small business opportunities

IRVINE, CA – Less than five months after announcing its franchise opportunity, StretchLab, an inclusive, energetic assisted stretching concept, has signed initial franchise agreements to debut studios in Chicago, Austin, Dallas, Seattle, Central New Jersey and Eagle, Idaho. Additional agreements have been signed to significantly expand the brand’s presence throughout its home state of California in Los Angeles, San Diego, and the San Francisco Bay Area. This strategic development of 31 new units launches the StretchLab concept to all four regions of the U.S., making the inclusive wellness concept more accessible to all.

StretchLab introduces people of all ages, fitness levels, genders and sizes to various health and wellness benefits of working one-on-one with highly trained flexologists™ in an open, modern, fun and approachable environment. Although often neglected, deep stretching is not only scientifically proven to effectively decrease pain, lower risk of injury and reduce stress, but it also provides the ability to perform better at work, in the gym and in everyday life. StretchLab strives to help clients increase mobility and flexibility to achieve a deeper, more advanced stretch than one can do on his or her own.

“In today’s busy world, there is a growing trend toward self-care, recovery work and overall wellness. Deep stretching fulfills that desire, allowing all people to fully tackle their days, no matter what’s on the agenda,” said Lou DeFrancisco, President of StretchLab. “These initial franchise agreements greatly expand StretchLab’s presence throughout the country, allowing us to continue to educate consumers on the benefits of including assisted stretching in their health rituals.”

Founded in 2015 in Venice, California to fulfill the vision of creating an affordable assisted stretching concept, StretchLab quickly gained popularity and grew to three studios throughout Southern California. Now backed by Xponential Fitness, a curator of premium boutique fitness brands led by an expert team with more than 25 years of experience in fitness franchising, StretchLab is actively seeking single- and multi-unit franchise partners to increase the brand’s presence across the U.S. with territories available in all 50 states. With first-to-market opportunities available nationwide, StretchLab is a profitable and rewarding franchise investment. Initial single-unit investment fees range from $153,100 to $223,500.

For more information about StretchLab’s franchise opportunity, visit: stretchlab.com/franchise.

DALLAS, TX  – Pie Five Pizza Co. – the fast-casual restaurant known for its customizable pizzas prepared and ready to enjoy in five minutes – announced the launch of its inaugural pizza competition, Pizza Masters.

Pie Five’s pizza perfectionists handcrafted five specialty pizzas for fans to vote on. The winning pizza will be featured on Pie Five’s menu system-wide as a limited time offer in October. The five contenders include:

• Spicy Taco Pizza – Spicy marinara with mozzarella and cheddar cheese, beef, grape tomatoes, black olives and red onions. After baking, it’s topped with chopped romaine lettuce and feta cheese. Guests can add Cholula and cilantro for extra flavor.
• The Volcano Pizza – Spicy marinara sauce with mozzarella and cheddar cheese, chicken sausage, crumbled meatballs, beef and grape tomatoes. After it bakes, add a spiral drizzle of sundried tomato purée and Sriracha (the lava).
• The Mediterranean Veggie – Olive oil and garlic sauce with mozzarella cheese, red and green peppers, artichoke hearts, red onions and Kalamata olives. After baking, add a spiral of balsamic glaze and for even more flavor, add feta cheese and oregano.
• Lasagna Pizza – Tuscan marinara with mozzarella and ricotta cheese, spinach, Italian sausage and mushrooms. After baking, sprinkle Magic Dust and oregano.
• Spinach Alfredo Pizza – Alfredo sauce with mozzarella and parmesan cheeses, spinach, bacon, diced chicken, caramelized onions and sundried tomatoes. After baking, sprinkle Magic Dust and feta cheese.

Do one of these pizza’s sound absolutely delicious?! Be sure to vote for your favorite at piefivepizza.com/pizzamasters before voting ends on July 20 at midnight.

The winning pizza will be announced to members of the Circle of Crust and on their website and social pages on July 25. Share with your friends to have your favorite win, so that you can enjoy it in October!

