Francorp Continues to Grow

Francorp's Chairman, Don Boroian held a meeting three weeks ago with the entire staff of 60 people at Francorp. The meeting was focused on the economy and the direction of our business, country and global economy. Mr. Boroian is extremely well read, he goes through 6 papers every day and reads numerous publications focusing on the economy and economic news.

He voiced some of the concerns that every American is going through right now. Where is the light at the end of the tunnel here? What is tomorrow going to look like? When could I possibly retire with all these swings in the market? Don Boroian has not acheived all of the successes and accolades he has compiled in his 55 years of business by being one of the "flock". Mr. Boroian expressed an extreme displeasure with the media and their focus on the negative aspects of our economy. Mr. Boroian spoke of the negative effects. "When an average consumer hears a news report that talks of doom and gloom, they don't go on that vacation or buy that car they were thinking about getting." It is a vicious cycle, the consumer's behavior is driven by the information they have, right now it is all negative information about the economy.
We see many companies downsizing and shrinking their businesses as a result. We then have less employment and therefore less spending. Mr. Boroian pointed out that of course there are some deep underlying economic issues at hand here, but the fact is that we create our own destiny. If we succomb to the media and the swirl of negative publicity, then we ourselves will fall into that trap.
Don Boroian is a bold person. He throughout his life has made decisions and moves with his business and clients that others would not have the gumption to do. As a result, he is Chairman of the world's largest franchise consulting firm, Francorp. Prior to Francorp Mr. Boroian created an industry in the music business by franchising a chain of music operations. He also did the same in the restaurant industry. It is this temperment for tumultuous times where most business owners are "pulling in their horns" that Don Boroian makes aggressive moves.
It was announced at the Francorp meeting that we would be bringing on some new staff. Could this really be true? That when all the news and publicity is saying that every company in America is faltering and Francorp is hiring new people?
Mr. Boroian mentioned, that now, more than ever, Francorp clients need the resources and attention of Francorp staff. Look at the world's most successful investors, they make their moves when the market is down...not when it's up! Having been in business for almost 33 years, Francorp has seen several recessions and market downturns, this is nothing new to Don Boroian.
Francorp has recently hired Gail Doonan on full time as Regional Director Administrator. Ms. Doonan brings over 30 years of business experience to Francorp and Francorp clients. She has owned her own businesses and successfully managed client projects for some time. Ms. Doonan will be working closely with the Francorp Regional Directors, who are a nationwide network of franchise brokers and franchise sales people.
Francorp also recently brought on Tiffany Franco as a full time person. Ms. Franco works closely with Mr. Christopher J. Conner, Vice President of Francorp Consulting. Ms. Franco brings over 10 years of business experience to the consulting firm.
Francorp will also be adding some additional staff to support and manage client development. Mr. Boroian closed the meeting with Francorp Staff with a final thought. "As long as we can continue to develop successful clients who sell franchises, Francorp will continue to sit at the top of it's industry. Everything we do is to be of the highest quality workmanship and nothing leaves this building without every bit of our effort and attention. At Francorp, the client is king."
http://www.francorp.com/
http://www.francorpconnect.com/

Ben’s Bark Ave. Bistro to Expand Through Franchising

http://www.mediasyndicate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=10775

For more than 3 years, Ben’s Bark Ave. Bistro has introduced and educated pet owners on the healthy alternative to the vast number of poor quality pet foods sold across America. “Our goal is to educate these pet companions on the healthy and nutritious foods that are available nationwide,” states co-owner Sally Romero.

Ben’s Bark Ave. Bistro accomplishes this task by stocking as many healthy foods as they can fit into their store. They refuse to supply or sell what they believe are inferior foods just to get the customer (companion) in the door. The pet’s companion is simply the food provider, not the customer. The customer is their pet, a consumer that cannot communicate or complain. The inferior pet food industry takes full advantage of this fact. And what are these inferior products that they speak of? Corn, by-products of any kind, cancer causing chemical preservatives, colorings and even euthanized pets, to name just a few.

