Happy Independence Day from FranchisePick.com!

Did Sarah Palin resign her Alaskan governorship to start a franchise? If so, which one?

Unconfirmed, unqualified and unlikely sources close to FranchisePick.com are abuzz with rumors that Sarah Palin has decided not to run for re-election and to resign her post as Governor of Alaska in order to pursue the American Dream of business ownership as a franchise owner.

If Sarah Palin resigned to buy a franchise… which one?

Rumors are flying.  Some of the leading guesses are:

Cold Stone Creamery. It’s well known that the Palin’s are huge Cold Stone Creamery fans, as CST was a regular campaign stop (one on the Palin bus reportedly craved pickles and ice cream every hundred miles).  And since Cold Stone Creamery is seemingly a bad investment in the best of circumstances (Cold Stone Creamery Gets Served by Franchisees) and would indicate especially poor judgement to open in Alaska, it seems like a natural choice.

Wasilla Tans. Remember when FranchisePick.com raised the lid on the PigmentGate scandal?  No?  We exposed Sarah Palin’s purchase of her own tanning bed for the Governor’s mansion and lack of support of local tanning franchises.  Perhaps she’s warmed up to the idea of a tanning franchise.

LensCrafters. No one can doubt Sarah’s ability to sell glasses - rose-colored and otherwise.

PalinWear Boutique Franchise - Celebrity Brands blog has contended a PalinWear franchise has been in the works for a while:

“the Palinwear outlet may just be the start of an ever-growing Palin-franchise. “We want to be the place real Americans go for all their Palin needs. Expect to see a ‘UBetcha‘ line of women’s casual, ‘Big As The 49th‘ for the plus-sized, and ‘Whoops‘, a hip outlet for coolest in unwed teen-maternity apparel.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  WHICH FRANCHISE WILL (OR SHOULD) SARAH PALIN OPEN?

IMAGE CREDIT:   mocr License:  Creative Commons

Some businesses are thriving in the down economy… such as those selling used clothing at a discount. One such company, consignment event franchisor Just Between Friends, has just sold its 95th franchise.

According to a company press release:

Tulsa, OK July 2, 2009 — Just Between Friends (JBF), the nation’s leading maternity and children’s consignment sales event franchise, has announced that it has sold its 95th franchise, as moms across the country are embracing the consignment concept during this recession.

“Last August, we had 61 franchises across the country. In less than one year we have nearly doubled in size and we attribute much of that growth to the recession as more families across the country search for ways to save money and earn money and are turning to Just Between Friends to help. Many of our new franchise owners are women who have left the corporate world and see JBF as a great business opportunity. Others are families who are opening a franchise as an investment in their future,” explains Shannon Wilburn, President and co-founder of Just Between Friends.

Just Between Friends Franchises are also reporting an increase in sales - some as high as 40 percent - with the average increase hitting 25 percent, as families across the U.S. search for ways to save money. It is part of a national trend. The National Association of Resale Shops reports that sales at second hand shops are up 30 percent nationwide.

“Consigning fills several economic necessities in the lives of American families,” said Daven Tackett, vice president of JBF and mother of two teen daughters, “Even higher income families are looking for ways to save during these uncertain times. Just Between Friends also offers tens of thousands of families the opportunity to earn money, by selling new and gently used items. Our consignors tag their own items and set their own price and can earn up to 75 percent of the sale price.”

Just Between Friends is an unusual business model in that franchise owners have 2 or 3 big sales events a year - one in the fall and one in the spring. Local families sign up as consignors and sell their new and gently used children’s and maternity items. Consignors set prices for their own items and earn up to 75 percent of the sales while the local franchise owners provide the venue and promote the sale. Consignors receive their check within two weeks of the event. In 2008, gross sales across the country topped 6.8 million and in 2009, sales are projected to top 10 million.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

For more franchise information and franchise opportunities, visit FranBest.com.  For information on new franchises and new franchise opportunities, visit Top New Franchises.

I think Burger King pulled a real boner with this fellatio-themed ad.

Burger King has recently released an extremely controversial advertisement for their newest sandwich, “The Super Seven Incher.”  While the ad was supposedly prepared and only run by a Singapore franchisee, BK appears to be allowing it to circulate on the Internet.  Another juvenile attempt at contrived controversy?  Share your opinion below..

Not long ago, Quiznos ventured into food porno promo (Will Sex Sell Subs? Quiznos Hopes So.)

