Related story:  Make-Your-Own-Cigarette Franchise’s Rolling

Custom Blends Franchise Services LLC recently announced the addition of 4 new franchise locations in Lancaster County PA with the awarding of an Area Development Agreement to Jamak Liberty Enterprises, Inc., a PA based company.

The first 7 Valleys Custom Blends store located in the Woods Edge Plaza in Manor Township is scheduled to open its doors in late July with the other stores expected to come online over the next 2-3 years as the market requires says Mark Tucci, Managing Partner of Custom Blends Franchise Services LLC from the company headquarters in Hilton Head Island, SC.

“The make your own cigarette market is ideal for the new consumerism sweeping the nation” says Jeff Bond, CEO of Jamak Liberty Enterprises, Inc. “Customers appreciate the all natural farm fresh tobacco experience without all the chemicals and additives in leading brands. They really appreciate the cost savings too!” he adds.

Custom Blends is a pioneer in the RYO (Roll Your Own) and MYO (Make Your Own) cigarette market. By making available their Custom Blends Farm Fresh Tobacco and the widest selection of supplies, 7 Valleys Custom Blends’ customers save half or more off the cost of pre-manufactured cigarettes while making their own cigarettes at home with fresh all natural tobacco.

“Our business has exploded over the past few years.” Mr. Tucci says. “Between the decreasing quality and the increasing price of Big Tobacco cigarettes we are gaining more and more customers who realize they can save big money by making their own all natural cigarettes at home.” He continues “We have current customers making the long drive from Lancaster County to our existing franchise locations in York County. Locating in Lancaster County, Jeff will be able to service these existing customers and expand our market share.”

Started in 1993, and franchising since 2005 7 Valleys Custom Blends currently has 1 company owned store and 3 franchises all located in Pennsylvania.

Custom Blends Franchise Services LLC offers individual franchises, Area Developments, and Master Franchise opportunities nationwide.

For more information, visit the 7 Valleys Custom Blends Top New Franchises listing, 7 Valleys Custom Blends blog, Custom Blends website, or contact Mark Tucci directly at 843-681-3966

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

Image credit:  Custom Blends

Will Play N Trade’s love and devotion to their video game concept be enough to hold off an attack by WalMart?  Or is big trouble heading their way?

According to a post on UnhappyFranchisee.com, nation’s largest retailer “has turned its hungry eye and voracious appetite for growth on the used video game market.”

According to the post (PLAY N TRADE: Should PnT Respond to Wal-Mart Threat?) WalMart will test a game and DVD rental kiosk system in 77 of its New York and southern New England stores.  If the test is successful, it could go expand the program nationwide, enabling gamers to buy, sell and trade their video games at WalMart locations.

The CEO of troubled Play N Trade, Larry Plotnick, responded calmly to the news.  He stated that the fledgling video game retailer’s superior service could withstand and assault by the nation’s largest retailer.  In fact, Plotnick says WalMart’s entry into the market could have “positive implications” with Walmart “legitimizing” used game sales and trading.

UnhappyFranchisee.com, which has hosted a spirited debate among Play N Trade franchisees of late (see PLAY N TRADE: CA Suspends PnT Franchise Registration), has asked for reactions to Larry Plotnick’s unemotional reaction:  Is his hope that WalMart will “validate the concept” just wishful thinking?

Is his belief that PnT customer service will make it invulnerable to WalMart’s competition just delusion & denial?

Or is Larry Plotnick exhibiting public coolness under pressure as PnT execs ready a strategic marketing response to the potential attack from a category killer robot army?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

image:  FranBest.com

In response to yesterday’s post CHRYSLER Dealers to Fight Closings, Franchise Pick reader Judy writes that Chrysler’s ploy is a shell game to make the American public think they have done something constructive through their bankruptcy filing in order to validate receiving bailout money.

Judy writes:

These dealerships are individually owned local businesses not Chrysler operations. These guys should be culled through economic attrition as is the American way, not notified they have to shut down in less than 30 days.

At least GM right now is winding down, not immediately terminating franchise agreements and they are also offering an appeal process to prove a dealer could stay by doing X,Y or Z. If a guy can operate his business with enough profit to satisfy himself, pay his bills, pay his taxes, pay his employees and support other local businesses and vendors, why should some company who should be more worried about cutting down their own operation expenses and restructuring their own debt tell him what he can and can’t do?

