Franchisee Marketing

[Sponsored Post] Bedroom Java is offering a unique business opportunity founded on a one-of-a-kind product: an aphrodisiac instant coffee called Magic Power Coffee.

According to Bedroom Java, the Magic Power Coffee product is 100% all natural and has no chemicals or harmful side-effects. It’s a unique herbal enhancement beverage which enhances energy, mood, desire, performance, satisfaction and endurance throughout the sexual experience is unlike any prescription drugs.

“Magic Power Coffee is a true category creator,” says the distributor’s COO, A J Goldberg. “The pharmaceutical industry has made billions focusing on male sexual dysfunction and male enhancement. Our new product has much broader appeal, and we believe, will therefore have much broader acceptance. Magic Power Coffee works for both men and women. It works before, during and after the sexual experience. And it works within 30 minutes.”

According to Bedroom Java, the upside potential for Magic Power Coffee is tremendous as it combines the $70 billion coffee market with the $2.5 billion male enhancement market. “From a business perspective, Magic Power Coffee is better than combining Viagra® and Starbucks®… because our product also works for women. The drug makers have been unwilling or unable to address the female component of sexual enhancement, we have. Obviously sex has global appeal. We’re a global business. We believe Magic Power Coffee will significantly increase our sales and our profits,” states Goldberg.

If you would like more information on how you can enhance your financial future with this innovative program, fill out the confidential information request form at the Bedroom Java website.

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Discount fast food franchise promotions like Subway’s $5 Footlongs, Quiznos Million Sub Giveaway and McDonald’s $1 menu, and Burger Kiong’s $1 Double Cheeseburger are attractive to consumers and great for the franchisor… but what about the franchise owners who foots the bills?  According to Smart Money, some of the franchise promotions and giveaways lately have been great for everyone except the franchise owner.

Product discounting is one of the most contentious topics in franchising.  Here’s why:  Franchisors make money off the gross sales of their franchisees, regardless of franchisee profitability. 

Some franchisors make additional money marking up ingredients and food products to their franchisees. 

Public franchisors benefit from higher sales – and stock prices – that are not tied to franchisee profitability.

SmartMoney.com surveyed franchisees from different franchise chains regarding the cost to them of some current and recent promotions. The Smart Money article points out that franchisees generally bear the brunt of a promotions’s cost, including the food, labor, rent and utilities, among other things.

Here’re are links to the data on six recent franchise marketing promotions, posted on UnhappyFranchisee.com: 

RELATED POSTS:

SUBWAY: What Do Franchisees Make on $5 Footlongs?

LITTLE CAESARS: What Franchisees Make on a $5 Pizza

McDONALD’S: What Franchisees Make on a $1 Burger

BASKIN ROBBINS: Franchisees Lose $1.45 per Scoop on Promo

QUIZNOS: Franchisees Lost $2.25 per Sub on Giveaway

BURGER KING Franchisees Sue Over $1 Cheeseburgers

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF DISCOUNT PROMOTIONS?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

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It’s true. Perhaps America’s most unlikely vintner is taking a bold step and adding a line of $3 wines. Here’s the press release:

Convenience Retailer Introduces Yosemite Road Wines on Both Sides of the Globe
DALLAS–(Business Wire)–
In its first foray into global merchandising, 7-Eleven, Inc. (SEI) in the U.S.
and Seven-Eleven Japan (SEJ) are jointly introducing two proprietary wines – a Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignon – today under the Yosemite Road label. These are California wines produced by The Wine Group exclusively for 7-Eleven stores and its parent company, Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd. of Tokyo.

Also participating in the launch and carrying the new beverages are Ito-Yokado super- and hyper-markets, York Benimaru supermarkets in northern Japan, Shell Garden upscale grocery stores, Denny`s family restaurants, Seibu and Sogo department stores, retail outlets that, along with SEI and SEJ, are subsidiaries of Seven & i, a $57.6 billion corporation. Seven & i has annual wines sales of $127 million, and SEI`s yearly wine sales are $46 million.

