Specialty Franchise Industry News & Announcements

Leading Direct Marketing Company Named Best for Vets and Military Friendly Franchise
LARGO, Fla. - May 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - Valpak, a leader in local print and digital coupons, has been named to two prestigious lists recognizing franchises that go above and beyond in helping military servicemen and women achieve their goal of business ownership. Both Military Times EDGE and G.I. Jobs have awarded Valpak for its focus on veterans, placing the company at #5 on the Best for Vets: Franchises list and among the top 10 percent of franchise companies named to the 2013 Military Friendly Franchises® list, respectively.
"Valpak gives veterans like me the support structure we are accustomed to from our military experience while putting us in command to run our own business," said Michael Lambert , former Marine Sergeant and now Valpak of Lubbock franchisee...

May 16, 2013 // Franchising.com // In the March 2013 Issue of Entrepreneur Magazine, Property Management Inc. (PMI) was selected in the Entrepreneur Top New Franchises List for 2013.
The article explained that franchises that were started in the last five years were ranked “according to Entrepreneur’s objective, quantifiable criteria, including financial strength and stability, growth rate and system size. “ Other factors were also considered.
About Property Management
PMI was founded in 2008 and provides complete commercial and residential property management solutions for franchisees that include revenue generating products and services, proprietary Search Engine Optimization (SEO), lead generation systems, property management and accounting software, and marketing materials as well as training and ongoing support...

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...

North America’s Leading Career and Franchise Business Coaching Company, The Entrepreneur’s Source®, Reveals the Power of Business Ownership at “Start a Business Weekend”
Virtual Franchise Expo May 16-18
May 14, 2013 // Franchising.com // SOUTHBURY, Conn. - The nation’s leading career and franchise business coaching network, The Entrepreneur’s Source® is hosting its virtual Start a Business Weekend® expo May 16-18, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. EDT. The virtual expo offers current and aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity to explore business opportunities and gain advice from experts – all from the comfort of their home or office.
The Start a Business Weekend expo allows attendees to “walk” into a digital Exhibit Hall and visit the booths of more than 60 of the nation’s hottest franchise concepts where they can chat live with representatives from a variety of different franchise brands, learn how to finance their new business, attend keynote presentations, and download informational resources with relevant information about franchising and specific opportunities throughout the nation...

Leading business and career coaching source shares how to enhance the wealth and equity of a business.
Southbury, CT (Grassroots Newswire) May 9, 2013 – Whether they are planning to sell their company sometime soon or in the future, now is the time for small business owners to evaluate their business in order to increase its value and improve its revenue stream, according to the business coaches with AdviCoach, the premier source for business coaching and advisory services customized for small- to mid-size businesses (SMBs).
To help business owners identify key factors that are linked to the probability of getting an offer for their business when it’s time to sell, AdviCoach is hosting an educational webinar on Thursday, May 23, 2013 at noon EDT...

Franchisee Aims to Open a Dozen Locations throughout Southern New Jersey 
TAMPA, Fla., May 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Burger 21®, a new better burger franchise founded by the owners of The Melting Pot® Restaurants, Inc., announced it has expanded the brand to the Northeast with the opening of its first New Jersey location in Voorhees. Currently, Burger 21 has seven restaurants open and 17 franchised locations in development along the East Coast.
Located in the Voorhees Town Center at 12109 Town Center Blvd., the new restaurant is owned and operated by current The Melting Pot® franchisee Charlie Haney , along with business partners Curt Wunder and Mike Astuto . They decided to expand their portfolio based on the extensive training and support Haney received over the years from Front Burner Brands, the concepts' management company...

Technologies keep spa franchise engaged with its on-the-go audience.
(PRWEB) May 01, 2013 - Planet Beach, the creator of the contempo spa concept and leader in automated spa services, announces the launch of its new Planet Beach mobile app for iOS and Android powered mobile devices. The free app for smartphones and tablets can be found on the Apple Store or Google Marketplace.
With the app, customers can stay up-to-date with Planet Beach’s latest news, special promotions and menus of their favorite Relax, Glow and Renew automated spa services and products. New members receive exclusive offers and loyal customers can redeem in-app coupons for deals and rewards not available to the general public.
The Planet Beach app features a global spa finder to help users select the nearest Planet Beach by address and distance...

