Franchise Industry News & Announcements

ATLANTA, GA - (Marketwired - May 15, 2013) - Carvel… America's Freshest Ice Cream® has teamed up with America's Favorite Cookie® -- OREO® for The Great Chill with OREO®. This summer Carvel® will offer an array of products featuring OREO® cookie pieces including four brand new favorite flavors: Classic OREO®, Cappuccino, Mint, and Peanut Butter. OREO® cookie pieces will be featured in Carvel Sundae Dashers®, Milkshakes, Carvelanches®, cakes and our popular OREO® Lil Rounders® are made with OREO® wafers.
Each Sundae Dasher combines Carvel classic soft serve ice cream with layer upon layer of delicious OREO® cookie pieces and fudge or peanut butter toppings, finished off with whipped cream...

May 16, 2013 // Franchising.com // MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – Perkins & Marie Callender’s, LLC this week recognized its Franchisee of the Year, Mr. Dan Esmond, Owner/Operator of four Perkins® Restaurants & Bakeries in Lawrence, Topeka, Great Bend and Mc Pherson, Kansas. Hailed by Perkins & Marie Callender’s, LLC’s President & CEO Jeff Warne as the “franchisee who best exemplifies overall excellence in operations and brand standards, a leader who inspires others and contributes to the improvement of the system while positively representing the Perkins® brand both within his restaurants, and the community,” Dan Esmond, was presented with the company’s most prestigious award, “Franchisee of the Year” at the annual conference in Washington D...

Fastest Growing Fast Casual Celebrates in Texas this Friday
TYLER, Texas - May 16, 2013 - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Dickey’s Barbecue Pit in Tyler is throwing a grand opening event this Friday, May 17 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Guests will enjoy $1 Pulled Pork Big Barbecue sandwiches and will have the chance to win free barbecue for a year.
“Dickey’s is a very unique barbecue franchise,” said John Huml who owns and operates this location with his wife Nikki. “It feels like we’ve joined a family with the tremendous support from the corporate team and from our community that we have received.”
101.5 KNUE will be at the event to help Dickey’s announce the three winners of free barbecue for a year...

Franchisor of Seven Service-based Brands Announces the Addition of 69 New Franchise Locations
Waco, Texas (PRWEB) May 15, 2013 - The Dwyer Group, a franchisor of seven service-based franchise brands, including Aire Serv®, Glass Doctor®, The Grounds Guys®, Mr. Appliance®, Mr. Electric®, Mr. Rooter® and Rainbow International®, closed out the first quarter of 2013 by breaking a record in franchise sales revenue with a gain of six percent over the previous record.
“For The Dwyer Group, 2013 has already been very productive as it relates to franchise growth," said Doug Dixon, vice-president of marketing and operations for The Dwyer Group Franchise Development division. “While this is only the first step toward attaining our growth goals as an organization this year, we are encouraged and proud to have achieved this record output to-date...

Six new stores open in Twin Cities flagship market.
Plymouth, Minn (PRWEB) May 16, 2013 - Minneapolis based Miracle-Ear, the nation's #1 hearing aid brand, announced today the expansion within their flagship market. Six stores will be added to the Miracle-Ear® nationwide network, bringing the total number of Miracle-Ear stores in the Twin Cities metro area to 16. “This expansion is of significant importance to Miracle-Ear as it represents growth within our hometown market,” said Pablo Hoyos Miracle-Ear Regional Manager.
In April 1948, WWII aviator turned electronic innovator, Kenneth H. Dahlberg, founded Dahlberg Company. Within three years, the company converted a Golden Valley movie theatre into a manufacturing facility where a receiver and transmitter were combined to produce the first in-the-ear hearing aid: Miracle-Ear...

May 16, 2013 // Franchising.com // New York – Wiggin and Dana is pleased to announce that Lily Wound has joined the firm as Counsel in the firm's Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice Group.
"We are pleased to welcome Lily to the firm," comments Bob Benjamin, Chair of the firm's Executive Committee. "Lily, with her law firm and valuable in-house counsel experience, will further strengthen our busy biotechnology and life sciences practice."
Lily joins Wiggin and Dana from Kaye Scholer LLP where she was a member of the firm's Corporate Department and Life Sciences Group. She has extensive experience representing pharmaceutical, biotechnology, vaccine and other life sciences clients on a wide range of complex commercial, corporate and licensing transactions...