As difficult as it is to believe, millions of these deceased dogs and cats are processed each year at rendering plants across America. Some of these multinational corporations make use of these disgusting and poor quality protein sources (meat and meat by-products) from rendered or, more simply stated, cooked and converted animals including dogs and cats. These products, along with a variety of fractioned and empty grain products, represent the protein percentages listed on the food.

Sally and her husband Brad opened Ben’s Bark Ave. Bistro due to an overwhelming desire and sense of necessity to educate the companions of America’s dogs and cats about the sinful ingredients that these multinational corporations use in their low-grade pet foods and the poor practices that they utilize while manufacturing them. These corporations then spend tens of millions of advertising dollars to promote these low-quality foods. Brad simply states, “The most expensive thing in the bag is the bag itself - trash in a fancy garbage bag.”

“We simply will not lower our standards and sell inferior products. We will not stock these substandard foods or any products we feel are not in the best interest of the pet,” remarks Sally. “We only supply what we truly believe in. Our business is based not only on providing nutritional food, but also providing information, education and the consultation to inform the companion of the nutritional needs of their pet. We spend as much time as the companion/customer needs and provide them with the information they need to make the right decision for their dog or cat." A vast majority return flabbergasted by their pet’s enthusiastic response to the new food and the positive change they observe in their pet after just a few weeks.

The need to inform America to what is truly occurring in the pet food industry has driven Ben’s Bark Ave. Bistro to franchise. To help in this process, they have approached Francorp, the world’s leader in franchise consulting, to assist them in the development of their franchise program. “We hope to expand nationwide to help service all of America’s dogs and cats and educate their companions to confidently extend their pet's life through proper and healthy nutrition,” explains Sally.

For more information about Ben’s Bark Ave. Bistro, call (888) 760-DOGS (3647) or visit www.bensbistro.com

SOURCE: http://www.mediasyndicate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=10775

Franchise fair coming to Mt. Vernon

http://www.register-news.com/local/local_story_296101519.html

By TESA CULLItesa.culli@register-news.comMT. VERNON — After a year of planning, a franchise fair will be held in the King City on Nov. 15.Last year, after members of the Jefferson County Development Corporation and the city attended a meeting of the International Council for Shopping Centers, JCDC Executive Director Mary Ellen Bechtel said a franchise fair would allow area business people to explore the opportunities for opening new business.“Many of the retail opportunities out there are actually franchise opportunities,” Bechtel said. “Those are great for our area, with people who live in our area able to go into business. The design of franchises is good, because people with no experience owning a business get the help and support they need to open a new business.”Bechtel said she had spoken with Rend Lake College Small Business Development Center Director Curt Mowrer, and tentative plans were made to hold the event in the fall of 2008.The Small Business Development Center, JCDC, the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunities as well as franchise architects are partnering to bring the first Southern Illinois Franchise Expo on Nov. 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Holiday Inn.“As the first of its kind in Southern Illinois, the Expo will feature a unique opportunity for prospective business owners to meet face-to-face with various franchises and financial resources,” information from the college states. The Expo is free to attend. In addition, workshops will be held which are geared towards the prospective small business owner.Bechtel, Mt. Vernon Mayor Mary Jane Chesley and City Manager Ron Neibert will be attending the ICSC conference next week in Chicago, according to Chesley. The ICSC has real estate agents who scout areas open for franchise development and meet the needs of the various franchises available, Bechtel said last year after attending the conference. “The people we talked to with franchises were interested in coming here,” Bechtel said. “We’re working to build our list now, and then get word out to the general public to discuss the opportunities available. ... We made great contacts with companies who are interested in attending the event. ...”Registration to the Southern Illinois Franchise Expo is not required, but suggested. Additional questions and registration information may be directed to Nicholas LeMay at lemay@rlc.edu.

Immigrants as Franchisees

A key target for a franchise owner is an immigrant. As this article from the Wall Street Journal points out, immigrants tend to be ideally suited for to be a franchise owner. For more information on how to franchise a business or franchise development, go to www.francorp.com.

