business opportunities magazine

MADISON, NJ – PRNewswire

ERA Real Estate, a global franchising leader, is proud to announce the induction of two individuals and one ERA^® company into the brand’s Hall of Fame, class of 2017. Established in 2013, the ERA Hall of Fame honors affiliated individuals and companies who have consistently earned high levels of recognition and have made contributions and lasting impact on the culture and history of the franchise system.

The ceremony took place this evening at the 2018 ERA International Business Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 2017 ERA Hall of Fame class includes:

Individuals:

• Ervin Robertson, ERA Real Estate Professionals, Ridgeland, Mississippi
• Kathy Wilhelm, ERA American Real Estate, Crestview, Florida

Company:

• ERA Dawson-Bradford Co., Brokers/Owners Jon and Nancy Dawson, Bangor, Maine

“This year’s group of inductees is an exceptional group,” said Sue Yannaccone, president and CEO of ERA Real Estate. “As champions for ERA, they have tirelessly worked toward the continued success of the brand, not just in the ways they are leveraging the products, services and technology tools the franchise offers, but in the ways they are deeply focused on preparing the next generation of ERA professionals for success in the industry.”

Ervin Robertson, ERA Real Estate Professionals, Ridgeland, Mississippi

In 1985, Ervin Robertson came to Mississippi to try his hand at real estate. As a beginner, his brokerage didn’t have any training programs to help him–until he met someone who would shape his career for more than three decades: a bank mortgage professional who decided to train Robertson. He joined ERA Lorden – now ERA Real Estate Professionals in Ridgeland, Mississippi – in the late 1980s as a trainer and hasn’t looked back since. In his first two years, Robertson helped grow the agency from eight agents to 55, offering weekly training classes. In 1994, ERA Real Estate made sure those weekly training sessions turned into trainings all over the country, and in 2016, Ervin began training nationally for ERA Real Estate. Now decades later, brokers and agents often cite his classes as the best they’ve ever attended.

Kathy Wilhelm, ERA American Real Estate, Crestview, Florida

A 29-year veteran of the industry, Kathy Wilhelm came very close to spending her life after college studying the behavior of hermit crabs. Luckily, Kathy’s father convinced her to follow him into real estate. Her parents decided to franchise with ERA Real Estate in 1986, and just three years later merged with ERA American Real Estate. Thanks in part to her success as an agent, Wilhelm’s office in Crestview is the top performing office at ERA American Real Estate, closing $19.5M in business through 119 transactions last year.

ERA Dawson-Bradford Co., Brokers/Owners Jon and Nancy Dawson, Bangor, Maine

Forty-four years ago, under the leadership of Jon and Nancy Dawson, ERA Dawson-Bradford Co. opened its doors in Bangor, Maine. In the time between 1974 and now, the pair have franchised with ERA Real Estate, grown their agency into the top performing brokerage in Bangor, and had two daughters, Julie and Katie. It’s no coincidence the Dawson’s success in their modest market of Bangor – 36,000 people in the city and 100,000 in the surrounding area – coincided with their joining the ERA system.  Within three years of joining, ERA Dawson Bradford Co. Realtors was top of its market, a position they have held for more than three decades, winning a Jim Jackson Memorial Award for 1^st in Service along the way. Today, Jon and Nancy’s daughter, Julie, and her husband, Brian, own and operate the company carrying on the family tradition of excellent customer service and results in their local market.

WALLINGFORD, CT – PRNewswire

Edible International Founder and CEO Tariq Farid today announced plans to open a second headquarters in Atlanta and has named Christian Nahas as President of Edible Brands.

In this newly-created position, Nahas will oversee all commercial operations of the world’s largest franchisor of shops offering creatively designed fresh cut fruit arrangements and all-natural, fresh fruit snacks and treats.

Farid said that the brand’s Connecticut headquarters will continue to serve as its home base, while the Atlanta office will provide Edible with expanded franchise and retail resources. In addition, Atlanta’s more central location and access to major transportation hubs makes it an attractive location to base much of the team needed to support the company’s next phase of growth into new markets and product categories.