The United Franchise Group announces the opening of a new EmbroidMe franchise in Tenafly, New Jersey, under the ownership of local resident, Batchi Basis.
Tenafly, NJ, May 16, 2013 - (PR.com) - EmbroidMe, the world’s largest embroidery franchise, announces a new store will open on April 1, 2013 at 6-8 Washington St. in Tenafly, under the ownership of local resident Batchi Basis.
Basis recently retired from 20 years of teaching at the JCC Early Childhood Education Center before deciding to pursue a second career after discovering EmbroidMe.
“I chose to explore the EmbroidMe opportunity because I wanted to invest my time in something I love doing – an occupation which will compliment my arts and crafts hobbies from the past 40 years,” said Basis...

May 16, 2013 // Franchising.com // Leading greeting card publisher and franchisor, Card Connection, has announced it is now the sole supplier to Blakemore Retail stores in the UK. Card Connection’s franchisees now supply the company’s full range of greeting cards to 320 Spar branded Blakemore Retail stores in addition to more than 100 independent Spar stores where Card Connection now also has ‘preferred supplier’ status.
“The trial last year went really well and this was followed by the country-wide roll out of our greeting cards, wrap, bottle bags and party accessories,” confirms Michael Johnson, managing director, Card Connection. “We are delighted to be associated with Blakemore’s Spar brand which is well regarded and trusted on the high-street...

TITLE Boxing Club® Reaches Company Milestone with Opening of Fishers, Indiana Location
May 16, 2013 // Franchising.com // OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Capitalizing on the $20 billion fitness industry, TITLE Boxing Club announced today the opening of their 100th club location, signifying a new company milestone for the quickly growing fitness concept that began franchising less than three years ago.
The largest boxing franchise in the nation will open its 100th club in Fishers, Ind. on May 15. This club is owned by Dan Hannay and will boast the brand’s POWER HOUR workout that burns up to 1,000 calories per hour. The Fishers club will be the second location in Indiana for the brand. Another club, also owned by Hannay, is already operating in Indianapolis...

May 16, 2013 // Franchising.com // Property Management Inc., an international property management franchise company based in Lehi, Utah, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jim Dangerfield as Vice President of Development.
Dangerfield comes to Property Management Inc. (PMI) with years of experience in real estate franchise services as former Vice President of Franchise Relations for Help-U-Sell Real Estate. He was also the Director of Corporate Communications, an operations consultant and Regional Training Manager for the Mid-Atlantic States for Help-U-Sell. He trained new franchisees in marketing, business operations, and sales management.
He has been in the real estate business for the past 30 years as a licensed real estate agent in both residential and commercial real estate...

Casual Dining Chain’s First New York Unit Debuts to Crowds of Sports Fans Couples, Families, Businesspeople and Locals Grateful to have a Neighborhood Sports Bar Once Again
May 16, 2013 // Franchising.com // FRANKLIN SQUARE, N.Y. - The Greene Turtle made its New York premiere yesterday with a new restaurant in Franklin Square on Long Island that was met with great enthusiasm by the local community. With the parking lot full, lines waiting outside as the casual dining restaurant/sports bar opened its doors, and a high and diverse volume of businesspeople, families, couples, sports fans and other locals streaming in throughout the day, the new restaurant recorded very strong opening-day revenues to welcome the popular Maryland-based brand to the Northeast...

May 15, 2013 // Franchising.com // ATLANTA – Cellairis®, one of the world’s largest and most trusted wireless accessory specialty retailers, is increasing its brand presence in Denver by introducing one of its new and innovative store models at the Cherry Creek Shopping Center. Recognized for its 700+ kiosks in malls across the country, the company is launching a new model in order to provide consumers with a more robust retail experience. The new location will not replace the current Cellairis kiosk; rather the two stores will complement each other to better serve consumers.
Cellairis provides an expansive selection of innovative, fashionable and fun accessories to complement mobile devices and tablets. While every location provides guests with exceptional, personalized service, the new store model will give a richer overall brand experience...

North America’s Largest Home Inspection Company Adds New Class of Home Inspectors
May 15, 2013 // Franchising.com // Tampa, Fla. - Pillar To Post, North America’s largest home inspection franchise, added five new franchisees in April. Growth has been strong, with 10 new territories added in the first quarter of the year and another 10 anticipated in the coming weeks. The company is on track to meet its goal of 75 new locations by the end of 2013, as expansion continues to gain momentum.
“We are excited to welcome these five promising franchisees to our company,” said Dan Steward, president and CEO of Pillar To Post. “These graduates have demonstrated tremendous potential, and we are confident that they will help us further develop our brand in their markets...

