franchise business

20 12, 2017

Dwyer Group Celebrates Record Global Growth in 2017

2017-12-24T12:32:20-05:00December 20th, 2017|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

WACO, Texas (December 19, 2017)

  • Company acquires two new brands
  • Organization grows to 19 consumer service brands (17 of them franchised), 12 service verticals
  • Network expands to over 2,800 franchise locations across nine countries
  • Brands exceed $1.5 billion in annual system-wide sales
  • Awards 300 franchises in 2017

Dwyer Group, Inc., one of the world’s largest franchising companies of service brands focused on repairing, maintaining and enhancing properties, celebrated a record year of global growth in 2017 and expanded the network to an all-time high around the world.

“This was another historic year for our organization,” said Mike Bidwell, president and CEO of Dwyer Group. “With12 service verticals, we continued to build on our leadership position, launched Neighborly, our comprehensive home services platform, and awarded 300 new franchises and territory expansions to provide our professional services to more customers than ever.”

Dwyer Group completed two acquisitions in 2017:

  • Bright & Beautiful, a home cleaning service based in the U.K, in April
  • Countrywide Grounds Maintenance, a long-standing commercial grounds-keeping service based in the U.K., in May

The acquisitions, along with strong growth of existing service brands, expanded the overall Dwyer Group roster to 17 franchise service brands and more than 2,800 franchise locations in nine countries around the world. Today, Dwyer Group’s service brands account for more than $1.5 billion in annual system-wide sales and 700+ employees across North America, the U.K and Germany. The company also broke ground this year on a new building at its Waco, Texas campus, which will house the growing support staff for our expanding franchise network.

The year also marked the launch of Neighborly, the Dwyer Group’s comprehensive home services platform. Neighborly unifies Dwyer Group’s community of experienced service professionals and gives homeowners instant access to a premium network of experts at GetNeighborly.com – including landscaping, plumbing, painting, housecleaning and more.

“Every accomplishment has reinforced our drive to grow and support the most compelling franchise opportunities in the home service industry and to scale that expertise on a global stage,” Bidwell said. “We celebrate our team’s achievements and their dedication to offering the most comprehensive residential and commercial service line-up to our customers.”

About Dwyer Group®:

Founded in 1981 and based in Waco, Texas, Dwyer Group is a holding company of 19 service-based brands, 17 of which support franchise organizations under the umbrella brand Neighborly in the United States and Neighbourly in Canada. Neighborly™ is a community of experts who repair, maintain and enhance properties united under one platform to better meet the needs of today’s consumer. Collectively, these concepts offer customers a broad base of residential and commercial services. Dwyer Group is a portfolio company of The Riverside Company®, a global private equity firm. The firm’s international portfolio includes more than 75 companies. More information about Neighborly/Neighbourly, and its franchise concepts, is available at www.getneighborly.com and www.getneighbourly.ca, respectively. Learn more about Dwyer Group at www.dwyergroup.com.

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For more information, contact:

Melissa Rubin, BizCom Associates

(214) 306-7421/ Melissa@BizComPR.com

19 12, 2017

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit Opens Their Doors in Ashburn, VA

2017-12-24T12:31:00-05:00December 19th, 2017|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

ASHBURN, Va.,  /PRNewswire/Dec. 18, 2017

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit opens their newest location Tuesday, December 19 with four weeks of specials and giveaways, including free barbecue for a year for three lucky guests. The new location will be opened by new Dickey’s franchisee Chris Mills.

The new location will offer guests $2 Pulled Pork Sandwiches on Tuesday, December 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., limit two per guest.

“The Dickey family congratulates Chris on opening his first Dickey’s Barbecue Pit location,” says Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. “We are honored to have experienced new franchisees such as Chris who are passionate about the art of great barbecue and have a love for the Dickey’s Barbecue Pit brand.”

Dickey’s will offer the following specials and giveaways for the next four weeks:

Thirsty Thursdays: Guests will receive a free Big Yellow Cup with free refills all day.

Philanthropy Fridays: “You Give, We Give” – Guests who donate to Dickey’s charitable foundation, Barbecue, Boots & Badges, will receive a gift card as a thank you for their donation. All uniformed first responders also receive 50 percent off their meal.

