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COVER STORY
Ron Gardner is the managing partner of the firm and helps franchisees, dealers and distributors in disputes with their franchisors. "My clients are individuals, small business clients, who chased the American dream so hard they had nothing left." Ask Ron Gardner, a partner with Dady & Garner in Minneapolis, why he's a franchisee attorney, and he has a litany of reasons. But the main one: "I wanted to be in a courtroom. I didn't want to make the world safe for shareholders. I wanted to help people like me and my parents - people on the wrong side of the deal." |  |
FRANCHISE FOCUS
Green Issue
The low-cost hotel chain is hoping that its new "Phoenix" prototype can rise from the ashes to save money and energy.
What do vegetable oil used as fuel; front-desk uniforms made from recycled plastic; smaller retail franchise footprints and an emphasis on sustainable building material have in common? They're all green.
Newcomers
EZ New Web Laundromat & Cafe invites patrons to "Sip, Soak, Surf."
Mom and pop franchisees used to be the norm. But now franchisors are leaning toward more "sophisticated" multi-unit operators who can speed along their development plans. Still there's a case to be made for adding one unit at a time.
Profiles
Joe Keeley - a young entrepreneur - took his college professor's advice to add some 'silver' to his offering and spun it into gold.
Not many franchisors meet prospects at the airport. Nor do they go to the movies with them. But Joe Keeley's unique style is what convinced the Niles that they had found the franchise they could grow old with.
Quick Service Restaurants
A day in the life of an imaginary DQ
Our reporter's got game, just not the skills to become the next great Dairy Queen manager. But that didn't stop him from taking the blame - and heaping it on his slow-scooping employee.
Convenience, value keep QSR profitable
By By offering the most convenience and the best value in the restaurant industry, quick-service restaurants hope to overcome challenges that have hurt other segments in today's economy.
Fast-food restaurants have come a long way from the days when the only thing you could get there was a burger, fries and a shake. Now you can get Mandarin oranges, hazelnut lattes and a wide range of healthful options.
Real Estate
PEOPLE
On The Move
Franchising's movers and shakers on the move.
Profiles
As a young Hindu growing up in India, Kiran Yocom was devoted to Mother Teresa, a Catholic Nun who changed the face of compassion. Now, through Seniors Helping Seniors, Yocom and husband, Philip, hope to extend some of that compassion to seniors.
A series of major events, including a car accident and her decision to adopt a child, led Dana Oliver to start Adventure Kids Playcare.
Erwin Pascua honors his wife's memory by living their dream for their two daughters.
UPFRONT
Briefs
Franchising decline in the offing, Ruby Tuesday to restructure in 2009, Brinker finally sells Macaroni Grill, Kidville buys JW Tumbles, Monson named as Fastsigns CEO
Currents
Studies show that it's not the bad news per se that causes stress in people, it's the way that news is delivered.
On this date in franchise history
Here's what we were covering in Franchise Times 10 years ago this month...
Conference Entrepreneur Track features dynamic female entrepreneurs; keys to owning your own business.
The Lums chain was founded in 1957 as a hot dog stand, and grew to more than 400 restaurants before going bankrupt in the early 1980s...
Where's the beef? Sprayed all over some dude's body
It's not enough to have flame-broiled, burger breath, now you can smell like beef from your neck to your toes. Yes, Burger King has another whopper of a product - beef-scented body spray.
Legal
When Amy Cheng and her partner Fredric Cohen started their own law firm, Cheng Cohen, they looked for a bright, sunny office with lots of open space and hardwood floors. "We wanted a totally different atmosphere," Cheng says. Part of that difference was a dogs-inclusive policy.
Boutique firms hope to control purse strings
While boutique law firms made their debut a number of years ago, a new slate of them has popped up on the franchise horizon recently. As with most experiences where there is large versus small, there are pros and cons to both.
DLA Piper's franchise law division continues to have a huge, well-regarded presence in the franchise community, despite the loss of some top-notch attorneys in recent years.
A few high-profile legal cases in recent years, including some huge awards, has brought restaurants' and hotels' tip-pooling policies to the forefront.
Personalties
Yon Regan scales new visions
SPECIAL FEATURES
Departments
February Crossword Puzzle...scroll down for answers.
Exit Interview
Last 10 years were no piece of cake
When I told my husband I was working on my 102nd issue, he replied he was surprised I had so many. He had only identified 57 issues he thought I should talk to a therapist about. (OK, so my husband never said that, but I know he was thinking it.)
Publisher's Column
Nobody ever succeeds without believing in themselves. Cliche? Maybe. But it's still true.
BIZ WISE
Expo Coverage
According to the IFA's new chairwoman Dina Dwyer Owens, in her welcoming letter, this is not the time to miss an opportunity to learn from the successful people who populate IFA.
Traffic picks up at Miami expo
At the Franchise Expo South held in Miami January 9-11, franchise exhibitors were not only gleeful about the 80-degree temperatures outside the exhibit hall, they also seemed happy about some of the leads they acquired during the three-day event.
Finance
Difficult times require companies to think differently and use any financial and legal tool available to them in order to survive. Here is one possible solution.
Human Resources
Salad Creations, the Miami-based fast-food franchise, isn't taking any chances with this unpredictable economy.
Leadership
Everyone knows effective leadership development can have a positive impact on a company's profits. But do you know how to locate the programs and speakers which can take you to the next level?
Marketing
It's a new year. It's time for resolutions and for becoming better professionals. Here are the Faegre & Benson habits, with communication tips sprinkled in there to help you become highly successful in 2009.
Operations
Now is the time for all good franchisors to come to the aid of their franchisees. Slower franchise sales could be just the ticket a franchisor needs to ensure the system still works for everyone - those who have already paid the price of admission.
Real Estate
Landing a plum airport location is not easy. Despite the flurry of airport renovation and expansion activity in recent years, the demand for space far outstrips the current supply. But don't dismiss the idea just yet.
Slowing economy opens new real estate opportunities for franchisees hoping to open in the Golden State. Top-notch locations in California that were once off limits are now within reach for many franchises.
Scoreboard
Comparing stock prices to what they were a year ago is a depressing exercise better left undone. Only four stocks recorded on this page - McDonald's, H&R Block, Buffalo Wild Wings and Aaron's Rents - were up at the beginning of January compared to the start of 2008. For most of them, the numbers are simply ugly.
Technology
Pipeline Catalyst is designed to close the sale within that 45-day period or remove the person from the sales pipeline. That ensuring the sales staff doesn't spend too much time fruitlessly.
Financial companies, armed with a widely known and frightening security breach expected to cost over $1 billion, has increased pressure on retailers that take credit cards to comply with standards.
Technical advancements for franchisees.
Free online storage and software sites may become unplugged if the masters behind these Web offerings don't make money. What's this mean to you? Lost data.
LEGAL
CFR
A lawsuit out of Long Island, New York, demonstrates the risk to the franchisor when a franchisee sells a troubled location to a new franchisee.
International
There remains pockets of international economic activity that are insulated from the chaotic economy, and franchising may be one of them.
Lawsuit
Geeks on Call, the computer help franchise, is the subject of several lawsuits filed by franchisees.