Edible is currently reviewing real estate options in Atlanta with plans to add 50 jobs in the coming year and another 150 positions over time. In addition, the selection of Nahas to oversee Edible operations brings the brand an immediate and important presence in the Atlanta franchise and business communities.

Nahas has nearly two decades of experience leading teams at several companies in the greater Atlanta area. He most recently served as Senior Vice President of Paris-based Capgemini in their Atlanta office.

“This is a historic moment for the Edible brand,” said Nahas. “Having spent most of my career in Atlanta, I see it as the perfect location for Edible to expand the team needed to support its worldwide system of almost 1,300 locations.”

Farid, who was recently inducted into the International Franchise Association’s Hall of Fame, already has a business presence in Atlanta with his technology company Naranga, a leading provider of franchise sales and software solutions, which is based in the city. He said the expansion in Atlanta and the selection of Nahas as president is just the first step in the next phase of dramatic growth for the brand.

“Christian has been a major figure in the Atlanta business community and his experience and expertise will be critical as we ramp up our operations in the market,” Farid said. “He joins Edible at a pinnacle moment for our global business as we prepare our next phase of growth and development that will include the addition of exciting new revenue streams for our brand and our franchisees.”

COLUMBUS, OH – PRNewswire

Capitalizing on continued evolution in the consumer-facing technology space, Red Roof is paving the way for hoteliers to connect directly with consumers at home through Amazon’s Alexa Skills platform. Setting the industry standard, a dynamic Red Roof skill for Amazon Alexa now gives travelers the power to ask Alexa Red Roof-specific questions to assist in making travel plans, all from the comfort of home. This new innovation allows Red Roof to provide key information to the more than 20 million Alexa users, answering questions to help drive decisions including, “Can I bring my dog?” and “How many locations do you have?” to “Tell me about Red Roof PLUS+®” and “Do you have any deals?”

“As consumers continue to rely more heavily on technology in their daily routines at home, we created the Red Roof skill for Amazon Alexa in the spirit of added convenience and ability to deliver important, decision-driving information directly to current and future guests,” says Kevin Scholl, Director of Digital Marketing and Partnerships, Red Roof. “Our technology is living and we’ll continue to add information to best support users based on consumer demand and aim to provide booking capabilities in the future.”

According to recent research, 72 percent of users engage with Alexa as part of their daily routine and nearly half of them speak with their Alexa-enabled device, noting it feels like speaking with a friend. In line with how people love to hear recommendations from friends or third-party advocates, a majority of Alexa users reported that they are open to learning about brands from their devices¹.

“Directly giving consumers information about Red Roof at home is the natural next step in our technological future as an innovative hotel brand,” Marina MacDonald, Chief Marketing Officer, Red Roof. “Travel truly meets technology through the new Red Roof skill for Amazon Alexa, allowing us to provide key information to a captivated audience that is already integrating the benefits of Alexa into their everyday lives.”

Users can enable the Red Roof skill for Amazon Alexa at no cost on all of their Alexa-enabled devices in the Skills hub of the Amazon Alexa app on their smartphones. Utilizing the power of Alexa Skills is just the latest in Red Roof’s recent technological advancements. In 2017, the brand completely redesigned its website to create a sleek, accessible, mobile-first platform to allow travelers to seamlessly book on-the-go from their smartphones. Later this year, Red Roof will roll out an Artificial Intelligence Chatbot and Quickbook feature for the site to make it even easier for guests to quickly lock in a comfortable stay at a great price.

DALLAS, TX – PRNewswire

A year ago the largest Applebee’s franchisee in the Lone Star state, Apple Texas, was called bold and innovative for their out-of-the-box thinking when they announced their 65 restaurants would accept all coupons, gift cards and gift certificates from any business – expired or not.

Beginning today, that too-good-to-be-true promotion is back!  All 65 Applebee’s owned by Apple Texas in the DFW area as well as Austin, Houston, Central and East Texas and surrounding locations, will once again accept any – expired or not – paper, plastic or printed coupon, gift card or gift certificate from any business for up to 50 percent off food purchases at any of its 65 Texas restaurants.

