franchise magazine

11 01, 2019

Le Macaron French Pastries Sets Eyes on New York

2019-01-11T15:57:54-05:00January 11th, 2019|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Elegant French Patisserie Franchise Looks to Add 20 New Locations by 2023

NEW YORK — Le Macaron French Pastries, an elegant French patisserie that offers guests the finest, authentic French macarons and pastries, recently announced plans to introduce more than 20 locations in targeted communities throughout New York. The community-focused brand will ignite growth through strategic franchise partnerships and aims to open the new locations within the next five years.

Le Macaron French Pastries currently has more than 50 locations across the nation and is looking to ramp up growth through a selective strategy, focusing on a solid foundation of smart franchise partnerships and tactical site selection. Already finding success in the market is franchisee Frank Kelly whose Yonkers location has been in operation since April 2017.

New York has proven to be the perfect market for Le Macaron French Pastries – the community has been incredibly supportive and the community appreciates the elevated flavors our pastries have to offer,” stated Kelly. “From the locals to the millions of visitors that flock to the city every year, we’ve developed a loyal-fan base with our authentic macarons that are unparalleled in the market. I look forward to watching Le Macaron French Pastries further expand its presence throughout New York.”

Founded by France natives and mother-daughter team Rosalie Guillem and Audrey Saba, Le Macaron French Pastries provides an authentic French experience for Americans nationwide. Upon entering, guests are greeted with brilliant colors and a modern interior complemented with traditional music playing throughout the café. Offering more than 20 flavors of macarons, as well as seasonal flavors, the menu extends to include pastries, gelato, coffee, cakes, éclairs, and more. Known for providing guests with a light dessert with lesser calories, the French patisserie has grown to over 50 locations through strategic franchise partnerships.

New York draws many parallels to our native area of France, being rich in culture with a thriving economy,” stated Rosalie Guillem, CEO and co-founder of Le Macaron French Pastries. “As a prime state for expansion, especially with our versatile mobile cart franchise opportunity, we look forward to increasing our footprint through the Downtown Manhattan area, as well as Williamsburg and Staten Island, with franchise partners to help give all New York residents access to our little bites of heaven known as macarons.”

In larger metropolitan cities, like New York, Le Macaron French Pastries offers a new franchise opportunity which aims to lean into the growing quick-serve and snack brand trend of kiosks, mobile carts, and express locations. As consumers’ on-the-go lifestyle continues to accelerate, Le Macaron French Pastries seeks to capitalize on these captive audiences at malls, airports, sporting events, festivals and other gatherings.

Offering an attractive investment opportunity with limited competition, franchisees can expect an investment ranging from between $91,750 to $127,000 for a mobile cart and $146,000 to $375,500 for a traditional café. All of Le Macaron French Pastries products are made in the kitchen headquarters, eliminating the need for a full kitchen space. Interested parties should have a strong desire to own a business, as well as a passion for the dessert space and success.

For more information on the Le Macaron French Pastries franchise opportunity please visit http://lemacaronfranchise.com/.

About Le Macaron French Pastries

Founded in 2009 by Rosalie Guillem and her daughter Audrey, Le Macaron French Pastries is an elegant French patisserie that offers guests the finest, authentic French macarons and pastries. Headquartered in Sarasota, Fl., the brand began franchising in 2012 and has since grown to more than 50 locations across the U.S. Le Macaron French Pastries is ranked on Inc. 5,000 2016, as well as in the Top 100 Food and Beverage category by Entrepreneur and hold a No. 9 ranking in the baked goods category. For more information, visit http://lemacaron-us.com/.

11 01, 2019

FirstLight Home Care Named to Franchise Times Fast & Serious List

2019-01-11T15:39:41-05:00January 11th, 2019|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Award-winning national home care franchise makes Franchise Times’ annual listing of the smartest growing brands for second straight year

CINCINNATIFirstLight Home Care, a leading national provider of non-medical home care, has been named to the Franchise Times Fast & Serious list, an annual ranking of the smartest growing franchisors based on percentage sales growth, percentage unit growth, dollar sales growth, and numerical unit growth, among other factors.

Ranked on the list for the second consecutive year, FirstLight Home Care reported 20.1 percent sales growth in 2018. FirstLight serves seniors, adults with disabilities, new mothers, veterans, those recovering from surgery and other adults in need of assistance. Their caregivers help with many needs – from personal hygiene and household duties such as cooking, cleaning and running errands to mobility assistance and dementia care.

