Franchise entrepreneur Dick Rennick was recently appointed CEO of Assisting Hands, a franchise system that provides non-medical, in-home care to peopl

Curves started with a big bang but many are now shutting down.

If you own an MLB franchise, Forbes has good news. You are getting rich like never before.

From Microsoft to Federal Express, an increasing number of employers are classifying workers as “independent contractors” to skirt federal labor laws and employment liabilities.

Scott Pooler, a former official eBay Trading Assistant, and a master franchise representative for an eBay drop store franchise chain weighs in on the subject of franchising and stand alone eBay drop stores in Trading Assistant Journal, a weblog that provides news and commentary for eBay consignment specialists.

Blockbuster continues to search for and implement new ways to remain competitive in its rapidly changing and extremely competitive environment. Eighteen percent of its 5,000+ domestic locations are franchise owned and operated, with the rest being run by the company.

An expanding population of pet owners is fueling an explosion of growth in the pooper scooper business. Reporter Raymund Flandez of the Wall Street Journal reports that demographic and societal factors are pushing this business.

If you were buying a franchise in this particular automotive service franchise, you might be interested in the comments on the front page of the  December 2007/January 2008 franchisee association newsletter which read:

"In fact, with the increasing COGS (cost of goods), pressures from the new minimum wage, the re-image costs launching April 1, 2008, lack of brand loyalty, divestiture of company stores, declining vehicle counts, and an ever changing consumer, the year 2008 may be the most financially challenging year in the history of _________."

Further into the article, the President said:

"The fourth quarter of 2007 is raising a lot of eye brows as to the negative trends for both vehicle counts and sales"

You would also have seen that "cars" in the system were down 5.5% in October and 5.8% in November, and 2.9% year to date.

What a great "interim report" from the franchisees themselves on how the system is doing!

Company to Provide Seven Hours of Internet Radio Coverage from Orlando

(Largo, FL) - With the 48th Annual Convention of the International Franchise Association kicking off on February 9th at the Marriott World Center in Orlando, exhibitor and IFA member Valpak has decided to do things a little differently this year: it’s going live.

Valpak president Joe Bourdow had been contemplating ways to promote his company’s exhibit at the upcoming event and decided to draw from his past experience in radio to produce a live webcast from the Valpak booth on the convention floor. After consulting with IFA spokesman Terry Hill, it was decided that Bourdow and Mike Ryan of Franchise Business Now, a global franchising media center, would provide seven hours of live coverage over the course of the convention. The broadcast, which will air at various times on February 10th and 11th, will feature interviews with leading franchise executives as well as features, information and interviews with IFA leadership centered on the IFA’s various programs supporting franchising.

“Though this is the first time we are doing something like this, we are confident that our broadcast will be both entertaining and informative to our listeners,” said Bourdow.

International Children’s Art Enrichment Franchise Organization Recognized by Leader on Right Brain Thinking

(New Braunfels, TX, January 30, 2008) – Daniel Pink, best selling author and promoter of right brain thinking, recently recognized KidzArt and the company’s role in developing resourcefulness, imagination and originality in children.  In Pink's book, A Whole New Mind, he analyzes “a new age” where creative thinking skills have become vital to the economy and workforce.

KidzArt, an international art enrichment franchise company that provides fine art education classes for kids of all ages, has a philosophy based on using right brain skills to develop creativity.  The company recently invited Pink and his family to take part in a KidzArt class. According to Pink, "I sat in on a KidzArt class with my kids and their friends. We all had a great time.  I believe KidzArt is a program that is helping to encourage and support the creative innovators of tomorrow."

During the class, KidzArt director in Maryland, Tracy Feld, led Pink and his family through multiple art exercises including one where each child drew a car's dashboard and a picture of what would be in the rear view mirror.  The class brainstormed to come up many different interpretations of the project.