After researching the most frequently purchased products at their stores, the merchandising counterparts under the Seven & i umbrella selected wine to inaugurate its global product development and procurement plan. Value-priced wines, those under $5, have been gaining in popularity and enjoying double-digit sales growth at 7-Eleven stores as consumers continue to search for value in their purchasing decisions.

Available in the companies` collective 15,000 convenience, department and grocery stores, the introduction of the two California wines is the culmination of a collaborative, global merchandising effort for the world`s largest convenience retailer. The same-day launch marks the first global product designed and developed exclusively for Seven & i stores. Taking their experience and knowledge of product development to a new level, the companies` international plan reduces provides a very reasonable sales tag for the consumer. Suggested retail price for a standard 750 milliliter bottle is $3.99 in the U.S. ($4.99 in Florida because of state taxes) and 598 yen in Japan.

“The development and production of Yosemite Road wines was a global team effort and is just the beginning,” said Kevin Elliott, 7-Eleven senior vice president of merchandising and logistics. “By using our collective purchasing power to negotiate product exclusivity and pricing, we can meet customer demand for quality and value, as well as differentiate our brand from the competition.”

The around-the-world venture began in earnest this year with a series of video conferences followed by multiple trips to California`s wine country. Leveraging its sheer scale and sourcing capabilities, 7-Eleven approached The Wine Group, the world`s third-largest wine producer, with the mission to craft two quality, affordably priced varietal wines.

Experienced, award-winning wine-makers John Willumson and Jim McDonald were tapped for the task.  The winning vintners created a Chardonnay, described as fresh and zesty with notes of apricot, peach and honey, and a full-bodied
Cabernet Sauvignon with juicy plum overtones. Both are well balanced, offered at an affordable price and can be enjoyed anytime of the year.

Yosemite Road is currently a limited-edition wine that will be available while supplies last.

About 7 Eleven, Inc.

7 Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience retailing industry. Based in Dallas, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses some 7,850 7-Eleven stores in North America. Globally, 7-Eleven
operates, franchises or licenses more than 36,600 stores in 15 countries. During 2008, 7-Eleven stores worldwide generated total sales of more than $53.7 billion.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? IS 7-ELEVEN WINE A GREAT IDEA? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

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Here’s a great story about a Domino’s franchisee who has taken the initiative to learn about social media, and to use the many tools of Web 2.0 to build business.
I interact regularly with this franchisee on Twitter, and that’s how I learned about this blog story.

Check out the full post at Chicago Domino’s Gets Social Media Right!.

Here’s an excerpt:

Ramon De Leon (aka DPZRAMON) – King of Online Sales
Ramon has been engaged in online sales of Domino’s pizza since 1999 and has been engaged in social media since 2005 (long before the term it’s known by now). Ramon has long been a Facebook member and has connected with students for the past 4 years. His Facebook strategy is simple: Connect with local university/college students, give them the best service & pizza ever, and develop relationships that will last beyond their college years (as in delivering pizza to their place of business). According to Ramon, “it’s a social cycle.”

* * * * *

A passion for pizza and social media.

If you speak with Ramon it is so obvious that he is passionate about Domino’s, customers, and social media. In fact, he constantly monitors social sites for mentions of his stores and he provides a flyer that includes all his social sites on a flyer, which is taped to all Domino’s pizza boxes leaving his stores just to make sure customers can find him online. He also attends a lot of social media conferences to keep up on the latest social media best practices….

So Ramon, we all want to know…is all this social media stuff increasing your bottomline? Ramon’s answer: YES!

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It’s called "Cause Marketing," and it’s a great way to truly "do well by doing good."

Create a regular event or promotion that benefits a worthy cause, and run it on a regular basis.  Do it right, and your investment will provide attractive returns in the form of great publicity, brand-building, goodwill, customer and employee loyalty, new customer trial and current customer frequency.

Wendy’s does a great job with their Halloween coupon promotion that benefits the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.  Dave Thomas, the late founder of both Wendy’s and the charity, was himself adopted, and made adoption his special cause. By creating the promotion as a yearly event, Wendy’s has gained efficiency by simply having to implement, and not design, a new program.  Here is the promotional release:

DUBLIN, Ohio, Oct 20, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Kids’ trick-or-treat bags will be filled with more than just sticky sweet candy this year, some may get a coupon for a free Wendy’s Jr. Frosty and help another kid find a home.