Burger King seems to be working even harder than usual to make people sick to their stomachs… this time through inspid copywriting:

IT’LL BLOW YOUR MIND AWAY. Fill your desire for something long, juicy and flame-grilled with the NEW BK SUPER SEVEN INCHER.

Get it?  Blow?  Jeez… That kind of subtlety doesn’t provoke outrage… it just kind of makes me sad inside.  I really kind of feel sorry for a company that would stoop (stupe?) to this.

To make this lamer yet, Burger King is sidestepping responsibility by claiming it’s simply the work of a “Singaporean advertising firm and paid for by a local franchise.”  Devon Lantry writes in his post Burger King Oral Sex Ad:

What Burger King Says
Burger King says the ad was printed by a local Singaporean advertising firm and paid for by a local franchisee owner, not by the Burger King Corporation. In response to the ad, a burger King representative told fox news, “Burger King Corp. values and respects all of its guests,” and then stated, “This print ad is running to support a limited time promotion in the Singapore market and is not running in the U.S. or any other markets. The campaign is supported by the franchisee in Singapore and has generated positive consumer sales around this limited time product offer in that market.” .

Are we supposed to believe that Burger King Corporation doesn’t have the authority to keep their franchisees from using their trademark on lewd advertising?  Sorry, but that’s a little hard to swallow.

Unfortunately, Oral Sex seems to be a new advertising theme among fast feeders (See Will Sex Sell Subs? Quiznos Hopes So.)  Let’s hope it’s a trend that climaxes quickly.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

Image source:  pescatello License:  Creative Commons

Now, my inner smartass urges me to lead with a cynical comment, something like:  You defended our Homeland…  Now you can clean it!

But the franchise marketer in me applauds the professional, well-conceived presentation and the all-out commitment to implementation (including dedicated program graphics, dedicated website, Twitter and FaceBook accounts, panel of judges, 4th of July timing, and PR rep Lisa Sperling’s contacting me via email & Twitter) that Maid Brigade demonstrates.  Kind of military in its roll-out.

And since I’ve used up my quota of military smart-ass comments with my recent Send Jared to Gitmo campaign (SUBWAY: Send Jared to Gitmo!, Military Considers Abducting Subway’s Jared), I’ll stick with applauding Maid Brigade for properly vetting a good vet promo.

Franchisor Marketing reports that Maid Brigade is launching a contest to promote its franchise opportunity to U.S. Armed Forces veterans as franchise owners.  According to the post (MAID BRIGADE Launches Franchise Giveaway Contest for Vets),  10% of Maid Brigades current owners are vets.

The essay contest, entitled “Maid Brigade Veterans Franchise Giveaway,” offers to waive the $14,500 franchise for up to 100 vets who want to sign on as franchisees, and will award one turn-key franchise package - all expenses paid - to the Grand Prize Winner (a $45,000 value).  Second and third place winners will receive similar packages valued at $27,500 and $17,500, respectively.

Maid Brigade Salutes Veterans with $1.5 Million Franchise Giveaway

Contest Will Offer New Careers to 100+ Military Veterans

(June 29, 2009) — They’ve earned their medals in the U.S. Armed Forces. Now veterans can prove their mettle in the business world with the Maid Brigade Veterans Franchise Giveaway, a program that will award more than $1.5 million in business ownership opportunities to 100+ veterans, creating more than 1,000 jobs nationwide.

The contest comes at a time when America’s economy is down, but patriotism is high. Maid Brigade, the award-winning residential cleaning service and longtime supporter of the military, is acting on both fronts by offering new careers to veterans, a group it considers worthy, qualified, and proven as franchise owners.

Currently, 10 percent of Maid Brigade owners are veterans; others in the network come from a range of careers.

The contest will launch on Independence Day, July 4, and conclude on Veterans Day, November 11, 2009.

To apply for the giveaway, veterans must visit www.maidbrigadegiveaway.com to complete the form and to submit a short essay by September 30 on how their military responsibilities would translate to successful Maid Brigade franchise ownership.

Maid Brigade will waive its $14,500 Select Market Franchise fee for as many as 100 qualified veteran applicants. Additionally, one grand prize winner will receive a new Maid Brigade franchise operation at zero cost —a total value of $45,000, which includes waived franchise fees, working capital, training, and equipment. Second and third place winners will receive similar packages valued at $27,500 and $17,500, respectively. A Maid Brigade Select Market Franchise is designed for smaller geographical regions. Owners manage all business aspects of an operation and oversee a staff of employees who clean homes following Maid Brigade’s certified Green Cleaning system.

