Is Super Suppers for Stupid Suckers? And Other Meal Prep Franchise ???s
February 20, 2008 by Sean Kelly
Filed under Business
(FranchisePick.Com) Read related story: NYT on the Meal Prep Franchise: Hot Concept Gone Cold?. Get franchise information and review franchise opportunities at FranBest.com.
Do franchisees of Super Suppers feel like Stupid Suckers? Has Dream Dinners become the Nightmare on Elm Street? Will My Girlfriend soon be getting back her Kitchen? Has time run out for Supper Thyme USA? Will Pass Your Plate soon be passing THE plate?
Can the “Meal Prep,” or “Meal Assembly Kitchen,” or “Make It & Take It” franchise concept fail before we’ve decided what to call it? Meal Prep franchise companies such as Entrée Vous!, Entrees Made Easy, Mr. Food, Supper Thyme USA hope not. They’re launching creative strategies including premade food to go, health and diet meal preparation, and other ideas.
But it’s a bad sign for a food concept when even a woman named Cathy Chew, the Supper Thyme USA franchisee trying to sell her Council Bluffs, IA location, can’t make it work. Another bad sign is that, despite the myriad clever names, no seems to be able to craft a succinct explanation of what these places do.
I hope I’m wrong, but the meal prep franchise concept always hit me as a solution in search of a problem… and my preduction is that you’re going to start seeing this supposedly “hot concept” turn colder than a Swanson’s TV dinner.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? IS THE MEAL PREP KITCHEN CONCEPT VIABLE? OR WILL THESE CONCEPTS BE THE NEXT MONUMENTS IN THE FRANCHISE GRAVEYARD? SHARE A MESSAGE BELOW.
GASP……Since when did making money become bad if you do it in an honest way?
My whole beef with MAK Zors is they are getting rich selling a faulty system…
Just reread your posts you KNOW the system is broken yet you make all sorts of rationalizations, excuses and nonsensical counter charges.
My guess is either you see the writing on the wall or you are as Mindy says a corporate type.
If you ARE a SS zee and you do see the writing on the wall, I suggest you embrace the fear with dignity and when your time to close comes…
Remember I will be there for you with legal counsel when you need me.
I think my 866 number may just be 1-866-MAK-SUCKER
GASP……Since when did making money become bad if you do it in an honest way?
My whole beef with MAK Zors is they are getting rich selling a faulty system…
Just reread your posts you KNOW the system is broken yet you make all sorts of rationalizations, excuses and nonsensical counter charges.
My guess is either you see the writing on the wall or you are as Mindy says a corporate type.
If you ARE a SS zee and you do see the writing on the wall, I suggest you embrace the fear with dignity and when your time to close comes…
Remember I will be there for you with legal counsel when you need me.
I think my 866 number may just be 1-866-MAK-SUCKER
All new buisiness models are NOT experimental and oops… it looks like everyone did do it…
If any franchise was accepted and was understood as being experimental NO ONE in their rigth mind would buy one.
IF the MAK concept were touted as experimental that would be one thing, but I think if you look on any MAK site where they are selling franchises you will see the phrase in some form that says-proven business model and systems……
Are your minds so engrained in the “it’s not my fault” track that it is out of your realm of thinking that someone might actually be willing to accept responsibility for their own mistakes. My gosh, where are you people from?
You all bought into an idea – except Sean because he can see the future – that you thought would make you money – maybe even enough to “retire on”. You goofed – whether you got bad advice and took it or you didn’t educate yourself enough about the possible failures. Greed got in the way of good judgement.
When we close our doors, there will be a hefty debt to pay – no one will lose their house or car or financial future because no one was stupid enough to lay it all on the line. Yes, I said stupid! That point aside, it doesn’t take away the fact, that I feel bad for all of the SS and other MAK owners that folded up with huge debt. I feel bad for us. When more people start to take responsibiliy for their own actions, we won’t need any lawyers. That’s a laugh – pardon me – I must be “stupid” to ever think that would happen.
Mindy says: “The Second issue is Zors do not have Employee’s that bring solid ideas to the table, Test Them on Corporate FIRST then ROLL out to Owners. You can see where the greed/ego have come into play here….
Excepting Zee’s to continue to pay for this Experimental business IS WRONG!”
Super Suppers does have employees that bring solid ideas to the table and they experiment with them in their corporate stores. If they succeed in those stores, they reccommend them to us.
So, you really don’t know what you’re talking about now, do you? Your blanket statements are beneath you and you should know better.
Jan wrote: All new business models are experimental.
I agree with you wholeheartedly, Jan. What you fail to acknowledge – or admit – is that franchising is a method of expansion that based on the duplication of an established, proven business model. The burden of franchise fees, marketing contributions and royalties are not dues to the club – they must be more than offset by the benefits and risk reduction that comes with duplication of a time-tested system – one that is past the high-risk trial and and error stage. Start-up businesses cannot survive BOTH the risk and uncertainty of experimentation AND the fees and lack of flexibility that come with a franchise.
The very concept of franchising is that franchise owners can focus from Day One on implementation of a proven system and procedures. That’s why they buy a franchise. If they need to be part of an “experiment,” they should be paid, not paying. Please show me where in the franchise sales materials of these franchisors it says “Buy our franchise and help us experiment and figure out what our concept is.”
I am not clairvoyant, but I can predict the outcome of certain situations with remarkable accuracy. It’s not psychic ability or even (I admit) intellectual superiority. It’s simply that I’ve helped to launch and grow more than 100 franchise chains. I was part of the management team of a successful startup franchise that opened hundreds of franchises with nearly no failures. I’ve seen more of these “hot new franchises” burst on the scene, redistribute large sums of money from the many to the few, and then hand the gold baton to the next.
There’s a name for selling a concept and hiding the defects from the buyers, even if done with confidentiality agreements and gag orders: Fraud.
Give it some thought, Jan. If you’re selling franchises without providing full disclosure, being an employee or going bankrupt won’t protect you.
Jan says: “All new business models are experimental. ”
A model should be tried and true before it is franchised. Buying into a franchise doesn’t ensure success, but it should ensure that you are not paying for an *experimental* business model.
Has anyone ever heard of Jon Huntsman?
See link
http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=1207&CFID=67422299&CFTOKEN=89196730&jsessionid=9a30d26c21db4e165263#
It would interesting to have every MAK ZOR and Zee read this article and shine the light on the industry.
