According to a post on Unhappy Franchisee (Curves Franchisee Blames Economy for Closing), the Albany, MN Curves shut its doors for good, and franchise owner Carol Smith blames the recession.
Smith also owns another nearby Curves.  The Albany Curves had been open for six years; Smith had owned it for two years.  According to the post, Smith contends the economy was to blame for the membership decreasing from more than 100 two years ago to about 45 at the time of closing.
Is the recession really to blame?  Or the club doomed from the start?
A frequent complaint of struggling Curves owners is …read more

As the recent closing of the Kailu, HI Curves for Women fitness center shows, a failed franchise location is a loss for many involved.
In this case, franchise owner Robbi Ugini must deal with the personal and financial agony of defeat.  Her 5 employees are suddenly jobless.  Her 270 members are without a fitness club.  Her landlord has a vacant space, and her lender will, most likely, have a defaulted loan.  And the franchisor will not be receiving future royalties, revenue from purchases or advertising contributions.
What started as a dream ended in disappointment
According to the story by Nina Woo in …read more

(FranchisePick.Com)  From:  QUIZNOS: Saratoga Franchisees Call it Quits
Thank you to our valued customers, but due to economic hardships beyond our control we are now closed.
The sign was taped to the door Friday after the Saratoga Springs, NY Quiznos served the last customer of its 2 1/2 year run.  The four partners in the franchise venture (Dan Warren and Rob Tecler of Saratoga Springs, Mike Beshara of South Glens Falls and Neil Rinehimer of Jupiter, FL) also abandoned plans to open a Wilton, NY Quiznos to which they also own the franchise rights.
Reasons for their Quiznos franchise failure?  Dan Warren says …read more

(FranchisePick.com Franchise Blog) Related stories: Make & Take Gourmet: Meal Prep Franchisor Takes Failures in Stride, Patrons of Failed Franchise Blast Make and Take Gourmet Franchisor Bellso, Meal Prep Franchisor Blames Franchisees…
What a difference two months makes!
Back in June, Make & Take Gourmet franchise founder Michele Bellso was claiming that the tiny NY meal assembly franchise company was thriving. An Unhappy Franchisee post on Make & Take Gourmet quoted Bellso’s aggressive growth plans:
Michele Bellso, founder and president of Make & Take Gourmet, says the company isn’t even close to reaching its full potential. Since May 2006, …read more

(FranchisePick.Com)
…this “golden child” of the ice cream industry continues to go undetected in their ruthless business practices, their flawed business model and their total disregard for the profitability of the franchisee.
If you are thinking about buying a [Cold Stone Creamery] franchise – DON’T DO IT!!!
J.B. Montgomery, ex-franchisee, from his Cold Stone Creamery complaint at Unhappy Franchisee
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Over at Unhappy Franchisee, a reader named J.B. Montgomery has left a scathing indictment against Cold Stone Creamery and Kahala Corp., alleging that he is an ex-franchisee victimized by franchisor “churning.”

In franchising, the term “churning” refers to the practice of reselling the same …read more

(FranchisePick.Com)  Also read:
Curves For Women Franchise: 20% of Curves Franchises Closed in MA,
HAS CURVES FOR WOMEN ABANDONED ITS FRANCHISE OWNERS?,
Insider Advice for Curves Resale Franchise Buyers,
200+ comments: Is Curves for Women a Good Franchise Investment?
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In a recent Concord Monitor article, AG bureau looks into gym closings, Kate Davidson reports that 2 more Curves for Women franchises have closed their doors abruptly, leaving their members stranded and their owners’ dreams dashed.  Davidson writes that unhappy members who paid for services they didn’t receive have taken their complaints to the MA Attorney General :
The attorney general’s consumer protection bureau is reviewing …read more