owning a franchise

7 01, 2018

Tropical Smoothie Cafe Signs Franchise Agreement for 26 New Restaurants in Texas and Georgia

2018-01-07T03:46:31-05:00January 7th, 2018|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Tropical Smoothie Cafe, the leading fast casual cafe concept known for its better-for-you food and smoothies with a tropical twist, announced today its largest franchisee DYNE Hospitality Group has signed a multi-unit agreement that will bring 26 new cafes to the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas and Savannah, Georgia markets. The brand has made significant strides with franchise development and is experiencing tremendous momentum on the heels of a successful 2017, with their aggressive efforts resulting in the execution of more than 180 agreements.

Anchored by existing franchisees Glen Johnson and Nick Crouch, DYNE Hospitality Group will bring 22 Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations to Dallas-Fort Worth and four to Savannah over the next several years, with the two cafes slated to open in Fort Worth during the first quarter of 2018.

“2017 was a year of incredible growth for us, as we significantly expanded Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s presence in several markets across the country,” said Mike Rotondo, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe. “With Glen Johnson and Nick Crouch joining forces and the execution of DYNE’s 26-unit deal for new locations in Texas and Georgia, we’re confident that we’ll not only sustain, but surpass, last year’s success in 2018.”

Johnson and Crouch merged their entities in December 2017 to form DYNE Hospitality Group, which now stands as Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s largest franchisee. The now partners are two of the brand’s top-performing operators and have continued to expand their portfolios since joining the company more than five years ago. Their decades of experience and ongoing success in the industry have inspired DYNE’s mission, which is to create opportunities through operational excellence, a practice they’ve learned through their partnership with Tropical Smoothie Cafe.

“With a proven business model, unparalleled service, wide menu variety and incredible corporate support, it’s no wonder Tropical Smoothie Cafe has established itself as a leader in the fast casual segment,” said Glen Johnson, Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchisee and co-CEO of DYNE Hospitality Group. “I’ve continued to grow my business since signing my first agreement in 2011 and have watched firsthand the brand consistently achieve tremendous success. Nick has followed a similar path and with our strong desire to open several more Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations, a partnership between us was a natural fit.”

Today, DYNE Hospitality Group owns and operates 41 Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations throughout Florida, Georgia, Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma. The company has an additional 12 in development that will open in 2018 and set an overall goal to have 100 operating cafes in five years.

“Glen and I are eager to combine our experience and resources to build an exceptional company and further fuel Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s growth nationwide,” added Nick Crouch, Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchisee and co-CEO of DYNE Hospitality Group.

The food and smoothie franchise currently has franchise opportunities across the U.S. in markets such as Indianapolis, Kansas City, Houston, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis and Columbus, among others. Fueled by its ongoing product innovation and consistent positive comp sales, Tropical Smoothie Cafe has experienced a surge of franchise development throughout the state that reinforces the brand’s role as a leader in the fast casual segment. By 2020, Tropical Smoothie Cafe plans to have 1,000 stores open across the U.S.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe is looking to add qualified franchisees to its growing brand. Candidates should have business experience; $125,000 in liquid assets and a minimum net worth of $350,000; and an initial investment of between $222,770 and $525,400. The better-for-you food franchise currently boasts an average unit volume (AUV) of more than $662,000 — the highest in the company’s 20-year history — with the top 50 percent reporting an AUV of more than $846,000.

For more information about opening your own Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise, please visit www.tropicalsmoothiefranchise.com.

More About AdvantaClean

Founded in 1994 as a contracting business handling cleanup and repairs in South Florida, AdvantaClean, now headquartered in Huntersville, N.C., is the leading national franchised provider of Light Environmental Services ™ in the country. The company currently ranks 85th on Entrepreneur Magazine’s fastest-growing-franchises list, and is among Franchise Business Review’s Top 50 in franchisee-satisfaction ratings. In 2013–14, USA Today and the International Franchise Association recognized AdvantaClean as a Top Franchise for Military Veterans. Today, more than 230 AdvantaClean franchised territories operate in 33 states.

7 01, 2018

Restoration 1® Celebrates Milestone Year in 2017

2018-01-07T03:38:49-05:00January 7th, 2018|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

WACO, Texas 

Recognizing another record-setting year, Restoration 1®, one of the fastest-growing and most-trusted restoration franchises in North America, is ringing in the New Year with momentum from an aggressive franchise and service expansion in 2017. Highlights from last year included the acquisition of bluefrog Plumbing + Drain®the addition of key members to the leadership team, and growing Restoration 1 by 70 locations across the United States.