Jan, I happen to know Mindy personally-do you?
She is a sister and someone I am pleased to call a friend. She has inimate knowledge of the MAK business. We have talked for hours about these very issues…
Sean is one of the most business savvy franchise guys I have ever talked to, as is Micheal Webster who posts here. They along with a host of other people have looked at this industry and see it crumbling under its own weight,
I am very happy you were able to open your SS business 2 years ago with no mortgage(if you are in fact a zee)…you are certainly the exception and good for you for such great insight and pre-planning and deep pockets.
Unfortunately for many of us in the MAK business to get the business opened we were encouraged to do whatever it took to get there and to KEEP our stores open we were encouraged to do even more to put us into financial hardship.
I sat with bank officials who encouraged us to mortgage our home as a guarantee for the SBA loan, we were not independently wealthy, but we were comfortable. We had a great business plan in hand that had been painstakingly researched for months. When we sat with the SBA banker, that was the advice he gave us…that was the ADVICE HE gave us, again the expert, the professional. The SBA loan as an LLC is the way both our attorney and business accountant told us was the route to go. Did we count the costs? Yes, did we take a risk, yes,
did we expect to fail, no, who goes into a business expecting to fail?
WE consulted with EXPERTS every step of the way and followed their advice. I do not have a beef with them. I have a beef with who started this whole mess and that was a FAILED CONCEPT PEDALLED BY A FRANCHISOR. That is where the fracture started.
You can be as pompous as you choose but one day you will be in my position and the position of hundreds of others and I can only hope that someone is less callous and judgmental as you have been when your time comes and it will come.
Many of us are not alone in our being “stupid” as you so eloquently put it-thank you for that.
I have been having a good time up until this very post when I realized that you have either no clue, or are part of a PR firm for SS or are part of
SS yourself.
We have all taken responsbility except for the ZORS, they seem to be given a pass in all of this mess, why is that?
You and they seem to be able to say “sux to be you” and that seems to be Okay.
Do you know why I believe you are part of the Franchisor structure? Because you use the language, the accusitory tone towards all store owners for the failure of the concept, the smugness and pompousness,you blame us for our stupidity and you talk in circles, all the hallmarks of Zortalk.
Kelly – the system is not broken, not yet at least. You shouldn’t have bought into a such a young corporation if you wanted a sure thing. Why didn’t you buy a more established franchise? Because you thought the idea of a MAK was great and because the other SS’s were having considerable success at it. You wanted in on the action and you believed in it. Now, the novelty has worn off, corporate is scrambling to help us all stay in business and you think they’re somehow at fault ? Do you think they could see the writing on the wall?
This whole business actually could have taken off and been a huge success and we all would have opened 2nd and 3rd franchises and been rolling in dough. Now, if that had happened would you still be critical of SS corp.? Would you still say they should of held back and done more research to prove to all of their potential franchisees they could have a “sure thing” while DD and MGFK ran with the ball? They had acquired enough success in their own corporate stores and newly opened franchises to satisfy you or you wouldn’t have bought one.
If you had waited two or three years more to go into this business, you would have backed away when you saw the many store closings. What was your big hurry? You tout you are an experienced business woman – tell me did SS lie to you? Did they give you misinformation or fudge their figures to make it look like they were having success. Did they tell you, you would be successful in your endeavor and make enough money to retire on? I’m sure they said you could but did they make that promise to you? Where is your fault in any of this. If you have none and they did all these things, you have a lawsuit. You don’t need money to sue. If any lawyer thought you had a real case against SS, they would be happy to take them on.
Fiery, deflamatory blogging isn’t going to change a thing. SS and the rest of the MA corporations are trying to stay in business as much as their franchisees. They believe in their product and will hold on until they can either get over the hump or die trying.
But Sean, SS had an established business model -they had success. The novelty of assembling meals in a studio kitchen wore off in some parts of the country most recently. They still maintain their original concept but have expanded into other areas. It is still a viable concept with these new additions. They allow their franchisees to make the decision to relinquish self assembly or keep it. All of these new areas of services have value and to not try to develop them would be suicide.
Because the public made an about face and decided they no longer want to make their meals or party it up at Super Suppers means we change the format to give them what they want. Even if we change it 180 degrees – so what? There is still a need for us out there.
By selling franchises they continue to grow so we will grow. If they knowingly sell them to people who are gullable and setting them up for failure – that would be unethical. Who is going to admit they’re gullable? Do you think they should say buy at your own risk – I think that is understood.
You shouldn’t buy into a franchise or go into a business unless you are educated in the field, know exactly what you’re getting into and be able to tolerate failure. I know you must agree with this. Where we part ways, is you believe SS and other MAK corporations are selling franchises to gullable, inexperienced people with a promise of an impending fortune. Maybe others do this but I believe SS doesn’t. I am in constant contact with these people. I can see how much they are doing for us. I don’t feel they are unethical which is what you are accusing them of being.
Like I told Kelly – if SS is lying to it’s potential franchisees, then that is a different story. She is so vial in her attempt to prove I’m wrong and don’t deserve a voice with a different opinion other than her own. If we were in the same room, she would likely shout my soft voice into oblivia. Unlike Mindy – I don’t admire the way she handles her defeat. Unfortunately, I have met many people like her in my lifetime. I believe you should learn from your mistakes and move on. It will make you sick if you dwell on past failures – no matter who you perceive is the cause.
Apparently, Kelly doesn’t think she made any mistakes – it was all the “experts” that gave her bad advice. She is old enough to know and experienced enough to understand the pitfalls of going into so much debt on a new type of business.
Was it Kelly that chose her location? Did she choose the size of her store and decide she could live with the build out costs. Did Kelly research her market? Did she speak with other franchise owners who had gone out of business? Did she think all she had to do was open the doors and the guests would pour in or did she know that summers in the MA business are so slow she could go out of business before September came? Did she anticipate the high cost of gas leading to high delivery fees and higher food costs? What totally evades me and she still hasn’t answered me except to say she was naive, where does her fault come into the equation? Tell me Sean – please explain to me why you think Kelly is exempt from any blame?
Since her ordeal I wonder, if she so strongly believes there are so many people out their being pulled in by corporate franchisors in unethical ways, she hasn’t contacted her congress person. If she has, I would be interested in hearing what he/she had to say.
SS had an established business model -they had success. The novelty of assembling meals in a studio kitchen wore off in some parts of the country most recently.