Since 1992, the Wendy’s Halloween Coupon Program fundraiser has generated millions of dollars for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, supporting the Foundation’s mission to move children out of foster care into forever families.

In 2007, the coupon program raised approximately $1.6 million for foster care adoption throughout the United States and Canada.

"Not only does the coupon program generate national awareness for the Foundation, but the support it provides has been extraordinary," said Rita Soronen, executive director of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. "Initiatives like the Halloween program provide the resources for the Foundation to continue to ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow and thrive in a loving and permanent home."

Wendy’s customers are encouraged to purchase the booklets as an alternative to passing out candy on during trick or treat festivities. One- dollar booklets can be purchased at a number of Wendy’s restaurant locations nationwide.

"Our Wendy’s restaurants really get behind the Halloween coupon program. It is a great way to give back to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and keep my dad’s legacy alive with our customers," said Wendy Thomas Morse, Thomas 5 Limited. "Giving kids a Wendy’s Jr. Frosty for trick or treat is fun and supports adoption… it doesn’t get any easier than that."

Booklet sales for the Halloween Coupon Program conclude on October 31, 2008. The coupons may be redeemed November 1, 2008 through February 1, 2009. For more information, visit www.wendys.com or www.DaveThomasFoundationforAdoption.org .

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

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Franchisees, customers & experts vote for their favorite new franchises at Top New Franchise: Who’s hot. Who’s not.

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For the third election in a row, 7-Eleven creates some creative election-time publicity buzz with its caffeinated in-store campaign poll.

Here’s one of the press releases they circulated with the publicity photo at left.
Presidential Perks: Americans Raise Their Cups to Candidates in Third 7-Election Coffee Cup Poll
DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–As election day nears, things are really heating up, especially at neighborhood 7-Eleven® stores. Today, the convenience store giant kicks off its third quadrennial 7-Election presidential coffee cup poll.

Unabashedly unscientific, the just-for-fun poll has proven remarkably accurate in elections past, with results closely mirroring the official surveys by the country’s top political pollsters. In the first 7-Election in 2000, only 1 percentage point separated the cup-counts of now-President George Bush and Democratic nominee, Sen. Al Gore. Likewise in 2004, President Bush out-cupped Sen. John Kerry, 51 percent to 49 percent.

During this promotion that runs through Tuesday, Nov. 4 (election day), 7-Eleven invites Americans to pour their favorite hot beverage into either a red 20-ounce cup for Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain, or a blue 20-ounce cup for Democratic candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, and cast their cups for their preferred candidate. The colored cups also have the candidates’ names printed on them. Undecided customers need not choose sides – “unmarked” 7-Eleven hot beverage cups will still be available as well as a bipartisan red, white and blue Big Gulp® fountain drink cups featuring both the donkey and elephant party symbols. 7-Eleven customers may vote as often as they wish, although they may want to switch to decaf after a few cups.

“When 7-Eleven held its first 7-Election eight years ago, we had no idea what the final results would be or how popular the cup poll would become,” said 7-Eleven President and CEO Joe DePinto. “While we don’t bill this as a statistically valid study by any means, it does reach Americans in their hometowns, on their way to work, after school or just going about their everyday lives. 7-Election provides an interesting daily snapshot of the election.”

Depending on which of the 20-plus national polls one reads, Sen. McCain is leading by as much as 7 points … or Sen. Obama is leading by as much as 7 points, plus or minus 5 points, of course. 7-Election cups are instantly tabulated at the register when the sale is made. National and state results will be posted daily on www.7-election.com, a website created for the coffee cup poll. Major market area and store results are also available upon request. Poll tallies will reflect the percent of candidate cups sold to date, not including “undecided,” i.e., regular 7-Eleven logo cups. Participating 7-Eleven stores are encouraged to post the latest race results at their coffee islands.