With a goal to continue aggressively growing the brand, and after welcoming their largest training class in history, Restoration 1 expanded to 31 states last year. The number of open locations grew from 106 to 176, with the largest area of growth in North Carolina.

Restoration 1 also expanded its service offerings with the introduction of the Contents Cleaning Program in 2017. A service that restores customer belongings after damages, the program allows participating franchisees to add an additional revenue generator to their existing business while offering expanded services to customers.

Last July also marked a key milestone for the brand as Restoration 1 acquired a complimentary service brand, Phoenix-based bluefrog Plumbing + Drain (bluefrog).Gary Findley, CEO of Restoration 1 and bluefrog, has started replicating the process used to grow Restoration 1 to similarly expand bluefrog across the United States.

“We celebrated another year full of monumental growth and development,” said Findley. “We reached new milestones with our national presence. The acquisition of bluefrog marked an exciting time for our team and an immense opportunity for our franchise networks across both brands. With our talented franchisees and dedicated corporate staff, we expect both brands to continue to push the boundaries of the restoration, remediation, and plumbing world in 2018.”

The leadership team expanded to help service both brands as well. Kurt Lee Hurley was hired as Vice President and Director of Marketing for both Restoration 1 and bluefrog, Thomas Dougherty joined as the Vice President of Sales Training, Todd Bingham assumed the duties of Vice President of Business Development, and Dan Thrush was appointed as Restoration 1 Franchise Consultant.

Restoration 1 was also honored by Entrepreneur when the brand earned its highest ranking in company history on the prestigious Franchise 500® list where it jumped from #383 in 2016 to #96 in 2017. Additionally, Restoration 1 earned its first placement on Entrepreneur’s Fastest Growing Franchises List when they ranked #72.

Restoration 1 logo

About Restoration 1®

Founded in 2008, Restoration 1 is an award-winning franchise that specializes in a wide array of emergency mitigations, restoration and reconstructions services. An industry innovator, the Texas-based company uses advanced technologies and tools to perform restoration for both residential and commercial properties that have been damaged due to water, smoke, fire, mold, storms and more. There are more than 140 locations open and in development throughout the U.S. with plans to expand to more than 500 locations nationwide in the next four years. For more information about Restoration 1, visit www.restoration1.com.

About bluefrog Plumbing + Drain®

Founded in 2014 and based in Phoenix, Ariz., bluefrog Plumbing + Drain has been recognized as a trusted name in plumbing repair and installation for years. With a focus on helping each franchise partner build a profitable fleet of service vehicles in their local markets, bluefrog’s franchise partners are supported by an executive team with decades of experience in both the plumbing and franchise industries. For more information, visit www.bluefrogfranchise.com.

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Media Contact:

Morgan Butler

BizCom Associates

(903) 285-8662

morgan@bizcompr.com

7 01, 2018

BizCom Associates Kicks Off 2018 With Gold’s Gym Account

2018-01-07T03:35:37-05:00January 7th, 2018|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

PLANO, Texas (January 4, 2018) – Happy New Year! We’ve joined a gym!

More specifically, BizCom Associates, an award-winning Dallas-Fort Worth PR and marketing communications agency, has announced the addition of Gold’s Gym Franchising LLC to the client roster for 2018.

“As for resolutions, this news is all about getting bigger,” said Monica Feid, President of BizComPR. “Gold’s Gym is the undeniable icon for the fitness industry. And today, more than 50 years later, the franchise network is in the best shape ever. With an EBIDTA of 20.73% – a best among any franchisor we’ve ever worked with at BizCom – we are thrilled to be chosen to share that story as the franchise network continues to expand in the U.S. and abroad.”

Headquartered in Dallas, Gold’s Gym includes more than 700 locations around the world, an A-list leadership team, and the success of its new prototype opening in rapid order. The organization, a legend in its field, launched in 1965 and continues to redefine the industry. In 2018, the company is targeting aggressive franchise development to add more locations across the U.S. and to expand its presence in Europe.

“It’s a huge plus how celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dwayne Johnson and John Cena have made Gold’s Gym famous over the years. But we are just as motivated by the success stories that are happening every day at franchise locations around the world,” Feid said. “That’s what makes our role in supporting the expansion of Gold’s Gym, a titan of the fitness industry, to even bigger heights truly magical.”

