NY Times shops Red Sox stake as revenue falls.
The Boston Business Journal reports that the New York Times Co. has retained an investment bank to explore the possible sale of its stake in the Boston Red Sox on the heels of a dismal year that saw advertising revenue for it New England Media Group, which includes The Boston Globe and Worcester Telegram & Gazette, fall by 18 percent.
In a separate report by media researcher The Nielsen Co., The Times last year saw a 6 percent drop in... Read Full Story
Skittish investors and a rapidly declining economy have stymied the once brisk buying and selling of small businesses in the region.
The small entrepreneur has been squeezed by Wall Street’s financial crisis, making it difficult for business owners to retire or simply swap businesses.
Business owners have found their companies are worth less because of slack sales due to the recession. And, since September, buyers have discovered it’s difficult to secure financing. Business broke... Read Full Story
It’s 11:30 on a Monday morning, and Karim Menebhi is waiting for the first customer at his brand-new Ronzio Pizza & Subs franchise in Smithfield.
Menebhi has been busy — loading boxes of supplies onto shelves, talking on the phone to suppliers. Now he’s getting a little nervous. “I was feeling just normal until about 20 minutes ago,” he said. “Now I’m feeling that I need to see some people walk in and start serving them some food.”
Finall... Read Full Story
The DD Independent Franchise Owners Group, (DDIFO)which represents the largest association of Dunkin’ Donuts franchise owners in the U.S., has named Jim Coen, a member of the DDIFO Board of Directors, as its acting President and Chief Operating Officer. He takes over December 1, 2008 from Mark Dubinsky who has tendered his resignation after two yeas as DDIFO President.
Mr. Coen is Executive Director of the New England Franchise Association and founder of Franchise Perfection. He has be... Read Full Story
Seth Livingstone of USA Today writes that the Boston Red Sox combine resilience in the field and a vision for excellence in the front office, have brought unbridled joy to the ever-growing population of Red Sox Nation in the past five seasons.
In 2004, there was literally dancing in the streets of Boston when the franchise stunned the New York Yankees by rallying from a 3-0 deficit in the American League Championship Series on the way to its first World Series title in 86 years. Three years ... Read Full Story
Mark C. Siebert for Entrepreneur.com writes that with all the negativity making headlines these days, it’s difficult sometimes to maintain perspective.
Foreclosures at record highs. Nearly a trillion dollars in bailouts. The Dow with record declines. Mass layoffs and unemployment at five-year highs. Reading Dickens–it was the best of times, it was the worst of timesthe period was so far like the present period–it seems that perhaps he only got it half right.
But for franchi... Read Full Story
Bruegger’s the Burlington, VT franchisor announced that it will continue to add bakeries in spite of the weak economy. In 2008, the company is ahead of plan inking development agreements totaling 46 new bakery commitments. Since 2005, when Bruegger’s significantly modified its franchising program, the company has reached development agreements for 153 new bakeries.
This year, Bruegger’s also signed multi-unit deals in two of the largest and most competitive retail ma... Read Full Story
Professor and Chair of Boston University’s Marketing Department and renowned expert on Franchising
The DD Independent Franchise Owners Group, which represents the largest association of Dunkin’ Donuts franchise owners in the U.S., is pleased to announce the addition of Professor Patrick Kaufmann to its Board of Directors.
Kaufmann holds a BA in Economics from Georgetown University, a JD from Boston College Law School, an MBA from Wharton, and a Ph.D. in Marketing from Northweste... Read Full Story
Franchising in New England announced that NEFA Member William (Bill) Buckley of Bangor, ME and President of Coffee News USA, Inc. announced the purchase of the parent company and owner of intellectual property rights for the Coffee News franchise system, 2703203 Manitoba, Inc., located in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Bill has operated the company under a Management Continuity Agreement since March 1, 2006, when founder, Jean Daum, became serious ill with cancer and died July 23, 2007.
Jean Da... Read Full Story
