March 11, 2010
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Your Entertainment Franchise News SourceFranchise News Watch brings you the latest in entertainment franchising news from around the web. As a news aggregator for the entertainment franchise industry, Franchise News Watch streams the latest ground breaking franchise articles, features, guides, blogs, news and more directly to your desktop.  Entertainment Franchise NewsGames2U Entertainment Reaches 100th Franchise MilestoneNational party franchise Games2U Entertainment announced this week the signing of their 100th franchise in Naples, FL. Play N Trade Franchisees Continue to See Sales Increases Into 2010Play N Trade Franchise, Inc., the fastest growing video game franchise worldwide, today announced that for the month of February, 2010 their same store sales were up 1% compared to February, 2009. While average store revenue was up 12%, driven by the... First Gamer Doc(R) Video Games Store in Delaware Celebrates First AnniversaryGamer Doc(R), the retail video game store franchise that delivers a new and interactive customer experience, announces the one-year anniversary of its first store in Delaware, located at 1132 Pulaski Highway in Bear. Store owner and manager Steve... Hollywood Crowns Award Winning MoviesAmong the flashing lights, the glitz and the glamour, Hollywood paid homage to the "best of the best" movies for 2009. Movie fans looking to be among the first to watch last night's winners can check out the multitude of media offerings from... CEC Entertainment Reports Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year-End 2009CEC Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: CEC) today reported net earnings of $5.4 million for the fourth quarter ended January 3, 2010, compared to net earnings of $2.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. Diluted earnings per share increased to $0.24 for the... Accor - 2009 Annual Results2009 Operating Profit Before Tax(1) of EUR448 Million, at the Upper End of the EUR400-450 Million Target 'Law Abiding Citizen' Tops Weekly BLOCKBUSTER(R) Hit List of 'Top 10 Rented DVDs'Topping the BLOCKBUSTER(R) (NYSE: BBI, BBI.B) Hit List of "Top 10 Rented DVD Titles" for the week ending Feb. 21 is "Law Abiding Citizen." Law Abiding Citizen is a 2009 thriller film directed by F. Gary Gray from a screenplay written by Kurt Wimmer, and.. IHG Opens More Than One Hotel Every Day in 2009; A Record 439 Hotels GloballyGlobally in 2009, IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [Lon: IHG; NYSE: IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, opened a record 439 hotels (more than 55,000 rooms) creating 25,000 new jobs across its seven... Intercontinental New York Times Square Takes Center Stage as the Biggest New Hotel in Manhattan this SummerIHG (IHG) [LON: IHG, IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, has begun the countdown to the opening of the newest InterContinental Hotels & Resorts property in Times Square. Slated to open in July, the InterContinental New... Play N Trade Sales Rise Above Video Game Industry Sales to Kick Off New YearPlay N Trade Franchise, Inc., the fastest growing video game franchise worldwide, today announced that for the month of January, 2010 their same store sales were up 6.18% compared to January of 2009, while the rest of the video game industry was down... IHG appointed manager of landmark Vanuatu ResortSouth West Pacific Investments Ltd has appointed IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) to assume management of its 155-room hotel currently trading as Le Meridian Port Vila, Vanuatu, signing a 15-year agreement commencing 1 March 2010. BLOCKBUSTER On Demand(R) to be Available on the Largest Touch-Screen Smartphone in the U.S.BLOCKBUSTER On Demand(R) will be the exclusive movie download experience embedded on the upcoming HTC HD2 smartphone in the U.S. Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI, BBI.B) and T-Mobile(R) USA, Inc. announced today that consumers can download and watch... CEC Entertainment, Inc.to Webcast Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2009CEC Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: CEC) today announced that it will host a conference call with investors on Thursday, February 25, 2010, to discuss financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended January 3, 2010. The conference call will begin.... Tortured Love Affairs Define Favorite Movie Couples in Blockbuster Valentine's PollVoters chose Jack and Rose from "Titanic" in the Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI, BBI.B) new poll of favorite film couples. As Valentine's Day approaches, some of Hollywood's most tortured on-screen lovers are in the list. In second place are Ennis and... Blockbuster to Announce Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2009 Financial ResultsBlockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI, BBI.B), a leading global provider of media entertainment, today announced the Company will report its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2009 financial results for the period ending January 3, 2010 on Wednesday, February... Hampton Hotels' Optimistic Outlook for 2010Hampton Hotels, the international brand of nearly 1,800 mid-priced hotels and one of Hilton Worldwide's portfolio of ten brands, today announced that it opened 143 hotels in 2009, and added more than 13,000 rooms to the Hampton system. The brand is... InterContinental New York Times Square Appoints Hospitality Stars to Open the Largest New-Build Hotel in ManhattanInterContinental Hotels and Resorts announced today the appointment of Andrew (Drew) Schlesinger as general manager and Linda Hodgson as director of sales and marketing for the InterContinental New York Times Square. Currently