A year? Two years? That’s not established when you’re referring to a society being willing to incorporate an entirely new pattern of behavior. The fact that the novelty wore off is exactly my point.
Another “hot new franchise” that dropped off
Before Meal Prep there was the eBay drop off store. Great idea. They calculated the average household had $2500 worth of stuff they didn’t want, but no good way to sell it. Why not set up a storefront where people could drop off their stuff, and the experts would shoot pics, post it on eBay, sell it, ship it and split the fees with the customer. Hundreds of people got swept up in it, bought iSold It, Snappy Auctions, etc. Just like meal prep, most people didn’t get it. The franchisors got their fees with no risk, eBay got their fees on each sale, but the franchisees found it took a lot more labor, and despite the initial novelty and hoopla, consumers were not as eager to change adopt this model into their lives. The ones who are tuned in to eBay do it themselves. The ones who aren’t don’t really care that much about the the junk in the attic.
I see many consumer comments that indicate the same attitudes toward meal prep. The people with the gourmet sensibilities don’t perceive it as that hard to do it themselves. The time starved convenience seekers aren’t perceiving the need for mealprep other than an occasional thing. I see many comments from people saying it was fun to try, but picking up prepared foods from CostCo or Whole Foods is a much more convenient option than the whole rigamarole of MAK.
Being “established” or “proven” does not mean popularity for a year or two. That’s how long most fads last. The franchise agreements are for 10 years, correct? Having to change the basic premise of the business 2 years into a ten year contract is not an indication that it’s “established.”
Another franchise on a downward Curve
Curves was another hysteria-inducing concept: 30 minute women-only exercise targeting “deconditioned” women (Couch Tatettes) with a low monthly fee. Started out gangbusters. Then came the thousand knock-offs. Then came the 2nd & 3rd year and ex-Tatettes maxxed out & joined real clubs, while the real Tatettes went back to the couch or the Snickers display at Wal-Mart. The concept flaws became apparent in years 2 & 3 when they realized they couldn’t retain members, and they had no good add-on services to supplement member fees. Experienced health club pros know this – which is why Curves never wanted health club pros.
The latter is one of the areas that I find disconcerting. Franchisors of these concepts proudly proclaim “no experience is required,” and their training and support will provide “all you need to know.” The moment the franchisee fails, it’s their fault because they were inexperienced, naive, or should have been able to conduct science experiments while running a business.
Putting money where the corporate mouth is
The real question that was glossed over: If these beautifully appointed Super Suppers in corporate-approved locations are viable, why doesn’t corporate take them over and show everyone how it’s done? As you pointed out, all the big costs are already made… The franchisees would probably stay on as employees if corporate assumed the lease.
Great post Sean & Kelly!
Jan- I have re-read your posts a few times through out my day- Your all over the board here- My gut feeling is SS hired you to be their PR person- to try and put a Spin on the crumbling Mess THEY have created.
I average about 3-4 calls a WEEK from SS Stores about All kinds of situations they are having. Ideas, Food Cost, you name it- bottom line- It ISNT working and SS Corp. needs to take some responsiblity and give a grace period of not paying Royailties.
Here is an example: Oprah gives a $100 to each audience memeber to GROW the money she gave- They later came back, and with much suprise People GREW money. Some people didnt grow as much but Learned something that has changed them forever- It’s Called Pay it Forward.
I challenage ALL ZORS to pay it forward to the Owners that BELIEVED in this concept, took risks FOR YOU.
Summer is Coming- Wonder which Company will stand up and BE WHO THEY CLAIM TO BE-
To God Be The Glory
Well, Mindy – you are dead wrong. Your gut feeling is wrong and I am not all over the board. I haven’t wavered in my statements since I came on here. You are so intent on putting a label on me that you can’t get it through your head that there are people in this country that take personal responsibility for their actions.
Don’t flatter yourself. I’m sure SS is not interested in anything Kelly, Sean or you have to say. They don’t need a PR person to go to bat for them on this site.
It really bugs you to see someone stick up for a corporation, doesn’t it?
Sean – corporate approved locations are locations that are not in close proximity to another SS. The franchisee still chooses their own site.
When the dust settles, there is still a need for our services. SS corporate and all of their franchises are in this together trying to be keep it together. Negative, false remarks coming from you and Sean do nothing for the remaining SS.
Your request for MA corporations to refund royalties and marketing fees makes me laugh. What planet are you from?
The only thing SS corp. can do for us is to keep up the good job they’re doing now helping us all stay viable and continue with the success a lot of stores are having and will have.
Sean still hasn’t answered my question – where was he 7 years ago when this so called fad all started? Why wasn’t he out there warning people like Kelly – would she have listened to him? My point is, a lot of people believed in the idea and still do. The ones who couldn’t take the heat closed up. Like all new ideas and concepts, SS is still in it’s young stage and will grow with the times.
I’m sorry for people like Kelly who have lost everything but you can’t wallow in it and you can’t transfer the blame. Kelly wanted to go into business for herself. She jumped on the band wagon. She gave away the farm even though she must have known she was in over her head. Yes, it sucks to be Kelly.
I still have not received an answer from any of you. How has SS been unethical and why isn’t someone suing them if they truly believe they have done something wrong?
It’s very easy for Kelly to get on this site and fill it with her hatred for SS corp. but if she really believed she was wronged by them, she would be in court.
You (Mindy) and Sean are entitled to your opinions and I have no fault with that but you are not helping her. She wants revenge and she won’t be happy until she gets it even at the expense of other SS franchises. Not everyone thinks like you. Can you understand that or are you just trying to shout louder than me?
What no business today Jan you’re still here?-
Jan-Just so this doesn’t get lost in your innane corporate rhetoric – from Mary Ann a post from this thread-
MARY ANN-”My son also opened a “Super Suppers” and the trainer was so bad she came in and started throwing out product that was perfectly good, costing them hundreds of dollars. I was there helping my daughter-in-law and saw first hand the lack of leadership and skill from the trainer……I blame the owners of the corporations and don’t know how the government does not have stricter guidelines for these people to follow. My children’s 2 stores held their own, only because they knew how to adjust recipes and make sure the customer food was put out correctly. My daughter has chosen to close her store; with the economy she doesn’t feel she can pass the break even point anytime soon……
Notice the company she is complaining about- Super Suppers Corporate & trainers.
