Research shows icing is:

Great for acute injuries. Icing has proven to reduce swelling, which not only numbs the pain, but also shortens the recovery time. No family first aid kit is complete without an ice wrap.

Outstanding in prophylactic uses. Those whose daily lives include repetitive motion—and isn’t that just about everyone?—can prevent long-term damage by icing after the activity. That helps the body repair microtears, lessens pain and shortens the potential of chronic pain.

Proven for chronic pain. There are 52 million workdays lost each year due to pain and more than 40 million Americans have arthritis. Another 20 million experience frequent back pain. Icing can ease the discomfort that comes from chronic pain. And because there is no fear of drug interaction, icing is also a great relief for cancer patients, the vast majority of whom endure pain.

So why Pro Ice?

Pro Ice knocks down its competitors in any number of contests. For icing to be most effective, it must maintain a consistent temperature. Pro Ice holds steady at 27 degrees for up to an hour, allowing for the optimal icing benefits. Regular ice begins to melt, failing to deliver the optimal icing temperature, but also created a drippy, annoying mess.

Icing also works best when paired with compression. Pro Ice’s compression straps keep the ice right where it hurts, allowing the cold to penetrate deep into the muscle. The patented window pane design also hugs closely to the body. Single-use packs fail the compression tests and also create unnecessary waste.

Pro Ice is designed for multiple uses, making it more economical than single-use. It also is made of the highest quality, durable material. Its Veltex cover can be washed. And in the unlikely event that the window pane is punctured, the remainder of the ice pack continues to be useful. Or, the ice pack can be replaced on its own, without needing to purchase the whole kit. It’s also non-toxic and water-based.

Join the Pro Ice revolution

Pro Ice is looking for Independent Masters, Independent Developers, Independent Representatives and Independent Dealers to take an exciting, established product to new distribution channels. The company is seeking talented, energetic individuals with a proven track record of sales. Those in the pharmaceutical and medical sales are particularly encouraged to seek more information.

Michael Hemenway doesn’t like the word “Wholesaler.” It simply doesn’t describe what Pro Ice Developers and Independent Representatives provide.

“Pro Ice is a marketing company with a unique brand; Independent Developers and Independent Representatives serve as the eyes and ears of our Cold Therapy Products. We are partners to our retailers whose businesses we help grow,” Hemenway explains. “That’s what we are here for. In the old days, wholesalers pushed product out to customers; today we help pull product through retail and multiple trade channels.”

To learn more, email proice@brandEXPANSION.com

About Pro Ice

Pro Ice was developed in 1991 to help aid pitchers after a game. Its use quickly grew to include other baseball players and those in other sports. As it has grown beyond the sports arena, the company remains committed to relieving pain and injury—and improving quality of life—for all of its users. Pro Ice was developed with simplicity in mind and an uncomplicated mission: to deliver a natural, environmentally friendly pain relief for all who suffer.

D’lish opened its first store last week, in the Fashion Place mall, in Murray, Utah. It is the first of nine stores expected to open in the next eight months. With locations already secured, however, these nine are just the beginning.

But there are more than 47,000 malls in the United States. While a mall kiosk delivers the kind of high-traffic that makes a D’lish franchise an immediate success, D’lish isn’t limited to just malls. Any high-traffic area can offer an outstanding opportunity to launch your own business.
With a relatively low start-up cost and the ability to launch a turnkey business in a matter of weeks, a D’lish franchise can be a great way to start a franchise.

D’lish offers both a kiosk and an inline store. Kiosks have shown a tremendous ability to withstand the current economic challenges. Delivering almost 550 potential customers per hour, kiosks show virtually unlimited potential.

Additionally, a D’lish franchise requires very little overhead. Kiosks can be run with one or two employees while an inline store can be worked by four. With very little perishable product, a D’lish franchise owner can experience the best of a food franchise without the costly turnover of managing perishable inventory.

With its menu of handmade sodas and treats, D’lish can capture the casual shopper who desires an inexpensive treat without the cost of sitting down to a restaurant meal.
With its low start-up costs and outstanding business model, D’lish also can provide a significant business venture for a future entrepreneur.

Get started on your way to owning a D’lish franchise by filling out the form on the linked page. Or contact brandEXPANSION at 480-607-2627 or info@brandexpansion.com.

Consider the reasons why:

* The downward economy has put the brakes on new car sales (except during a stunt like Cash for Clunkers, which saw a brief upswing). According to the Wall Street Journal, car sales are down every month in 2009 compared to 2008, except for during the Cash for Clunkers period. In all, car sales are down more than 25 percent in 2009 – and 2008 wasn’t that great of a year in the auto industry to begin with. So what does this have to do with auto franchises? People are driving their cars longer and need to make necessary repairs and keep up with regular maintenance.