“Being named to this list for the second year in a row is a testament to the dedication of our entire team, from the staff at home office to our caregivers,” said Jeff Bevis, co-founder and CEO of FirstLight Home Care. “Our company has grown tremendously, but at the same time, we’re focusing on keeping that growth strategic and sustainable. We want people who are passionate about home care owning and working in our offices. That strategy pays off when you look at our employee retention rates, owner satisfaction and the reputation of our company.”

Franchise Times’ Fast & Serious is a ranking of franchises that have staying power in addition to rapid growth. The media outlet developed a proprietary 10-point formula to analyze successful franchise brands based on data sourced from the Franchise Times Top 200+ submissions, the publication’s annual ranking of the largest franchise systems based on revenue. Only companies with system-wide sales above $40 million were considered for this list.

In recent months, FirstLight Home Care has also made the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing, privately held companies, the Franchise Times Top 200+ of the 500 largest franchise companies and Franchise Business Review’s Top 100 Franchises for Innovation and Top Franchises for Veterans lists.

For the complete Franchise Times Fast & Serious list, visit http://www.franchisetimes.com/January-2019/Blaze-Pizza-tops-this-years-Fast-Serious-list-our-annual-ranking-of-the-40-smartest-growing/Fast-Serious-21-30/.

For more information about FirstLight Home Care’s franchise opportunities, visit www.firstlightfranchise.com.

About FirstLight Home Care

FirstLight Home Care is a top rated non-medical home care provider with a network of offices that provides more than 100,000 hours per week in care for more than 4,800 clients in over 34 states. The company has created a new standard in home care by combining best practices with innovative approaches to make them an emerging market leader in a rapidly-growing industry. Their 4,700 caregivers provide companion and personal care services at private residences, assisted living and retirement communities, nursing homes, adult-family homes and group homes. Clients include seniors, new mothers, and individuals recovering from surgery, veterans, adults with disabilities and anyone 18 and over who might just need a little extra care or assistance. Visit www.firstlighthomecare.com to learn more.

10 01, 2019

FASTSIGNS International, Inc. Ranked #1 Franchise Opportunity in Its Category in Entrepreneur Magazine’s 40th Annual Franchise 500

2019-01-10T18:12:39-05:00January 10th, 2019|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Sign, Graphics and Visual Communications Franchisor Recognized for Its Strong Performance and Brand Power

CARROLLTON, Texas — FASTSIGNS International, Inc., franchisor of FASTSIGNS®, the leading sign, graphics and visual communications franchise, has been ranked the #1 franchise opportunity in its category in Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500® for the third consecutive year. Recognized as an invaluable resource for potential franchisees, the Franchise 500® ranks FASTSIGNS as #95 — the only sign, graphics, and visual communications franchise to be recognized in the top 100 — for its outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, and brand power.

“We’re honored to once again be recognized as the leader in our category for the third year in a row. This accomplishment is a testament to the strength of the brand, our franchisees, support team, and the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity,” says Catherine Monson, CEO of FASTSIGNS International, Inc. “FASTSIGNS achieved exceptional results in 2018, another record year for the company, including the signing of 52 franchise agreements as well as a Master Franchise Agreements to expand the brand to Spain, the Balearic Islands, and Gibraltar and a master franchise agreement for Chile. We’re positioned to continue our aggressive worldwide growth this year.”

For any existing business looking to expand into this fast-paced market, FASTSIGNS gives the added support and training needed to make the process smooth. Whether an existing print-based business or a photography studio, FASTSIGNS’ co-brand centers receive the same assistance as any new franchisee, with the added bonus of being able to exclude established revenue streams, outside of the FASTSIGNS core business offering, from future royalty payments. Both the co-brand franchise opportunity and conversion can be started with only $15,000 down on the initial franchise fee.

“As we celebrate 40 years of producing the Franchise 500, it’s a good opportunity to step back and look at how much has changed since that first ranking in 1980,” says Jason Feifer, editor in chief of Entrepreneur. “While the franchise business model has changed little, the strongest franchise brands are constantly evolving and innovating to keep up with changing trends and technology.”