That is not Kelly speaking, that is a MOTHER who is watching helplessly while her children suffer…
Its YOU who don’t understand Jan and for you to blindly follow the SS leaderhip (if you are indeed a franchisee) over the cliff says nothing for your business acumen. You fail to see the forest for the trees…
In answer to your question of should SS have waited to expand while MGFK & DD & others came onto the scene?
Super Suppers is no different than any of the other Zors- I think the case could be made that THEY sought to get RICH, and jumped the gun by expanding too quickly.
So…Yes-they should have, they should have developed a sound a system & model with laid out specific plans for futurefor expansion of services & goods that would have withstood the test of time. Instead of “JAN”S WORDS- “following the Trends”- had they and the others done just that the carnage in this industry would not be occuring now.
If their product, service,system and model had been the best, they would have flourished and continued to flourish…but it wasn’t and isn’t because of the “adaptation and evolution”-your words that is going on.
JANS WORDS-”I believe self-assembly is not the answer to “what’s for dinner?”. Take n’ Bake and Grab n’ Go just might be.”
Just “might” be?-
JANS WORDS-If we could only afford national advertising most of our problems would be solved. TV spots telling people how we can alleviate their dinner time woes would surely help this business grow.- Just how much money is SS extorting for your ad marketing fund and with number of stores SS has they can’t afford national or regional TV ads?
JAN’S WORDS:”So, you see, there is light at the end of the tunnel. All you need is good marketing skills, an innovative mind and of course the desire to make things work.”
But the can afford to pay Martha Stewart for her input-or did Martha and Cooking Light do all of that recipe work for free? As far as I can recall neither one of those “great marketing ideas” took of for ya did they?
JANS WORDS-”Another fact – you like facts – No one can get financial security from owning one small franchise.”
How many store owner/operators have more than one store?-My guess is a very small percentage own multiple units, so almost everyone in the industry must be stupid by your own estimation because no one can make a living off of just one store.
JAN”S WORDS-”Parties still do bring in a lot of money”
STILL JAN”S WORDS-”Well, a couple of years down the road, his parties went bye-bye (a concept that kind of wore itself out)”
You ‘ll find that quote in the cute little post about that pesky store owner who got disgruntled when business fell off because of the bad business model even though he was a marketing profession before his MAK career-didn’t I read somewhere that all it took was good marketing to turn the corner on this thing?
Still sticking with the “I’m not all over the board story?
JAN’S WORDS -”The reason you think SS is on a downward trend – which is true by the way – is because it is a MA business – while a novel idea, it has seen it’s hayday”-
JANS-WORDS “Kelly – the system is not broken, not yet at least.”
KELLY-Does that mean it’s on it’ way to be being broken, and what will break it for sure?
But as above all it takes is good marketing to bring it all back into focus right?
JAN’s WORDS-”When we close our doors, there will be a hefty debt to pay – no one will lose their house or car or financial future because no one was stupid enough to lay it all on the line.”
OKAY folks- That’s just a small part of the words of wisdom from Supper Suppers Jan- you might get a inkling why Mindy said Jan was “all over the board”.
It might be because she was and is a walking contradition that IS the Meal Assembly Industry.
If you read her posts you will find she thinks the MAK business is on it’s last legs, but it really isnt’
She was For it before she was against it..
in other word ZORTALK….
FYI-I never said I owned and SS store- I happened to have owned one of the stores from a smaller company. Because you “don’t read everything MM has to say” you somehow missed that.
Your venom madam is much poisoning than mine because at least I use common sense and a cohesive argument and stay on point with it.
You take sense and throw it out the window.
You can continue to follow the piped piper right over the cliff. My percieved “vial-ness” is simply someone pointing out truths to you that you don’t have the good sense God gave you to see.
That is certainly you’re prerogative.
Mindy is right you’re all over the board on this but your only steadfastness is in defending SS like they are the Holy Grail of the MAK industry.
I am doing EXACTLY what I want to do and that is expose the MAK INDUSTRY as a whole to the light of day for the sham it is, this industry is now connected to words like Fraud, Sham and not by me Jan…by experts in the field of Franchise Law and Fracnhsie development
But true to pompousness from you discount that and attack me- the messenger- typical of a corporate type, deflect blame by blaming someone else, the business slight of hand, illusionary in nature and usually can be effective if you hold sway over the dissenter-which you don’t SURRRRY (not a typo)
I have simply shared my opinions (which by the way you said was okay cause we live in a free country).
How has SS hurt me- It hasn’t, but it is hurting a lot of other peoples lives and those are the people I’m concerned about AND the prospects who may want to enter this business.
I could care less what you or anyone else from the any of MAK corpies think of me…you don’t like me, don’t respect me. Oh the hell well…
YOUR opionion don’t matter to me because you’re obviously obtuse.
JAN’S WORDS-”Don’t flatter yourself. I’m sure SS is not interested in anything Kelly, Sean or you have to say. They don’t need a PR person to go to bat for them on this site.”
Of course they care that’s why you’re here…to save Super Suppers honor-
Had Sean, Micheal Webster, Joel L., Mindy, Tuckerbox and Mealblogger been blogging and talking about this trainwreck when I was doing my research & due diligence, you’re damn right I would have listened…I didn’t talk to any closed fracnhisee JAN because my ZOR didn’t provide me with any to talk too, and they don’t now either, nor do any of the other ZORS-DUH- that would mean they actually want you to talk to people who have seen their failed concept in inaction-
I will continue to sound the alarm about the Meal Assembly Business and share my experience with others and if you don’t it you can just go sit on a tack.
K
JAN SAID-”Apparently, Kelly doesn’t think she made any mistakes – it was all the “experts” that gave her bad advice. She is old enough to know and experienced enough to understand the pitfalls of going into so much debt on a new type of business.”
Kelly- I do take responsibility for my mistake of believing bogus numbers published by Bert V, I talked to Bert the EMP expert while doing research in 2005 on the concept-just ask him he’ll tell you!
I’ll take responsibility for believing my Zor when they told me I would be profitable/viable in 3-6 months and all I needed was $35,000 in cash reserves.
I’ll take responsibility for believing my Zor when they told me it would take me x amount of dollars and it ended up costing me $70,000 more than they estimated (of the high end).
I’ll take responsibility for taking at face value what that the Zor did indeed have a viable, workable concept & system in place as stated on their website, and on any website they advertise on to sell their franchises.
I’ll accept responsibility for following to the letter the procedures in the build-out handbook to get my store up and running.