* In mid-2009, Chevrolet began cutting 1,100 dealers. Chrysler likewise eliminated nearly 800 dealers. While a handful of dealers had multiple brands and were able to remain open selling those other brands, for most, it meant they had an empty lot, a slate of employees and the equipment to outfit service garages. They could sell off their land and lay off employees or try to make a go of it doing something else. Car dealers are familiar with franchising since it works similarly to their previous relationship with the auto manufacturers. Those car dealers had been able to stand behind the name brand of Chevrolet or Chrysler and provide strong service to supplement the national brand’s reputation.

“Many of these car dealers were surprised by the closures and spent months severing the relationship with the auto manufacturers. There were warranties to hand over, new dealer stock to shed and employees to deal with,” said Michael Hemenway, CEO of brandEXPANSION, one of the nation’s top franchise consulting firms. “With that done, many are now beginning to explore other options and a number of them are finding that one or more franchises in the auto industry makes sense.”

The automotive franchise industry offers a breadth of possibilities for not only former Chrysler and Chevrolet dealers, but also anyone who wants to capitalize on the longer vehicle ownership. Franchises offer everything from quick-oil changes to accessories to major vehicle repairs. With a national reputation behind it, car owners get a peace of mind that does not come from walking into a neighborhood garage.

Another growing segment of the automotive franchise industry is of multiple franchises. Franchisees are finding that it makes sense to round out their offerings by including several franchises.

To learn more about the possibilities in the automotive franchises – whether you are a former car dealer or not – contact brandEXPANSION by filling out the form below each of the concepts, or via email or via phone at 480-607-2627.

So what is factoring, anyway? It’s a process by which a company sells its accounts receivables to receive the cash instantly. This can be critical when dealing with large companies or government municipalities who often pay 30, 60 or 90 days in arrears.
Factoring can help small and medium-sized businesses achieve optimal cash flow at a low cost and with no risk to the company. brandEXPANSION’s partner uses the full notification, non-recourse methods, which mean that debtors pay the funding company directly and the funding company assumes all the risk of collecting.

Our partner has helped cash-strapped manufacturing firms receive working capital to fill large orders, helped other businesses overcome sluggish cash flow due to lagging receivables and helped start-ups sustain until revenues began flowing. They have even helped companies that had negative cash flow and were in chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, working in all industries except medical and construction.

Not all companies qualify for this factoring program. Our partner typically works with small to medium-sized companies with revenues of $1 million to $50 million whose clients are large corporations or government agencies. Many competitors work with much small companies, advancing $75,000-$100,000 or larger firms that have the same underwriting processes as large banks. This funding company’s services are quick, with a typical deal closed and funded within five days. There is no audit required, either.

Factoring is a $100 billion industry and it is a widely accepted form of positive cash flow services for companies, meaning that using factoring will not reflect poorly on companies with their clients.

To learn more about how factoring can help your business or franchise overcome cash flow issues, contact brandEXPANSION today by email at info@brandexpansion.com or 480-607-2627.

1.Firstly, with a franchise, a lot of the headaches have been worked out for you. This includes the menu, kitchen, equipment, the approach, employee attire, design and layout as well as how the franchise business is run. All you have to do is run the franchise and make sure things run smoothly in order for it to succeed. According to the International Franchise Association (IFA), one of the biggest draws for entrepreneurs is that all the details are taken care of by the franchise.

2. You receive a recognized brand and the marketing muscle behind that. Therefore, you don’t need to still get your brand known amongst people and get the word out there. It’s all done already for you.

3. You receive a support system. So, when things are going wrong and you can’t figure out why, there is always a field manager, helpline or some other form of support system to provide you with assistance whenever you require it.

4.According to experts, another major draw to franchising is that franchisees have access to group experience and resources. Other franchisees are always willing to provide help and advice.

5. Franchisors continue perfecting the franchise system and business while you continue to run your franchise. Franchisees do not have the time to think about how to make the franchise business better. The franchisors do all that.

All these advantages give a franchisee a better chance for success in the market and business world.

However, franchising is not for everyone and all potential franchisees should weigh up the pros and cons of franchising in order to make the best decision.

It’s no wonder franchising is getting a second look by many during these tough times. It offers a more stable business model and a greater chance for success. But lets step back to the very basics and answer a few questions before beginning the search for a great franchise opportunity:

What Is Franchising?Franchises are generally known to the public under well-promoted brand names like Kentucky Fried Chicken or Burger King not the names of the individual franchise owners. As a result, the general public may not realize that many businesses like the dry-cleaning shop or pizza parlor that consumers utilize everyday are in fact franchises or have the potential to expand their business through franchising.