Dealers are not the reason Chrysler filed Bankruptcy sales dropping across the country by more than 46% is. So, limiting access to Chrysler products is not going to magically make them more desirable by the American public and make surviving dealers more profitable or competitive. Building better autos and improving consumer confidence will. This has nothing to do with dealers selling your product. It’s not even going to save them money in the long run because distribution costs to these dealers is minimal.

Further, why should some guy who has bought a Dodge truck want to travel out of his way to get it serviced or why would some guy want to drive out of his way just to purchase a Dodge truck? First thought will be if Chrysler is not loyal to its dealers, why would they be loyal to me. Second, thought is Joe Blow Ford is close to me now and they now support my little league team. More likely he will just switch products and purchase a Ford or GM made truck especially if the dealer is in his neighborhood or close to his office.

In this scenario, nothing will be gained in the short term for either Chrysler or GM to close dealers as market share will more than likely be lost to Ford. Chrysler’s ploy is a shell game to make the American public think they have done something constructive through their bankruptcy filing in order to validate receiving bailout money. It wouldn’t be the first time that some administration thought a policy was good and it later backfired.

Finally, do you think all franchise business owners in these great United States should be subjected to the possibility of their franchise agreements being cut because a manufacturer or producer has filed for bankruptcy, and suffer the same fate as being told they have less than 30 days to shut down their businesses or find another procuct to sell? This is not just about the automobile industry.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

image:  FranBest

According to the Unhappy Franchisee post CHRYSLER: Dealers to Fight Back, the Chrysler National Dealer Council has said that Chrysler dealers will soon launch their legal opposition to the company’s plan to revoke 789 franchise agreements.

Chrysler dealers to fight back

Chrysler is seeking the court’s permission to revoke 789 dealers’ franchises as part of its Chapter 11 restructuring. Chrysler is seeking to revoke dealer agreements on June 9, and to emerge within 6 weeks as a “new” Chrysler alliance with Italy’s Fiat.

According  CHRYSLER: Dealers to Fight Back, “Car dealers have long assumed that they are protected by the state franchise laws, many drawn up with the help of the dealers themselves… But Chrysler has asked the court to rule that the US bankruptcy code takes precedence over the state laws.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

Photo credit:  Larry He’s So Fine License:  Creative Commons

In a tale of passion, poultry, and murder, Gerardus Heijne is being tried for choking his chicken franchise partner.

In a high profile Australian murder trial,  Gerardus Heijne, 45, is on trial accused of murdering Frank Cianciosi, 51, at the couple’s luxury East Perth penthouse last year. The two had been together for 25 years and were the master franchisees of the Lenard’s chicken chain.

Last week a work colleague, Jason Mitchell, testified that the day after the alleged murder Mr Heijne had remorsefully told him that he was responsible for the strangling of Mr. Cianciosi, and had re-enacted the killing for him.

According to news reports, prosecutors contend that “Mr Heijne committed the murder because he was obsessed with a 19-year-old man and Mr. Cianciosi was an obstacle to the life he wanted.”

According to the Lenard’s website, “Lenard’s is a multi-award winning company, considered to be one of Australia’s leading fresh food retailers and a pioneer in the kitchen-ready meal market…. [with] 180 stores throughout Australia. The majority of these stores are owned and operated by independent Franchise Owners.”

Also read:  Lenard’s Chicken mogul strangled lover in penthouse, court told

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT.

logo:  Lenard’s

Thursday, Chrysler released a list of 789 dealers that it was letting go. Today, G.M. will send the letters to 1100 dealers with the bad news that their franchises will not be renewed after October 2010.

According to the New York Times:

Over all, G.M. plans to eliminate 2,369, or 40 percent, of its 5,969 dealers by the end of 2010. G.M. on Friday revised its number of current stores down from 6,200. In addition to the cuts being revealed Friday, the company expects to shed about 500 dealers that sell only Pontiac, Saturn, Saab or Hummer, the brands it intends to sell off or close. The rest will be achieved through attrition and by consolidating multiple franchises… G.M. and Chrysler say they need drastically fewer dealerships to become more efficient and profitable, and so the remaining dealers can make enough money in what has become a much smaller industry. Even after the cuts, their dealership networks will still be several times larger than those of foreign competitors like Toyota and Honda.