OCTOBER 13, 2008FranchisingChain ReactionFor many immigrants, owning a franchise is the path to the American dream

By RICHARD GIBSONhttp://online.wsj.com/article/SB122347728915015415.html?mod=djkeyword

Like many immigrants, Lyudmila Khononov turned to a franchise to fulfill her American dream.When she was 10 years old, Mrs. Khononov's family left Odessa, Ukraine, for the U.S. in search of a better life. "There was a lot of discrimination against Jews," she recalls of their exodus 30 years ago.As they began anew in this country, "we had nothing except a dream," Mrs. Khononov says. "But our parents told us we could be anything we wanted to be."After marrying, Mrs. Khononov and her husband, Gregory, ran a diner in Queens, N.Y., for six years. But when it came time to think about expansion in 2001, they borrowed money from a bank and friends and turned to a franchise instead.Mrs. Khononov says she spotted "tremendous growth potential" for the Subway fast-food concept in neighboring Brooklyn, where there were only a handful of the outlets, primarily in gas stations.She says they considered it a fairly easy concept to operate since "you don't have to prepare all the food from scratch" and the franchiser's big marketing campaign would give their business instant recognition. Her husband, also an immigrant, adds that it would have been much harder for them to expand the diner on their own.The decision has paid off. The Khononovs now operate four Subway stores in Brooklyn. And this past summer, Subway, a unit of Doctor's Associates Inc., named Mrs. Khononov its top multistore franchisee in North America, among 12,200 competitors.Built-In HelpMany immigrants look to establish themselves by running their own business. And the chance to start afresh after enduring hardships and adversity in another country often stokes their resolve to succeed. But starting -- and successfully running -- a small business is hard enough without the language and cultural barriers that immigrants can encounter.So, many immigrants turn to a franchise concept. With its proven track record, name recognition and built-in marketing, a franchise can take out a lot of the uncertainty of running a business. And immigrant entrepreneurs often are able to tap their own immigrant community for customers, as well as use the franchise name to broaden that base.A 2006 study by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City, which advocates entrepreneurship, found that immigrants are 30% more likely to become entrepreneurs than are native-born Americans.One reason so many immigrants gravitate toward running their own business may well be because of their experiences with risk, often starting from scratch, says Vivek Wadhwa, an executive in residence at Duke University in Durham, N.C., who has written several papers on immigrants for the foundation and who, after emigrating from India, founded two software companies in the U.S."They've learned what it's like to lose everything," Mr. Wadhwa says. "Once you've done that, you're less afraid of doing it again."Hospitality BusinessThe number of foreign-born franchisees operating in the U.S. businesses isn't known. The International Franchise Association, the sector's leading organization, and major franchisers say they don't keep count.What is known is that some franchised concepts are particularly attractive to immigrants. For example, nearly half of the hotel and motel units in the country -- most of which are franchised -- are run by first- or second-generation East Indians and Pakistanis, according to Fred Schwartz, president of the Asian-American Hotel Owners Association.Anil Chagan is one of them. Raised in South Africa by Indian parents, he immigrated to the U.S. in 1978 at age 24, in part because of the apartheid then embroiling South Africa, where he ran a men's clothing store.Mr. Chagan initially worked at a brother-in-law's motel in East Oakland, Calif. But after two years, he sought to acquire his own. "I couldn't see myself working for somebody else," he says.He purchased a motel in Visalia, Calif., that wasn't affiliated with any of the big national brands. After five years, he converted it to an EconoLodge, a unit of Choice Hotels International Inc., at the chain's invitation. Today, Mr. Chagan's company, Infinite Hospitality, operates two hotel-motels in central California and is building three more. All are franchised, but with various franchisers.Being a franchisee "has been a very significant part of my success," Mr. Chagan says, adding that the affiliation with a national brand helps in obtaining loans and various construction permits.Getting the Message OutOne of the biggest challenges immigrant business owners face -- especially those unfamiliar with local customs -- is understanding what the market wants and then effectively getting their message out."With a franchise," though, says Duke University's Mr. Wadhwa, "that's already done for you."It was RE/MAX International Inc.'s built-in Internet marketing that convinced Shawn Nam, a South Korea native, to sign on with the big real-estate franchiser. When looking up properties on a specific area on the franchiser's Web site, the local franchisee's address pops up. Mr. Nam figured that constructing his own site -- and the marketing to go with it -- would cost him thousands of dollars.Now 39 years old, Mr. Nam immigrated to the U.S. with his parents when he was in high school. "We were looking for a better life," which, he says, included freedom of speech. He worked for his father's janitorial company before enrolling in Rutgers University in New Jersey, dropping out after three years to help support his family. He then set out for a career in real estate.Helping HandThe Situation: Many immigrants look to franchises when opening a business.The Appeal: With its proven track record, name recognition and built-in marketing, a franchise can take out a lot of the uncertainty of running a business.No Guarantees: Cultural and language barriers can still be a challenge.He got a job as an agent at the Prudential Fox & Roach real-estate agency in Voorhees, N.J., and quickly became one the office's leading producers, focusing on the area's large South Korean community, says Paula Goldberg, the agency's vice president. After three years with the Prudential affiliate, Mr. Nam left to start his own agency under the RE/MAX banner, with the Korean community his primary customer target.Mr. Nam had a rough start, though. He believes that several of his agents quit because "they didn't want to work for a Korean. They didn't tell me," he says. "But I can feel it." Today, he counts Koreans, Chinese, Filipinos and East Indians among his agency's employees. Its president is a Palestinian.Making the CutShahin Urias was spurred by the opportunity to do something few women in her native Iran enjoy -- own her own business.Mrs. Urias, who survived bombings and, for a time, lived with her young children in a mud basement-shelter in Tehran during the Iraqi-Iran war in the 1980s, came to the U.S. as a refugee 16 years ago.Her early years here were hardscrabble. She worked in a Luby's cafeteria in Austin, Texas, where, after six months, a cafeteria manager encouraged her to pursue her desire to own a hair salon. At first, Mrs. Urias's poor English kept her out of beauty school, but with her children's help her linguistic skills improved. After 11 months of study, she earned a degree in cosmetology.She started working at a Sports Clips Inc. hair-care franchise in Austin as a part-time stylist. After moving her way up to manager, Mrs. Urias, by then remarried, moved to Tucson, Ariz., and purchased her own Sports Clips franchise -- the first one in that area. While she could have opened an independent shop, Mrs. Urias says she saw advantages in going with a proven concept with a solid market niche and "policies and procedures in place. All the hard work is done."Also, Sports Clips, she says, is a known national brand. So, people who either move to Tucson or are passing through are familiar and comfortable with the brand.Mrs. Urias acknowledges finding bookkeeping and some other aspects of running a business unfamiliar, but says help from Sports Clips is only a phone call away. "Without their support, I would be lost."Although she has had her shop only a few months, Mrs. Urias, 45 years old, has plans to open two more. "I think I'm doing great," she says. "My numbers may not be up there yet, but I'm definitely on the right path."—Mr. Gibson is a writer in Des Moines, Iowa.