READ ON AT:  MAID BRIGADE Launches Franchise Giveaway Contest for Vets

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

graphics:  Maid Brigade

Saturday night, my 12-year old son, 7-year-old grandaughter and I had a simultaneous craving for buffalo wings.

I gave my son his choice of places (we’re a wing-savvy family) and his choice was immediate:  WingZone.

We headed for the WingZone franchise on Fruitville Pike in Lancaster.  They always did a good job, and just celebrated their second anniversary this past October.

Unfortunately, we found a depressing site:  a sign in front of WingZone that read “Sorry we are closed.  Thanks for all your support.”

WingZone opened in late 2006 and must have just closed within the last week or so.

I’m not sure why, but wing franchises seem to have a hard time making it in this market.

Several have tried and closed, including a 3 WTG Wings-to-Go franchises that closed a few years back.  WOW Wingery & Cafe opened on the F&M Campus recently, and carries on.

Franchisee Brophy was right about the demand for wings in the area, but I think the number of good “wing nights” at local bars and restaurants may be too much competition for the take-out franchise concepts.

R.I.P. WingZone of Lancaster, PA.  Believe me, we tried our best to keep you in business.  You’ll be missed.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT.

image:  SK, cameraphone

Ten fresh franchise opportunities you can start!

A couple of weeks ago I started a little weekly post called OpporTUESDAY, where I invited franchisors to shamelessly brag (in 100 words or less) about their franchise opportunities, and to provide links to their websites.

I liked the idea of giving franchisors a free listing (as they get charged out the wazoo by most franchise listing portals) and giving prospective franchisees a chance to review interesting franchise opportunities that might not be advertising (and spending) heavily enough to get their attention.

OpporTUESDAY was immediately well-received, and despite little promotion we’ve received information from about 30 franchise companies.

To say Thanks for Participating, FranBest.Com has agreed to post OpporTUESDAY submissions on its front page.  Here are a few of the first contributions:

ShowHomes - a Home Staging Franchise

Computer Explorers – a fast-growing Child Education Franchise

Kumon – a worldwide Children’s Education Franchise

Snip-Its – a fun Children’s Hair Salon Franchise

whippersnappers – Cool name for a Children’s Photography Studio Franchise

Extreme Pizza – a boldly branded New Pizza Franchise

Global Prevention Services – Be a Moldbuster! An Environmental Franchise

Spoon Me – hip new Frozen Yogurt Franchise

Express Pros - growing Express Staffing Franchise

Molly Maid – a leading Maid Service Franchise

Franchisors Submit your franchise opportunity listings here:  OpporTUESDAY.

Franchise shoppers Check out OpporTUESDAY participants and the other franchise opportunities listed at FranBest.com.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

image:  FranBest.com

Are Blackhawk helicopters being fueled and troops being readied for “Operation Fat Pants”?  Are military intelligence officers searching Mapquest for directions to Jared Fogle’s Indianapolis mansion?  All I can disclose at this time is:  maybe.

I have reason to believe that the U.S. military is considering my modest proposal that they detain Subway spokesperson Jared Fogle and his size 60 spokespants until there’s justice for bronze star recipient serviceman Leon Batie Jr.

Yesterday I wrote (SUBWAY: Send Jared to Gitmo!) how Subway allegedly repossessed and resold (for profit) Leon Batie Jr.’s Subway franchises while he was on active duty in the tropical paradise of Afghanistan.

I suggested that Batie’s fellow GIs be allowed to use some of our taxpayer-financed resources to help, er, expedite a positive resolution to this conflict.

Some of my own words came back to me this morning, in the form of a parody press release being circulated on the Internet and through the U.S. military.  The originating message of the email chain read:

My niece in the Navy just forwarded this to me and she got it from another friend of hers on the ship. I thought you’d get a kick out of it if you have not seen it already. Thanks for exposing Subway’s anti-military actions. I hope this really helps everyone learn about what they did so they can fix what they did to Batie.

Attached was a .pdf file of a parody press release pieced together from my post, a Dallas Morning News article and some very funny original additions.  Here’s an excerpt (You can read the entire press release here:  SUBWAY: Send Jared to Gitmo! Parody Press Release)

SUBWAY® RESTAURANTS ANNOUNCES KIDNAPPING OF JARED

SUSPECTED RETAILIATION FOR UNLAWFUL SEIZURE OF SOLDIER’S STORES WHILE DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN

(Milford, CT) June 25, 2009 — The SUBWAY® restaurant chain announced that its longtime spokesperson, Jared S. Fogle, 31, was kidnapped early this morning when two U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopters descended on his mansion in Indianapolis, Indiana and eight U.S. Army Rangers raided his home, nabbing the famous skinny man.