I did everything the experts told me to do, I did it the right way and still I got slammed and I am hardly alone even from the x-ers in my little network over a years time, they have lost 50% of their stores, with more coming by the end of summer.
JAN:Was it Kelly that chose her location?
Kelly- With the expert input of my Franchisor, he personally came to my town and looked at the three sites I chose based on location, walking traffic, traffic patterns & volume, parking lot size & accessibility and he gave me a recommendation and I took his advice.
JAN:Did she choose the size of her store and decide she could live with the build out costs.
Kelly:I was approved for my size of store, it was within the recommendation’s of the store size suggested by my ZOR- My build-out costs(along with everyone elses who came on-board about the same time I did) were higher than the highest estimated build-out cost in the UFOC…..That doesn’t include money after the fact for a bigger air conditioner unit (again I was not alone in needing this)needed to keep my store cool-enough to be comfortable with all the equipment we had/per the Zor franchisee handbook.
JAN:Did Kelly research her market?
Uh, yeah, Jan I did….although I was one of the smallest markets in our network, my ZOR looked over my projection numbers, demographics, economic projections for growth in the community, per capita income, per capita disposable income (as did our loan guy from the SBA) the Zor canvassed the town and declared it “all good.”- again, I took advice from the “expert.”
I’m honestly not sure what more I could have done to be…
JAN:Did she speak with other franchise owners who had gone out of business?
Kelly:Jan again if you would do me the courtesy and take the time to read all of my posts like I do yours, sigh….
You would have seen that the ZORS did not give me that information and unless I can read minds (which I can’t even though I tell my children I can..white lie, sorry)that information is not available. One x-er from my network asked the question about closures as she was signing the papers and the ZOR looked her straight in the eye and told her there were none that he knew of…The silly little thing is that a store was closing, he did know about it and he lied to her…
Hmmmm-but because they are ZOR there is no accountability for them.
We got to talk to hand-picked Zees and were given a secret word, if we did not have the secret word, no one would talk to us….
JAN:Did she think all she had to do was open the doors and the guests would pour in or did she know that summers in the MA business are so slow she could go out of business before September came….
Kelly: My Zor, nor any of the Zee’s I talked to discouraged me from opening when I did. They did not tell me that summer was the slow season, I wish they had…..
I will take responsibility for not asking that specif question though…..
I did spend a great deal of money in marketing on Billboards, print as, TV, radio, canvassing neighborhood, talking to corporate offices, offering corporate, school & professional discounts.over and above the required monthly marketing expenditure that in addition to the “national marketing fund” I had to pay into HQ every month.
I lasted my first summer….
JAN:Did she anticipate the high cost of gas leading to high delivery fees and higher food costs?
Kelly: Gas was still at a “reasonable” price when I opened and closed, I closed before the real economic down turn hit and gas prices sky-rocketed..I don’t know how any ZEE is making any money now, with gas prices, food costs and packaging going up….
What totally evades me and she still hasn’t answered me except to say she was naive, where does her fault come into the equation?
JAN: For you to understand you would have to come out from under your corpie/PR veil and mindset. The concept that was MARKETED & SOLD (and still is)as a proven system & model was not….
For me to sue my ZOR would be pointless, some ex-ers have talked about it…it would not benefit us they have no assets to attach..it would be akin to me putting their 14 children out on the street.
I know none of the ZORS hae a problem with that, but I live under a different code.
Attorneys working pro bono are not lining up outside our doors to take our cases.
You should know, your ZORS are paying $20,000 plus a piece to sue.
JAN:Tell me Sean – please explain to me why you think Kelly is exempt from any blame?
I certainly can’t speak for Sean, but I don’t think he holds me blameless- He and Michael W & Joel L. are shaking their heads at me, and others in my position….they saw the foolhardiness of the concept when it was brought to their attention-although too late for it to be any good for me.
You should to explain why you think you as a corpie think that the ZORS are completely blameless in this, it was their “proven concept”
That we all just took at their word was what they advertised.
K
Yes, I’m at work. Your huffing and snorting lures me in to defend myself. If I said the sky was purple, you’d tell me I was biased against blue. There is no convincing you, so why do I bother? I must be stupid.
I am not all over the board. These are the facts:
I did not say the business was on it’s last legs. We may be but SS isn’t.
Good marketing skills help a business grow but it’s not the only factor involved. Too many to mention but I’m sure you know what they are. You are trying to knit-pick everything I say to make yourself and what you say seem more valid.
The “hayday” I was referring to is guests making their meals in our kitchen. That novelty wore off for some but we (our store) have replaced it with us making their meals.
Parties are not as popular for some franchisees but we always book a party when asked because they bring in a lot of money.
So you didn’t have a SS franchise – now I really know you don’t know diddly about SS.
My point is now as it has been throughout this whole time, you are pi____ because you blew your future on a franchise that YOU believed in. No one made you do it – you did it and should take responsibility for your own actions.
I happen to like SS corporate. The young couple you described above had a bad experience pre-opening. We didn’t. We had a wonderful trainer. She helped us all the way through to opening day. Her skills were invaluable. So for every horror story you have, I can one up you.
Hey, this business isn’t perfect and there are no guarantees. Whether MAK corps. sugarcoat the success that can be made or not – It’s still yours (or mine) or anyone else that wants to own one responsibility to make sure we can afford to fail before we sign on the dotted line.
I think you should calm down and think about this and maybe you’ll come to realize your mad as hell at yourself. Now dust yourself off and go forward and quit trying to pull everyone down with you.
Jan, We have you figured out. I WAS wrong, you dont work for SS- Nope. You work for Dream Dinners, Inc.
You may ask How I know this? Well, your computer IP # has showed up on all of my different blogs. Funny, why dont you become honest with the world and tell us who you really represent. http://purevisibility.com/case-studies/dream-dinners/
This explains the constant run around from you.
Again, Our job is to educate the Meal Assembly Industry to our exsisting Owners and People that May be searching to purchase a MA Store.
People can make up their own mind and decide if this is something they want to spend $500,000 or more…
Much JOY to you Jan,
/m
Is this for real? Jan works for Dream Dinners?
Geez Jan, thanks for caring..that means a lot that little ole me matters enough to illicit a response from you the seasoned SS entrepeneur, master marketer and all round provider of all of the MAK platitudes….
I say what my mom told me-”sure it’s all fun and games until someone takes an eye out” …oops excuse my elbow!
wait… did I read you may be on your last legs, but not the business as in the Meal Prep Assembly business or Super Supper Corporate?
darlin you need to get out more and peruse some other websites that talk about the devastation in the MA industry.