Pie Five’s fast-casual concept provides guests with a fully customizable experience from start to finish. With more than 40 fresh toppings, seven savory sauces and five crust choices, there’s a delicious pairing to match every guest’s preference. Pie Five also accommodates dietary restrictions by offering low-carb cauliflower crust, gluten-free crust and vegan cheese options. In addition to customizable large and small pizzas, Pie Five also serves toasted sandwiches, freshly tossed salad and warm cinnamon stix dessert – perfect for the entire family to enjoy.

For more information on Pie Five’s locations, please visit the Pie Five location finder. Connect with Pie Five on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

CANTON, MA – PRNewswire

Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DNKN), the parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts (DD) and Baskin-Robbins (BR), today announced that David Hoffmann, 50, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. He will also serve on the Company’s Board of Directors and remain President of Dunkin’ Donuts U.S. The members of the Dunkin’ Brands Leadership Team will now report to Mr. Hoffmann who is succeeding Nigel Travis, 68. Mr. Travis is retiring from the role he has held since January 2009.

Additionally, the Company announced that Mr. Travis has been named Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors and will remain actively involved with the Company, with a particular focus on the continued development of the international businesses.

“When we recruited Dave to Dunkin’ Brands 18 months ago with the intent that he would succeed me as CEO, we knew that we were getting a world-class leader with extensive restaurant industry expertise, and he has exceeded all of our expectations. From his development and implementation of the Dunkin’ Donuts U.S. Blueprint for Growth, to the relationships he has forged with our franchisees and the talent management skills he has exhibited, Dave has demonstrated he is exactly the person to lead the next phase of our global growth,” said Travis. “I look forward to supporting him in his new role and am confident that under his leadership Dunkin’ Brands will continue to meet the needs of our franchisees, our employees, our shareholders and, most importantly, our guests.”

Mr. Hoffmann joined Dunkin’ Brands as President of Dunkin’ Donuts U.S. in October 2016. Since that time, he has overseen the implementation of a multi-year Blueprint for Growth designed to transform Dunkin’ Donuts into the leading beverage-led, on-the-go brand. He has also led all aspects of Dunkin’ Donuts’ U.S. operations, supply chain, marketing, consumer packaged goods (CPG) growth, digital innovation and franchise development. Additionally, he has directed the creation of Dunkin’ Donuts’ next-generation concept store, overseen the addition of hundreds of net new Dunkin’ restaurants in the U.S. and advocated for numerous sustainability initiatives.

Under Mr. Travis’ leadership, Dunkin’ Brands completed a successful IPO in 2011 and has delivered consistently strong financial results, enabling it to return nearly $2.7 billion to shareholders since going public. Over the past ten years, he has guided the Company through one of its most dramatic growth periods, which included entry into 25 new international markets and the addition of almost 6,000 net new restaurants globally, including more than 2,800 net new Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants in the U.S. Mr. Travis has also directed the launch of numerous key business initiatives, including the introduction of Dunkin’-branded consumer packaged goods such as Dunkin’ K-Cups and Ready-to-Drink Bottled Iced Coffees. A strong advocate for leveraging digital technology to better deliver the customer experience, Mr. Travis oversaw the introduction of mobile payment apps for both Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, the DD Perks Loyalty Program, Dunkin’ Donuts’ On-the-Go Mobile Ordering, and home delivery programs for both brands in multiple markets around the globe.

“I want to thank the Dunkin’ Brands Board of Directors for the opportunity to lead this incredible company. I also want to offer my heartfelt appreciation to Nigel for his decade-long leadership of Dunkin’ Brands as well as for the support he has shown me since I joined the Company,” said Hoffmann. “Thanks to Nigel, our franchisees around the world have flourished; our asset-light model has yielded strong shareholder returns, and we are well-positioned for long-term growth. I look forward to collaborating with Nigel, the Board, our leadership team, employees, and of course our great franchisees to further differentiate both our brands through cutting edge marketing, menu innovation, digital leadership, value, and restaurant excellence. We have a strong legacy and an even more exciting future together.”