About BizCom Associates

Established in 1999, BizCom Associates specializes in helping international business leaders, entrepreneurs and franchise companies promote their products and services around the world. The firm’s PR division, BizComPR, counsels a range of clients such as Dwyer Group, Inc., Edible Arrangements, Restoration 1, Solera, Red Mango Yogurt Café Smoothie & Juice Bar, GiGi’s Cupcakes, Mr. Gatti’s, Working Solutions and Explore Horizons.

The firm’s publishing division, BizComPress, provides book publishing, website and multi-media production services.

More information is available at bizcompr.com.

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Media Contact

Monica Feid

BizCom Associates

(972) 743-7230

monicafeid@bizcompr.com

7 01, 2018

Dwyer Group Announces Largest Women in the Trades Scholarship Class

2018-01-07T03:30:14-05:00January 7th, 2018|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

WACO, Texas (January 4, 2018) – Dwyer Franchising, LLC (“Dwyer Group”), one of the world’s largest franchising companies of trade service brands, has announced the largest Women in the Trade (WITT) Scholarship class since the program was launched in 2012 by Dina Dwyer-Owens, co-chair of Dwyer Group. Eight recipients were awarded a scholarship for the upcoming 2018 spring semester for their outstanding work, experience and passion for their chosen service trades industry.

The WITT initiative is one of the most recognizable efforts to educate and promote the hiring of women for traditionally male-dominated roles in the trades industry. The scholarships are available to women working towards a career in the trades, to students studying for a career in the trades, or to front-line female employees at franchise locations for any of Dwyer Group’s service brands. To-date the WITT program has awarded a total of $49,000 to 35 scholarship recipients.

 

“We are thrilled to see this program continue to grow year after year,” said Dwyer-Owens. “These eight women awarded the scholarships have shown their commitment to advancing their careers in the service trades, and we here at Dwyer Group are proud to contribute to their continued success.”

The 2018 WITT spring recipients include two-time recipient Brenda Hart of Dacano, CO, who is working towards a career in HVAC. Hart has come a long way from an office worker and is now halfway complete with her HVAC certification. She credits her change of career to watching Dwyer-Owens on an episode of Undercover Boss episode, which aired six years ago.

Scholarship recipients also include: Lauren Cassa of Hamilton, ON, Cheyenne Benge of Yakima, WA, and Shelley Malloy of Bath, MI, pursuing careers in HVAC; Lubelia Gocool of Phoenix, AZ, pursuing a career in restoration; Jacqueline Chouanard of Oshawa, ON, pursuing a master appliance repair technician certification; and Kristen Vance and Mary Joan Millane of Suwanee, GA, both enrolling in courses to become Certified remodeling Project Managers.

 

Gocool, Chouanard, Vance, Millane and Hart are all employed by franchisees of Dwyer Group brands.

 

“The need for skilled service tradespeople is at an all-time high and at Dwyer Group we are focused on ways to recruit dedicated and high-quality people for these jobs,” said Dwyer-Owens. “The WITT scholarships are just a starting point for these women as they begin to make great strides within their desired trade industry.”

The WITT scholarship is open to women 18 and older interested in pursuing a career in the trades and covers tuition, books, travel and/or fees. Funds can be applied to any accredited trade or technical school or certification program in the United States or Canada for specialties including: HVAC, plumbing, electrical repair, glass repair and replacement, appliance repair, restoration, painting, landscaping, residential cleaning or handyman services.

Candidates are evaluated based upon financial needs, previous work experience and their passion for their chosen industry. For more information and to apply, visit:http://www.dwyergroup.com/women-in-trades.asp or email WITT@dwyergroup.com.

 

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For more information, contact:

Cortney Haygood, BizCom Associates

(469) 442-7152/ Cortney@BizComPR.com

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

7 01, 2018

Sonic Reports First Fiscal Quarter 2018 Earnings Per Share Growth

2018-01-07T03:21:27-05:00January 7th, 2018|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

OKLAHOMA CITY–(BUSINESS WIRE)

Sonic Corp. (NASDAQ: SONC), the nation’s largest chain of drive-in restaurants, today announced results for its first fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2017.

Key highlights of the company’s first quarter of fiscal year 2018 included:

  • Net income per diluted share increased 4% to $0.29 versus $0.28 in the prior-year period; adjusted net income per diluted share increased 25% to $0.30 versus $0.24 in the prior-year period;
  • System same-store sales declined 1.7%, consisting of a 1.6% same-store sales decrease at franchise drive-ins and a 3.2% decrease at company drive-ins;
  • Company drive-in margins declined 0.1%;
  • 5 new drive-ins opened; and
  • The company repurchased 1.7 million outstanding shares.