Which is even more mysterious to me Jan (if that is your real name….lol) that you are doing poorly but singing the praises of Super Suppers.
Just because I wasn’t a SS franchisee doesn’t mean I know nothing bout the company.
ALL MAK’s use the same model, one is just like the other. To know one IS to know them all, one creatively borrowed ideas from the guy next to them. They copied off each others models like children cheat off of the person’s test next to them in school… Oh, they changed the shade of yellow or orange in their corporate color schemes, but nothing in the MAK business is new or innovative.
If Pre-assembly meals at no charge is the best SS can do to “save” their franchise, then for you the sky would be falling not blue or purple.
I did pre-assembly for no charge in my store from the day we opened to the day we closed even before it was vogue and SS “thought it up”, guess what didn’t make a bit of difference to the viability of my business, I still lost my shirt.
Every person in my network followed suit with free pre-assembly and they are in the process of losing their shirts too.
You may be correct in the assessment of yourself…
I used YOUR words not mine YOURS…
I am pissed off but not for the reason you state, you are clueless and unfortunately will remain so, are you sure your name isn’t Keri?
and you are still welcome to sit on a tack.
In my humble opinion I beleive she does. Jan’s comments are all over the place- Its the mumble jumble of a ZOR/PR person. I did some investigation- and this is where it lead me.
And for the record, I am very, very calm, more relaxed than I have been in months.
(just don’t pay attention to the ticks and twitches)
Kelly- You Rock sista!
However, Lets not let Jan rain anymore on our parade.
LOL
huffing and snorting-I just read that-ROFLMAO- Jan (if that is your real name) you really do know me! I do this great impression of Trigger…
Thanks Mindy backatcha..
As a co-owner of a Phoenix area meal-prep kitchen, I am shocked to hear so many have the opinion that the concept is “doomed”.
We opened our non-franchise store 2 years ago and within 1 year, we had about 5 competitors within a 5 mile radius. All but 1 has since closed. The concept grew way too fast and is still in its infancy. As with any new business concept, flexibility is key. Only with time and feedback do you figure out what your customers need and want. Unfortunately, by the time the big fish (Dream Dinners, Super Suppers, etc) had that information, they had way too many stores to implement the various changes that they needed to stay afloat.
My personal opinion (taking into consideration our customers’ comments), is that many of these franchisees are in it for the money – they are not necessarily knowledgeable about food, nor are they particularly friendly people.
Also, more and more stores are going to the “grab n go” concept which totally defeats the purpose of the meal-prep concept. Although many customers fail to pre-plan and then rely on last minute dinner pick-up, to encourage that business is not in the best interest of the customer, nor the business.
It is NOT convenient for a customer to allow them to pop in and pick up a dinner for that night. It is also not profitable. The man hours that must be paid in order to ensure that a “body” is there to take any last minute traffic costs far more than the profit made on one meal.
Meal prep kitchens that have gone the route of “take n bake” have reduced their average sale to almost nothing.
Anyhow, I have so much to say on this topic. If anyone out there needs advice, etc, I’m happy to lend my opinion. After 2 extremely successful and profitable years in operation, we have seen many others open and close and have a very “open” relationship with our customers. If they go to a private party elsewhere, they’re more than willing to tell us what their experience was like and why they prefer us.
BigMamaJ wrote: As a co-owner of a Phoenix area meal-prep kitchen, I am shocked to hear so many have the opinion that the concept is “doomed”. We opened our non-franchise store 2 years ago…
BigMamaJ: My points, at least, have all been in the context of meal prep franchise stores. “Experimental” new concepts should be undertaken as independent ventures, and not franchised. The franchises that tried to compete with you had the disadvantage of being a franchise, because they had the same risky new concept, but were burdened by an upfront hit of $30K, 5% – 8% off their sales, and lacked the freedom to change as they saw fit.
As with any new business concept, flexibility is key. Only with time and feedback do you figure out what your customers need and want.
Exactly…
…many of these franchisees are in it for the money…
The franchisees NEED to be more money oriented. I would venture that your competitors had higher start-up costs and debt service than you, plus the burden of fees. They had to build to spec & couldn’t cut corners even when appropriate.
… they are not necessarily knowledgeable about food…
Yes, but their checks cleared. As to being knowledgeable, sellers of “hot new franchises” usually focus on people inexperienced in both the industry and business ownership. Experienced people question them, and are probably threatening. Curves does not want people with health club experience. Same reason Army recruiters want 18 year olds over 25 year olds. They’re used to doing what they’re told.
nor are they particularly friendly people… Unfortunately, the stress owners feel can spill into all their relationships. This is not the kind of business that attracts non-friendly people. Though friendly people like this Make & Take franchisee Cheryl
fail as do highly experienced foodies like ex-Supper Thyme USA franchisee Kelly.
Also, more and more stores are going to the “grab n go” concept which totally defeats the purpose of the meal-prep concept.
Did these franchise owners buy into a take-out food franchise? Did they buy the same eqpt & location they would for selling prepared foods? If you’ve got to change your business 2 years into a ten year contract, there’s something wrong. If you buy a ten year membership to a tennis club and they decide to switch to bowling, would you defend their decision, or demand out of your contract?
Yet the Jans and Michele Bellsos think that changing horses even before midstream is normal in franchising. At least in proper franchising, it’s not.
Holy smokes all that took a long time to read. I’m tired without typing a single keystroke. Jan didn’t deserve so much much of anyones time! Not only does she drink the Koolaid, she bathes in it. If she is not a PR person for some Zor, she sure needs to apply….she missed her calling.
Kelly please know that I have ticks and twitches too….I can’t read too much stuff from people like Jan though otherwise they get uncontrollable!
Thanks Chef!
Hi BigMamaJ
I went to your website (enquiring minds want to know!) “Let’s Do Dinner” and although you are not going to sell traditional franchises you do offer to enter into a co-ownership with people, in a limited area. As you explain on your website under franchise information:
“Let’s Do Dinner”
“After speaking with franchise owners in similar businesses, we found that many of these companies are growing too large, and at such a rapid rate, that they are unable to provide their franchisees with the proper support. Sadly, many of these franchise owners may never obtain the financial and personal satisfaction that they had hoped for.