In 2018, FASTSIGNS announced the launch of a special incentive for first responders, including paramedics, emergency medical technicians, police officers, sheriffs, and firefighters which includes a 50-percent reduction on the franchise fee — a savings of $23,750. As part of the International Franchise Association’s (IFA) VetFran program, FASTSIGNS also offers veterans this special incentive. FASTSIGNS is proud to be the only franchisor in its segment to offer a development incentive specifically to first responders and veterans.

To view FASTSIGNS in the full ranking, visit http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500. Results can also be seen in the January/February 2019 issue of Entrepreneur, available on newsstands Jan. 15.

fasts

About FASTSIGNS®

FASTSIGNS International, Inc. is the largest sign and visual communications franchisor in North America and is the worldwide franchisor of almost 700 independently owned and operated FASTSIGNS® centers in nine countries including the U.S., Canada, England, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Grand Cayman, Mexico, Chile, and Australia (where centers operate as SIGNWAVE®).

FASTSIGNS locations provide comprehensive sign and visual graphic solutions to help companies of all sizes and across all industries attract more attention, communicate their message, sell more products, help visitors find their way and extend their branding across all of their customer touch points including décor, events, wearables and marketing materials. Learn more about sign and visual graphic solutions or find a location at fastsigns.com. Follow the brand on Twitter @FASTSIGNS, Facebook at facebook.com/FASTSIGNS or LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fastsigns.

9 01, 2019

Assisted Living Locators Named a 2019 Top Franchise by Franchise Business Review

2019-01-09T16:49:06-05:00January 9th, 2019|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Independent Survey Shows Franchise Owners Are Highly Satisfied with Assisted Living Locator’s Performance

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Franchise Business Review released their “2019 Top Franchises Report” today and have named Assisted Living Locators a top franchise.

Assisted Living Locators offers a no cost placement service for seniors and their families providing expert advice on short-term and long-term care options including in-home care, assisted living, memory care and retirement apartments. It generates revenue from the referral fees paid by the communities.

In 2018, the company exceeded the 100 franchise mark. Assisted Living Locators broke into the triple digits after a decade of consecutive growth, after two years of unprecedented franchise recruitment.  As the first senior placement and referral franchise business in the U.S., the company has pioneered its way to a national presence with 107 franchisees in 33 states and the District of Columbia.

Franchise Business Review, a national franchise market research firm, surveyed over 30,000 franchisees from 310 of today’s leading franchise brands to determine the best franchises of 2019 based 100 percent on franchisee satisfaction. Each survey participant was asked 33 benchmark questions about their franchisor that focused on areas such as leadership, training, and core values as well 16 more personal questions concerning their business lifestyle and overall enjoyment of running their franchise.

“There are thousands of different franchise opportunities available to prospective business owners today, with more popping up every day. It’s a great time to ‘be your own boss’ but it’s also important to do your homework to find the right fit,” says Eric Stites, CEO of Franchise Business Review. “Our independent research of franchisee satisfaction helps entrepreneurs discover the top franchise opportunities in every industry category – including fitness, travel, food, services, and retail. This year’s Franchisee Satisfaction Award winners truly are the best-of-the-best

“We are honored to be named a 2019 Top Franchise by Franchise Business Review,” said Angela Olea, RN, CEO of Assisted Living Locators.  “Assisted Living Locators’ business model of providing comprehensive training and support, as well as helping franchisees track and boost financial performance ensures that our owners are successful. We truly value the relationships we build with our franchisees and this award validates our commitment to franchisee satisfaction.”

About Assisted Living Locators

Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Assisted Living Locators offers a no cost nationwide elder care referral and placement service for in-home companion care, independent retirement options, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing facilities. The company generates revenue from the referral fees paid by the facilities.

9 01, 2019

Backed by an Investment from Level 5 Capital Partners, Big Blue Swim School Prepares to Grow Through Franchising to 150 Units by 2020

2019-01-09T06:58:36-05:00January 9th, 2019|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Big Blue Swim School’s consumer proposition, proprietary technology and real estate opportunity primes the brand to become the national swim school leader

CHICAGO — Not many franchisors can give credit to the start of their business to losing to Michael Phelps. A competitive swimmer at the University of Michigan, ranked fifth in the world in backstroke and fourth in the U.S., Chris DeJong trained under the same coach as Phelps. For the 2008 Olympics, DeJong finished behind Phelps and missed qualifying by just four-tenths of a second.