Write to Richard Gibson at reports@wsj.com

Chick-fil-A gets rid of trans fat

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/10/09/ap5530619.html

By LAUREN SHEPHERD 10.09.08, 8:57 AM ET
NEW YORK -
Restaurant chain Chick-fil-A said Thursday it has eliminated all artificial trans fats from its chicken and biscuit-laden menu.
The Atlanta-based company said it changed its recipe for its waffle fries and its breakfast biscuits to remove trans fat after two years of testing to make sure the taste of the food was not affected by the switch.
"When you begin to tinker with and adjust recipes, you constantly have to go back to customers," said Woody Faulk, the company's vice president of brand development.
"There were a lot of iterations where we'd get the trans fat out," but customers said the products did not taste the same, he explained.
Trans fat raises the level of bad cholesterol in the body and can increase the risk of coronary heart disease. Restaurant companies and food makers have used trans fat to improve the taste and texture of foods and to keep food fresh longer.
The chain's signature chicken sandwiches, nuggets and strips have always been trans fat free since they are cooked in peanut oil, Faulk noted. Faulk said the company's breakfast biscuits all will be trans-fat free by the end of the month once restaurants deplete their biscuit recipe supply.
One menu item, however, will still have a small amount of trans fat - the company's cheesecake. The dessert has 0.5 grams of naturally-occuring trans-fat, Faulk said.
With the switch to trans-fat free recipes, Chick-fil-A is following the lead of most other fast-food chains. Earlier this month, Burger King (nyse: BKC - news - people ) Corp. said all of its menu ingredients will be trans-fat free by Nov. 1. Yum Brands Inc.'s KFC and Taco Bell switched in 2007 and Wendy's International Inc. (nyse: WEN - news - people ), the No. 3 burger chain, cut out trans fat oil a year earlier.
McDonald's Corp. (nyse: MCD - news - people ), the fast-food leader, began using trans fat free oil to make its french fries in all its restaurants in May and said it will use the oil in its baked goods, pies and cookies in all locations by the end of the year.
Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Francorp Client - American Prosperity Group