Smokin’ Saturdays: Guests may purchase $2 Pulled Pork Sandwiches from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., limit two per guest.

Kids Eat Free Sundays: Kids eat free with an adult purchase of $10 or more.

Though Chris has years of restaurant experience, this Dickey’s Barbecue Pit location will be the first venture of his own. “When I decided to open my own concept, I knew Dickey’s was the best option for me. Along with their delicious barbecue, they have a great business model and I love the atmosphere of every store,” says Chris. “I am honored to bring Dickey’s to the residents of the Ashburn community and look forward to opening more locations in the future.”

To join Dickey’s Big Yellow Cup Club and receive members-only specials and discounts, click here.

The new Dickey’s Barbecue Pit in Ashburn is located at 20020 Ashbrook Commons Plaza #106, Ashburn, VA 20147. The phone number is 703-297-8948.

To find the location nearest you, click here.

Find Dickey’s on FacebookInstagram and Twitter.

To learn more about franchising with Dickeys, visit www.dickeys.com/franchise or call 866-340-6188.

About Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.
Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., the nation’s largest barbecue chain, was founded in 1941 by Travis Dickey. Today, all meats are still slow smoked on-site in each restaurant. The Dallas-based family-run barbecue franchise offers several slow-smoked meats and home style sides with ‘No B.S. (Bad Stuff)‘ included. The fast-casual concept has expanded to more than 550 locations in 44 states. In 2016, Dickey’s won first place on Fast Casual’s “Top 100 Movers and Shakers” list and in 2017 again won a top 10 on the list. Dickey’s Barbecue Pit has also been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine, Franchise Times, and Nation’s Restaurant News. For more information, visit www.dickeys.com.

Media Contact:
Callie Head
chead@dickeys.com
Ashley Richardson
arichardson@dickeys.com

SOURCE Dickey’s Barbecue

19 12, 2017

American Driveline Systems Targets Nationwide Growth For AAMCO

2017-12-22T03:48:57-05:00December 19th, 2017|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

HORSHAM, Pa.,  /PRNewswire/ Dec. 18, 2017

American Driveline Systems, Inc. (“ADS”), parent company of AAMCO Transmissions, Inc., is targeting nationwide franchise growth as the leading powertrain specialist under new president and CEO Jim Gregory.

“AAMCO franchisees employ top specialists in the industry who are able to diagnose electrical problems and perform complex repairs — making AAMCO the brand of choice when it comes to even the toughest car issues,” Gregory said. “In 2018, we will target aggressive franchise growth in markets where there is a need for very specialized auto shops, so consumers can have the convenience of AAMCO’s services where they work and live.”

With nearly 640 centers across North America, AAMCO is actively seeking single- and multi-unit franchisee operators to grow the brand nationwide, particularly in markets like DallasChicagoBaltimore, Washington, D.C.New YorkNew Jersey, and Hartford, Connecticut. Interested candidates should have a minimum net worth of $250,000 and liquid assets of at least $65,000 per unit. Depending on the real estate site selected, franchisees can expect the total investment to be approximately $223,600 to $330,000 with a $39,500 initial franchise fee. AAMCO offers financing support for qualified candidates. Reduced franchise fees are also available for honorably discharged veterans.

Known as the world’s leading transmission expert for more than 50 years, AAMCO’s network of locally owned and independently operated automotive service centers employs the latest technology. Expert technicians diagnose even the most complicated powertrain system issues, fix it right the first time, and back it with a nationwide warranty. AAMCO was named to Entrepreneur magazine’s 2017 Franchise 500 ranking top of its category for the third consecutive year. Additionally, AAMCO has been consecutively ranked on Franchise Times‘ Top 200+ for the last two years and was named to Training magazine’s Training Top 125 for its ongoing commitment to training through AAMCO University.

To learn more about franchise or conversion opportunities with AAMCO, contact Kim Robinson, director of franchise development, at 866-379-5649 or krobinson@aamco.com or visit aamcofranchises.com.