“To be perfectly honest, I’m pretty sure if I had made the team, I would have not left the sport with the hunger and desire necessary to start a business. I’m almost certain that personal disappointment fueled the next step in my career,” said DeJong, Big Blue Swim School President and CMO. “I was able to experience swimming at every level from age group swimming to international competitions. I left the sport somewhat disappointed with my competitive swimming career and had a unique perspective on everything that was wrong with swimming, especially at the entry point.”

DeJong soon moved to Chicago and partnered with John Lonergan, a Big Ten all-academic swimmer at the University of Iowa, to coach a local swim team in Evanston, teach lessons and run the aquatics program at North Shore Country Club in Glenview. The duo developed great contacts during this time, including Chicago Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts (now a member of the Big Blue Swim School board) and, through their combined swimming and teaching experience, created a curriculum focused on achieving fast results. DeJong and Lonergan opened their first standalone swim school concept in Wilmette in 2009, which grew from 600 to 2,200 families essentially overnight. They opened locations in Buffalo Grove (2015), Niles (2016), Hoffman Estates (2017), and will open a fifth location in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood in March 2019.

“From a consumer standpoint, Big Blue Swim School‘s four points of execution — explain, demonstrate, mimic, correct — allow our child engagement specialists to deliver an experience that actually helps kids learn how to swim,” said DeJong. “Our proprietary distance-based methodology ensures that we are measuring our students’ progress in the ways that actually matter and more quickly achieve better results. Parents are willing to invest in this because it’s a vital life skill, and they are able to rapidly see not only that their investment has paid off, but more importantly, that their children know how to keep themselves safe in and around water.”

Level 5 Capital Partners Sees Big Blue as the Next Big Brand

In 2017, Level 5 Capital Partners, an investment company that grew from one Core Power Yoga studio to become the third largest national yoga studio operator in less than a decade, acquired a majority stake in Big Blue Swim School, and plans to grow the brand through franchising. 

“The consumer proposition, lifetime value of each member and real estate opportunity were what drew us to Big Blue Swim School,” said Chris Kenny, Big Blue Swim School CEO and Managing Partner of Level 5 Capital Partners, adding that the $20 billion swimming lessons market*, the brand’s results-oriented curriculum and the real estate in high-traffic areas made available by Amazon and other online businesses were contributing factors. 

Big Blue Swim School’s real estate footprint is generally between 10,000 to 12,000 square feet, with two 91-degree pools, which allows owners to map out class times by age group and make it easy for parents of multiple children to attend classes at the same time. Because teaching positions are filled by full-time child engagement specialists that receive benefits, Big Blue Swim School has less staff turnover, which saves the franchisee time and money and makes parents and children feel more comfortable.

Competitors in the swim school space typically connect new franchise owners to local real estate brokers who source Class C or Class D locations in warehouse areas, while Big Blue Swim School has a team of eight dealmakers canvassing the country to identify trade areas that fit the brand’s member profile.

“Competitors in the space are primarily focused on getting a good deal on rent, and are finding spaces in warehouse districts that are outside of the daily commute for parents. We are taking the opposite approach by using data on our current customers from Lesson Buddy, demographics, psychographics, traffic patterns and more, to narrow down the options to the top three sites to present to franchise owners,” said Kenny. “We are literally knocking on doors of properties that fit our profile, even if there’s a current tenant, to make sure we have the very best location. As an experience-based business that drives a lot of traffic to shopping centers, Big Blue Swim School is very attractive to landlords. The right real estate is pivotal to our success from a consumer standpoint, and our turnkey, hands-on approach to sourcing real estate and managing the process from lease negotiation through the construction makes it very easy for franchisees to open locations.”

The investment range for a Big Blue Swim School is $1,767,500 to $3,646,000. The brand is looking for franchise owners to develop in Florida, Texas, Southern California, Denver, Charlotte, Northern New Jersey, Georgia and Washington, D.C., the brand is set to add 50 locations in 2019 on the way to meeting its vision of 150 units by 2020.

Big Blue Swim School will support new franchise owners in a number of other ways, like lead generation through a corporate call center, and marketing through the required franchisee marketing fund, to help franchisees save money on labor and ensure that they are able to focus on running their day-to-day operations. 

“Swim schools stack up financially against other top tier franchises but offer a much more rewarding opportunity, and have a longer lifetime customer value,” said Scott Thompson, Chief Development Officer at Big Blue and Level 5 Capital Partners. “We have a strong Item 19, but beyond that, we are attracting people who want to make a difference in their communities and be a part of life’s big moments for families. When you’re part of the community, helping children learn to swim and giving parents peace of mind, it gives you a real sense of pride. You’re not just investing in a business, you’re investing in a lifestyle and a community, and franchising gives us the opportunity to do that on a larger scale.”