“When we offered this promotion last year our guests were thrilled when we accepted their expired or just unwanted gift cards or coupons and they received up to 50 percent off their meal,” said Chris Dharod, president of SSCP Management, parent of Apple Texas.  “It’s a fun promotion, it’s a great way to give back to the neighborhoods where we operate and it’s an easy way to visit us and get 50 percent off your food bill.”

All 65 Applebee’s that are owned by Apple Texas in the DFW area as well as Austin, Houston, Central and East Texas and surrounding locations are participating in the promotion.  The offer may not be combined with any other Applebee’s discounted offer and may not be applied to alcohol. Guests with additional questions are encouraged to call their neighborhood Applebee’s restaurant.

The way it works is simple.  If you have a gift card with a remaining dollar value, that’s how much you’ll receive off your food check, up to a 50% discount.

This promotion is only valid at the 65 participating Texas Applebee’s restaurants owned by Apple Texas.

Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville, Florida-based classic Southern barbecue chain – Woody’s Bar-B-Q – is pleased to announce its new partnership with No Kid Hungry – a national campaign dedicated to ending child hunger in the United States. As a result of this new relationship, Woody’s Bar-B-Q will play host to a number of fundraisers at participating locations throughout 2018.

“For a number of years, we have partnered with an incredible nonprofit here in Jacksonville called Healing Hands – First Coast Child Protection Team,” said Yolanda Mills-Mawman, President and COO for Woody’s Bar-B-Q. “We’re very proud of the fact that we’ve raised thousands of dollars to support their very worthy cause of providing services to children who have been victims of abuse or neglect in Florida’s Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns counties. But since so many of our restaurants lie outside of those counties and beyond Florida’s borders, we’ve been on the lookout for a national nonprofit for which all of our locations could show their support. As a family-friendly concept designed to bring people together around the dinner table, we believe No Kid Hungry is the ideal fit and look forward to seeing what our franchisees and customers can do to help this worthy cause over the course of the coming year. We have dubbed 2018 ‘The Year of the Kids’ and a lot of our events and promotions are geared towards our pint-sized patrons for whom we are truly grateful.”

No Kid Hungry is a national campaign run by Share Our Strength, a nonprofit working to solve problems of hunger and poverty in the United States and around the world. After 25 years of successfully investing in local nonprofits and helping find the best approaches to eradicating poverty and hunger, Share Our Strength launched No Kid Hungry in 2010. Today, No Kid Hungry regularly partners with such well-known brands as Walmart Foundation®, Amazon®, Fresh Market®, Food Network® and Citi®, among others.

Woody’s customers will want to mark their calendars for the following upcoming events at their favorite local Woody’s Bar-B-Q franchise, designed to raise funds for No Kid Hungry:

· March 2018 – Spend a Dollar, Fill a Tummy: Guests will have an opportunity to fill the walls of their favorite local Woody’s Bar-B-Q with cute little kids faces, emblazoned with the name of the purchaser. Each face is just $1, and all proceeds from this event will benefit No Kid Hungry.

· June 2018 – Have a Meal, Feed a Child: A portion of the proceeds* from entrées purchased at Woody’s Bar-B-Q will benefit No Kid Hungry. The more entrees purchased during this month, the more money raised – so barbecue fans are encouraged to bring a crowd and visit often in June.

· September 2018 – Spare Rib Eating Contest: Participating Woody’s Bar-B-Q locations will play host to a Spare Rib Eating Contest on a Saturday during the month of September. 100% of the proceeds from this event will benefit No Kid Hungry.

To learn more about these and other upcoming events at Woody’s Bar-B-Q, interested parties are encouraged to visit the classic Southern barbecue chain’s website at www.woodys.com and follow the corporate Facebook page for updates at https://www.facebook.com/WoodysFranchiseSystems/.