“As expected, our first quarter same-store sales declined modestly versus prior year reflecting continued intense competitive pressure and unfavorable weather,” said Cliff Hudson, Sonic Corp. CEO. “Excluding the impact of weather, same-store sales were flat, indicating an improvement in underlying traffic trends.

“During the quarter, we promoted the Carhop Classic for $2.99, featuring our full-sized cheeseburger and medium hand-made onion rings, a value offering with a highly compelling price point, broad consumer appeal and strong quality differentiation. In addition to driving improved traffic, the introduction of a sharper everyday value message also improved value and quality scores from customers, validating our evolution to more focused and consistent national value promotions. We will continue to refine this strategy as we move through the remainder of the fiscal year, seeking to balance everyday value and consistent profitability for franchisees while staying true to Sonic’s core tenets of quality, differentiation and innovation.

“While price competition remains fierce, we are hard at work driving the business in areas we can control. We continue to refine our current media strategies, resulting in increased impressions on national cable today and new creative content in the market this spring. We have growing confidence in our product pipeline as we look out to the key summer season and our mobile order ahead pilot is underway.

“Finally, we continue to optimize our capital structure and return cash to shareholders. During the quarter, we repurchased 1.7 million shares, or 4% of shares outstanding, for $40.8 million. We have increased our targeted leverage range to 3.5-4.5x net-debt-to-EBITDA and anticipate concluding the year at the higher end of the range.”

Financial Overview

For the first fiscal quarter of 2018, the company’s net income totaled $11.4 million or $0.29 per diluted share compared to net income of $13.1 million or $0.28 per diluted share in the same period of the prior year. Excluding the items outlined below, net income increased 5% and net income per diluted share increased 25%.

The following analysis of non-GAAP adjustments is intended to supplement the presentation of the company’s financial results in accordance with GAAP. The company believes that the presentation of this analysis provides useful information to investors and management regarding the underlying business trends and the performance of the company’s ongoing operations and is helpful for period-to-period and company-to-company comparisons, which management believes will assist investors in analyzing the financial results of the company and predicting future performance.

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

Three months ended Three months ended
November 30, 2017 November 30, 2016
Net Diluted Net Diluted Net Income Diluted EPS
Income EPS Income EPS $ Change % Change $ Change % Change
Reported – GAAP $ 11,430 $ 0.29 $ 13,118 $ 0.28 $ (1,688 ) (13 )% $ 0.01 4 %
Payment card breach expense (1) 642 0.02
Tax impact on payment card breach expense (2) (245 ) (0.01 )
Net loss on refranchising transactions (3) 957 0.02
Tax impact on refranchising transactions (4) (340 ) (0.01 )
Gain on sale of investment in refranchised drive-in operations (5) (3,795 ) (0.08 )
Tax impact on sale of investment in refranchised drive-in operations (4) 1,350 0.03
Adjusted – Non-GAAP $ 11,827 $ 0.30 $ 11,290 $ 0.24 $ 537 5 % $ 0.06 25 %
________________
(1) Costs include legal fees, investigative fees and costs related to customer response.
(2) Tax impact during the period at a consolidated blended statutory tax rate of 38.2%.
(3) During the first quarter of fiscal year 2017, we completed two transactions to refranchise the operations of 56 company drive-ins.
(4) Tax impact during the period at an effective tax rate of 35.6%.
(5) Gain on sale of investment in refranchised drive-ins is related to minority investments in franchise operations retained as part of a refranchising transaction that occurred in fiscal year 2009.

Fiscal Year 2018 Outlook

While the macroeconomic environment may impact results, the company continues to expect adjusted earnings per share for fiscal year 2018 to increase 5% to 10%(1) year over year, excluding the impact of the recently passed federal tax legislation. The outlook for fiscal 2018 anticipates the following elements:

  • Approximately 0% to 2% same-store sales growth for the system;
  • Royalty revenue growth from new unit development;
  • 70 to 80 new franchise drive-in openings;
  • Drive-in-level margins of 15.1% to 15.7%, depending upon the degree of same-store sales growth at company drive-ins;
  • Selling, general and administrative expenses of approximately $76 million to $78 million;
  • Depreciation and amortization expense of $40 million to $42 million;
  • Net interest expense of approximately $32 million to $34 million;
  • Capital expenditures of $38 million to $40 million; excluding spending on build-to-suit drive-in development, capital outlays would be $34 million to $36 million;
  • Free cash flow(2) of approximately $60 million to $65 million(1);
  • An income tax rate of approximately 35%(1);
  • The repurchase of approximately $160 million in shares across the fiscal year; and
  • An expected quarterly cash dividend of $0.16 per share.