A key brand differentiator that will help the team achieve the expected growth is the brand’s proprietary software developed by Chief Technology Officer Casey Morford. Lesson Buddy leverages membership, sales data and operational insights to make business recommendations, including when and where to have class times to maximize return, as well as monitoring the chemical makeup of the pool itself. 

“Lesson Buddy is a tool that systematizes the operations for our franchise owners and gives the franchisor access to data across the entire system,” said Kenny. “If a location has an issue with its pool, the equipment functions with smart technology that’s connected to our software, so we are able to deploy facilities managers to the site to take care of any issues. Plus, the parents love being able to easily schedule lessons and will soon view their children’s progress on the app, which also relieves the franchisee of having to hire an employee to manage class scheduling for members.”

With a best-in-class product, strong brand leadership, a growth model and proprietary technology, the brand is set to add 50 locations in 2019 on the way to meeting its vision of 150 units by 2020.

“We are not treating this business like a normal franchise brand,” said Kenny. “With our network of interested multi-unit franchisees, the consumer value proposition and the business opportunity, we anticipate seeing immediate and long-term growth for Big Blue Swim School.” 

ABOUT BIG BLUE SWIM SCHOOL

Big Blue Swim School was founded in 2009 by competitive swimmers Chris DeJong and John Lonergan. The first location opened in Wilmette, followed by Niles, Buffalo Grove and Hoffman Estates. In 2017, Level 5 Capital Partners acquired a majority stake in the brand, and is rolling out an aggressive strategy to grow through franchising to 150 locations by 2020. Big Blue Swim School’s real estate footprint, proprietary technology Lesson Buddy, coupled with its practice of employing full-time child engagement specialists that teach based on a proprietary distance-based swimming methodology sets Big Blue up for long-term success. 

4 01, 2019

Planet Fitness to Open “Judgement Free” Club in Mount Pleasant

2019-01-04T20:34:03-05:00January 4th, 2019|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

New location to offer non-intimidating Judgement Free Zone®, extremely low prices, free fitness training included in all monthly memberships, and more

MOUNT PLEASANT, Pa. — Planet Fitness, one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the U.S. and home of the Judgement Free Zone®, today announced it will open its first location in Mount Pleasant, at 123 Crossroads Rd in the fall of 2019.

The 10,000 square foot Mount Pleasant Planet Fitness will offer state of the art cardio machines and strength equipment, 30-Minute Express Circuit, fully equipped locker rooms with day lockers and showers, numerous flat screen televisions, HydroMassage loungers*, massage chairs*, tanning beds, a Total Body Enhancement booth*, and more.

“We’re excited to bring a Judgement Free experience to Mount Pleasant, where residents can break a sweat for just $10 a month,” said Sharon Lomasney, Franchise Partner of United PF Partners, a leading Planet Fitness Franchisee Group that currently operates 115 locations across ten states.

Planet Fitness prides itself on providing a high-quality experience at an exceptional value and being home of the Judgement Free Zone®, where members experience a hassle-free, non-intimidating environment, for only $10 a month. Membership includes a variety of other benefits, including free small group fitness instruction by a certified trainer through the PE @ PF® program. In addition, as a member appreciation gesture, Planet Fitness provides free pizza on the first Monday of every month, and free bagels on the second Tuesday of every month while supplies last, as a reminder that it’s okay to treat yourself.

“This new club will provide the Mount Pleasant community a comfortable environment with top-notch, brand-name cardio and strength equipment, where a lasting, active lifestyle can be built,” added David Lomasney, Franchise Partner of United PF Partners.

The PF Black Card® membership, which is $21.99 a month, includes additional amenities such as the ability to bring a guest every day at no additional charge, access to all 1,600+ Planet Fitness locations, as well as access to massage beds and chairs and tanning, among other benefits*.

*PF Black Card® amenities may vary by location but are included in Mount Pleasant.

About United PF Partners

United PF Partners is the largest Planet Fitness franchise group with over 115 clubs across Alabama, Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia.  United PF has development rights to build new clubs across the Midwest, South, Mid-Atlantic, and Southwest regions.