American Prosperity Group, the First Retirement and Estate Planning Franchisor, Exceeds First-Year Franchise Goal
Last update: 11:19 p.m. EDT Oct. 9, 2008
WAYNE, N.J., Oct 09, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- American Prosperity Group (APG), headquartered in Wayne, NJ, is the first and only retirement and estate planning organization to be franchised. Nine APG franchises are now operating in cities in the eastern United States, two more than the company's 18-month objective. More are planned.
APG is the creation of Mark E. Charnet, a Certified Annuity Specialist. For over 26 years, he has been helping people solve their individual problems of successful retirement and estate planning. APG does this by implementing those parts of a total retirement and estate planning system needed to meet each client's needs.
The APG system has been so successful for over a decade that Mr. Charnet has turned his precepts and product offerings into the first-ever retirement and estate planning franchise. The current franchises are operated by:
-- Bill Romeo, Matthews, NC
-- Dawn Sarnoski, Closter, NJ
-- Shane Couturie, Bryn Mawr, PA
-- Peter Murphy, Santa Fe, NM*
-- Mark Timmick, Ellicott City, MD
-- Mike Linker, Totowa, NJ*
-- Kevin Lynch, Belle Mead, NJ
-- Ari Cohen, Bergenfield, NJ*
-- Holly Sikora, Sicklerville, NJ*
"Now, we are offering additional franchises," Mr. Charnet said. "The franchisees we seek are ideally situated in metro or suburban areas with average or higher senior populations. APG is a relatively low-overhead franchise, with an investment under $100,000. Our present franchisees are well on the way to paying off their franchise investment--and some have already done so within their first few months of operation.
"What we look for in a franchisee is entrepreneurial spirit. Financial know-how is not as important as the ability to be a good presenter, speaking to small and medium-sized groups. Empathy--the talent for caring about peoples' needs--is a must, as is a good sense of organization. This is an excellent opportunity for those with sales experience, but that experience need not include finance."
For franchisees, Mr. Charnet has fine-tuned APG's systems, products and operating procedures developed over his years of experience. Now, others can present his proven system to good effect. "It's all worked-out, step-by-step," he said. "Also, every franchisee receives complete coaching, supervision and assistance from me and my staff. The APG precepts are teachable, portable and repeatable--the keys to any successful franchise."
As for success, Mr. Charnet is a sterling example. During and after college, he built one very successful career in insurance sales, only to lose everything due to the insurance company's dramatic management change. Beginning again with virtually nothing, he developed the proven retirement & estate planning methods taught exclusively by APG. In aiding others in building and retaining income, he has built lasting success for himself.
Those interested in an APG franchise should contact APG at 1-973-831-4424. On the Web: www.apgfranchise.com
*(offices scheduled to open within 90 days)
SOURCE: American Prosperity Group Serpente & Co. Inc.
Joe Serpente, 856-275-6931

The Children's Orchard

Resale shops prosper with weak economy
Kenya Huppert, co-owner of The Children’s Orchard in Parker, looks at a rack of Halloween costumes last week. The resale shop is a good resource for struggling families with small children. Photo by Chris Michlewicz.
By Chris Michlewicz
Published: 09.17.08
www.thechildrensorchard.com