We have an intimate atmosphere and a genuine concern for our customers’ satisfaction. Proudly, in a recent survey, 99% of customers who have been to other meal-assembly kitchens, prefer Let’s Do Dinner.
In order to maintain our high level of quality and service, we have decided to forego the typical franchise system and offer a limited number of co-owned stores within Arizona and nearby areas.”
Sean can you tell me the difference between the co-ownership they’re offering vs. franchising?
K
ChefGeorge wrote: Jan didn’t deserve so much much of anyones time!
True, Chef. But I’m not really posting for her benefit. There are tens of thousands of franchise buyers, business writers and even regulatory professionals visiting here each month. The more truth that’s posted, the greater the chances of helping people make informed decisions.
There will always be Laila Fields entrepreneurs with a thirst for Koolaid, but at least I know she probably read my posts on Cereality and drank it down anyway.
“In order to maintain our high level of quality and service, we have decided to forego the typical franchise system and offer a limited number of co-owned stores within Arizona and nearby areas.”
Sean can you tell me the difference between the co-ownership they’re offering vs. franchising?
I don’t know the specifics of the program.
BigMamaJ: How does the program work? Are you offering to do joint venture partnerships?
To be clear I do understand that it’s not all about Jan. Personally I have limited patience for folks like Jan… but am terribly glad that you and others do. I understand the reason for this site and discussion and appreciate it as much or more than mealassemblywatch. As a prior failed MAK owner my eyes have been opened in so many ways not only to the realities of the MAK business but franchising in general.
Thanks to all who heard me out. I feel extremely loyal to this concept so I tend to really “fight” for it.
Kelly aka MM:
Our co-ownership model is an opportunity for those interested in opening a meal-prep kitchen in the areas in and around Phoenix. Basically any co-ownership store would be partially owned by Let’s Do Dinner, LLC. It has reduced start-up costs and rather than a “franchise fee”, there is a percentage that is paid to the main company based on sales. LDD would provide monthly support, menu training, business building, piggy-back advertising, etc… The program keeps LDD involved in any additional stores so that we can ensure success and maintain our high standards in product and service. It’s basically “hand-holding”.
Essentially, the program offers us an opportunity to expand to other parts of the Valley while still keeping a good sense of “control” over the concept. Although we’ve had much interest in this co-ownership business, we have yet to find the right people for our 2nd store….
Feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions…schwesingers@qwest.net.
BigMamaJ:
Would the stores operate under the same name (Let’s Do Dinner?)
Thanks BigMamaJ
I don’t have any desire to offend Independents-I happen to think that is the venue this concept needs to be in. A little neighborhood shop, niche market…..
I wish you continued success with your biz!
K
Hi Everyone,
It has been a couple of days now since “Jan” has posted.
Well, this leaves me with with one thought- I WAS RIGHT-
Jan, Please tell us ALL about your business “Pure Visibility”
-How long have you been working for them?
-How Is Your Company Helping the MA Industry?
In case you missed the website, here it is-http://purevisibility.com/case-studies/dream-dinners/
Much Joy,
Mindy
BigMamaJ: The reason I asked is that you should be careful that your business opportunity does not trigger franchise laws. If three elements are present (Use of a common name, payment of a fee, and adherence to certain operational standards) you may inadvertently be selling an illegal franchise. Consult with a knowledgeable franchise attorney to be safe. I can give you some to talk to. info[at]ideafarm.net.
Mindy: I think Jan is who she says she is, and that she believes in the concept. I would not doubt that she may have some kind of a stake in promoting franchise sales to be defending a franchise that is closing units right and left.
Pure visibility is mostly involved with Google advertising placement and “paid search.” I don’t believe those tend to be the same “reputation management” shills who place phony comments.
Plus, Pure Visibility people would be smart enough to know that Jan’s comments have helped put this conversation on the top page of a Google search for “Super Suppers Franchise.” Currently #7 with a bullet, as they say.
Thanks Sean, actually we do have an attorney that deals in franchise and is the one that supported our co-ownership idea. Any additional stores would be “Let’s Do Dinner of Glendale” etc. Thanks for the information though – right now we’re not aggressively pursuing anything – in this economy, it’s tough to start any new business.
Best wishes to you all!
I read an article a while back that had one of the Byrds talking about the way they were going to “save” the SS was by making sure they got the “right” franchisees for their stores, since the first round of them ended up closing almost 1/2 of SS stores, because of that SS corp decided that the first round of franchisees were just ill-suited for owning an SS franchisee…
SO then I read that Green, Ohio Super Suppers is closing AFTER 6 MONTHS????? Some great vetting of prospects going on there.
I had never heard of Green, Ohio before so I looked it up…it’s south of Akron with a total population of (year 2000): 22,817. Estimated population in July 2006: 23,532 (+3.1% change)
SALUTE!!
Whatever happened to the SS that had a demographics/population standard? Does that suddenly go away when a check is waved seductively under your nose?
AND WHO opens an MAK in a town with 23,532 people when you can only count on about 1% of the population “possibly” using your service??
I owned a Super Suppers in the Dallas market.I was one of the first 40 owners.We were mislead by corporate for the start.They had a time spot on the local news station and one of the top people at corporate said they payed their loan off in less than two years,as did several others.Maybe they did, but that was before they put stores every 3 miles from each other,Most of us went under , and I am know $130k in debt after closing my store last year.So dont tell me corporate cares, all they care about is making money.All of the customers never return hardly.Maybe 20%. Most say the food is nasty
Kelly, don’t get me started about Green, OH. That store should never have been sold. That is total greed on the SS zors part. They knew without out a doubt 6 months ago that there was a problem, but yet again they let someone lose everything they have. The OH store also had to buy all of there equipment brand new from corp so they could get there cut. (they only want the best for us zees) there are stores closing all over with new equipment, but no… they had to buy from them. I also believe if the Byrds believed in us and there franchise, they would reinvest in it. The new UFOC shows the opposite. They are getting as much as they can while they can. I don’t have a problem with them making 6 figures. I do have a problem with excess. Greed and dishonesty make me sick!
Almost over,
Are you ex-SS or soon to be?
The New UFOC is that with 2007 figures? How does the new UFOC show the opposite?
I understand all about the greed & dishonesty and it’s not just limited to the Byrds and SS…it travels across MAK “party” lines, all the ZOrs are guilty of it.
Don’t misunderstand me, I’m all for capitalism; it’s what makes my world go round, but there has to be honor,moral standing, responsibility & integrity that goes along with the privilege of being the leader of a movement, organization or business.