About Planet Fitness

Founded in 1992 in Dover, NH, Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the United States by number of members and locations. As of September 30, 2018, Planet Fitness had more than 12.2 million members and 1,646 stores in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Panama and Mexico. The Company’s mission is to enhance people’s lives by providing a high-quality fitness experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment, which we call the Judgement Free Zone®. More than 95% of Planet Fitness stores are owned and operated by independent business men and women.

2 01, 2019

Massage Envy And Cortiva Institute Forge National Partnership

2019-01-02T18:38:54-05:00January 2nd, 2019|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Strengthens career pathways for students

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Massage Envy, the leading provider of therapeutic massage and skin care services, has entered into a partnership with Cortiva Institute, the country’s largest group of dedicated massage therapy and skin care schools, with 29 campuses in 12 states.

This partnership paves the way for broad collaboration between Massage Envy franchisees and their local Cortiva Institute campuses to both enrich the student experience and support strong employment outcomes. Creating opportunities for students to interview for positions in Massage Envy’s 1,150+ franchised locations in 49 states—including Stretch Service Provider positions after students have completed 300 hours of their program (where allowable by state law)–is just one way this partnership creates more employment opportunities for students before and after graduation.

“Our growth is fueled by talented, caring therapists and estheticians, and this national partnership gives Massage Envy franchised locations access to graduates who have received an outstanding education,” said Joe Magnacca, Massage Envy CEO. “We’re dedicated to helping professional service providers build rewarding, long-term careers in the industry, and we look forward to working with Cortiva Institute to provide students with more support to do just that.”

In addition, Cortiva Institute will promote Massage Envy’s commitment to self-care as part of their curriculum, introducing students to the importance of self-care early on. “For years, Cortiva has provided our students with the highest level of training and the best career opportunities, so partnering with Massage Envy franchisees who are collectively the industry’s largest employer makes perfect sense,” said Steve Salzinger, President of Cortiva Institute. “With an alumni network over 100,000 strong, Cortiva Institute prepares more Licensed Massage Therapists and Estheticians than any other school.  Our commitment to excellence helps ensure that students are confident and ready to meet Massage Envy’s standards for quality and professionalism.”

In the coming year, Massage Envy franchised locations are expected to hire more than 3,500 professional massage therapists and estheticians.

About Massage Envy

Massage Envy, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a national franchisor and, through its franchise locations, is the leading provider of therapeutic massage and skincare services. The Massage Envy franchise system is, collectively, the largest employer of massage therapists and estheticians, with more than 35,000 dedicated wellness professionals that provide best-in-class service to over 1.65 million members. Founded in 2002, Massage Envy has more than 1,150 franchise locations in 49 states that have together delivered more than 100 million massages and facials. For more information, visit www.massageenvy.com, or follow us on Twitter @MassageEnvy and Facebook www.facebook.com/MassageEnvy.

About Cortiva Institute

Cortiva Institute is among the largest health and wellness schools in the country with a focus on graduating licensed massage therapy and skin care professionals for placement into the $3 trillion healthcare industry. Cortiva Institute is a subsidiary of Steiner Leisure – a portfolio company of L Catterton, one of the largest consumer-focused private equity firms in the world, with over $15 billion under management. For more information please visit http://www.cortiva.edu/ or follow us on Instagram at #CortivaInstitute.

31 12, 2018

Your Neighborhood Breakfast Place Introduces new Iced Coffee and decadent S’mores Hot Chocolate

2018-12-31T18:18:41-05:00December 31st, 2018|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

OKLAHOMA CITY — Jimmy’s Egg® LLC, launched its new Toasted Marshmallow iced coffee and decadent S’mores Hot Chocolate this season at participating locations. The Toasted Marshmallow Iced Coffee is part of the new iced coffee lineup introduced this past summer that includes three additional flavors to choose from including Cinnamon Roll, Chocolate Fudge and Original.

We continue to evolve our menu and offer a variety of unique and traditional breakfast items and beverages like the iced coffees and flavored hot chocolate. “We are excited to continue expanding our menu and focus on items we know our customers want,” says Kevin Burke, President of Jimmy’s Egg®.

Jimmy’s Egg partners with suppliers dedicated to providing quality products to create delicious menu items for the brand.  Iced Coffees created with Monin® Gourmet Flavored Syrups, Tropicana® Pure Premium Orange Juice and S&D Gourmet Coffee are just a few examples of products used to create a beverage category to satisfy everyone.