'Beyond the Better Burger' Concept to Exhibit at Dallas Franchise & Business Opportunities Expo, May 18-19
TAMPA, Fla. - April 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - Burger 21®, a new better burger franchise founded by the owners of The Melting Pot® Restaurants, Inc., announced today it plans to expand westward with Dallas targeted for future franchise development. As part of its aggressive growth strategy, the Tampa-based concept plans to develop approximately 20 or more restaurants in the market. To date, Burger 21 has six restaurants open in Florida and 18 franchised locations in development along the East Coast.
"Burger 21 is about providing guests with premium ingredients, innovative recipes and a gourmet experience without the gourmet price," said Mark Johnston , Burger 21 president and chief concept officer and president of Front Burner Brands, management company for Burger 21...

April 22, 2013 // Franchising.com // Bayfield, Wis. – JP Korpi, owner of Paul Davis Emergency Services recently provided specialized equipment, structural clean-up, property restoration and drying expertise to restore the detailed and intricately carved plaster ceilings and walls at the national landmark, Board of Trade building, 302 West 1st Street in Duluth. In February, a water loss occurred from a roof drain leak with water and melted snow running from the building space above the eighth floor ceiling while saturating the walls down to the first floor.
The significant history of the building required a highly-trained and specialized crew to complete the delicate work. The current building was built in 1895 and was the tallest building in Duluth from the time it was built until 1910...

April 19, 2013 // Franchising.com // Milwaukee, Wis. - Paul Davis National, large loss specialists and part of the Paul Davis Restoration franchise network, has named Byron Sherrod to head the company’s construction consulting division. Sherrod will be responsible for overseeing the development and growth in construction for residential, commercial and industrial industries. He and his team will also be responsible for property investigation, and assessing and reporting interior and exterior building failures resulting from catastrophic occurrences.
For more than 40 years, Sherrod has vast experience in roofing, waterproofing and the building trades. He has also provided professional expertise to architects, attorneys, contractors, educational institutions, engineers, insurance companies, manufacturers, and property owners in the U...

April 19, 2013 // Franchising.com // Milwaukee, Wis. – J. Murphy, L.H.D. and co-owner of Paul Davis National, large loss specialists and part of the Paul Davis Restoration franchise network, has received top honors in total sales at Paul Davis Restoration Inc.’s national convention recently held in Orlando, Fla. Murphy was honored for more than $59 million in total sales volume attained in the franchise network.
Murphy and his team established the large loss, catastrophic restoration business in 2005. The company is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis. at 2000 South 4th Street. Murphy is based at the branch office location for Paul Davis National, 9540 Airport Hwy. in Monclova, Ohio.
According to Murphy, the company’s success is shared with Paul Davis’ franchise system made up of more than 300 full-service general contractors and local franchise office owners who provide site stabilization, emergency water mitigation, fire restoration, mold remediation, document restoration, contents cleaning, and remodeling services...

Fastest-Growing Paint and Sip Franchise Earns Top Industry Recognitions
HOUSTON - April 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - Pinot's Palette, a national Paint and Sip franchise known for providing guests with an entertaining evening of art and wine, has kicked off 2013 by earning several commendations for its continued growth and success.
In March 2013, Pinot's Palette became the only Paint and Sip franchise included on Entrepreneur Magazine's Top New Franchises list. All companies included on the list were ranked according to financial strength, growth rate, and size, as well as other factors such as startup costs and percentage of terminations.
Company President Charles Willis notes that this is not the first time the company has been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine...

April 17, 2013 // Franchising.com // Brighton, Colorado – Watermill Express, the nation’s largest drive-up vendor of pure drinking water, provided water to the March of Dimes/March for Babies Walk at the Brownsville Events Center in Brownsville, Texas.
Watermill Express provided 45 gallons of water and 40 pounds of Waterocks® Ice for the March of Dimes walk. Approximately 800 walkers participated in the three mile walk.
The March of Dimes Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to aiding women in pregnancy and promoting infant health. The walk was held to raise money for the treatment of babies born prematurely.
For more information about Watermill Express or the College Scholarship Program, please call 1-800-487-9643, visit www...

Husband and Wife Bring The Blue Envelope® into Local Community for the First Time
LARGO, Fla. - April 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - Valpak, a leader in local print and digital coupons, announced today that it has signed a franchise agreement to bring The Blue Envelope® to residents and businesses in Tri County, Pa. Husband and wife team, Ralph "Ted" and Yvonne Rosselli , have over 30 years of retail experience and are eager to bring Valpak into their community. Their first blue envelope will be mailed to residents in Clearfield, Jefferson, and Elk counties, which include the areas of DuBois, Clearfield, Brookville, Punxsutawney, St. Mary's and Ridgway, beginning in June 2013.
"It is time for the Tri County area to experience the benefits of Valpak," said Yvonne, Valpak of Tri County, Pa...