About American Driveline Systems, Inc.
American Driveline Systems, Inc. is the parent company of both AAMCO Transmissions, Inc. and Cottman Transmission Systems, LLC. The combined entities of American Driveline Systems, Inc. have more than 6,000 team members and are proud to have served over 35 million drivers.  For more information, please visit www.aamco.com and www.cottman.com.

About AAMCO Transmission, Inc.
AAMCO is the world’s largest branded chain of transmission specialists and a leader in repairing the most complex issues in the entire powertrain system. AAMCO has nearly 640 franchised automotive centers throughout the United States and Canada. Established in 1962, AAMCO-branded centers are proud to have served more than 45 million drivers. For more information, visit: aamcouniversity.comaamco.com or aamcoblog.com.

Contact:
Ashley Davidson
Fish Consulting
305-298-8022
adavidson@fish-consulting.com

SOURCE AAMCO Transmissions, Inc.

18 12, 2017

My Eyelab Targets California With Franchise Program

2017-12-22T03:49:12-05:00December 18th, 2017|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

PALM SPRINGS, Fl. /PRNewswire/Dec. 18, 2017 

My Eyelab (www.myeyelab.com), one of the fastest growing retail optical centers in the nation, announced today that it is growing its franchise expansion initiative, setting California as a priority market. Immediate single and multi-unit territories are available as the brand seeks qualified and enthusiastic investors in this untapped market.

“After an outstanding first year of franchising, in which we exceeded all of our goals, we’re ready to ramp up our efforts in 2018. There’s no better market to capitalize on than California,” said Daniel Stanton, CEO and co-founder of My Eyelab. “Our goal is to make My Eyelab the go-to eye-care destination across the nation, and California, as well as the other priority markets we’ll announce in 2018, gets us one step closer to that goal.”

My Eyelab, the innovative vision care franchise option for independent owner operators and qualified investors, quickly emerged in 2017 as a leader in the  recession-resistant optical industry after closing more than 40 franchise sales and has sold out the Atlanta, Ga., and Florida markets in its first year of franchising. By leveraging the expertise of My Eyelab’s executive and franchise support team, prospective franchisees can bring a convenient, affordable alternative in vision care to their local communities. The My Eyelab franchise fee is $34,900, with a total investment of $200,000.

My Eyelab, with its parent company Vision Precision Holdings,  offers its cutting-edge technology and eye care services in 84 locations across 22 states. Now launching franchise sales in California, My Eyelab has plans to grow in major cities throughout the state.

For more information about My Eyelab’s franchise opportunity, visit www.myeyelab.com/franchise or call (561) 800-4868.

About My Eyelab
Founded in 2013, My Eyelab, the easy eye care solution, is one of the fastest-growing full-service teleconsulting and retail optical centers in the nation. With a mission to provide fast, friendly and affordable eye care services, My Eyelab has become a leader in the eye health industry by developing an accessible alternative to its overpriced competitors.

Franchising since 2016, My Eyelab consistently ranks among the largest optical retailers in the United States by Vision Monday. My Eyelab offers single and multi-unit franchise options, with an initial franchise fee of $24,900, a $200,000liquid cash investment, and $500,000 minimum net worth requirement for interested prospects.

Media Contact:
Lynn Rossi
(708) 249-1090
187687@email4pr.com

SOURCE My Eyelab

18 12, 2017

Anago Cleaning Systems Opens First Franchise in New York

2017-12-22T03:48:27-05:00December 18th, 2017|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

Anago Cleaning Systems (Anago), an industry-leading commercial cleaning franchise with over 35 Master Franchise locations and over 1,400 Unit Franchises throughout the U.S. and internationally, is pleased to announce its partnership with Master Franchise Owner, Jonathan Thiessen to open a location in Hudson Valley, New York.

The new office will be located at 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 207, Port Chester, New York and will serve the greater Westchester, Yonkers, White Plains and Hudson Valley areas.

“Jonathan’s professional career is deeply rooted in financial management,” says Adam Povlitz, President of Anago Cleaning Systems. “That kind of experience coupled with Jonathan’s vision for large-scale growth will translate well into the Hudson Valley market.”