About Jimmy’s Egg®:

The first Jimmy’s Egg® was founded by Loc Le and opened its doors for business in Oklahoma City in 1980.  Mr. Le grew Jimmy’s Egg® from a single restaurant to the 60 unit chain it is today and remains involved as Chairman of the Board. The restaurant chain has won Best Breakfast awards countless times in multiple markets and recently made headlines in the 2016 Restaurant Business Magazine’s Future 50 as one of the fastest-growing small chains in the U.S.

Jimmy’s Egg® began actively franchising in 2008 and is rapidly expanding to new markets opening both company and franchise restaurants. Jimmy’s Egg expects to open 5-8 new restaurants over the next 12 months in Kansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. For additional information about Jimmy’s Egg franchises visit www.jimmysegg.com. Jimmy’s Egg® is based in Oklahoma City and is privately owned and operated.

27 12, 2018

Right at Home Franchises Recognized With Caring.com’s “Caring Stars of 2019” Award

2018-12-27T17:31:07-05:00December 27th, 2018|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Right at Home Leads Nation for Most Winning Listings

OMAHA, Neb. — Caring.com, a trusted resource for families to find in-home care for their senior loved ones, released its annual “Caring Stars of 2019” list, a reliable industry source of information that showcases the best senior care around the country every year. The list is based on consumer ratings and reviews and features the top in-home care agencies in the United States.

This year, Caring.com is also highlighting those organizations that made the “Caring Super Stars of 2019” list. These are businesses that received the Caring Stars award in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Right at Home, one of the nation’s leading providers of home care for seniors and adults with disabilities, is thrilled to announce that of the 446 in-home care agencies that received the Caring Stars of 2019 award, 141 of them are Right at Home agencies. Also, 50 in-home care agencies received the Caring Super Stars of 2019 award, and of those, 22 are Right at Home agencies, more than any other company. This makes Right at Home No. 1 in the nation.

“This year, we more than doubled our presence on this list of the nation’s top-rated in-home care agencies,” said Right at Home President and CEO Brian Petranick. “To go from 61 locations being recognized by Caring.com in 2018 to 141 locations in 2019 proves our dedication to providing the best quality and personalized care that’s possible.”

In-home care agencies that made the 2019 Caring Stars list had to meet exceptional criteria. They must have had 10 or more consumer reviews on their Caring.com listing by the qualification deadline of Oct. 15, 2018, and must have had an overall average rating of 4.5 stars or higher on a scale of 1 to 5. Old reviews were not allowed to be part of the qualifying criteria. The in-home care agencies had to have three or more reviews on their Caring.com listing dated between Oct. 15, 2017, and Oct. 15, 2018. At least one of those reviews needed to have a five-star rating, and at least one of those reviews had to have been posted in 2018.

Significantly, in order to qualify, brands also had to respond to all negative reviews on their listing. Negative reviews counted as those that only had one or two stars.

“Congratulations to these in-home care agencies for earning such high praise from their clients and clients’ family members,” said Jim Rosenthal, Caring.com CEO. “Achieving the Caring Stars award or Caring Super Stars award is a distinction worthy of significant celebration and promotion — as it speaks volumes about the difference these home care agencies are making in serving older adults. We applaud their accomplishment!”

The remarkable impact Right at Home makes is provided through its proprietary care delivery system, called RightCare. RightCare is “the Right People doing the Right Things the Right Way for the Right Reason.” Right at Home is committed to providing an individualized RightCare experience for every client to improve their quality of life, and accolades like these give credence to the exceptional work Right at Home franchisees and their staffs and caregivers are doing every day to serve the needs of seniors and adults with disabilities.

The recent Caring Stars awards top off a significant year in 2018 for the Right at Home brand. Right at Home opened a conversion program for independent home care businesses. The brand also launched its inaugural Professional Caregivers Week in November to showcase their appreciation for caregivers and bring attention to the profession. With more than 500 locations in over 40 states and eight countries, Right at Home is positioned to continue dominating the in-home senior care market in 2019.

ABOUT RIGHT AT HOME

Founded in 1995, Right at Home offers in-home companionship and personal care and assistance to seniors and adults with a disability who want to continue to live independently. Local Right at Home offices are independently owned and operated and directly employ and supervise all caregiving staff, each of whom is thoroughly screened, trained, and bonded/insured prior to entering a client’s home. Right at Home’s global office is based in Omaha, Nebraska, with more than 500 franchise locations in the U.S. and seven other countries. Right at Home is the highest-ranked senior care franchise opportunity on Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500 List in 2018, coming in at No. 49 overall. In 2018, Forbes Magazine ranked Right at Home the No. 1 franchise to own under $150,000.