under construction... InterContinental Hotels Group opens its first hotel in DenmarkInterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has opened its first hotel in Denmark with the Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Towers. IHG'S Priority Club(R) Rewards to 'Give Back' Up to 400 Million Loyalty Points in Worldwide 'Luckiest Loser' CompetitionIHG's (InterContinental Hotels Group) Priority Club(R) Rewards, the world's largest hotel loyalty program, today launches its worldwide "Luckiest Loser" competition. In response to the recent increases in the Hilton HHonors(R) hotel... InterContinental New York Times Square Takes Center Stage as the Biggest New Hotel in Manhattan This SummerIHG (IHG) (LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)), the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, has begun the countdown to the opening of the newest InterContinental Hotels & Resorts property in Times Square. Slated to open in July, the InterContinental.. BounceU of Sarasota Hosts "Families Helping Haiti" FundraiserThe tragedy of the recent Haitian Earthquake has touched the lives of thousands and individuals around the country are looking for ways to help. Local business owner of BounceU of Sarasota has taken it upon herself to make a difference by working with... 'Gamer' Tops Weekly BLOCKBUSTER(R) Hit List of 'Top 10 Rented DVDs'Topping the BLOCKBUSTER(R) (NYSE: BBI) (NYSE: BBI.B) Hit List of "Top 10 Rented DVD Titles" for the week ending Jan. 24 is "Gamer." Gamer is a science fiction thriller film written and directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor. Experience the Big Apple on a Motorcycle Rental From EagleRiderEagleRider, the world's largest motorcycle rental and tour company, is pleased to announce the opening of two new EagleRider motorcycle rental outlets in New York - Queens and Howard Beach. 'The Hurt Locker' Tops Weekly BLOCKBUSTER(R) Hit List of 'Top 10 Rented DVDs'Topping the BLOCKBUSTER(R) (NYSE: BBI) (NYSE: BBI.B) Hit List of "Top 10 Rented DVD Titles" for the week ending Jan. 17 is "The Hurt Locker." Based on the personal wartime experiences of journalist Mark Boal, Director Kathryn Bigelow's Iraq... AmericInn Welcomes 2010 With New Leadership, New DirectionAmericInn(R) is poised for growth in 2010, as the company welcomes another key addition to its leadership team. Play N Trade Offers Only Video Game Opportunity at Franchise Expo SouthU.S. Market for Video Games Reached $21.3 Billion in 2008 IHG Encourages Its Loyalty Program Members to Donate Points to Haitian Earthquake ReliefInterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)] is encouraging its 47 million members of its guest loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards, to donate their points to the American Red Cross for Haitian Earthquake Relief. Famous Psychic, Astrologer, Past Life Therapist and Author, David Wells, Invites America to Join Him on a Journey of Self Discovery on the High SeasFrom 13 – 20 June 2010 acclaimed author, psychic, astrologer and past life therapist David Wells will be onboard Royal Caribbean's 'Liberty of the Seas' delivering a range of fantastic workshops on a week long cruise out of Miami. Gamer Doc(R) Video Games Announces Sale of First Stores in Two New StatesGamer Doc(R), the retail video game store franchise that delivers a new and interactive customer experience, today announced the sale of its first stores in two new states. Gamer Doc franchises will open soon in Huntsville, Alabama and Katy, Texas. 'Paranormal Activity' Tops Weekly Blockbuster(R) Hit List of 'Top 10 Rented DVDs'Topping the BLOCKBUSTER(R) (NYSE: BBI) (NYSE: BBI.B) Hit List of "Top 10 Rented DVD Titles" for the week ending Jan. 3 is "Paranormal Activity." After a young, middle class couple moves into what seems like a typical suburban "starter" tract house... Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas Names New COOAlamo Drafthouse Cinemas, the nation's oldest cinema-eatery concept showing first-run films - named best movie theater in America by Entertainment Weekly - is proud to announce Craig Paschich as the company's chief operating officer, a newly created... Leading Kids Party Franchise Hires New VPs to Head Operations, DevelopmentPIU Management, LLC, franchisor of the Pump It Up and BounceU brands, announced two new appointments to its senior management team, including Vice President of Operations Scott Keppel, and Vice President of Development and Real Estate Sean Bock. Gamer Doc(R) Video Games - Making Winners in 2010Gamer Doc(R), the retail video game store franchise that delivers a new and interactive customer experience, finishes the year upbeat, and is looking forward to continuing its winning ways in 2010. BLOCKBUSTER(R) Announces Exclusive Rental of Paramount Digital Entertainment's 'Circle of Eight'Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI) (NYSE: BBI) (NYSE: B), a global leader in entertainment, today announced that Paramount Digital Entertainment's episodic Web phenomenon Circle of Eight is available for rent as a full-length film exclusively from... BLOCKBUSTER(R) App for iPhone(TM) and iPod touch(R) Now Available from App StoreSMBlockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI, BBI.B), a global leader in entertainment, today announced the availability of its BLOCKBUSTER App on the App Store. The free app was created in response to customer requests for easy access to Blockbuster services on... Raleigh Gamer Doc(R) Video Game Store's PTA Family NightKim and Jim Hamilton, owners of the Raleigh Gamer Doc video games store at 10251 Little Brier Creek Lane, hosted a PTA Family Night on November 18th for Brier Creek Elementary School parents, teachers and students. Activities included playing... Finding the Right Movie Is