Definition
Historically a franchise is a business organization in which a company already has a successful product or service (the franchisor) enters into a continuing contractual relationship with other businesses (franchisees) operating under the franchisor’s trade name and usually with the franchisor’s guidance, in exchange for a fee. In more recent times it includes business arrangements known as franchises, licenses, dealerships and distributorships, to name a few.

Regulatory Definition
The Federal Trade Commission identifies three definitional prerequisites to coverage of a business-format or product franchise.
1. Trademark: The franchisor offers the right to distribute goods or services that bear the franchisor’s trademark, service mark, trade name, advertising or other commercial symbol.
2. Significant Control or Assistance: The franchisor exercises significant control over, or offers significant assistance in, the franchisee’s method of operation.
3. Required Payment: The franchisee is required to make any payment to the franchisor or an affiliate, or a commitment to make a payment, as a condition of obtaining the franchise or commencing operations. There is an exemption from coverage for required payments of less than $500 within six months of the commencement of the franchise.
If a business arrangement includes all 3 elements, it’s a franchise. It could be called a license, dealership, distributorship, or association but it’s still a franchise and must comply with the rules of the Federal Trade Commission and certain state regulatory authorities.

Business Definition
Franchising has been seen as:
A method of GROWTH;
A method of MARKETING;
A method of DISTRIBUTION;
A method of CAPITAL ACQUISITION;

And increasingly, franchising has become:

A method of EMPLOYMENT
For a company wishing to expand to multiple locations, franchising offers the opportunity to secure many locations operated by “dedicated” managers rather than company employees. A franchisee is dedicated because he or she has business ownership (operating under the franchisor’s name and guidelines) and have made a time and capital investment. A franchisee will sell more, service customers better, and control costs more tightly than a company employee because their name, resources and continued employment are on the bottom line.

What Franchising is NOT
1. Franchising is not a single industry. There is no such thing; over 300 different industries and 5000 concepts utilizing franchising to expand their brand.

2. Franchising is not a game. Franchising is not about selling some franchises. It’s about building a company - a serious business venture. A person who franchises his restaurant to others will still be in the restaurant business. They will have to develop new menu items, new promotional programs, new decor, and more to expand the concept.

Franchising offers a serious business opportunity for entrepreneurs. Get started searching for the right franchise opportunity.

Gamez on Wheels is a tricked-out trailer that includes a killer lighting and sound system plus the hottest video games and game consoles, all played on HDTVs. Gamers are immersed in the total experience, making a Gamez on Wheelz trailer the perfect place to throw a birthday party or corporate event. The trailer pulls up; parks; and gamers are able to compete against each other in the hottest Xbox 360 or Wii games.

Lest you think this is something that only geeky teenage boys would be interested in, note that gaming has grown rapidly in all segments of the population. In fact, some 68 percent of all U.S. households play computer or video games. In 2007, gaming overtook the movie industry in terms of sales. Even at the beginning of the recession, gaming increased 40 percent between 2007 and 2008, accounting for $18.8 billion in sales, according to research by the business intelligence firm Seeking Alpha.

A Gamez on Wheelz party is perfect for virtually anyone. Some 40 percent of all game players are women, and the number is increasing each year. The overall age of gamers has increased as well, and the fastest growing segment is those over 50 with nearly a quarter of those in that age bracket playing some form of a video game in the past year.
Gaming has become quite the family activity, with about 36 percent of parents playing video games and the vast majority doing so with their children. That’s caused video makers to create more games that the whole family can enjoy together. Why throw another birthday party with entertainment by a guy who makes balloon animals when a video game trailer provides fun for guests of all ages?

Gamez on Wheelz offers an exceptional vehicle by which to enter the gaming market. It offers the best aspects of franchising—such as training and marketing support—without being a franchise. There are no franchise fees or royalties to pay and the business is yours to manage completely. Want to add additional services? You’re free to do so. Want to offer products? Totally your call. There also are no limited territories, allowing you to expand your business as you see fit.

All a future Gamez on Wheelz owner does is purchase the trailer—which can be partially financed by the company. Gamez on Wheelz offers training and provides ideas for marketing, plus advertising plans that can be executed by the owner where and when he or she chooses.

A business venture with an owner-operator can provide a six-figure profit in its first year through nine parties per week. If the owner prefers, one employee can be hired to handle the actual events, keeping the overhead low. As the business grows, the owner can add as many trailers and employees as he or she wants. Given the strength and growth of the gaming industry, one trailer may not be enough to handle the demand.