Taking client service one step further, The Boardroom App offers clients the opportunity to be able to request appointments, receive referral rewards, offers and benefits.
May 15, 2013 // Franchising.com // SOUTHLAKE, Texas – The Boardroom Salon for Men is excited to announce the launch of their multiplatform application, compatible with Apple, Andoid and Kindle mobile devices – all for free. “We can say with conviction that the creation of this app brings an innovative approach to client service,” said Bruce Schultz, founder and chief executive officer. “There is no other feature like this offered in the men’s grooming salon industry in our market. It truly is an augmentation to the client experience and level of convenience...

May 15, 2013 // Franchising.com // ATLANTA – Cellairis®, one of the world’s largest and most trusted wireless accessory specialty retailers, is increasing its brand presence in the Dallas/Fort Worth area by introducing one of its new and innovative store models at Willow Bend Mall in Plano. Recognized for its 700+ kiosks in malls across the country, the company is launching this new model in order to provide consumers with a more robust retail experience.
Cellairis provides an expansive selection of innovative, fashionable and fun accessories to complement mobile devices and tablets. While every location provides guests with exceptional, personalized service, the new store model will give a richer overall brand experience...

Greenville, SC (May 1, 2013) - Chicken Salad Chick, the nation’s newest, fast-casual restaurant concept, officially announced today the addition of a future franchise in the Carolinas and North Georgia, with its first location set for Greenville.
“We have been enormously blessed with franchisees who share our passion for the Chicken Salad Chick concept and want to grow it in their communities,” said Kevin Brown, president of Chicken Salad Chick. “By year’s end, we will have restaurants in cities throughout Southeast, including Greenville.”
A total of 29 locations are set to be opened, starting with Greenville in Summer 2013, and are owned by franchisees Michelle Singleton and Julie Beville of Sing Bev Hospitality, LLC...

Just 19 Home Sites Remaining in Hollywood’s Luxury Gated Community
Hollywood, Florida (PRWEB) May 15, 2013 - Mayi de la Vega, Founder and CEO of ONE Sotheby’s International Realty, the exclusive sales representative for Forest View Estates, announced today that the exclusive gated community of 31 luxury homes in Hollywood, Florida, has launched its second phase of construction, with 19 home sites remaining.
Ensuring the continued high quality that buyers have come to expect from Forest View Estates, developer Brick-O, which handled the initial phase of the community when it launched in 2010, also will oversee phase two of construction. With homes starting at 3,100 square feet, the community offers single-family estates complete with numerous available upgrades...

'Welcome Home Party' for house rebuild in Hollygrove to take place May 16
NEW ORLEANS, May 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - New Orleans Domino's Pizza has continued its proud partnership with the United Way of Southeast Louisiana Area and, in conjunction with Rebuild Together, has raised $11,500 toward the rebuild of a home in the Hollygrove neighborhood. Domino's will help host a Welcome Home Party this Thursday, May 16, for the family who was forced to evacuate following Hurricane Katrina.
"We are excited to partner with the United Way of Southeast Louisiana Area to raise funds to help those who still suffer from the effects of Hurricane Katrina," said Glenn Mueller , RPM Pizza president and Domino's Pizza New Orleans franchise owner...

May 15, 2013 // Franchising.com // Austin, TX - The Alamo Drafthouse is excited to announce Richard Linklater's BEFORE MIDNIGHT as the second Drafthouse Recommends title. Drafthouse Recommends spotlights a first-run movie with the Alamo stamp of approval, indicating that we love it and want everyone to go see it. Our goal is to highlight groundbreaking, innovative and intelligent films we believe deserve to be seen by as many people as possible.
BEFORE MIDNIGHT opens in Austin Alamo Drafthouse locations on 5/31 and will follow at other Alamo Drafthouses nationwide in the following weeks. To get ready for its release in Austin (and Austin only), the Alamo will screen its predecessors, BEFORE SUNRISE and BEFORE SUNSET leading up to the opening of BEFORE MIDNIGHT...

Capping Off Another Successful Gathering of its Owners, Operators, Property Managers and Vendors, Leading Economy Extended-Stay Lodging Chain Pays Tribute to Those Most Exemplifying its Brand Standards
May 15, 2013 // Franchising.com // WICHITA, Kan. – Value Place, the nation’s largest economy extended-stay lodging chain, honored a select group of franchisees, properties and property managers earlier this month for their outstanding performance over the past year. The company awards were presented at the 2013 Value Place Annual Conference in Chicago.
Value Place corporate personnel, franchisees, property management companies and key partner sponsors attended the ninth annual “New Heights – New Horizons” event, which serves as a forum to discuss and share best practices...