Earnings Conference Call

The company will host a conference call to review financial results at 5:00 PM ET this evening. The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing (800) 281-7973 or (323) 794-2093 for international callers. A replay will be available one hour after the call and can be accessed by dialing (844) 512-2921 or (412) 317-6671 for international callers; the conference ID is 8837715. The replay will be available until Thursday, January 11, 2018. An online replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the live broadcast. A link to this event will be available on the investor section of the company’s website, sonicdrivein.com.

About Sonic

SONIC, America’s Drive-In is the nation’s largest drive-in restaurant chain serving approximately 3 million customers every day. Nearly 94 percent of SONIC’s 3,500 drive-in locations are owned and operated by local business men and women. For 64 years, SONIC has delighted guests with signature menu items, 1.3 million drink combinations and friendly service by iconic Carhops. Since the 2009 launch of SONIC’s Limeades for Learning philanthropic campaign in partnership with DonorsChoose.org, SONIC has donated $9.5 million to public school teachers nationwide to fund essential learning materials and innovative teaching resources to inspire creativity and learning in their students. To learn more about Sonic Corp. (NASDAQ/NM: SONC), please visit sonicdrivein.com and please visit or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. To learn about SONIC’s Limeades for Learning initiative, please visit LimeadesforLearning.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect management’s expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or underlying, these forward-looking statements are detailed in the company’s annual and quarterly report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly release revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unforeseen events, except as required to be reported under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The tables that follow provide information regarding the number of company drive-ins, franchise drive-ins and system drive-ins in operation as of the end of the periods indicated. In addition, these tables provide information regarding franchise sales, system growth in sales, and both franchise and system average drive-in sales and change in same-store sales. System information includes both company and franchise drive-in information, which we believe is useful in analyzing the growth of our brand. While we do not record franchise drive-in sales as revenues, we believe this information is important in understanding our financial performance since we calculate and record franchise royalties based on a percentage of franchise sales. This information also is indicative of the financial health of our franchisees.

(1) These amounts exclude the impact of recent tax reform legislation which will reduce the company’s federal statutory tax rate from 35% to 21%, resulting in a blended statutory rate of 25.7% for fiscal year 2018. The company is analyzing other changes that will impact the total effective tax rate.
(2) Free cash flow is defined as net income plus depreciation, amortization and stock compensation expenses, less capital expenditures net of spending on build-to-suit drive-in development.

7 01, 2018

Winter Storm Poses Risk for Seniors

2018-01-07T03:14:12-05:00January 7th, 2018|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

OMAHA, NE -PRNewswire –

As a winter storm threatens the East Coast, Home Instead Senior Care is encouraging us all to help senior loved ones and neighbors stay safe in the snow and extreme cold temperatures.

“Winter is a difficult time, and storms like this can be especially hard on seniors,” said Lakelyn Hogan, gerontologist at Home Instead Senior Care. “Older adults can be relatively sensitive to even moderately cold conditions and they can suffer hypothermia without knowing they’re in danger, so we want to make sure seniors and their loved ones are aware of simple ways they can stay safe and warm in extreme conditions.”

Those over the age of 65 account for nearly half of all hypothermia deaths. As the body ages, the ability to maintain a normal internal body temperature decreases, creating an insensitivity to moderately cold temperatures. Seniors may not realize they are putting themselves at risk until symptoms appear. Symptoms of hypothermia include: shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness. If symptoms are present, immediate medical attention is necessary. The leading reason for hypothermia in the elderly is due to poorly heated homes, which is entirely preventable. Follow these simple tips to ensure a warm household.

Stay Warm

  • Keep the thermostat at 65 degrees, at least. Consistently check it to make sure your home is sufficiently warm. Even as heating costs rise, your safety should be a priority.
  • Put a carbon monoxide detector near where you sleep.
  • Ensure that there is adequate insulation, and check and clean the fireplace and furnace. Furnace filters should be replaced monthly.
  • Minimize drafts by filling old socks with sand and using them in drafty windowsills and door jambs. Weather-strip around windows and doors. Keep doors to unused rooms closed and close curtains at night.
  • Add an extra blanket to the bed and warm the bed in advance with a hot water bottle. Never use an electric blanket – it may be difficult to operate the controls if the temperature needs to be adjusted in the night.
  • Dress in layers of loose fitting clothing. If you go outside, make sure your head is covered.