Jonathan began his professional career in finance as the Treasury Manager for a privately held business in the Hudson Valley area, overseeing a $25 million-dollar line of credit. Thiessen then went on to work for several large conglomerates such as Philip Morris Management Corp. and BAE Systems, a British defense company. Previously, Jonathan was Director of Treasury for The Vitamin Shop. He holds a B.S. from the Rochester Institute of Technology and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. He is also an active member of the BMW Car Club in which he helps to promote road safety through Tire Rack’s “Street Survival” sponsored by the BMW CCA Foundation.

“I’ve always possessed an entrepreneurial spirit throughout my career in finance,” says Jonathan. “Through Anago’s Master Franchise model, I’m able to harness that vision and create a successful foundation for other entrepreneurs in the Hudson Valley area.”

To explore Master franchise opportunities with Anago, contact Judy Walker, Vice President of Marketing, at 800-213-5857 or judy@anagocleaning.com or visit http://www.AnagoMasters.com.

About Anago Cleaning Systems 
Anago Cleaning Systems is a commercial cleaning franchise system supporting over 35 Master Franchises and over 1,400 Unit Franchisees in the U.S. and internationally. After years of refining procedures and creating duplicable systems created in his large commercial cleaning service, David Povlitz founded Anago in 1989 to help other entrepreneurs open their cleaning businesses. Today, its program sets the standard worldwide in commercial cleaning. Anago was ranked one of the fastest growing franchises by and in the top 100 on the Franchise 500 by Entrepreneur Magazine. Additionally, Anago was ranked the #1 Janitorial Franchise by FranchiseRankings.com in 2016 and ranked by Franchise Business Review as one of the best franchises in Franchisee satisfaction for 10 consecutive years. Inc. Magazine has also listed Anago as one of the top privately-held companies in the U.S. For further information, visit its website at http://www.AnagoMasters.com.

18 12, 2017

Back Yard Burgers Offers Prime Rib Sandwich and Whole Cobblers for the Holidays

2017-12-22T04:03:34-05:00December 18th, 2017|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

Back Yard Burgers has two new menu items this holiday season. For a limited time, Back Yard Burgers is offering a prime rib sandwich and its famous cobblers whole. The two menu items are available now through Dec. 31.

The prime rib sandwich is a half-pound of prime rib topped with caramelized onions, garlic parmesan aioli, lettuce and tomatoes on a toasted brioche bun.

Need to take a dish to a party or family reunion? The whole cobblers are perfect for any holiday gathering. They are made with a flakey, buttery crust and loaded with your choice of pecan, blackberry, peach or apple filling. They serve approximately 12 people.

“Our cobblers are a guest favorite and make for an easy dessert to bring with you to any holiday party or to serve at your own,” said David McDougall, CEO of Back Yard Burgers. “The new prime rib sandwich is also a great choice while you’re busy out running last-minute holiday errands.”

Back Yard Burgers was recently acquired by Charlotte-based private equity firm Axum Capital Partners. The new holding company is now called Tatum Holdings, LLC and is focused on remodeling existing Back Yard Burgers locations, investing in technology, and growing the brand.

ABOUT BACK YARD BURGERS
Founded in 1987 in Cleveland, MS, Back Yard Burgers is a fast casual, better-burger concept that takes pride in their uncompromising commitment to “providing custom, flame-grilled variety with care.” The company’s franchise partners and employees are passionate about offering the freshest ingredients, allowing their guests to customize their meals and to serving the same high-quality food that they would offer at home to their own family. Along with offering made-to-order gourmet Angus burgers, Back Yard Burgers’ menu includes delicious grilled chicken sandwiches, fresh and creative salads, hand-dipped milkshakes, and freshly baked desserts. Today the franchise brand operates 56 locations (23-company owned and 33 franchised restaurants in 11 states. Back Yard Burgers is a strong supporter Share Our Strength – No Kid Hungry, whose goal is to end childhood hunger in America. http://www.backyardburgers.com

18 12, 2017

Sentinel Capital Partners Acquires Captain D’s

2017-12-22T04:03:43-05:00December 18th, 2017|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

NEW YORKPRNewswire/Dec. 18, 2017 / —

Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, lower middle market companies, today announced that it has acquired Captain D’s, the franchisor and operator of 530 Captain D’s restaurants in 21 U.S. states. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The Captain D’s system consists of 227 franchised and 303 company-owned locations with established strongholds in the American Southeast and Midwest. Captain D’s is the nation’s leading restaurant operator in the underpenetrated quick service restaurant (“QSR”) seafood sector. With Captain D’s seafood menu based on ocean-caught fish and a beach-themed dining format, it is uniquely positioned in the QSR market, a sub category that has outgrown the broader restaurant industry since 2011.

