Today's news for the franchise & small biz owner

For lenders, the average loss for bad auto loans rose in the first quarter, reflecting factors that directly affect dealerships: easier credit and softer used-vehicle prices.

Mercedes-Benz Financial Services customers can now make payments, manage their accounts or contact a dealer directly from their cars using the Mercedes-Benz mbrace2 in-car infotainment system, the company said this week.

Some lenders complained in first-quarter earnings reports about smaller and later tax refunds.

Good communication between sales and finance staff cannot be overstated. That's my takeaway from reading a recent chat on a Facebook page shared by finance managers.

Kia's first-ever offer of free scheduled maintenance, on the new 2014 Cadenza, shouldn't affect dealership sales of extended-service contracts, the carmaker says.

Volkswagen plans to refit more than a quarter million 2009-12 diesel cars to prevent North American customers from mistakenly pumping gasoline into the fuel tanks.

Experian has named John Gray president of its automotive business unit, effective immediately, with responsibility for the strategic direction, leadership and overall growth of the business.

Word on the street (well, floor) at the 2013 National Restaurant Association Show was "optimism." We solicited feedback from hundreds of exhibitors and attendees about their take on the event, which …

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The National Automobile Dealers Association and several automakers are reaching out with assistance to dealers and victims affected by Monday's tornado in Oklahoma.

Volkswagen plans to refit more than a quarter million 2009-12 diesel cars to prevent North American customers from mistakenly pumping gasoline into the fuel tanks.

Betco Corporation recently expanded its Digital Media Library to include new operator training videos.

The products highlighted in this latest release include the new Stealth ASC24BT Cylindrical Automatic Scrubber and the Crewman AS20B Automatic Scrubber.

This new digital training outlines all of the procedures to prepare the equipment for work and the proper steps to operate the machines.

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Car dealers were recovering from damage and organizing aid to survivors today after a two-mile-wide tornado ravaged an Oklahoma City suburb, but there were no reports of the massive twister directly hitting dealerships.

Two congressmen -- one a former Ohio auto dealer and the other a Pennsylvania new- and used-car dealer -- have asked the U.S.

Merchant Warehouse, a provider of payment technologies and merchant account services, announced a preferred processing partnership through its Genius Customer Engagement Platform with LightSpeed, an Apple-based point-of-sale (POS) and inventory management system.

This partnership will give retailers the flexibility to accept any payment option directly from an iPad or iPhone.

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Theme of new advertisements is “Fan food, not fast food” Dairy Queen's new advertising campaign to emphasize fan loyalty and food quality.

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Chain aims to engage and attract customers with beverage-pairing program Chain aims to engage and attract customers with beverage-pairing program

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Company to buy back 11 Chili’s Grill & Bar units from franchisee Company to buy back 11 Chili’s Grill & Bar units from franchisee

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SCA, the maker of the Tork brand of away-from-home paper products, is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Xpressnap napkin dispenser system, the one-at-a-time dispenser that cuts paper waste.

One-at-a-time dispensing has stopped billions of napkins from entering the waste stream, as Xpressnap prevents patrons from grabbing fistfuls of unneeded napkins. This sustainability feature translates into savings for restaurant and foodservice operators.

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The editorial team of FastCasual.com has announced its annual list of the vibrant restaurant segment's most significant brands, people and trends. The downloadable "The 2013 Fast Casual Top 100 …

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Orion Food Systems announced a new website, orionfoods.com, centered on sharing innovative, customized quality foodservice solutions for any type of venue.

Created with the user experience in mind, the new site utilizes an exciting, clean design filled with informative and frequently updated content.

Designed using the latest technology, orionfoods.comis compatible with today's browsers and mobile devices. Visitors can find turn-key foodservice solutions for a wide variety of markets.

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