ABOUT CARING.COM

With three million unique visitors to its website monthly, Caring.com is a leading senior care resource for family caregivers seeking information and support as they care for aging parents, spouses, and other loved ones. Headquartered in San Mateo, CA, Caring.com provides helpful caregiving content, online support groups, and a comprehensive Senior Care Directory for the United States, with more than 150,000 consumer ratings and reviews and a toll-free senior living referral line at (800) 325-8591. Connect with Caring.com on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and/or YouTube.

21 12, 2018

Cartridge World Offers Top Tips to Reduce Spending

2018-12-21T18:45:16-05:00December 21st, 2018|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Global Printing Experts ‘Gifts’ Advice for Shredding Printing Cost This Holiday Season

MCHENRY, Ill. — As the year comes to a close, businesses nationwide are looking for ways to trim down spending –deciphering how to decrease overhead expenses and increase the bottom line to prepare for 2019.  In hopes of helping small businesses efficiently cut costs, Cartridge World, a global franchise network and recognized leader in printers, printer services and cartridges, is offering their top insights on simple ways companies can invest in the right products for their business and reduce wasteful spending. 

Whether it be investing in a multi-functional printer or implementing a printing policy, Cartridge World’s network of more than 300 stores, recognized as the local experts, are here to help. By taking the time to understand each customer’s specific needs, Cartridge World strives to help consumers save money while investing in dependable products that won’t hike spending in the long run.

  • Invest in a Multi-Function Printer – Most small businesses are doing more than just printing. Scanning, copying and faxing are also crucial aspects of running a business and there is no need to have three different machines to handle each of these tasks. Invest in a multi-function printer to increase efficiency while decreasing the cost of maintenance for multiple devices.
  • Explore Money-Saving Options – Small businesses can further explore budget-saving printer options such as Cartridge World’s “Why Buy A Printer?” program to ensure quality equipment while not breaking the bank. This program allows for companies to receive a business class printer(s) and multi-function devices with all printer maintenance and on-site service included at no additional cost in exchange for the purchasing of toner cartridges at Cartridge World.
  • Understand Your Printing Needs – Matching the right printer to a business’s needs is also essential in reducing print-related expenses. Inkjet printers are best for low-volume and color printing. However, laser printers are generally less expensive to operate – as much as 70 percent less – and can print at higher volumes.
  • Create an Office Print Policy – Office print policies can help employees become more aware of their printing habits. The best print policies will create user guidelines to print less and spend less where possible. This can include anything from encouraging double-sided printing to promoting digital copies over paper copies.
  • Don’t Overpay for Delivery – Often what may appear to be a lower-priced printer cartridge can end up being more expensive after inflated delivery fees. Make sure you aren’t overpaying for delivery and that cartridges will still be reasonably-priced even after delivery.

“At Cartridge World, we understand that with the chaotic nature of running a business, it can be easy to miss what may seem like ‘small expenses.’ Yet, these small changes can make a significant difference on your business’s bottom line,” said Mark Pinner, CEO of Cartridge World North America. “With the new year right around the corner, our goal is to help small businesses optimize their printing to help them save money and start 2019 off with a little extra change in their pockets.”

In 2003, Cartridge World opened its first store in the United States and now has over 300 stores in North America and over 600 worldwide in 30 countries. With its sights set on adding nearly 3,000 stores to its system by 2019, Cartridge World is looking to expand its presence and clearly define itself as the global leader in ink and toner cartridge sales, printers, printing supplies, and printer maintenance for home and office customers.

About Cartridge World

Cartridge World is the global leader in high-quality cartridges, printers, printer services and advice for both the home and office customer. Stores offer customers a tremendous cost-saving alternative to printing, offering a 30-percent discount over full-priced OEM cartridges and a 100-percent satisfaction guarantee. Cartridge World has more than 600 franchised retail locations in over 30 countries. Cartridge World was recently ranked on Entrepreneur Magazine’s 2016 Franchise 500 list and No. 78 on Franchise Direct’s list of the Top 100 Global Franchises and listed by the Silicon Review as one of the ’50 Most Admired Companies’ of 2016.