It’s painfully apparent that times are tough for small businesses in Parker, but one sector has experienced upward sales trends and is reporting large increases in the number of shoppers.Resale shops are prospering in a time of uncertainty for many locally-owned stores, and owners in the industry point directly to the poor economy as the primary reason. Budget-cutting consumers are turning to resale stores to buy lightly used children’s clothes, toys, books and strollers on the cheap."We're on a tight budget anyway, and there was no way we could have bought new things for our kids that we are able to get here," said Shawnette Erdos, a Parker resident who has been a loyal shopper at The Children’s Orchard for four years. "The value is so tremendous buying really good stuff cheaper than I can get not-so-good stuff at a Wal-Mart."Moms and dads are shying away from large retail chains in droves in favor of resale bargains, but are not compromising quality. Erdos has purchased a Columbia jacket that would normally sell for around $100 for roughly $20 at The Children’s Orchard.
Kenya Huppert, co-owner of The Children’s Orchard at Dransfeldt Road and Plaza Drive in Parker, said her customers have found a reliable resource for clothes that children quickly grow out of and toys for which they grow too old. Gap brand name jeans that sell for $30 in retail stores can be found at a third of that price. Many moms buy clothes at Huppert’s shop, then sell them back and get cash or store credit."The nice thing about this kind of business is people always need to save money when they can. In a bad economy, you can't really be hurt in a business like this, so it's not like having a specialty gift shop when people stop spending on stuff like that," she said. "Your kids always outgrow their stuff, you always need clothes for your kids."Tumbleweeds for Kids, another popular resale shop in Parker, has reported similar sales increases. Owner Mindy Pfannenstiel said she noticed a jump in sales about a year ago, and because of higher gas and food prices, things have not slowed down. She estimated that business has gone up by 25 percent since last year, and spiked even higher during back-to-school shopping season.“These are people who are trying to survive with their kids,” said Pfannenstiel, who welcomes about six or seven new customers into her shop daily. “This is one of their ways of cutting back. They still want name brand clothing, but for way less.”Saving money on necessities can make a major difference for those struggling to make ends meet."I know some moms whose husbands recently lost their jobs and they've been really stressed out on how they are going to afford things, and they had never heard of Children's Orchard," Erdos said.Books, games, cribs, Easter dresses, educational videos and ski pants are all available at discounted prices at The Children’s Orchard, and some customers say it’s “like finding a treasure” when they discover a quality item for a low price.“Our prices across the board are lower than what you would find at a typical retail stores,” Huppert said, adding the store is selective when buying back used clothes and toys. “We have ski pants, Christening dresses and formal party dresses, Halloween costumes, things that people don’t want to spend a lot of money on because they sometimes are a one-time wear outfit.”Resale shops have a dual positive impact because they support struggling families by offering inexpensive items and buying back old clothes.Erdos, who runs an in-home daycare business, has recommended resale shops to other moms, especially for clothes and birthday gifts.Huppert said it’s disheartening to see other locally-owned shops close and said it’s important to support small businesses.At a glance:Resale shops reporting higher salesGood resource for back-to-school shoppingToys, clothes sell for third of retail price

First Denny's to be Completely Eco Friendly

A Denny’s franchisee here is building what is described as the first unit in the family restaurant chain to qualify for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification, a distinction for what many describe as a “green building.”
The store is expected to feature efficiency-rated equipment; a roof and wall insulation that conserves heating and cooling energy by maintaining the interior temperature; and natural lighting from south-facing windows and ceiling skylights. The restaurant also will feature LED lighting, low-flow toilets and faucets to reduce water consumption, and a computerized deep-fryer that will control the heating of the oil and the amount of gas used for frying food.
The LEED-certified restaurant’s dining room will be constructed of recycled materials, including flooring, and low VOC paints, sealants and glue.

Franchisors Making Adjustments

Franchisors Offer Reduced Fees, Deals, and Financing Help to Court Franchise Owners
October 02, 2008
Franchise companies are offering potential franchisees a variety of incentives to buy a franchise. Pointing to the current economic climate, franchisors are offering two for one specials, lower franchise fees, and help with franchise financing to help lure new investors. Some franchise companies are also offering their current successful owners bonuses for recommending potential franchise buyers. Franchisors are also becoming more creative in helping potential business owners buy a franchise because the competition among franchise concepts has grown in recent years. The International Franchise Association estimates that there is over 3000 franchise concepts currently available for sale. So if you are looking to invest in a business, be sure to do your research and be aware of the creative incentives being offered by the franchise companies.