Bring the fun that Gamez on Wheelz provides to your community and offer yourself a serious business opportunity. Contact brandEXPANSION to learn more.

There may be someone in your family who is also looking for a partner. Or, your old schoolmate might be thinking about leaving a job and starting a franchise! If you don’t want to take in a partner from your near and dear ones, then asking your colleagues, if they are interested in starting a franchise in partnership, is another good idea. Then there are also some websites that facilitate meeting of different people who are seeking business partners. Sometimes, even discussing your plans at informal gatherings can bring in a partner from unexpected sources! After you have found a partner who shares your vision and has the same level of enthusiasm about the business, then it’s time to get in touch with the lawyers. Write down a detailed partnership agreement in consultation with both of your lawyers. There are many kinds of partnerships like general partnership or limited partnership; decide what yours is going to be.

Next determine what kinds of role you both like to have in the running of the business. It is here where your individual strengths will come into play. Suppose, you have good marketing and sales expertise and your partner possess administrative and management skills. Then you can handle the meetings with prospective clients while your partner may oversee the running of the unit and manage the employees. This should be clearly mentioned in the partnership agreement. Assigning roles clearly will also help in reducing friction between the partners. Also make sure that the employees know which one of you to approach when they face a particular problem. Another thing that you are supposed to settle beforehand is how the partnership is to be terminated. Lastly, even if things are not smooth between you two, then don’t clash in front of the employees. That will confuse them and lower your productivity. So, foresee all kinds of hypothetical situations that may arise in a partnership and ensure that you have set solutions for them before the partnership becomes official.

Of course, the first step is to find the right franchise business opportunity. Start exploring today.

The next question that naturally comes is what are the facts that we will have to gather from the market and how. Before you go ahead and start looking at various franchise business for sale ads, try to find the answers to these questions:

• Who will buy my products regularly?
• Who may buy my products occasionally?
• Where do they live?
• How often will they buy/need my products?
• Are they willing to go far to get my products/services?
• When do they shop?
• What is the franchisor’s brand-value to them vis-à-vis that of the competitors?

Now, the next question that comes to mind is how you will solve these queries. Some sources that can help you to solve your queries are:
• The franchisor: Your first-hand knowledge of the market will come from the franchisor. Every franchisor has a profile of its customers. Ask them about it. You can also get a clear picture from the FDD where there will be specific guidelines stating the consumers of the product/service.
• The present franchisees: After the franchisor, the present franchisees are the best source of information. They can tell you in details what sells and what extra features people want. You can ask franchisees from different franchise opportunities to know more about the market.
• Reports & surveys: The government regularly publishes trends and statistics on the demography and spending habit of the people living in the market. You can get most of them free of cost. Then there are also publications from respected journals and local Chamber of Commerce, which will also provide you with necessary information.

The next step is how you study the market with these reports and statistics. Let’s take an example. Suppose you have come to know from the franchisor that your product/service is generally for women of various ethnicities and between the age of 18 and 38 years. The income level of the group is generally high and they like shopping in malls during afternoon. Now use the demography report and check out which area of your market has the highest concentration of such customers and find a shopping mall in that area to open a franchise.

This is how you can find out whether your market can support the franchise business for sale you intend to buy.

Such is the power of a mall kiosk franchise, which delivers foot traffic practically at the kiosk’s door step. According to the researchers Envirosell, some 20 percent of those walking by a kiosk notice it – that’s 110 people an hour.

An added benefit is that, unlike a traditional mall store, the potential customer doesn’t have to make a choice to enter. Kiosks are often located right in the traffic path, meaning a customer passes by. It’s up to the kiosk owner to entice them to stop, but the right smell or site can often do the trick.

The kiosk’s low cost can also offer an opportunity to purchase multiple locations in large malls, doubling the potential customer base and capturing variances in traffic flow. It also offers the opportunity to open in multiple malls at once, building name recognition throughout an area. A kiosk’s small size also typically means that fewer employees are needed to manage it, keeping the operating costs low as well.

Despite the economy, some malls report that the interest in kiosks is strong and that sales are going well.

Kiosks also offer an excellent opportunity for area developers, who commit to opening a larger number of franchises within a set period of time. Some franchisors require the area developer to open and operate at least one unit himself or herself.

There are a number of intriguing kiosk franchises out there, and even more on the horizon. See how a kiosk can offer a great way to own your own business.

brandEXPANSION currently is seeking area developers for a unique kiosk opportunity. Contact us to learn more.