Now Easier Than Ever With BLOCKBUSTER(R) Direct AccessCan't find the movie you wanted to rent at your local BLOCKBUSTER store because it's already checked out or it's a hard-to-find title? Don't worry, participating BLOCKBUSTER stores can now access Blockbuster's extensive online inventory and have the... Movie Fans Make Their 2009 Time Capsule Movie Picks in Survey From BlockbusterGreat movies are made every year, but some stand out as films that help shape or represent their times. With this in mind, Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI) (NYSE: BBI.B) recently conducted a poll on blockbuster.com asking movie fans what one film from 2009... Blockbuster Rewards Students With Free Rentals for Good GradesBlockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI) (NYSE: BBI.B) is giving students another reason to work hard in the classroom. Through the "Good Grades, Free Rental" program, children in kindergarten through 12th grade who earn an A or B average on their report cards... Low Cost, Alternative Ice Cream Franchise Brings Big Bucks to CommunityEntrepreneurs across the country are finding out what makes a successful business in this economy: ties to the community, easy-to-execute business plans and mobility. That's why national frozen treat franchise Kona Ice expects the company to double in... New Holiday Movie Traditions Are Lighting up Home Theaters, According to BlockbusterMovies like "It's A Wonderful Life" and "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" are long-time holiday traditions among American families, but a few newcomers have begun to win over hearts too, according to Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI) (NYSE: BBI.B). Blockbuster to Present at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Credit ConferenceBlockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI) (NYSE: BBI.B), a leading global provider of media entertainment, today announced that Tom Casey, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will present at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Credit Conference at... IHG Tweets Into the New Year with 31 Days of Deals & Giveaways on TwitterDuring the 31 days that lead up to the new year 2010, IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) will "tweet away" nearly one million Priority Club(R) points redeemable for hotel nights, retail gift cards, electronics and more during the hotel... Dysfunctional Movie Thanksgivings Make Us Grateful for Our Families, According to Blockbuster SurveyIf your family gives you more indigestion at Thanksgiving than the turkey, Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI) (NYSE: BBI.B) has a list of movies that will help you see it's all relative. In a recent poll conducted on blockbuster.com, movie fans named which... Blockbuster Expands Online Game Rental Pilot to SeattleBlockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI) (NYSE: BBI.B), a global leader in entertainment, today announced that consumers in the Seattle area can now rent the latest new video games such as "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2", "Assassin's Creed 2" and... Gamer Doc(R) Video Games Helps Fill Every Gamer's Wish ListGamer Doc(R), the retail video game store franchise that delivers a new and interactive customer experience, is helping to fill every video gamer's wish list. According to a recent poll conducted by KRC research on behalf of the ESA... AmericInn Is First Iowa Hotel to Host Electric Car Charging StationThe national hotel chain AmericInn(R) announces the opening of a public electric vehicle charging station at its Elk Horn, Iowa, property located off of Interstate 80 between Omaha and Des Moines. This AmericInn location is the first official... Blockbuster to Present at the Morgan Stanley Global Consumer and Retail ConferenceBlockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI) (NYSE: BBI.B), a leading global provider of media entertainment, today announced that Jim Keyes, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Tom Casey, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will present at... Cruise Planners Makes a Difference via Veteran's Fund Raising ProgramEileen Tener, owner of a Cruise Planners franchise located in Tampa loves to help people plan their perfect cruise vacation. Her customers come from all walks of life and interests and seek information about cruises ranging from a short 3 night get... Gamer Doc(R) Video Games Works with Local School to Make Learning FunGamer Doc(R), the retail video game store franchise that delivers a new and interactive customer experience, has launched several initiatives with Brier Creek Elementary School, designed to make learning fun. |
Features & Special ReportsIs it Time for an Operating Cost Audit?: Franchise Tenants Unite!When was the last time you challenged a landlord or property manager about the operating expenses or common area maintenance (CAM) charges? Probably not recently or never, right? To clarify, operating costs are the day-to-day management and maintenance expenses charged to the tenant; examples include asphalt repairs, snow removal, property insurance, and so on. Franchise tenants pay a proportionate share of these costs based on the space they occupy. Therefore, if a franchise tenant occupies 12 percent of a building, he or she will pay for 12 percent of the operating costs. Paying by this said ratio is the industry standard but, of course, there are deviations for special circumstances like free-standing buildings and so on. "Old School" Communication: Cell Phone Texting Builds Customer TrafficConsidering the wide-ranging abilities of today's smartphones, simple text messaging may seem passé, but it's a basic social media tool that's working wonders for Chris Kramolis' franchise