Every year, more than 1.6 million seniors end up in the emergency room because of a fall. With icy conditions, the chances of falling are even greater.

Preventing Falls

  • Take a couple minutes per day and stretch your limbs in order to loosen muscles.
  • Stay inside – make arrangements for someone to shovel and salt driveways and walkways. Professional caregivers can assist with to-do items, such as bringing in the mail and/or picking up groceries.
  • Wear shoes or boots with a non-skid sole.
  • Have handrails installed on outside walls for frequently used walkways.
  • If you use a cane or walker, check the rubber tips to make sure they are not worn smooth.

Winter weather can take a toll on everyone, especially seniors. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can occur in seniors and impact their emotional health. Some signs to watch for with SAD include: a loss of energy, an increased appetite and an enhanced feeling of lethargy and tiredness. If symptoms are present, talk to your medical provider about treatment options.

Additionally, winter storms can be unpredictable. It is important to be prepared in case of an emergency.

Build a network

  • Stay in touch in with family, friends and neighbors. Schedule phone calls, or enlist the help of a professional caregiver to come in for an hour a week.
  • Make arrangements for assistance in case of a blizzard or power outage. Keep important numbers in an emergency kit, along with non-perishable foods, water and medications.
  • Be familiar with your local resources. Visit www.ready.gov/seniorswww.noaa.gov or www.redcross.org for more information about cold weather.

To learn how Home Instead Senior Care can assist in the cold weather, visit www.homeinstead.com.

About Home Instead Senior Care

Founded in 1994 in Omaha, Nebraska, by Lori and Paul Hogan, the Home Instead Senior Care® network provides personalized care, support and education to help enhance the lives of aging adults and their families. Today, this network is the world’s leading provider of in-home care services for seniors, with more than 1,000 independently owned and operated franchises that are estimated to annually provide more than 50 million hours of care throughout the United States and in over 10 countries. Local Home Instead Senior Care offices employ approximately 65,000 CAREGiversSM worldwide who provide basic support services that enable seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. The Home Instead Senior Care network strives to partner with each client and his or her family members to help meet that individual’s needs. Services span the care continuum from providing companionship and personal care to specialized Alzheimer’s care and hospice support. Also available are family caregiver education and support resources. At Home Instead Senior Care, it’s relationship before task, while striving to provide superior quality service.

SOURCE Home Instead Senior Care

6 01, 2018

Pretzelmaker® Thanks Customers with $1 Pretzels Every Tuesday in January

2018-01-09T16:47:20-05:00January 6th, 2018|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

ATLANTA, GA – PRNewswire 

Pretzelmaker® is extending its thanks to customers in the form of a great pretzel deal. As part of Customer Appreciation Month, the national pretzel bakery will offer $1 pretzels* (Original Salted or Unsalted) every Tuesday in January during regular store hours. No limit! To add another great twist to the deal, customers who purchase the $1 pretzels, will also receive a coupon for free Pretzel Bites with purchase on their next visit.

Pretzelmaker is known for fresh delicious pretzels and product innovation. With stores across the U.S., the bakery has thousands of loyal fans and is the original creator of Mini Pretzel Dogs, Pretzel Bites and Mozzarella Stuffed Bites. The $1 Customer Appreciation pretzel is a hot deal as Original Salted and Unsalted are regularly priced at $3 (suggested retail).

“Celebrating Customer Appreciation Month with our $1 pretzel deal has become an annual tradition at Pretzelmaker and it’s our way of sharing the love with our fans,” said Lisa Cheatham, Director of Marketing, Pretzelmaker. “Our customers have made us one of the country’s most popular pretzel bakeries and for that we are extremely grateful. Come visit us on Tuesdays in January with your friends and family and take advantage of this great deal.” For more information and store locations, visit our website www.pretzelmaker.com or join us on social media: follow @pretzelmaker on Twitter; add @pretzelmakerpics on Instagram; follow “Pretzelmaker” on Snapchat; or become a fan of the brand on Facebook www.facebook.com/pretzelmaker.
*Valid for Salted or Unsalted pretzels only. Offer valid on 1/2, 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30. Valid at participating locations only. Not valid with any other offer. Customer responsible for applicable taxes.