Leading Business and Career Coach Attributes Successful Telecommuting to the Right Employee and the Right Structure
April 16, 2013 // Franchising.com // Southbury, CT – A recent survey conducted by global research company Ispos found that one in five employees now telecommutes on a frequent basis. With the recent hype over telecommuting, businesses are starting to weigh the pros and cons, and many are considering banning the idea altogether. Business coaches with AdviCoach®, the premier source for business coaching and advisory services customized for small- to mid-size businesses (SMBs), say that not all telecommuting is bad, depending on the type of position and stature of employee.
Yahoo!’s recent decision to prohibit employees’ choice to work from home has sparked a debate across the globe over whether or not telecommuting will result in productivity and growth for a business...

Fast Casual Concept Leverages Recent Success to Target Additional Growth in Winter Park, Altamonte Springs, Lake Mary and More 
TAMPA, Fla. - April 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - Burger 21®, a new better burger franchise founded by the owners of The Melting Pot® Restaurants, Inc., announced today it is targeting additional areas in the Greater Orlando market for future development in 2013. Target cities include Winter Park, Altamonte Springs, Winter Garden, Lake Mary and Celebration. To date, Burger 21 has six restaurants open in Florida and 18 franchised locations in development along the East Coast.
"Our crafted burgers, hand-dipped shakes and menu variety have allowed us to stand out among better burger concepts in Orlando since opening our very first franchise location there in November," said Mark Johnston , Burger 21 president and chief concept officer and president of Front Burner Brands, management company for Burger 21...

North America’s leading career and franchise business coaching company offers guidance on riding the wave of the economy’s recovery through entrepreneurship.
April 11, 2013 // Franchising.com // Southbury, CT – While job reports are looking better due to increased part-time employment, it’s no doubt that a new set of rules have been created in this New Career Economy® for those looking to build a professional future for themselves. An oversaturated workforce and lower paying job positions are pushing many to ride the wave of the economy’s recovery by becoming self-sufficient.
“Today’s career economy is plagued with uncertainty, forcing many to pave a new path for their professional career,” said Terry Powell, CEO and founder of The Entrepreneur’s Source, North America’s leading career and franchise business coaching company...

Company Ranked Second Fastest Growing U.S. Restaurant Chain
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - April 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - Driven by a mission of offering hearty and flavorful food, heartfelt service and public safety support, Firehouse Subs surpassed company goals and industry averages, resulting in a record-breaking 2012. The brand opened 98 new restaurants and added 144 new franchisees during the year. The average unit volume (AUV) grew from $648,407 to $731,006, an increase of 12.7 percent. Bolstered by a same-restaurant sales increase of 7.8 percent -- overall system wide sales grew from $285 million in 2011 to $385 million in 2012; an increase of 35.2 percent.
Reaching 78 million people through 156 donations, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation expanded its scope of grant recipients from municipal and volunteer fire departments, police departments, and emergency medical services to nonprofit organizations and public school systems...

Decor&You Provides Tips for Creating the Ultimate Outdoor Oasis
SOUTHBURY, CT - (Marketwire - Apr 8, 2013) - Spring is in the air, which means it's time to get your exterior living spaces ready for outdoor entertaining. Although this process can be enjoyable for some, many homeowners become overwhelmed with the amount of work that needs to be done. Decor&You®, one of America's leading, full-service interior decorating franchises, shares secrets for getting started and key tips to keep in mind when refreshing your home's exterior.
"The best part about summer is enjoying your outdoor space," said Decor&You Founder and CEO Karen Powell, who added that April is the perfect time to start preparing the exterior of your home for summer entertaining...

Brighton, Colorado – April 1, 2013 – Watermill Express, the nation’s largest drive-up vendor of pure drinking water, provided over 50 gallons of water and 40 pounds of Waterocks® Ice to the approximately 500 participants and volunteers of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Great Strides Mission 5K Walk at the Sharyland Plantation in Mission, Texas.
Watermill Express handed out cups of chilled water at three different stops along the walk. Watermill Express also donated 50 Watermill Express refillable water bottles to the walkers with the top times in each age group.
Great Strides is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s largest fund raising event. Because of events like the Great Strides Mission 5K, funding for research is progressing daily...