado
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• New York City, New York
• Boston, Massachusetts
• Baltimore, Maryland
• Washington D.C, Virginia
• Des Moines, Iowa
• Chicago, Illinois
• Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Cincinnati, Ohio
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

As part of the brand’s year-round commitment to being environmentally conscious, any items collected by Junk King will be taken to the nearest warehouse, where a team will facilitate managing and sorting of the materials. In fact, sixty percent of the junk collected from jobs is recycled, rather than being dropped at landfills. And through partnerships with local nonprofits and community organizations, the remaining items are donated and repurposed to benefit residents throughout United States.

To learn more about Junk King, visit www.junk-king.com. Follow the Cleaning Up America truck’s journey by visiting www.facebook.com/JunkKingFranchise. The full tour schedule can be seen on www.junk-king.com/promotions/cleaning-up-america.