About Pretzelmaker® – www.pretzelmaker.com
Since 1991, Pretzelmaker® has specialized in serving fresh baked, hand-rolled soft pretzel products, dipping sauces and beverages. Long recognized as an innovator in their industry, the brand is credited with inventing the popular Pretzel Dog, Mini Pretzel Dogs, and the portable Pretzel Bites. Following integration in 2010, the Pretzelmaker® brand now also includes Pretzel Time®. Pretzelmaker® is currently the second largest soft pretzel concept in the United States and is also rapidly expanding worldwide with locations in Canada, Guam, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
SOURCE Pretzelmaker

2 01, 2018

426 Days and Counting: Ohio Man Sets Record for Most Consecutive Days Eating at Chipotle

2018-01-02T20:13:57-05:00January 2nd, 2018|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

DENVER— -BUSINESS WIRE

Not all heroes wear capes. But as it turns out, this one sometimes does. Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) recognized today one of its biggest fans, a Tiffin, Ohio man named Bruce Wayne who has spent the past 426 days enjoying at least one entrée per day from his local Chipotle.

Chipotle commemorated the milestone by presenting Wayne with a custom-made Chipotle superhero cape and cufflinks – a nod to his love of both Batman and burritos. Chipotle will also reinvest his dollars spent over the course of his journey in a monetary donation to a nonprofit of his choice.

Wayne began the self-started challenge on Oct. 30, 2016 after learning of Chipotle’s plans to open a brand-new location in Tiffin. He conducted research about Chipotle and learned about a fellow fan who had ultimately consumed Chipotle for 425 days and maintained his fitness goals. Wayne then set out to become the new record holder.

“Day after day we’re committed to serving our customers the most delicious, real ingredients we can find and it’s great to see a customer like Bruce is as committed to us as we are to him,” said Chris Arnold, communications director at Chipotle. “While this might not be everybody’s New Year’s Resolution for 2018, it certainly shows that our menu of real and fresh ingredients offers something for everyone – even superheroes.”

After having consumed his record-breaking order, Wayne says he has no immediate plans to stop. His entire journey is documented on his personal Instagram account, including daily photos of his order and accompanying receipt: www.instagram.com/mrwaynethebat/.

ABOUT CHIPOTLE

Steve Ells, Founder, Chairman and CEO, started Chipotle with the idea that food served fast did not have to be a typical fast food experience. Today, Chipotle continues to offer a focused menu of burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, and salads made from fresh, high-quality raw ingredients, prepared using classic cooking methods and served in an interactive style allowing people to get exactly what they want. Chipotle seeks out extraordinary ingredients that are not only fresh, but that are raised responsibly, with respect for the animals, land, and people who produce them. Chipotle prepares its food using only real, whole ingredients, and is the only national restaurant brand that uses absolutely no added colors, flavors or other industrial additives typically found in fast food. Chipotle opened with a single restaurant in Denver in 1993 and now operates more than 2,350 restaurants. For more information, visit Chipotle.com.

Contacts

Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chris Arnold, 303-222-5912
carnold@chipotle.com

2 01, 2018

AdvantaClean Systems Announces Appointment of New Vice-President of Operations

2018-01-02T20:07:54-05:00January 2nd, 2018|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

AdvantaClean  America’s fastest-growing Light Environmental Services™ franchise system, announces the promotion of Chris Stefanco as Vice-President of Operations, effective December 18, 2017. In his new role, Stefanco will now be responsible for supervising the company’s Franchise Business Coaches, while working directly with AdvantaClean franchise business owners to implement new product development, new service lines, and promotion. He will also be forward focused on changes in industry standards for the benefit of franchise owner growth.

“I am honored to accept my new position as AdvantaClean’s vice-president of operations, “said Stefanco. “As a past successful small business owner myself, and having personally met and trained current franchise owners in my previous training role, I know they are expecting me to continue to find innovative opportunities to help them be even more successful, and to expand their business, while streamlining the process. I accept that challenge, and at the same time pledge to work to enlarge the AdvantaClean brand nationwide as the leader in indoor air quality and moisture control experience.”

Stefanco joined AdvantaClean in 1999, serving in several key positions, most recently as Director of Technical Operations and Training since 2006. In that role, he was responsible for oversight, as well as all hands on, and classroom training for new franchisees.

Stefanco has also served as Senior Project Manager of AdvantaClean’s affiliate, Loss Construction, and Recovery, managing large scale commercial, industrial, and government projects across the U.S.

He holds water and fire certifications through IICRC and is NADACA trained. Stefanco is also a Certified CMA and CMR for mold, has OSHA certifications, and is an OSHA construction outreach trainer.

AdvantaClean CEO and Founder, Jeff Dudan, recognizes Stefanco’s already positive impact on the company, and what he envisions for the future.