Unfortunately those things seems to be the first casualties when greenbacks are involved. Making 6 figures is great and I don’t begrudge anyone using our great system to make money, but IMO-for the Byrds SS failure will be a tax write-off, for those of you in the trenches it will be financial devastation.
Soon to be – I totally agree with you. I believe they deserve to make great money. But when you take out great abundance of money instead investing it back into your company…. All I know is all the zors need to stop selling franchises. Enough is enough.
Supper Thyme is set to open a new store in Stuart Fla. on June 11th-not the best time of the year to open an MAK(it’s called the blood bath season in the “biz”) This store has been coming soon for about 8 months-to a year (I think, time flies SO quickly when you’re having bankruptcy fun!).
Anyhoo- one opened Supper Thyme, three closed with more to come in the summer slow-down that is typically the Meal Assembly/Meal Prep/Studio kitchen/Easy Meal Prep/Home Meal Replacement/ Kitchen Outsourcing(I think I got them all) blood bath season.
Meal Assembly/Meal Prep/Studio kitchen/Easy Meal Prep/Home Meal Replacement/ Kitchen Outsourcing Stores usually close in late spring, or early fall due to lack of operating capitol (which generally means store owners have maxed out all of their credit cards, home equity line and are considering dipping into their 401k’s OR have talked their landlords into cutting back their rent or deferring it for a while, for say like eternity).
On a bright note…I mean sour note…
I’ve heard an interesting rumor on the mean streets of the MAK uni that one of the Supper Thyme Franchisors remaining dynamic duo has had to go and get a real job to support their family-now I don’t know about you but that REALLY sucks…that they haven’t been able to sell enough new franchises for replacement of closures/failures to support themselves in the manner in which they have become accustomed??
Jeez, what IS this world coming to?
Just a question – I have seen several of these meal prep places come and go in our area (not many however) and the question here is what is the attraction in comparsion to say, going to Whole Foods and buying healthy *organic* prepared meals – right when you want them. I work a full time and part-time job and frankly even 2 hours out of my schedule to assemble “X” amount of meals is tough for me. I don’t see any mention of fresh, organic ingredients either. I might pay a little more for Whole Foods but I can get fresh bread, fresh organic salads etc at the same time to supplement the prepared item(s). How can a business model like this expect to compete with Whole Foods and the other grocers who are providing fresh ready to eat meals?
Interested Bystander-great question!
-the answer is:
Meal Assembly stores can’t compete, that’s why they are failing by the hundreds across the country.
Take Jan who was a Super Suppers proponent-she was a store manager at a store in Michigan-that store has closed, while she was singing the praises of her franchise, she knew her store was on it’s way out.
It’s sad really that more people in the Meal Assembly industry don’t understand that they will not be able to compete on a scale that will enable them to make a profit with Markets like Whole Foods, Costco, BJ’s Sam’s or even your local Meijers, Krogers or Albertsons. The reason is the economy of scale and the enormous foot traffic already built into grocery stores and Food warehouses…
When a young mom or harried working mom or dad goes in to buy milk, bread & eggs, the impulse is to just buy something quick there.
This concept was set-up for failure because it doesn’t have a big enough base of customers to draw from.
As the economy worsens and gas prices continue to go up Meal Assembly kitchens who already have a 45-50% food cost will go up and will no longer be able to tout themselves as a money saver. Loyalty will only last so long in a lengthening recession.
Wow! what an informative hour of reading. I have learned more about MAK industry that I bargained for. I have been researching it because of the marketing appeal to working famlies and college students. Is there an identified viable business concept in the food industry that meets this demographic? Or is it all like Boston Market and MAK – a quick sell that barters a semi-convenient, lower quality product for a short ride?
chile bistro-now is NOT the time to be delving into the food business..
There is NO marketing appeal for MAK’s to families, at least none that produces consistent customer retention. I don’t care what MAK talking head or “expert” tells you, MAK is NOT a viable concept in ANY form.
But if you’re like most people you’ll think you have the “answer” the right “formula” and you’ll go for it anyway…
Please be my guest and jump, I hope for the best for you.
Know this is an older article, but wanted to let any unsuspecting and trusting people know that I paid ahead to my local Super Suppers (Crofton, MD). They were offering a special of pay a certain amount of money and you could make meals. I went to the location and found the doors locked and lights out. No information on door. Several weeks later there is now a for rent sign at location. I sent two emails to corporate office asking about being refunded. Corporate has not had the decency to respond.
Another post resurrecting this very old thread, but thought I would post anyway as hindsight is 20/20. My wife and I were very, very close to pulling the trigger on a franchise in the Orlando market in the Spring of 2006. My wife decided to pass on the deal because she really felt running a business wasn’t something that she really wanted to do. You have to remember that at the time, these franchises were going fast and there was a mad-dash in some markets to get a territory. We did a lot of research and a lot of planning, and even though we met the minimum net-worth requirements, we would have had to lay everything on the table to do the deal. Note that the franchiser didn’t exactly go out of their way to stop us. In any event, someone else picked up that location, in the same shopping center, using a smaller unit than we had planned. That location closed about a year or so later, as well as most of the other locations in our area.
What I’ve learned looking back on things:
1. Entrepreneurs are probably best suited for the stress associated with starting a business (not us normal people) and the true entrepreneur probably would do better without a franchise.
2. Debt is a cruel master. The debt service we would have had to carry would have kept us from ever making money. If you can’t buy into something with cash, walk away. Visit Dave Ramsey’s website for more anti-debt rantings.
3. If you have no expertise in the industry, it’s not smart to buy a business in that industry. Neither my wife or I had any culinary skills or experience…we just wanted a business to run. In hindsight, we must have suffered from temporary stupidity.
4. Plans fail for lack of counsel. We sought counsel from multiple people, but I think we should have sought more counsel from those willing to say, “hey, putting everything on the line for this is a very, very bad idea.”
Owning your own business is something that’s really a good fit for some people, but I think most people overestimate the profitability and underestimate the risks and work. I concluded that my lifetime earnings in my chosen profession would greatly outpace the money I would likely make in most franchises (at least any that I could afford). This is especially true when you factor in insurance and other benefits.
I feel bad for those who lost out in the MAK game…it seemed like a good idea at the time to us, too. I can say that of the franchises we checked out, we weren’t comfortable with SS or MGFK. I will also say, as with everything else in this life, buyer beware…