Chrysler is in bankruptcy;  G.M. is not.

Chrysler is asking its bankruptcy judge to terminate the agreements with its unwanted dealers as of about June 9. Because G.M. has not filed for bankruptcy protection it has to wait for its dealer agreements to expire or else it will have to pay expensive buyouts of the dealer agreements.  The times article points out that may change:

…many analysts expect G.M. to file for bankruptcy by June 1, the Obama administration’s restructuring deadline, and at that point the company could start trying to cancel franchises and shorten the time frame for the cuts. As of now, G.M. plans to buy back inventory, parts and specialized tools from the dealers it has deemed “underperforming.” Chrysler has offered to help its castoffs resell their inventory to other stores but says bankruptcy absolves the company of any obligation to take back the 44,000 unsold vehicles filling their lots.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

Pictured above:  The Folsom Lake Chrysler Jeep dealership in Folsom Auto Mall which closed it’s doors last week has no tresspassing and other signs representing the closure. Photo taken Thursday May 14, 2009. (Credit Image: © Sacramento Bee/ZUMA Press)

The Top New Franchises program has been seeking nominations for the most innovative new and emerging franchise concepts.  Early nominees include Fairway Divorce Solutions, Spoon Me Frozen Yogurt, A Womb With A View fetal imaging, and an innovative early childhood education concept called Kid’s Community College.

According to the listing for Kid’s Community College on TopNewFranchises.com, Kid’s Community College collegiate campuses are innovative early childhood institutions of higher learning designed as the genesis of life-long learning for children ages 4 weeks to 5th grade. KCC franchise owners provide the new standard in accredited, high-quality, early childhood educational systems.

Kid’s Community College admitted its first undergraduate students in March 2003. They currently have one company charter school and two franchised preschool locations.

According to the Our Company Bio of the Kid’s Community College website:

In the years since our humble beginnings, the Kid’s Community College model for high-quality early childhood education has become synonymous with excellence in individualized learning. Our growth and success has been customer driven and rests in one of our most treasured commodities - our youth. Our franchise offering is a natural extension of our desire to serve, while purposefully fulfilling an overdue business segment need. The response to our franchise offering has been great and we look forward to expanding our concept nationally.

I’m looking forward to the Top New Franchises interview with Kid’s Community College founder and President Timothy Kilpatrick in the weeks to come.

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE KID’S COMMUNITY COLLEGE FRANCHISE?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW OR LEAVE A COMMENT ON THE KID’S COMMUNITY COLLEGE FANWALL.

Photo:  Kid’s Community College

While Rapper 50 Cent was promoting his new video game at a Play N Trade store in Manhattan last week, PlayNTrade Franchise Inc. Founder Ron Simpson and President and CEO Larry Plotnick were appearing at franchise discussion site Unhappy Franchisee, defending their company and brand.

In reporting on the suspension of the CA franchise registration of Play N Trade (See PLAY N TRADE: CA Suspends PnT Franchise Registration), website Unhappy Franchisee set off a lively debate about the video game retail concept and its franchisor.

Some commenters  allege that Play N Trade used deceptive tactics to achieve its rapid growth, and was not forthcoming about early franchise failures, necessary capitalization and flaws in the business model.

Defenders of the Play N Trade franchisor and concept claim that the franchise registration will be restored and PnT exonerated on appeal, that the concept is sound and marketing and support to franchisees is exceptional.

Play N Trade President and CEO objected to the implication that Play N Trade had been found guilty of any wrongdoing:

As the President and CEO of Play N Trade I feel it…  is very unfortunate that http://www.unhappyfranchisee.com would state that Play N Trade has been found guilty of anything, when nothing could be further from the truth.

Play N Trade has not been found guilty of any wrong doing, and that the citation highlighted is a preliminary order that is not final. We are working closely with our Attorneys and the California Department of Corporations to clarify and settle this matter quickly and with the least amount of impact to our franchisees.

This preliminary order only impacts the state of California, and will not be finalized until the completion of a negotiation or appeals process.

Play N Trade Corporation takes this and all legal matters very seriously, and are and will cooperate fully with all state agencies.

We will be communicating with our current and future franchisees appropriately as facts become available.

Sincerely,

Larry Plotnick
President and CEO
Play N Trade, Inc.