“We are very excited to partner with Captain D’s highly-experienced and accomplished management team,” said John McCormack, a Sentinel senior partner. “Captain D’s holds a unique market position and was recently recognized as one of the top 10 brands in America for consumer loyalty. Captain D’s continues to attract younger guests and is the clear category leader. Moreover, its same-store-sales growth over the past decade is in the very top QSR tier regardless of category.”

Captain D’s CEO, Phil Greifeld, a 22-year QSR industry veteran who has led Captain D’s for the past seven years, commented, “Sentinel’s more than two decades of experience in the restaurant franchising sector makes the firm an ideal partner for us as we enter a new phase of expansion. We see significant opportunities to grow inside our existing footprint as well as into new regions. Our brand has never been stronger.”

“Captain D’s provides highly attractive and consistent unit economics for its franchise partners,” added Michael Fabian, a Sentinel partner. “This has fueled substantial growth in new franchise sales and openings over the last several years. We look forward to partnering with Phil and his talented team to help accelerate this growth in years ahead.”

Besides Captain D’s, since its inception, Sentinel has made eight other restaurant franchise investments, including Border Foods, a leading QSR franchisee in the Taco Bell system; Checkers/Rally’s, the largest franchisor and operator of dual drive-thru hamburger QSRs in the U.S.; Falcon Holdings, one of the largest QSR franchisees of Church’s Chicken restaurants; Fazoli’s Group, a franchisor and operator of Italian fast casual restaurants; Huddle House, a leading franchisor of family dining restaurants; Newk’s Eatery, a rapidly growing market leader in the fast casual restaurant segment; Southern California Pizza Company, the largest Pizza Hut QSR franchisee in the greater Los Angeles market; and TGI Friday’s, a global franchisor of casual dining bar and grill restaurants.

About Sentinel Capital Partners
Sentinel Capital Partners specializes in buying and building lower middle market companies in the United States and Canada in partnership with management. Sentinel targets aerospace and defense, business services, consumer, distribution, food and restaurants, franchising, healthcare, and industrial businesses. Sentinel invests in management buyouts, recapitalizations, corporate divestitures, and going-private transactions of established businesses with EBITDA of up to $40 million. Sentinel also invests in special situations, including balance sheet restructurings and operational turnarounds. For more information about Sentinel, visit www.sentinelpartners.com.

About Captain D’s
Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Captain D’s has 530 restaurants in 21 states. Captain D’s is the nation’s leading fast casual seafood restaurant and was named the #1 seafood chain in the QSR 50, ranked by average unit volume. Founded in 1969, Captain D’s has been offering its customers high-quality seafood at reasonable prices in a welcoming atmosphere for more than 48 years. Captain D’s serves a wide variety of seafood that includes freshly prepared entrees and the company’s signature hand-battered fish, which is cooked to order. The restaurants also offer premium-quality, grilled items such as shrimp, and surf and turf, as well as hushpuppies, desserts and freshly brewed, Southern-style sweet tea, a Captain D’s favorite. For more information, please visit www.captainds.com.

Contact: Roland Tomforde
Broadgate Consultants
212-232-2222

SOURCE Sentinel Capital Partners

18 12, 2017

One in Three Americans Have Broken a Phone in Past Year

2017-12-22T04:03:48-05:00December 18th, 2017|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

HARTLAND, Wis.Dec. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/

With the convenience of having a computer in our pocket to access email, listen to music, post on social media, and purchase anything within seconds, we are addicted to our phones now more than ever. With about three-quarters of U.S. adults owning a smartphone*Batteries Plus Bulbs, the nation’s only battery, light bulb, and phone repair franchise, sought to uncover the latest consumer habits and attitudes toward phone repair, care and usage through a nationwide survey. Among the compelling statistics, one in three (31 percent) respondents have broken a phone in the past year. If you’ve broken more than one, you’re not alone! Of that percentage, one in four (22 percent) have broken three or more. Other notable findings include:

Consumers need to be educated on phone repair and battery replacement
In today’s fast-growing market, consumers are surprisingly uneducated about phone repair. Of those surveyed, 59 percent have refrained from fixing a damaged phone because of high costs, waiting times, not knowing where to go, or simple laziness. Next time you break your phone, consider doing research before replacing to help determine your options, such as whether replacing or repairing is right for you. Oftentimes, a quick fix will do the trick instead of purchasing a new phone. For example, if your phone battery is draining too quickly, simply replacing the battery (which costs less than $100) can leave it as good as new.

The poll on how often Americans replace their phone battery reveals that:

  • 79 percent have never replaced their phone battery
  • 24 percent did not know a battery could be replaced
  • 19 percent frequently upgrade their phone versus replacing their phone battery

Consumers value trust and good customer service
77 percent of those surveyed shared that quality service, low prices, and trust are most important when looking for a phone repair provider over quick turnaround, proximity, or branding.

Functionality is key
U.S. consumers now spend five hours per day on mobile devices**, so it’s no wonder that 60 percent of those polled are compelled to fix their broken phone because they can’t see the screen. One in every seven (14 percent) respondents claimed that cracking their phone screen would ruin their day. Having a charged phone is also extremely important:

  • 44 percent of respondents admitted they would give up food delivery services for one year in order to always have a fully-charged phone
  • 27 percent would give up alcoholic beverages
  • 19 percent would give up streaming services
  • 10 percent would give up holiday celebrations including gifts and parties.

Despite the excitement about new iPhone® models, the poll reveals that:

  • 43 percent of those surveyed would not keep the iPhone X if they were gifted it this holiday season
  • 21 percent would sell it for profit
  • 13 percent would trade it for a different phone
  • 9 percent would re-gift it

“From this survey, it’s evident that while the service of phone repair is valued by many Americans, many specific offerings, such as battery replacement, are under-utilized,” said Shawn Budiac, Vice President of Category Management at Batteries Plus Bulbs. “By educating consumers on the ease, efficiency and breadth of repair services, Batteries Plus Bulbs can aid more customers, saving them thousands in new phone costs annually.”

Batteries Plus Bulbs offers in-store We Fix It® Repair Centers, which can repair phones (including the newest models), tablets, e-readers, and mp3 players. Services include battery replacement; screen repair; screen protection; water damage repair; charge port, button, antenna and headphone (audio) jack fixes; and Wi-Fi and wireless data functionality repairs. Repair Centers can also test, condition and rebuild battery packs for rechargeable household and commercial products. With over 700 locations across the nation, you are able to easily schedule a repair appointment online. We Fix It® offers high-quality service, quick turnarounds, and affordable prices. For more information about Batteries Plus Bulbs and We Fix It®, please visit https://www.batteriesplus.com/repair.

This survey was conducted in November, 2017 by Google Surveys online among 1,000 nationally representative Americans ages 18 – 65.

*2017 statistic from Pew Research Center
**Data from analytics firm Flurry

ABOUT BATTERIES PLUS BULBS
Batteries Plus Bulbs, founded in 1988 and headquartered in Hartland, WI, is a leading omni channel retailer of batteries, specialty light bulbs, and phone repair services for the direct-to-consumer and commercial channels. Through a nationwide network of stores, the Company offers a differentiated value proposition of unrivaled product selection, in-stock availability and customer service. Batteries Plus Bulbs is owned by Freeman Spogli, a private equity firm based in Los Angeles and New York City. To learn more about one of Forbes®’ Best Franchises to Buy in America, visit https://www.batteriesplus.com/franchise.

15 12, 2017

United® Real Estate Introduces Sixteen New Franchises to Their Network

2017-12-22T04:00:21-05:00December 15th, 2017|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

Dallas, TX, December 14, 2017 –(PR.com)

United® Real Estate, a fast-growing real estate and franchise organization, welcomes sixteen new offices to its growing national network. The United model provides franchise owners with territory rights and real estate agents with a full-service competitive solution including the latest training, marketing, technology and access to a national referral network.