About Woody’s Bar-B-Q®: After opening their first Woody’s Bar-B-Q in 1980, partners Woody Mills and Yolanda Mills-Mawman have spent nearly four decades setting the “bar” higher for classic Southern barbecue. From the humble beginnings of just one location in Jacksonville, Florida, a shared passion for barbecue, and a dog-eared collection of recipes, Mills and Mawman have grown the Woody’s Bar-B-Q brand to locations reaching from the Deep South where barbecue is king to the Northeast and Midwestern fronts. Perhaps best known for their legendary melt-in-your-mouth slow-smoked Signature Baby Back Ribs, Woody’s has also built quite a following among patrons with their secret recipe barbecue sauces and meats, as well as their freshly prepared comfort food-inspired side dishes. Individuals who wish to learn more about becoming a Woody’s Bar-B-Q franchisee are encouraged to visit http://www.woodys.com/franchise/.

About No Kid Hungry®: No child should go hungry in America, but 1 in 6 kids will face hunger this year. Using proven, practical solutions, No Kid Hungry is ending childhood hunger today by ensuring that kids start the day with a nutritious breakfast, eat healthy summer meals, and families learn the skills they need to shop and cook on a budget. When we all work together, we can make sure kids get the healthy food they need. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of national anti-hunger organization Share Our Strength. Join us at NoKidHungry.org.

* $250/location or 10% of net sales at participating locations.

TAMPA, FL – PRNewswire

The only thing better than 50 percent off your fourth visit is dining free for a year! Today Bloomin’ Brands, Inc.® (NASDAQ: BLMN) launched the Dine Rewards™ 5 Million Members Sweepstakes to celebrate a special milestone for the multi-concept loyalty program. More than five million guests are registered to receive rewards through Dine Rewards™.

The sweepstakes, which starts today, gives current and new members a chance to win a variety of prizes including free appetizers or desserts, $50 or $500 e-gift cards and a grand prize of free* Outback, Carrabba’s or Bonefish for a year.  For every qualified* visit during the month of March, current and new members will be automatically entered for a chance to win. New members can sign up for Dine Rewards™ at www.dine-rewards.com.

Dine Rewards™ is the first nationwide loyalty program in casual dining to offer rewards across multiple restaurant concepts. Earning rewards is easy – when visiting a participating restaurant for dine in or take out, members only need to provide their server with the phone number associated with the account to receive credit and an entry into the sweepstakes. After just three qualified visits to Outback Steakhouse®, Carrabba’s Italian Grill®, Bonefish Grill® or Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar®, guests can earn 50 percent off* on their fourth visit.

The Dine Rewards™ 5 Million Members Sweepstakes begins at 9 a.m. EST on March 1 and ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on March 31. No purchase necessary to enter or win. Maximum of two entries daily. For official rules and more information visit www.dine-rewards.com/sweeps.

*For full program terms and conditions, please visit www.dine-rewards.com/terms-and-conditions and for sweepstakes official rules and more information visit www.dine-rewards.com/sweeps.

LANSING, MI – PRNewswire

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, the nation’s largest moving franchise with more than 200 employees at its Home Office in Lansing, Mich., and 6,163 employees at franchise locations across the U.S., is announcing its 6^th Annual Career Move Month this March. The brand is dedicated to not only Moving People Forward® who use TWO MEN AND A TRUCK as a moving service, but to also moving forward the careers of those within its system.

The brand has a long history of helping its team members advance in their careers, with 75 percent of the company’s management staff starting out in entry-level positions and one-third of the company’s franchisees beginning in frontline positions as movers or customer service representatives. Now, as the company enters its sixth annual Career Move Month initiative, it’s promoting the “It’s More Than Moving” campaign to acknowledge that TWO MEN AND A TRUCK’s Move Heroes aren’t just moving boxes. They’re part of a team and play a major role during a customer’s stressful moving process, while also building a career.

This year, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK is aiming to collect 15,000 job applications with the ultimate goal of hiring 1,500 new employees ahead of its busiest moving season of the year during the spring and summer months. The brand is made up of 358 franchise locations across the U.S., which completed more than 546,000 moves in 2017 alone. Now, the company is planning for even more franchise openings and moves this year, creating the need for a larger team.