Francorp Client - Plains & Prints

Plains & Prints sets sights on Asian market
Plains & Prints was established in November 1994 by Roxanne and Erickson Farillas. Then known as Prints & Plaids, the first boutique opened in Shoppesville, Greenhills. The company’s first products were lace-edged towels and basic polo shirts.
Later on, the brand ventured into women’s apparel, carrying the concept of classic and stylish, which became a hit with teenagers and young professionals.
In 2002, Plains & Prints took on Gretchen Barretto as endorser and this move brought the brand to the national consumer’s consciousness.
Plains & Prints has strengthened its position as a major player in women’s apparel by providing stylish and classic apparel. The present product line includes shoes, handcrafted bags, belts, Bread and Butter (basic tees), Down Under (underwear), Eve (eau d toilette), and Intuitions (body spray).
In terms of brand recall and market share, Plains & Prints ranks among the top 5 local women’s apparel brands. The brand has become synonymous with quality clothing for women with style.
Plains & Prints offers franchise opportunities to entrepreneurs who wish to own and operate their own Plains & Prints boutique. Plains & Prints has been franchising since November 2002 and has franchised outlets in Cebu City, Bacolod, Iloilo, Davao City, Cagayan de Oro, Baguio, Dagupan, Cabanatuan, Marilao and Valenzuela.
Plains & Prints was awarded the Most Promising Filipino Franchise (retail category) in the 2004 Franchise Excellence Awards. The company’s franchise program was developed by Francorp, a leading international franchise consultancy firm with offices in the Philippines, Malaysia, Japan, United States and South America.
The brand now embarks on a bold expansion move that, hopefully, will introduce the Plains & Prints concept to the Asian market.
Leading the expansion plan is the introduction of new collections that highlight the creativity and ingenuity of local fashion designers. Plains & Prints has collaborated with designer Rajo Laurel for its high-end R.A.F. (Rich and Famous) line.
Roxanne explains that the new collection highlights Laurel’s avant-garde approach to fashion, featuring designs that incorporate architecture, romance and luxury.
Another major leap for Plains & Prints is its choice of Thai-British model Paula Taylor as its image model.
“With Paula as the model of our new campaign, we are confident that Plains & Prints will be given more exposure globally and hopefully, discovered as a brand that provides a new twist on classic fashion,” says Roxanne.
Next on the brand’s agenda is opening stores in key cities in Asia, starting with Thailand and Malaysia. The brand has 49 stores in the Philippines, including the newly opened branch at the fifth level of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall. Aside from its Asian expansion, Plains & Prints also wants to open more branches in prime locations in the country.
“Despite stiff competition from international brands, Plains & Prints still emerged as a top local brand which Filipino women prefer,” says Roxanne. “The next step is really to move forward and introduce Filipino fashion to the world. Now that we’ve been given an opportunity to do so, we have big plans to make our mark in the international fashion community.” Dinna Chan Vasquez

What's Up Dog! To Expand Through Franchising

What’s Up Dog to Expand Through Franchising
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San Francisco, CA, October 01, 2008 --(PR.com)-- What’s Up Dog has announced they will be launching an aggressive expansion program through franchising.For over five years, What’s Up Dog has offered the hot dog enthusiast a variety of gourmet hot dogs and sausages within the San Francisco area. Their tantalizing menu consists of old carnival favorites like the corn dog, chili cheese nachos and garlic fries. But the eclectic selection of frankfurters and sausages (“Lemon Chicken”, Veggie Tofurky”, “Kielbasa”) has reinvented an American favorite.Americans eat an estimated 20 billion hot dogs a year, with 150 million consumed on Independence Day alone.

We love hot dogs so much that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce actually dubbed July as National Hot Dog Month over 50 years ago.It was this shared love for hot dogs that inspired What’s Up Dog owner King Lei to open his own hot dog shop. To ensure that he only offered the best, he visited hundreds of hot dog stores from Los Angeles to New York. And his research resulted in rave reviews. “People love our name and products,” remarks King.This response has led What’s Up Dog to Francorp, the world’s leader in franchise consulting, to assist them in the development of their franchise program.

For more information about What’s Up Dog, call (415) 864-3707

or visit www.whatsupdogs.com

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