operation. He's been using text messages to build business and compile a database of his customers--and he doesn't see any reason to deviate from something that's working. Discovering Oil: Multi-unit Operator Strikes it Rich with Oil Change FranchisesDarrell Lamb remembers toiling away in the heyday of the mid-90s stock market. He was always searching for new investors, and on the lookout for hot investments. One day some of his advisers told him about an opportunity - a chance to invest in the Express Oil Change franchise. He had reason to trust the advisers since they were his uncle, who was president of the company, and his dad, an Alabama optometrist who was always interested in investing in growing ventures. Capital AccessDustin Winkle was a victim of the dot-com crash a few years back. While pondering his next career move, he visited with family members who operated some dry cleaning stores. He liked what he heard and purchased his first Martinizing Dry Cleaners stores six hours away in Yakima, Wash. It was a long commute from his home in Boise, Idaho, but he loved the business. Three years later his family was ready to sell its dry cleaning stores and Winkle was more than happy to buy some units closer to home. Today he operates 10 Martinizing Dry Cleaning stores (and one non-Martinizing unit) in the Boise area. Multi-Tasking: What It Takes To Be A Successful Multi-Unit FranchiseeTwenty years ago, franchising meant buying the rights to and opening a single unit or business. But a changing trend has taken hold during the last two decades. Today, it's not uncommon for a single franchise operator to have 5, 6, or even dozens of units. FRANdata research notes the number of multi-unit operators now tops 34,000, and those operators control more than 155,000 franchised units in the U.S. It's a growth strategy that has proven effective but it should be approached with caution. Multi-unit operators are generally wired differently then their single-unit counterparts. Successful multi-unit operators are typically experienced, skilled, professional business executives who have chosen franchising as their business model. They possess the skills, training, capital, infrastructure, and vision to operate numerous units and have the ability to continue adding units to their portfolio--without stressing their organization or their stomach. Episode 006: The Benefits of a Franchise ModelFranchising provides benefits for both seller and buyer. For franchisors, the primary benefit is the ability to use other people's money to expand the brand more rapidly than they could either on their own or through investors or lenders. The initial franchise fee and ongoing royalties they collect allow franchisors to build their brand without sacrificing control to outsiders or the pressure of repaying lenders. Measure for Measure: Unit Economics Plays a Leading Role on Today's Economic StageThe most fundamental business strategy calls for black numbers on the bottom line. In simplest terms, it's proof the business is generating more cash than it is spending. All too often, though, entrepreneurs get involved in businesses without employing a proper system to help them keep a watchful eye on what they're earning and what they're spending. Managing day-to-day operations can be so time-consuming that it leaves little room for financial analysis. Or perhaps key individuals lack a basic understanding of how to read and interpret financial statements. Combine these factors with the down economy, and you'll likely wind up with a troubled business. Service Based Franchising: Where the Action IsLast week we ended our discussion of service concepts with the point that many of these businesses are based on customers making the choice to trade money (surplus) for time (deficit). The example we used was maid services, where time-starved customers spend money to buy time they can spend with their family and friends. Other examples of businesses built on services that customers could perform themselves but choose to pay someone else for include lawn and landscaping services, residential painting, oil change, and installation of home entertainment systems. Seven Steps to Fiscal Fitness: A "Fiscal Physical" Will Help Your Business Survive, Grow, and ProsperIn the few minutes it takes you to read this article, 40 businesses across the nation will fail--and that statistic was [i]before[/i] the economic downturn of the last 24 months. Tragic? Yes. Remarkable? Not at all. The road to business success is littered with the skeletons of companies whose owners--mostly brilliant and skilled individuals--failed to "take care of business" in the financial management of their enterprise. Service Based Franchising: What Franchisors WantWhen you first consider franchising as a business model, one of the choices that arises is which type of business, in which sector, suits you best. One basic choice is to make is goods or service; another is retail or home-based. In previous months, we've explored ways to find the sector, and the franchisor, most likely to give you the best chance of success. More recently, in the previous four weeks, we've discussed the attributes franchisors look for in franchise candidates in the retail sector and in the home-based sector. Here we apply the same lens to the services sector. Let's begin with the similarities. All franchisors want candidates who follow the system, pay royalties on time, possess marketing skills and savvy, know how to run a business, show leadership and growth potential, are good communicators, and are expansion-minded, community-oriented, and willing to give back to the system. Franchisors look for these skills whether you choose a service, retail, B2B, or other concept.
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