“7-Election is a warm-up for the real election on Nov. 4,” DePinto said. “While awareness of this presidential election hardly needs to be raised, 7-Eleven is providing a not-so-subtle daily reminder to its citizen-customers about the importance of voting. Candidates might want to pay attention to this great coffee electorate, and even stop by a local 7-Eleven store to campaign or grab a great cup of coffee.”

Coffee marked 7-Eleven stores’ first self-serve beverage product, and the first time any retailer offered fresh-brewed coffee in to-go cups. It proved an instant success. Customers like fixing their coffee the way they wanted it – choosing cup size, regular, dark roast or decaffeinated, and adding sweeteners and creamers to suit their tastes. Today, 7-Eleven sells more fresh-brewed coffee than anything else – 1 million cups each day. That translates to approximately 10,000 pots of coffee brewed every hour. In each of the past 7-Election polls, more than 6 million cups were cast.

Coffee, a nonpartisan beverage choice for both Democrats and Republicans, does have deep political roots in American history. In 1607, Captain John Smith in Virginia introduced coffee in America, and it was named the national beverage by the First Continental Congress after the Boston Tea Party.

About 7-Eleven, Inc.

7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience retailing industry. Based in Dallas, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses approximately 7,600 7-Eleven® stores in North America. Globally, 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses more than 34,800 stores in 17 countries. During 2007, 7-Eleven stores worldwide generated total sales of more than $46.6 billion. Named the #1 Franchise Opportunity for 2008 by Entrepreneur magazine, 7-Eleven is franchising virtually all of its stores in the U.S., and is expanding through its Business Conversion Program, acquisitions, building new and leasing existing properties.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

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(Relentless Marketer)  Here’s a quick, easy, steady, effective and FREE way to build your blog traffic.
Each Tuesday & Wednesday about 500 bloggers gather at WordlessWednesday.com to post links to their photo-only posts.  Join the Wordless Wednesday gang and you build traffic in 4 ways:
1)  Increase your post count.  Putting up a weekly picture is an easy way to add 52 posts per year. 
2)  Increase in-bound links.  WW gives you a weekly link to your blog post.  Leave comments on other WW blogs for additional trackback links.
3)  Increase your comment count.  Participating in WW will add comments and new commenters to your site.  Even "Happy Wordless Wednesday" comments will boost your search engine rankings.
4)  It’s fun and adds to the overall interest of your blog.  Too many blogs are text-heavy and lack interesting visuals.  This will help you get more visual.
Here’s how to boost your traffic with Wordless Wednesday:
Every Tuesday: post an interesting or fun picture to your blog, preferably one that involves your business, products, employees or customers..
Tuesday evening: Go to www.WordlessWednesday.com.  Follow the instructions and post a comment and link to your picture post on Wordless Wednesday – Tuesday Edition.
EARLY Wednesday am:  Go to www.WordlessWednesday.com.  Follow the instructions and post a comment and link to your picture post on Wordless Wednesday.
Extra traffic tip:  visit a few other WW entries and leave comments.  Use your photo post URL when placing the comment.  Many times the blog owners will reciprocate with a comment on your blog.
Now go forth, blogger, and be wordless.
Here are a few of my favorites:
WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: Free Diner, Sign Not Included
WORDLESS WEDNESDAY 12/19/07: Why We’re Fat…
WORDLESS WEDNESDAY 12/26/07: Honest Advertising
WORDLESS WEDNESDAY 1/2/08: Hard Driving Message
Wordless Wednesday 1/9/08: The Big Boys
Today’s Franchise Pic: Cleopatra’s Value Meal
Relentless marketer Sean Kelly is a 20 year veteran of the franchise industry, and founder of the award-winning marketing firm IdeaFarm. In 2006, he founded the FranBest franchise network, best franchise opportunities, the top new franchises, franchise marketing, franchise public relations and small business marketing. Contact him at seankelly[at]ideafarm.net.

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I believe this is a McDonalds China TV commercial for teaching the gestures of Beijing Olympic Cheering Children election applicants in China.

Be forewarned: This commercial contains potentially toxic levels of cuteness.