Before joining Dunkin’ Brands, Mr. Hoffmann spent a total of 22 years with McDonald’s Corporation including time as a crew member while in high school. He later rejoined the company, post MBA, and after working in field operations, moved to the corporate office where he held leadership positions in several key functions including strategy and insights, development, training, operations and supply chain. In 2008, he was named McDonald’s vice president of strategy and franchising in Japan, and later held general management positions covering a wide range of international markets. He was ultimately named President, High Growth Markets, which included China, South Korea, Russia and several additional European markets. Prior to McDonald’s, Mr. Hoffmann worked for Arthur Andersen.

GREENVILLE, SC – 9Round, the world’s fastest growing kickboxing fitness franchise, is celebrating its ten-year anniversary this month. Since the company’s inception in July 2008, 9Round has quickly become a leader in both the fitness and franchising industry, operating more than 700 locations in 42 states and 13 countries.

Shannon Hudson, a former professional kickboxer and Light Middleweight Kickboxing Champion of the World, founded 9Round with his wife, Heather. Together they have worked to bring specialized kickboxing fitness and training to the average person in a way that’s affordable, convenient and fun. There are no class times, trainers are always on site to lead the workouts, and routines change daily, giving members a fresh workout every time they come in.

“Heather and I began our path to success ten years ago with only one 9Round location in Greenville, South Carolina and $1.72 in our bank account,” says Shannon. “Today, 9Round has become a global sensation and achieved more than $16 million in annual revenue last year alone. We always knew the 9Round concept was something special and it’s so rewarding to see people around the world embrace our brand.”

9Round has opened 253 new clubs since January 2017, including the first locations in Costa Rica and Turkey, and the company recently announced plans to expand into Argentina and India. Additionally, 9Round has been consistently ranked on the Inc. 5000 list, Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list, as well as Entrepreneur’s annual lists of the Fastest-Growing Franchises, Top Global Franchises and Top Franchise Brands. Last year, 9Round was also recognized as one of South Carolina’s 25 Fastest Growing Companies and by Franchise Business Review as one of the top franchises for women and veterans.

According to Heather Hudson, 9Round’s COO, 9Round represents empowerment for people of all fitness levels, encourages everyone to be the best version of themselves and provides individuals with the tremendous entrepreneurial opportunities. She adds, “I’m proud of building 9Round with my husband and I’m also proud of what our brand represents. Every day, with each 30-minute workout, we are helping our members become stronger physically and mentally.”

9Round is seeing continued growth into 2018, as the company anticipates a 37 percent increase in new locations and 32 percent increase in annual revenue.

“It’s exciting to share our success with all of our franchisees because without them, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” adds Hudson. “With their support and positive energy, we plan to continue to reach new markets and evolve the 9Round brand in 2018.”

For more information about 9Round, visit www.9round.com.

HOUSTON, TX – PRNewswire

Summer’s officially in full swing, which usually means vacation time for many, and consequently, many homes left unattended. Unfortunately, attention to energy efficiency in the home can often go overlooked when planning for travel, leading to unnecessarily high energy use while its occupants are away.

The professionals at Mister Sparky® are invested in making homes more energy-efficient and offer the following guidance for home owners as they travel this summer.

• Don’t turn your thermostat off, but do adjust it to a higher setting, such as 85 degrees, to decrease the inside and outside temperature difference and remove humidity. You’ll save more energy, while protecting sensitive parts of the interior of your home, such as your plants, artwork, refrigerator and more. Close blinds and curtains to eliminate excess heat.
• Do unplug appliances that aren’t essential to keeping the house running, and remember products in standby mode still use electricity. Major “energy vampires” include everything from an idle computer desktop, to a game console in “ready” mode, to an open microwave door, and many more. Consider using a power strip for multiple cords, which when easily switched off with one button, fully disconnects power even if the strip is still plugged in.
• Do consider a home energy audit by an electrician. This inspection of a home’s infrastructure and appliances, such as your HVAC system, refrigerator, hot water heater, insulation and roofing, is designed to identify areas of improvement, saving on electricity bills in the long run.