The following have affiliated with United Real Estate in their respected markets:

United Real Estate | Aiken – Located in Aiken, South Carolina, and owned by Brenda and Patrick Daly

United Real Estate | Central PA – Located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and owned by Sean Kieff

United Real Estate | Chapel Hill – Located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and owned by Tristan Pan

United Real Estate | Charleston – Located in Charleston, South Carolina, and owned by Winston Velpula and Al Heath

United Real Estate | Cleveland – Located in Cleveland, Ohio, and owned by Cherryl Sparling

United Real Estate | Consultants – Located in Bakersfield, California, and owned by Cameron Miller and Jon Takach

United Real Estate | Elite North – Located in Park Ridge, Illinois, and owned by Kamil Nowakowski

United Real Estate | Family – Located in Allen, Texas, and owned by Alex Cho

United Real Estate | Middle TN – Located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and owned by Curran Scarlata and Rick Murr

United Real Estate | Mid-South – Located in Southaven, Mississippi, and owned by Ed and Janet Engelke

United Real Estate | Mt Pleasant – Located in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, and owned by Winston Velpula and Al Heath

United Real Estate | Raynham – Located in Raynham, Massachusetts, and owned by Sam Zonfrillo

United Real Estate | River City – Located in Jacksonville, Florida, and owned by Johnny and Karen Smiley

United Real Estate | Success Arrowhead – Located in Peoria, Arizona, and owned by Byron Short

United Real Estate | Suncoast – Located in Palm Harbor, Florida, and owned by Pam Worthington

United Real Estate | Synergy – Located in Doral, Florida, and owned by Juan Suarez

“United Real Estate continues to demonstrate that our overall agent value proposition enables our brokerage offices to be the best recruiting real estate company of productive real estate agents across the country,” said Peter Giese, president of United Real Estate. “Our national network is growing at an aggressive pace and each new office offers area agents the ability to join a company built upon broker support, 24/7 online training and the opportunity to earn 100-percent commission. We are thrilled to welcome our newest group of talented owners as each brings years of experience and demonstrates an inspiring passion for sharing the United model to help agents in their market find their freedom.”

To learn more about United Real Estate’s franchise opportunities, visit GrowWithUnited.com or call 888-960-0606.

A Closer Look at United Real Estate

United Real Estate – a division of the United Real Estate Group – was founded with the purpose of offering solutions to the challenges facing agents in the residential real estate brokerage industry. Providing the latest training, marketing and technology tools to both agents and brokers under a 100-percent commission strategy, United Real Estate makes it more profitable for an agent to sell real estate and for real estate brokers to leverage a complete system to better grow a successful, thriving real estate brokerage. Named as a “frontrunner” in the real estate industry in 2013, “part of the next generation of real estate brokers” in 2014, as well as being listed in the “Power 200 Most Influential” in 2015, 2016 and 2017 by the Stefan Swanepoel Power 200 TRENDS Report, United Real Estate has more than 70 offices and over 3,100 agents. Through a worldwide franchise solution, United continues to rapidly expand and was named to the Inc 5000 fastest growing private companies in 2015 and 2016. Driven by an unwavering commitment to giving back, a pillar of United’s core values and guiding principles, United Real Estate is proud to support and partner with Autism Speaks, the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization, as United’s charity of choice.

14 12, 2017

Struggling Subway is now facing a franchisee revolt

2017-12-24T12:21:47-05:00December 14th, 2017|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

Subway is staring down at a menu of scary problems that’s way more than a foot long.

The struggling sandwich chain has seen customer traffic plummet a whopping 25 percent over the past five years amid fierce price competition and a slew of scandals that have battered its image, The Post has learned.

In a Nov. 30 memo to franchisees that revealed the stomach-churning drop, Subway’s owners promised $25 million to boost marketing this spring for the company’s 44,000 locations and to bring back a limited-time, $4.99 footlong sandwich promotion.

Subway is concerned that consumers no longer see its sandwiches as a bargain versus its key competitor, McDonald’s. Subway likewise wants to plow into healthier and more natural fare, including wraps and “all-natural turkey,” according to the memo obtained by The Post.