“TWO MEN AND A TRUCK has experienced 98 consecutive months of growth, with 82 of those months hitting record growth rates,” said Co-CEO Jon Nobis. “Because of our ongoing success, we need to proactively look for team members who want to grow with us as we help homeowners and business owners across the U.S. move their lives and businesses forward.”

Someone who has moved their own career forward with the company and is a key team member at the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Home Office, is Sara Bennett. After celebrating 15 years with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and having started in an administrative role, Bennett was promoted to Chief Talent Officer late 2017. She leads the company’s HR, recruiting and retention consulting, risk management and training and development teams. As the company continues to focus on mentoring and growing its teams from within, Bennett will play an integral role in the company’s talent evolution and is leading the Career Move Month initiative.

“TWO MEN AND A TRUCK truly believes in investing in and developing the careers of everyone within the company family,” said Bennett. “I’m thankful I was able to build a career for myself here at such a value-driven and customer service-oriented company, and it is fulfilling to play such a major role in the ongoing development of so many people within our system who are building a career for themselves. It goes to show that we are so much more than a company that moves people’s belongings.”

The brand has focused its hiring blitz on a newly minted “It’s More Than Moving” motto so that jobseekers understand that TWO MEN AND A TRUCK is not simply a job, but a lasting and meaningful career. As the company looks to expand its teams at franchises across the country as well as the corporate office, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK is hiring for roles across all departments, including movers, drivers, marketing specialists, human resources and management-level staff. Once joining the team, the company encourages upward mobility for all of its employees.

Another Home Office employee who has climbed the company’s ranks is Randy Shacka, the brand’s president. He began as a marketing intern before working at a franchise location and eventually made his way through a variety of roles before taking on his current executive position. Shacka has been a champion of helping others in the system reach their full potential for years, and even formalized a program called XCELERATE. Since its launch in March of 2016, thousands of team members have joined together to discuss best practices, talk through issues and celebrate star employees across the system all while receiving the necessary tools to shape a long lasting career with the company.

“What I love about the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK family is that we are all in it together, working toward the same goals and mission. We have each other’s backs and are rooting each other on,” said Shacka. “I’m so thankful for my personal journey here. I want to inspire anyone who’s looking to join a growing team that promises a fulfilling career in exchange for hard work to apply so they can start their own path here at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK.”

On the heels of its “Make It What You Want” campaign during the Winter Olympics—where Subway showed customers how it is shifting its advertising strategy to develop creative messaging that resonates with its core audience in a more contemporary fashion—the company announced plans for a new loyalty program that launches in March.

Subway’s new loyalty program will offer customers $2 off any menu item for every $50 spent. Subway’s U.S. sales fell 4.4 percent in 2017, according to food service research company Technomic.

The new loyalty program, Subway MyWay Rewards, which will be offered in all of Subway’s 25,600 U.S. locations and about 2,800 of its Canadian stores, grants users four tokens for every dollar spent. Customers will also receive surprises such as free cookies and chips on their birthdays and as a reward for ordering more.

“The Subway MyWay Rewards program will be the latest release in a long line of innovation from Subway Digital,” Carissa Ganelli, Subway’s Chief Digital Officer, told Loyalty360. “We began developing the MyWay Rewards program two years ago, listening to our customers and using their feedback to design the program. But, it is just one part our larger transformation, changing every element of our business—from new menu items to the look of our restaurants to the entire customer experience—so we can best serve the more than seven million people who visit a Subway each day around the world.”

Subway MyWay Rewards will redefine choice and accessibility in the simplest ways, Ganelli noted, from how a customer joins through app, online, or in-restaurant, to being able to earn rewards no matter how a customer pays, to the ability to redeem rewards on anything Subway sells.

“It is important to us that we deliver a seamless, convenient experience to help our customers get what they want when they want it,” Ganelli said.

Subway MyWay Rewards will be a best-in-class program, according to the company.