Keeping these tips in mind ensures homes are left in their most energy-efficient state when unoccupied, saving homeowners the headache of a high energy bill – and potentially more money to go toward their next vacation.

To learn more and find the Mister Sparky location near you, visit www.mistersparky.com.

Eau Claire, WI – Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse Eau Claire has just been honored for its outstanding wine program in Wine Spectator’s 2018 Restaurant Awards. The restaurant is recognized among other winners from all over the globe as a top destination for wine lovers.

“This year’s class of restaurants is one of the most impressive and innovative ever,” said Marvin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher, Wine Spectator. “Their wine lists keep improving, because wine lovers are eager to explore and learn. The goal of our Restaurant Awards is to support restaurant wine programs and bring them to diners’ attention through our outreach through print, digital and social media. Wine Spectator salutes every restaurant honored in the 2018 Restaurant Awards.”

“We are extremely honored by this top award. It speaks to the caliber, hard work and dedication of the entire Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse team and our vision for the unique experience Johnny’s brings to the Region”, says Owner Tom Larson, of the news.

Wine Spectator began its program to recognize the world’s best wine lists in 1981. There are three levels: the Award of Excellence, the Best of Award of Excellence and the Grand Award – with 2,453; 1,215; and 91 winners this year in each respective category. Seven of the Grand Award winners are first timers. Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse Eau Claire has been awarded the Award of Excellence.

The Award of Excellence recognizes restaurants whose wine lists feature a well-chosen assortment of quality producers along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style.

The complete list of award winners is available in print in Wine Spectator’s August issue, on newsstands July 17, and online at Restaurants.WineSpectator.com, where visitors can search and access exclusive content on the more than 3,700 restaurants. The full list is also available for free on iOS via the Restaurant Awards app, which allows users to look for dining spots in any location with maps, choosing by wine strengths, cuisine type, pricing and more.

Follow the Restaurant Awards on Twitter and Instagram, with hashtag #WSRestaurantAward.

Springfield, OR – The Human Bean will open their 77th location, on Monday, July 2, 2018 in Springfield, Oregon. The new location is owned and operated by Joe & Cathleen Karcher and their daughter, Lauren Karcher of JCK Coffee Company. “We are so excited to be joining the Springfield community!! We can’t wait to better serve Lane County with another location.” The Karchers own four other locations in Salem, Keizer and two in Eugene and this will be their 5th location, the first one in Springfield. The double drive thru window building is located on South 14th Street and Main Street.

The Human Bean’s commitment to developing the best drive-thru espresso led us to franchising The Human Bean’s brand and system in 2002. We are proud to announce that with the opening of this location, The Human Bean has now expanded to 77 locations in ten states, 64 of those being franchised locations and 13 being corporate locations. We expect to continue this growth through approved franchisees that share the same determination and commitment to our goals for this exceptional brand and have plans to open several more locations in the near future.

The new Springfield Human Bean is located at 160 South 14th St., Springfield, OR 97477. Their hours will be 5am – 9pm daily. Their phone is 541-780-6856. You can find them on social media at @thehumanbeaneugene on Facebook or Instagram.

LAS VEGAS – Raw Fitness announces the official franchise launch and national expansion of its Las Vegas-based fitness and nutrition model to extend into California, Arizona, Texas, Washington and many more with plans to reach 30 new markets in 2018.

Founded in 2010 by Chief Executive Officer Justin Blum, Raw Fitness has transformed thousands of lives for the better through expert-developed fitness and nutrition programs featuring an integrated mix of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workouts, weight lifting, high-energy cardio and more. The originators of their local six-week weight loss challenge and advanced “Strength in 42” program, Raw Fitness offers specialized eating plans, body composition analysis consultations, one-on-one nutrition coaching, certified personal trainers, group classes and digital support networks to drive results.

Raw Fitness’ unique culture of community connects its members and trainers to one another in support of true transformation, mind and body, through an inclusive environment of accountability and encouragement for everyone, no matter where they are in their fitness journey.

“We’ve seen so many success stories in Las Vegas,” said Blum. “People are using Raw Fitness as a tool to transform their lives and make long-lasting, positive lifestyle changes and form lifelong friendships. It was time to broaden our vision and reach as many people as possible. We look forward to sharing Raw Fitness with other communities and continue to help people live their best and healthiest lives.”