But the crucial footlong deal — aimed squarely at the McDonald’s dollar menu — is in danger because of a revolt by franchise owners, who fret that doubling down on discounts will further shave their already thin profits.

More than 400 of them have signed a petition protesting the two-month footlong deal that’s slated to begin in January.

“The national promotional focus over the past five years … has decimated [us] and left many franchisees unprofitable and even insolvent,” petitioners led by Virginia franchisee Mitesh Raval complained in the Dec. 6 letter to Subway.

A Subway spokeswoman declined to comment on the memo or the petition, although she insisted that most franchisees support the footlong promotion.

“The shareholders do understand the magnitude of this situation,” Subway CEO Suzanne Greco had said in the memo a week earlier, referring to Subway’s private holding company, Doctors Associates, which is controlled by co-founder Peter Buck and the family of the late Fred DeLuca, who co-founded the chain with Buck in 1965.

“However, the shareholders’ commitment to provide these significant additional resources is contingent on solidarity,” said Greco, who is DeLuca’s sister and took over the chain upon DeLuca’s death in 2015.

Subway this month has been calling regional town hall meetings with franchisees, trying to convince them that discounts will prop up profits instead of pinching them.

“The erosion of baseline traffic and related profitability decline is the overwhelming primary issue for our brand,” Subway said in the memo.

Diners have fled Subway amid a slew of public-relations nightmares. In 2013, it got slapped with a suit claiming its footlong heroes measured just 11 inches — a case only recently dismissed by a judge. A year later, it was revealed that Subway’s bread contained a chemical that’s used to make yoga mats. In 2015, pitchman Jared Fogle was sentenced to 15 years in prison on child-porn charges and for crossing state lines for underage sex.

Most recently, Subway was forced to sue a Canadian TV network over an expose that alleged the chicken in its sandwiches was mostly soy filler. The network is standing by its report.

Looking to offset customer defections and minimum wage increases, Greco has lately moved to ax dozens of highly paid “development agents” — contractors who for decades grew restaurant counts in exclusive territories and supervised their day-to-day operations.

With the territories now filled in and growth all but stopped in the US, the millions of dollars paid to each agent will now flow up to corporate, sources said.

“They are taking over territories and these territories are doing worse,” says Yogesh Dave, a former development agent who was terminated in 2016 after overseeing 215 Subway restaurants in northern New Jersey. “Nothing has increased sales. We have a stale food menu.”

Julian Shelton of Ashland, Va., who won the 2014 Subway franchisee of the year award, wrote in last week’s petition that Subway needs to try new flavors like teriyaki glaze and adobo chicken seasoning.

“We need to improve our food and we need to be bold about it,” Shelton said. “We are too cautious with our flavors.”

About Nékter Juice Bar

Founded in 2010, Southern California-based Nékter Juice Bar is a premium, award-winning, modern juice bar concept offering guests a delicious selection of fresh, clean and nutrient-rich juices, smoothies, acai bowls, and healthy snacks at nearly 100 restaurants in the United States. The lifestyle restaurant brand has transformed the juice bar experience, offering total ingredient transparency by eliminating hidden fillers, unnecessary sugars, processed ingredients, and artificial flavors from its entire menu. With an unwavering commitment to authenticity, quality and innovation, Nékter Juice Bar is rooted in the fundamental philosophy that “healthy” can taste great, be easily accessible, and be affordable too.

Now with restaurants in California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Utah, Colorado, and Washington State, Nékter plans to expand nationally to 425 restaurants by 2020. Within the next few years, Nékter will open in: Atlanta, Central California, Chicago, Florida, Louisiana, New Mexico, North and South Carolina Ohio, Tennessee, Tucson, and the Washington D.C.-Maryland-Virginia metropolitan area. Among several recent recognitions are: 2017 “Next 20” Brand to Watch by Nation’s Restaurant News; #217 on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500®; #21; #334 on Inc. Magazine’s 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Company List in 2016. Entrepreneurs, who want to own a business in a thriving health and wellness sector of the restaurant industry, can visit www.nekterjuicebar.com/franchise to learn more.

Contact:
Erin Peacock
Peacock PR
949-939-1872
peacockpr@cox.net