Let’s say you want to get people interested in your franchise opportunity by telling them they’ll have revenue of $150,000 by their second year.
But there’s one problem: the pesky little busybodies at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) insist that you can’t give financial performance claims except in the designated section (Item 19) of the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) you give prospective franchisees.
And if you do that, you need to provide substantiation of the claims you make.
And where is the FUN in that?!
Don’t despair, cloud merchants and dream sellers!  Take a deep breath and …read more

Ben & Jerry’s is renaming ice cream flavor Chubby Hubby to Hubby Hubby in support of gay marriage.

I want to thank Ben & Jerry for their promosexual* decision to rename Chubby Hubby to Hubby Hubby in support of gay marriage (or is it same-sex union?).  It’s a great pun and a great name.  It’s a powerful endorsement of a worthy cause. And it’s so much better than other more graphic approaches they could have taken, such as Ben sitting on Jerry’s lap in that famous circle picture.
Here’s the scoop, as told by BJ’s own press release:
Ben & Jerry’s Renames Legendary …read more

Last Thursday I published a post regarding 433 franchisee recruitmant ads placed on the employment website CareerBuilder.com. (Read LIBERTY TAX: Deceptive Franchise Ads?)
Within 48 hours (or so), all of the ads were either pulled or revised to be legitimate job ads.
It’s nice to know someone’s reading FranchisePick.com.
There were two major issues with the ads, and I questioned the ethics and even legality of some of Liberty Tax Services franchisee recruitment advertising.
The first issue is that the FTC prohibits running franchise ads masquerading as job ads
On January 30, 2006, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued Informal Staff Advisory Opinion 06-1, which addressed …read more

In July, 2009, Franchise Pick explored the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of franchising.  I’ll let you decide which is which.
Do you know a franchise company, franchise opportunity, franchise vendor or issue you’d like to recommend for us to feature?  Email Sean Kelly at info[at]ideafarm.net.
Here’s what we covered in July, 2009:

July’s Featured Franchise:  Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning

Featured Opportunity: Oxi Fresh Franchise 33 Comments
Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning Franchise Profile
Interview with Jonathan Barnett, Oxi Fresh
OXI FRESH Pt. 2: The Green Franchise 22 Comments
OXI FRESH Franchisees Happy to be Green (1)
OXI FRESH Franchisees Happy to be Green (2)

July’s Featured Franchise Vendor:  Contour …read more

Hardee’s continues the fast food advertising SexFest with it’s Hardee’s Sexy French Maid video on YouTube.
The fast food feeders seem intent on seeing who can create the most controversy and offend the most sensibilities.
Is negative buzz better than no buzz at all?
Other entrants include:
Quiznos Sex Video Quiznos and Playboy teamed up to create an online video featuring Kari Nautique, Playboy Playmate Hiromi Oshima and the Quiznos Torpedo Sub to, supposedly, “show you what a HOT sandwich tastes like.”
HARDEE’S: A-Holes vs B-Holes Commercial Part of  the anal-themed Hardee’s promotional launch of their biscuit holes product.  This is one advertising concept …read more

Hardee’s Biscuit Holes promo:  Offensive?  Clever? Both? What do you think?
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE HARDEE’S CONTROVERSIAL A-HOLE PROMO?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

Huddle House CEO Phil Greifeld on franchising during a recession, and the benefits of the Huddle House franchise opportunity.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

According to BrandWeek, the Chipotle Mexican Grill chain has partnered with Magnolia Pictures, Participant Media and River Road Entertainment to promote the documentary, Food, Inc… the chain will sponsor free screenings of the film in 32 cities across the country. It will also place promotional material in all of its more than 860 restaurants.”
Watch this trailer to understand why Food Inc. is a seemingly unlikely promotional vehicle for a fast food chain:

See the free screening schedule and read more about the Chipotle/Food Inc. promotional partnership on Chipotle’s Food Inc. page.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

Magic Johnson’s remembrance of the King of Pop’s love for Kentucky Fried Chicken, delivered at the Michael Jackson Memorial service, was a touching tribute to some, but has been criticized as crass commercialism and product placement by others.
Some cite promotional ties between KFC and Magic Johnson (Magic Johnson Criticized for MJ KFC Story).
Commenters on YouTube and elsewhere allege Michael Jackson was vegetarian and therefore could not be a fan of KFC.
evegotch wrote:
Michael Jackson WAS a devoted vegetarian. Magic Johnson is a money-grubbing LIAR!
todnyc wrote:
He’s not exaggerating–he’s actually just flat out LYING about that even happening at all, because anyone …read more

Magic Johnson is drawing criticism from some who claim he used Michael Jackson’s eulogy to pitch Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).
In the post KFC: Paid Plug at Michael Jackson Memorial? I noted that some commenters are alleging that Magic Johnson’s prior ties to KFC prompted him to include a story of Michael Jackson’s love for Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in Magic’s eulogy at the pop star’s memorial service.
One commenter YouTube wrote:
Shameless advertising! … Magic starred in a KFC commercial in the late 90s… Unbelievable that some people fell for it! This is the beginning of my KFC boycott! Totally disgraceful
The commercial …read more