Larry Plotnick, who joined Play N Trade in January of this year, cautioned readers from taking the often emotional criticisms of his company at face value:

I would like to caution anyone reading this website and the comments being made; that much of what has been said is incorrect, misleading and/or opinion only. If you have concerns with Play N Trade I would suggest that you call or contact our Corporate office and we can answer your questions appropriately and directly. Yes there are a few upset individuals, mostly ex-employees that have attempted to compete with Play N Trade unsuccessfully (Like Gamer Doc and others) that have reason to create problems. We will not use a public forum, such as this for discussions back and forth.

We continue to work very hard for our franchisees, not only in clearing up this current situation and working with the state of California but in completing for rollout this summer our new POS system, the new unified buying program and a new national marketing campaign all to support our franchisees.

I hope that our franchise community can see through these “rants” and understand that their partners at Play N Trade are doing everything possible to create a world class brand and to create a continually improving model in an exciting and growing industry.

Larry Plotnick
President and CEO
Play N Trade

Play N Trade Founder Ron Simpson stated that franchisees are always taking a risk and that failed stores are “a fact of business and our economy”:

It hurts me to see what is being said about such a great brand… For the people thinking about buying any franchise, there is very real risk and take all the information you can gather before buying one. The allure of running your own business can cloud your judgment. I set out to compete against a true giant in Gamestop, and have always said the franchisees will decide the outcome. I truly believe the our franchisees are given as much as can be given to compete from PNT, and it is up to them from there. I have never promised anything I couldn’t deliver and never asked anything from franchisees that I haven’t accomplished myself. As for the State of California, I know PNT will prevail and a lot of what this blog is based on will cease. As for closed stores, that happens to all franchises, even coporation like Gamestop…it’s a fact of business and our economy. God bless everyone on this blog (negative and positive) and all of our franchisees, I hope nothing but the best for all of you.
Ron Simpson
Founder
PlayNTrade Franchise Inc.

Read or join the discussion here:  PLAY N TRADE: CA Suspends PnT Franchise Registration

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

Photo:  FranBest.com

Related reading: PLAY N TRADE: Video Game Franchise Played Out?

PLAY N TRADE Franchise Registration Revoked

PLAY N TRADE: Franchisee Shares Secrets of Success; Blasts “Whiners”

IS PLAY N TRADE A GREAT FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY?

When FranchisePick.com asked IS PLAY N TRADE A GREAT FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY?, we got an earful… and 100+ comments.

According to Unhappy Franchisee, the California Department of Corporations has issued their opinion of the video game retail franchisor Play N Trade, and it ain’t good.

In fact, California is revoked the unit registration, denied the master franchise registration renewal and is recommending  heavy fines and penalties for alleged deceptive practices and violations of CA franchise law.

Play N Trade Franchise, Inc. has 60 days to respond to the complaint.

Read the legal document and penalties here: PLAY N TRADE: CA Revokes PnT Franchise Registration

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

Graphic:  FranBest Franchise Information

Also read:

PLAY N TRADE: Franchisee Shares Secrets of Success; Blasts “Whiners”

PLAY N TRADE: CA Revokes PnT Franchise Registration

PLAY N TRADE: Video Game Franchise Played Out?

Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day is a tradition that goes all the way back to the legendary days when Ben & Jerry were a couple of happy hippies selling ice cream out of a converted gas station.  Despite the fact that Ben & Jerry’s is now an international brand owned by Unilever, B&J still hands out free cones one day per year.  Today’s the day.

According to my Ben & Jerry’s Chunkmail:

As a way to thank our customers for their support and to celebrate 31 years of scooping the chunkiest, funkiest ice cream, frozen yogurt and sorbet, Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops are happily giving it away!

Around the world, Scoop Shops are opening their doors from noon to 8:00 pm, to serve up a free scoop of your favorite flavor. Please check with your local Scoop Shop for more info! Grab a pal and come on down to have some good, ’scream fun on us!

Not long ago, Quiznos tried a product giveaway that backfired miserably and brought national attention to their franchisees’ discontent.

Hopefully, Ben & Jerry’s years of experience with Free Cone Day will provide a better experience for both scoop shop franchisees and customers.

DID YOU GET YOUR FREE CONE AT BEN & JERRY’S TODAY?  HOW WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE?

Graphics:  Ben & Jerry’s