“It will be the largest loyalty program in the QSR industry with an estimated 28,500 restaurants participating in the U.S. and Canada, offering customers flexibility and a personalized experience—from how you join, earn, and redeem to the rewards and exclusive deals,” Ganelli explained. “It’s all customized by the customer. Also, with the majority of our U.S. and Canada locations participating, customers will have cross-border earning and redemption rewards capabilities.”

Initially, Subway offered the paper and stamp Sub Club program more than 30 years ago. That program was phased out of U.S. and Canada restaurants in 2005 as the company rolled out the Subway Rewards program. That program is still available in roughly one-third of the company’s North American locations.

Research and feedback from customers and franchise owners played a crucial role in designing the new loyalty program.

“For example, the name of the program came from customer input and our franchisees came up with the idea of ‘bonus tokens,’ which customers receive if they visit a Subway restaurant at times that typically receive less foot-traffic, like during breakfast or dinner time,” Ganelli said. “What’s most important to us is that the program will reward our most valuable customers and that the program is relevant to them and their preferences. Customers determine how they join and how they redeem their rewards. Even the surprise rewards and exclusive deals can be tailored to the customer’s food preferences.”

PITTSBURGH, PA – PRNewswire

GNC Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: GNC) (the “Company”) today announced that it has received consents from approximately 87% of term lenders under GNC Nutrition Centers, Inc.’s credit agreement to extend the maturity date of the term loans held by such lenders to March 2021 and to make certain other modifications to the credit agreement. GNC also announced that Harbin Pharmaceutical Group Holding Co., Ltd (“Hayao”) has agreed that, subject to closing of the amendment in accordance with the Securities Purchase Agreement between the parties, this level of participation in the amendment satisfies the minimum participation requirement in the previously announced $300 million strategic investment and that both parties will continue working together to complete the transaction.

Following the closing of the amended and restated term loan facility and the other related transactions, the maturity date of the term loans held by participating lenders will be extended by two years, the Company’s existing Revolving Credit Facility will be cancelled and GNC will enter into a new $100 million ABL Revolver. Concurrently, a portion of the extended term loans will be exchanged for ABL FILO term loans which together with certain newly funded ABL FILO term loans borrowed on the closing date will equal $275 million in aggregate principal amount. GNC expects the amendment and extension transaction will close by the end of February but there can be no assurance in connection therewith.

Ken Martindale, chief executive officer of GNC, commented, “Today’s news is another important milestone in optimizing our balance sheet, and represents an important step towards completion of the Hayao transaction. We have been actively engaged in discussions with our term loan lenders, and I want to thank them all for their support.  With these consents in hand, we are better positioned to deliver profitable growth, and create significant value for our stakeholders.”

HOUSTON, TX – PRNewswire

During the 2018 FASTSIGNS® International Convention held Jan. 17-20 in Houston, Texas, FASTSIGNS franchisees and their employees, vendors and FASTSIGNS International, Inc. corporate staff participated in the second “FASTSIGNS Community Giveback” to donate care packages for the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

“Through the FASTSIGNS Community Giveback Project, our meeting attendees and vendors come together to support a local cause and make a positive impact in the cities that we host our system-wide events in across the country,” said Tracy Lake, Director of Events at FASTSIGNS International, Inc. “We are so grateful for our military servicemen and women. With the help of our partners in giving, we are honored for the opportunity to express our appreciation and donate care packages to patients at Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center.”

On Jan. 20 during the FASTSIGNS Community Giveback Breakfast with a Purpose, 375 care packages were assembled. Draw string bags were filled with blankets, socks, hats, playing cards, puzzle books, personal hygiene items and handwritten notes of appreciation. Members of the FASTSIGNS International corporate team visited the VA medical center to deliver the care packages and a banner thanking military members for their service.

Thanks to the FASTSIGNS Community Giveback sponsors 4Ever Products, Canon Solutions America, Colex Finishing Inc., Custom Products Corporation, EPSON, Grimco, Listen360, Miller Weldmaster, N. Glantz & Son and Sign Source USA for their generous contributions to raise $6,750 for the donation items.