For class schedules, current events and membership news visit rawfitnesslv.com. Follow Raw Fitness for fitness tips and more on Instagram @rawfitnesslv and facebook.com/rawfitnessheadquarters.

WAITSFIELD, VT – Discovery Map International, Inc., the leading provider of curated guides to top tourist attractions, cities and towns throughout North America, recently announced a publisher’s division to attract owners of print and online publications to its network of franchise owners and to better serve current franchise owners from the publishing industry.

Discovery Maps are colorful, hand-drawn maps that have become a favorite of travelers for navigating local dining, attractions, businesses, cultural experiences and tourist destinations. The focus will be to market to publishers looking to diversify media offerings and expand their print and digital portfolios.

“In the 21st century, many media outlets are looking to get creative and find new sources of revenue. Owning a Discovery Map franchise gives publishers an additional outlet for current advertisers as well as a way to attract new ones,” said Peter Hans, president of Discovery Map International, Inc. “We have several franchise owners with publishing backgrounds who have provided a ‘road map’ on how a we can complement an existing publication and add revenue to their bottom line, he added”

For the past four years, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina resident Abby Simon has helped natives and tourists discover Charleston with her publication Charleston Inside/Out. In purchasing a Discovery Map franchise, she decided to add to her publishing empire and put her hometown quite literally on the map.

“Mount Pleasant is a city of more than 80,000 people and it shows up on pretty much every top 10 list for best places to live in South Carolina,” said Simon, who, in addition to Discovery Map of Mount Pleasant and Charleston Inside/Out, publishes Man About Town. “Mount Pleasant has also become a popular tourist destination for visitors both on their way to and from Charleston. People are going to love our map because, up until now, there really has been no map for visitors that clearly shows the many fun things you can do in Mount Pleasant.”

Added Abby, “From a work perspective, owning a Discovery Map franchise made sense as I was already in touch with many of these advertisers due to my other publications. So, having Discovery Map in my tool chest provides an additional resource to court advertisers.”

Discovery Map has more than 130 maps across the U.S. and Canada. It is the charge of franchise owner to sell advertising space on the map and the online version of the map, available at discoverymap.com. The typical franchise owner will publish a printed map once or twice per year, depending on the initial print run and the popularity of the map.

Discovery Map franchise owners come from many walks of life. In addition to publishers, some are corporate refugees or semi-retired individuals looking to build a business and fund their full retirement. Others include recent college grads, as well as mothers (and fathers) looking to build a business with hours around the kids’ school schedules. With the advent of the veteran’s program, Discovery Maps are hoping to attract veterans as well.

“Discovery Map is truly a unique and appealing franchise opportunity. It’s not a 9-to-5 gig and you don’t necessarily have to work 12 months a year to run a successful franchise. You just have to be willing to work hard when you work,” said Hans.

Forbes Magazine recently named Discovery Map® one of the top 10 franchises to buy with an initial investment under $150,000. In 2018, it won the Top 50 Franchisee Satisfaction Award based on a survey conducted by FranchiseBusinessReview.

SCOTTSDALE, AZ – PRNewswire

• What: The launch of Pinkberry’s product with/licensing agreement in support of Universal Pictures’ MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN! Pinkberry has created Mamma Mia! Mango, a special limited time combination featuring the new Passion Mango tart frozen yogurt flavor, along with fresh cut mango and honey almond granola. As part of the promotion, fans could have the time of their life when they enter for a chance to win a trip for two to the premiere of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again in London. (Must be 18 years or older and have a valid passport to enter.) For more details, please visit: http://platform.votigo.com/fbsweeps/sweeps/Mamma-Mia-Here-We-Go-Again-1.
• Who: Jessica Benedick, Pinkberry
• When: Monday, July 2, 2018
• Contact: Jessica Benedick, Pinkberry, 480.362.4837

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again! arrives in theaters nationwide on July 20, 2018.

www.mammamiamovie.com