Tags: Mcdonalds advertising commercials tv China Beijing Olympic

WHAT DO YOU THINK? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

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Visit FRANBEST’s: Unbiased franchise information, franchise interviews and detailed, searchable information on 400 franchise and business opportunities.

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Franchisees, customers & experts vote for their favorite new franchises at Top New Franchise: Who’s hot. Who’s not.

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(FranchisePick.Com) This over-the-top Beijing 2008 Olympics tagged McDonald’s commercial pits two Chinese children in a martial arts battle over the last remaining McNugget. (In America, there would just be a lot of hair pulling and punching in the back seat.) But the question remains: Do they really eat McDonald’s with chopsticks in China? Do they come in a plastic bag with a napkin salt, pepper and soy sauce?

Lest you think the connection between theatrical martial arts and fast food is a bit of a stretch, consider the Bruce Lee Fast Food restaurant pictured below:

According to the photographer edwick:

“Well, I found the place (Zhen Gongfu, or “Real Kung-fu”) just outside the New World Shopping Center south of Chongwen Men.

Apparently, it’s a fast food joint.

McDonald’s was right around the corner, but I gotta ask which restaurant you’d rather eat at: the one with a clown for a mascot or the one with Bruce Lee as the mascot?”

(photo by edwick; License: Creative Commons)

WHAT DO YOU THINK? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

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Visit FRANBEST’s: Unbiased franchise information, franchise interviews and detailed, searchable information on 400 franchise and business opportunities.

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Franchisees, customers & experts vote for their favorite new franchises at Top New Franchise: Who’s hot. Who’s not.

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Source: Palm Beach Post Sunday, July 27, 2008

In her article Tequesta business owner brings in the bucks for Sir Speedy, Staff Writer Alexandra Clough reveals some of the secrets to quick printing success of Tequesta, FL Sir Speedy franchise owner Richard Goldberg. Goldberg recently won the Sir Speedy Century Club award, for the fifth year in a row. The award recognizes the 100 highest-grossing franchises in the company’s worldwide network of 800 print shops. The elite Century Club award is based on 2007 revenues.

Here are some excerpts containing ideas from which you can steal , borrow learn:“Goldberg says he tries to do is serve as more than just a vendor slapping ink on paper. Goldberg often takes it upon himself to act as a business consultant and a marketing executive for his customers… the extra time he spends talking about a business’ goals…will come back tenfold as the business grows – and needs more printing services.”

* * * * * * * * * *

“…Goldberg says he doesn’t advertise himself.

“One hundred percent of my business is referrals,” he said. “When customers come in here, for the most part, they know what they’re in for.”

* * * * * * * * * *

“So when a customer comes in wanting a brochure, Goldberg veers the conversation in a different direction.”Let’s talk about your business,” he says he’ll ask. “What’s your budget? What’s your competition? Do you want to be at the high end or the low end of the market?”

“If I can get them to make money, that’s when I make money,” he said. “Many of Goldberg’s customers, from Stuart down to Palm Beach Gardens, are small to mid-sized businesses that can’t afford a marketing or ad agency. No problem. Goldberg says he freely hands out extra advice that he thinks will help grow his customers’ business...

What do customers say about Goldberg’s approach?

Hobe Sound Chamber of Commerce executive director Jennifer Ferarri:

“‘If I’m doing a fund raiser, I can call him and within seconds he’ll give me five brilliant ideas that are so creative,” said . For instance, last year’s chamber event, the Hobe Sound Hoe-Down, was enhanced by Goldberg’s suggestion that the chamber create “Wanted” posters for the event.’”

Another idea: Creating a raffle ticket as part of the event’s invitation. That way, even people who could not attend the event still were able to contribute money, she said.

Rob Kairalla, founder of JIC Realty:

Goldberg is “more of a business partner than a printer.”

“‘It’s almost like he has an investment in our success… He’s smart. He knows the more we do, the more we’re going to use him.”

Franchisees: Goldberg is successful by using the Karma principal: Help others succeed and that success will be returned to you.

What do you think? How do you add consultative value to your clients? How does it pay off for you?

Share a comment below.

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