Also captured in the raid were Fogle’s famous size 60 pants, which sources say he now uses as a night time “blanky” for emotional comfort.

The motive behind Fogle’s capture was revealed when the U.S. Army General David Patraeus held a press conference to announce that Fogle was transferred to a military brig in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. “Subway brought this action upon itself when it violated the rights of Lt. Col. Leon Batie, Jr., a former Subway franchisee who was deployed to Afghanistan when Subway unlawfully seized his two Subway stores,” said Patraeus. “We’re gonna keep him at Gitmo and make him eat Big Macs until certain demands are met and Subway makes it right.”

Continue reading here: SUBWAY: Send Jared to Gitmo! Parody Press Release

Seriously, show your support for U.S. servicemen by leaving a comment here: SUBWAY: Send Jared to Gitmo!

Shouldn’t we protect our soldiers at home while they’re protecting us overseas?  Tell Subway to show their true colors and do the right thing.

Image: Black Hawk Boarding  “A U.S. Army soldier waits to board a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter on Camp Liberty, Baghdad, Iraq, April 9, 2009. The Black Hawk helicopters transport both passengers and logistical equipment throughout the Iraqi theater.”

U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Whelan. License:  Creative commons attributed to Army.mil

Leave a comment below if you think we should send SUBWAY spokesperson Jared Fogle to Gitmo!  And don’t forget to Tweet —>

A commenter on a post at UnhappyFranchisee.com (SUBWAY Seizes, Resells Deployed GI’s Franchises) offered this modest proposal:  The U.S. Armed forces should seize SUBWAY sandwich spokesperson Jared Fogle and detain him at Guantanamo Bay until certain demands are met.

The demands?  Justice for Subway franchisee Leon Batie Jr.

Leon Batie Jr. is a former multi-unit Subway franchisee and a U.S. Army Reservist deployed to Afghanistan.  While risking his life in defense of his country, his two Subway franchises fell behind on the rent (by $13,500, claims Subway;  less according to Batie & his attorney).  While he was dodging roadside bombs in Afghanistan, Subway seized ownership of the 2 businesses he had poured his savings and dreams into.  The Subway area developer (OPM Ventures LP) allegedly turned around and resold Batie’s franchise locations for a profit.  The Subway Area Developer allegedly pocketed $100,000 profit off one of Batie’s units, which they bought for $35,000 and resold for $135,000.

Batie, who has re-signed with the U.S. Army full-time, not only lost his stores, but is saddled with a six-figure debt load.  Batie is suing for $6M under the Servicemembers Act, a law that bars anyone from terminating an active-duty service member’s installment contract, including leases, without a court order.

“I’m a SUBWAY Spokesperson – Get me out of here!”

But I like the Unhappy Franchisee commenter’s idea.  We’ve all made a significant investment in the war effort and facilities like Gitmo.  Why shouldn’t we use these resources to defend our armed forces’ members at home, as well as overseas… especially if we can have some fun in the process?

Isn’t active serviceman Leon Batie Jr. under attack?

Shouldn’t he be able to radio for air support?  Shouldn’t Blackhawk helicopters descend on Jared’s upscale neighborhood just before dawn and wisk him and his giant former pants off to an undisclosed location?

It will be a win-win situation for all involved.  SUBWAY can pay Batie $6M out of its Ad Fund for sponsorship of the resulting reality show “I’m a SUBWAY Spokesperson – Get me out of here!”  Batie will have $6M to invest in a more vet-friendly franchise, like Wiznos Sub.  And Jared will have attoned for his crimes against humanity (such as speaking in monotone, waving those fat pants, and being filthy, stinking rich).

Related reading:  SUBWAY Seizes, Resells Deployed GI’s Franchises

“HELL YES WE SHOULD SEND JARED TO GITMO!”  WHO’S WITH ME?  LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW!

image:  FranBest franchise information

Brag about your franchise opportunity!

Tell us about your franchise opportunity by leaving a comment below.

Here are the rules:

-  100 words or less

-  Include a link to your website

-  Use your real email address (private - not shown or shared)

-  Encourage others to visit/comment; Retweets appreciated

-  Smile!  It’s free!

-  Come back next Tuesday and do it again!

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FRANCHISE.  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW!

image:  FranBest.com