“For almost two decades, Chris has worked tirelessly to build AdvantaClean from a small local service business, to a national leading franchise brand. Chris is held in the highest regard by AdvantaClean Nation, and it is my honor and privilege to recognize Chris for his effort, dedication, and to provide him the platform to continue making a difference in the lives of our teammates, franchise partners, and customers across the country.”

Matt Phillips, President of AdvantaClean, identifies the reasons for Stefanco’s success, and what he brings to his new role.

“Chris has vast industry experience and proven excellence in his prior roles within the company that make him a great fit as AdvantaClean continues to grow. Chris has the respect of the entire AdvantaClean Nation and lives our core values and our commitment to building and sustaining relationships that embody community, accountability, respect, excellence and service.”

Stefanco, a native of New Jersey, lives in York, SC. with his wife, Diane, and two sons, Chris and Dillon.

More About AdvantaClean

Founded in 1994 as a contracting business handling cleanup and repairs in South Florida, AdvantaClean, now headquartered in Huntersville, N.C., is the leading national franchised provider of Light Environmental Services ™ in the country. The company currently ranks 85th on Entrepreneur Magazine’s fastest-growing-franchises list, and is among Franchise Business Review’s Top 50 in franchisee-satisfaction ratings. In 2013–14, USA Today and the International Franchise Association recognized AdvantaClean as a Top Franchise for Military Veterans. Today, more than 230 AdvantaClean franchised territories operate in 33 states.

2 01, 2018

The Little Gym International Names Alex Bingham President And CEO

2018-01-02T20:02:25-05:00January 2nd, 2018|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Jan. 2, 2018 – PRNewswire

The Little Gym International, a children’s enrichment and development franchise with over 300 locations around the globe, announces that Alex Bingham will be named President and Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2018. He will succeed current President and CEO, Ruk Adams. In his new role, Bingham will continue to grow The Little Gym‘s legacy as the world’s premiere gym for movement-based learning and imaginative play that helps build the confidence and skills needed at each stage of childhood. He plans to enhance company operations and further deliver on the brand promise of providing the Springboard to Life’s Adventures for the families it serves, franchisees and employees.

Since joining The Little Gym in 2001, Bingham has held several roles within the company, most recently serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Some of his former responsibilities and positions include running a corporate location as a Gym Director, working with franchise owners in both their pre-opening and ongoing operations as a Business Consultant, and managing franchisee support as a VP of Franchise Services. Before joining the corporate team, Bingham was an instructor at The Little Gym of Scottsdale during his college breaks in 1996-1997, and was previously a student at The Little Gym‘s original location from age two to five.

“I have been incredibly fortunate to have shared in The Little Gym‘s growth, evolution and opportunities over the years. The experience has been nothing short of amazing, from playing an integral role of rebuilding the company in its early years, to seeing us grow into a worldwide brand that impacts the lives of families across the globe,” said Ruk Adams, exiting President and CEO of The Little Gym International. “I have complete confidence that my successor, Alex Bingham, will continue to lead The Little Gym to great success in his new role as President and CEO.”

The Little Gym has been a part of my life since the age of two when I was a student, continuing into my young adulthood when I worked as a part-time instructor during college and, finally, turning into a fulfilling career that allows me to make a difference in children’s lives at each of our locations,” said Alex Bingham, President and CEO of The Little Gym International. “It’s a privilege to have my life come full circle as I assume my new role as CEO, and build upon The Little Gym‘s reputation in the early childhood development space that Ruk helped to diligently establish.”

Ruk Adams retires having served as The Little Gym President and CEO since 2013. For more than 23 years, Adams has held a variety leadership positions, having first joined the corporate team in 1994 as Executive Vice President of Franchise Development, a position he held through 1997. After leaving the company to head sales for Citadel Broadcasting in Salt Lake City from 1997 to 2002, Adams rejoined The Little Gym in a role as Senior Vice Present of Development and Franchise Services. Prior to working at the corporate headquarters, Adams and his wife, Ann, owned and ran one of the original locations of The Little Gym from 1993 to 1995 in Salt Lake City.

For more information on The Little Gym, please visit www.thelittlegym.com.

About The Little Gym
The Little Gym is the premier developer of physical skills in children worldwide.  The very first location was established in 1976 by Robin Wes, an innovative educator with a genuine love for children.  The Little Gym International, Inc., headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., was formed in 1992 to Franchise The Little Gym concept.   Today, The Little Gym International has more than 350 locations in 32 countries.  For more information, visit The Little Gym at www.TheLittleGym.com.