coenheads

Tish Reisman has sunk $300,000 into her Rita's Italian ice franchise -- with no profit so far. Eilene Zimmerman writes at CNNMoney.com that even in good times, the relationship between franchisors and their franchisees tends to be fraught. Toss in an economic downturn and things get downright nasty. Iconic brands are facing revolts in the trenches from owners fed up with their corporate parent. Later this month, a Los Angeles jury trial will begin on a seven-years-old and still festering... Read Full Story

Scott Krumholz v. AJA, LLC and Emack & Bolio (January 13, 2010) All of the claims brought by the Emack & Bolio’s ice cream franchisees against a franchisor were time-barred by the one-year contractual limitations clause in the parties’ franchise agreement. The franchisees filed their complaint against the franchisor on December 24, 2007. The franchisees alleged that the franchisor had fraudulently induced them to invest significant financial resources in their franchise. The alleged... Read Full Story

Carol Tice at BNET Insight does a detailed comparison of each franchise and offers some insight into some reasons Panera had success and why Cosi seemingly struggled: Two bakery-cafe chains have been in the news recently — Richmond, Mo.-based Panera Bread (PNRA) announced growing sales despite the downturn, while Cosi (COSI) of Deerfield, Ill., said its sinking sales have led to a delisting warning notice from the Nasdaq. Both chains began around the same time, and Cosi certainly got as... Read Full Story

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  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 brokers and... 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.” Finally, about 11:40, the elusive first customer arrives... 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 been... 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 franchisors, truer... Read Full Story