
Sunday, January 10th, 2010
If you own a franchise you should be in contact with your nearest franchisees and share information as if you were the manager of a corporate store. You should set up meetings once or twice per month and have their phone numbers logged into your speed dial for easy reference.
You should learn from the experiences of your fellow franchisees. For example, let’s say you found out your next-door franchisee neighbor as a certain type of customer and you are starting to see a few of these types of customers come into your store. You decide you would like to see more of them as their average ticket prices are better than your current average customers. You, of course, will want to learn all you can from your neighboring franchisee and what they have done to target this market segment. It’s really nice to know you can pick up the phone and call a friend who has answers to these types of questions you might have on a regular basis. They can help you by:
Allowing you to work with them in their store for a half of day
Introducing you to certain types of customers to help you understand their needs
Explain idiosyncrasies in serving different market segments
Dealing with these different customers and their fears
Learning how to best service these new customers and understanding their buying behaviors.
This works well. Your regional director can also help you but he/she may be learning as they go just like you. As a franchisee you have a team to plug into, it is a system, the system is dynamic and you can learn from it to help you become more efficient and profitable. You should call your Regional Directors as well as your local franchisees, because two minds are better than one. We know you can figure it out, but it sure helps to have the extra support. Maximize the team synergies of your franchise system, stay plugged into the strength of numbers and economies of scale. Think on this.
“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/
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Sunday, December 20th, 2009
Trilegiant counts itself among the biggest North American service providers offering and managing club membership initiatives. In connection with several retail and service brand names, a significant number important names in shopping, entertainment, health, consumer protection services as well as many others, Trilegiant strives to streamline your buying experience. No one would deny that Trilegiant has more than enough experience. First opening over three decades ago, Trilegiant hails from Connecticut and now operates 8 facilities across six states supporting a 3000 strong workforce available to help any client. This size means they can support over 25 million members spread across the USA.
The reputation of Lipman’s business derives from risk free packages, making it possible for consumers to cut corners and obtain excellent quality products. Looking at an example, the Buyers Advantage scheme gives consumers access to reasonably priced insurance on long term warranties, guaranteed returns, and repair costs, effectively guaranteeing their confidence as regards their acquisition. Trilegiant also, of course, offer other programs such as HealthSaver - which promises low priced quality healthcare - just to look at one example. It’s the occasions when the company’s attention turns to the populace that Trilegiant makes its mark. Single events organized within the company even by small factions of workers regularly generate donations to charity of $30.000 in only 5 days - without doubt a result not to be sniffed at. They also aim to be of service via research. As you’re aware, every year privately owned companies as well as the American government generate a significant profusion of statistical information. Trilegiant combs this information with diligence to isolate concerns and then considers how to improve them. For example, the number of auto collisions in the USA every year is several million strong.
To prevent clients and their families from becoming part of these numbers, the discount company Autovantage decided to publish yearly “road rage” data two years ago. You’ll find digests of essential data to increase your awareness of the issue. So there you have it; Trilegiant, a fantastic exemplar of a company who comprehends how essential the spirit of its community and subscribers truly is. Their various programs improve the buying experience for clients, and their hard work on behalf of charitable causes and the work to inform the public regarding major topics means Trilegiant gives back to the world in which it is based. To sum up, they are the ideal community-oriented business.
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Saturday, November 7th, 2009
In the beginning, when Henry Kravis and George Roberts founded Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co (KKR) in 1976 with the support of the First Chicago Corporation, the company’s main business was in highly leveraged transactions. However, they have set up an innovative venture that centers not merely on how profitable a corporation is, but additionally on the environmental impact of the companies they acquire. When Henry Kravis from KKR and the New York based Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) got together just a year ago environmental matters went mainstream. Issues like water pollution and inordinate consumption of water resources are high on their list of goals. Eco-efficiency (the phrase was originally advertised by the WBCSD) denotes their mission’s framework, applying techniques such as reducing the waste of resources, reducing the intensity of materials and improving fuel economy through vehicle fleet maintenance. Even though the program was an enormous success, no-one recognized how important the results were until Ken Mehlman, the man in charge of the project, reviewed the profits for the first year.
As if to eclipse all expectations, Ken discovered that the Green Portfolio Project not only assisted in preserving the local environment, but was increasing the the profit from each and every company besides. Almost all of the commercial concerns held by KKR and Ken Mehlman today are engaged in eco-efficiency. Still, with a current portfolio worth eighty-six billion dollars, you can be sure that this was no easy feat. The initial project has grown beyond its initial remit and today encompasses new enterprises. To illustrate, KKR got together with the EDF’s Climate Corps Program which instructs students studying for a Master’s degree in Business Administration how to put together and initiate financially sound, green principles. More recently, Ken Mehlman has been working closely with Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co to formulate a variety of analytic tools and other related systems that businesses can employ to evaluate and manage a number of resources. This type of data is crucial as companies may easily evaluate each of their everyday activities and discover where any problems can be solved while at the same time seeing their progress.
The business community has been altered forever by the work of Henry Kravis, the KKC, and the Environmental Defense Fund. Their innovations have simplified the procedure for organizations in any industry and shown that making profits need not entail the hefty price of damaging the environment.
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Friday, October 16th, 2009
In the beginning, when Henry Kravis and his partner George Roberts founded Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co (KKR) in the mid-seventies with the support of the First Chicago Corporation, the firm’s focus was in bootstrap buyouts. But they have launched a remarkable project that centers not alone on how much money they can make, but also on the environmental impact of the companies they acquire.
When Henry Kravis from KKR and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) joined forces last year environmental issues in the business world became major topic of dicussion. Crucial green issues like toxic chemical use and extreme water consumption are a top priority in their company mission statement.
Eco-efficiency (a phrase initially advertised by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development WBCSD) governs their mission’s framework, using ecologically friendly policies like improving fuel economy through vehicle fleet maintenance, recycling programs and reducing the dispersion of toxic chemicals. The program was a stunning success, however the management did not grasp the range of the project’s advantages until the head of the program and global public affairs, Ken Mehlman, reviewed the project when it had been functioning for a year. As if to better everybody’s expectations, Ken learned that this program not only cut down on ecological impact, but was also increasing the profitability of every company besides. These days, KKR and Ken Mehlman have managed to get virtually each and every business in their portfolio actively taking part in eco-efficiency. Still, with a current portfolio estimated at eighty six billion USD, you may be certain that this wasn’t a simple achievement. The original project has evolved beyond its original purpose and now encompasses new opportunities. To illustrate, KKR got together with the Environmental Defense Fund’s Climate Corps Program which teaches MBA students how to promote cost-effective, environmentally friendly principles. Moreover, Ken Mehlman has been cooperating closely with Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co to develop a package of analytical tools that companies can employ to quantify and manage a number of resources. These tools can track an organization’s progress and identify any underlying problems.
The business world has been altered forever by the efforts of Henry Kravis, the KKC, and the Environmental Defense Fund. Their developments have set a benchmark for business organizations in every sector and shown that running a profitable business need not entail the hefty price of negatively impacting our planet.
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Posted by admin in Baker's Dozen, Markets, Web Of Social Bookmarking 

Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
Most if not all highly distinguished entrepreneurs are good community members and this gentleman is certainly no exception, on the contrary. You’ll likely have heard of Mr. Naveen Jain as the CEO and co-founder of Intelius, Inc. the acclaimed information commerce company. Beyond making the Forbes 400 Richest in America list in 2000, this enterprising business leader has won a variety of coveted awards, most notably the WSA Industry Achievement Award, the Albert Einstein Technology Medal, and the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, to name but only three. But it certainly doesn’t end there. Because Mr. Jain and his relations are likewise as impassioned about philanthropy and will attempt to assist others as frequently as they are able to. The youth of today are truly our paramount aspiration or the future. They are moreover a main inspiration for this entrepreneur and he leverages every occasion available to help them. This obviously, is why he is always thoroughly leveraging every chance available to give assistance to them, wherever feasible. Consequently Naveen Jain, his family and his workers at Intelius, Inc. give their time and effort to charities such as the University of Washington, the Indian American Education Foundation, and United Way. As can be expected, they offer significant pecuniary assistance, but more importantly they pledge premium time and care to the youth who require it the most. Naveen Jain also donates to the Children’s Hospital, being intent on elevating children’s health too. Because Naveen Jain is a former student of the Indian Institute of Technology and XLRI Jamshedpur, it is no surprise that education is a tremendously significant rank in his philanthropic outlook. This also encompasses movements and charitable organizations that range from neighborhood programs to the international. Thus, Intelius and its CEO are actively involved in supporting deserving causes and organizations such as Hopelink, TreeHouse and the Overlake Service League.
Providing for the world’s starving makes for an equally serious responsibility to Jain and his relations and it is of no interest in the least to him whether it is a baby in Uganda or Ottawa, or an old homeless man in Romania or Berlin requiring assistance. While Naveen is quite aware that the ambition to feed every hungry person in the world can seem to be an overwhelming task, he also understands that the unfeasible can indubitably come to be realizable provided everybody toils together. If this CEO gets his way, there will be a unquestionable ending to impoverishment and starvation on this planet in the future. You might believe that functioning as the head of a spectacularly prosperous business in addition to being a dedicated husband and parent would leave little or no resources for volunteering and support. Yet he ensures that each one of his benevolent efforts will gets all the help he can feasibly contribute. Indeed, this untiringly altruistic entrepreneur is most certainly way more than merely any ordinary business pioneer. He is a highly remarkable person and a genuine community patron.
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Posted by admin in Markets, Web Of Social Bookmarking 