Comments posted here and on Unhappy Franchisee reported that the franchisor of Geeks on Call had closed the corporate office.  (Read GEEKS ON CALL: Latest Franchise Rumors, Allegations, GEEKS ON CALL: Franchise HQ Closed?)
Shep Bostin, Chairman, Geeks On Call Franchise Advisory Council and Franchise Owner and Managing Geek, Montgomery and Frederick Counties in Maryland, quickly posted a comment that there was nothing suspicious or negative about the office closing, that it was both pre-announced and a responsible cost-cutting measure.
Shep Bostin wrote:
The comments above, which may very well be from the same person under a variety of pseudonyms, are almost certainly …read more

[Geeks on Call CEO Richard] Cole said he expects the company to be cash-flow positive in 2009 and that the company will turn a profit. In other words, he is optimistic.
Inside Biz, January 12 2009
In the January 12, 2009 story in Inside Biz, Geeks on Call CEO Richard Cole stated both his optimism in the turnaround of the troubled chain, and his committment to the success of his remaining franchise owners:
…despite the recent tenuous relationship with some of its franchise owners given the lawsuits, Cole maintains that franchisees are still his priority.
“Some people don’t get this about the franchise world. …read more

The post SATURN: Sad End to a Great Dream prompted some great comments and insights.
Commenting on the Saturn legacy, consultant Mike Baum of Sophia Consulting LLC wrote:
The revolutionary aspect of Saturn was never really the car – it was the retail experience. It was the first time in automotive history that an American dealership was designed to approach, even in a small way, the customer-oriented retail experience that we expect from practically every other type of retailing.
The traditional auto dealership represents an early 20th-century “push” model that served the interests of the manufacturer, not the customer. Automakers had to move …read more

According to Unhappy Franchisee, Saturn dealers were once part of the most satisfied retail network in the auto industry.  Last Thursday,  Saturn dealers learned that their brand was dead, they would soon be out of business, and they’d have to settle for compensation between $100,000 and $1 million per store to close by next October.
That’s not much compensation to Chicago dealer Gordon Stewart, who owns six stores and just spent $700,000 putting up new signage Saturn asked for.  Stewart is sitting on $1.6 million in parts GM will not buy back.
It’s not much compensation to Michael Schramm who owns …read more

“I wake up at night sick, thinking about all the things that might have been.” Mike Bennett, former Saturn union leader.
I remember back in 1985 when GM launched the bold Saturn experiment – to create an honest, affordable car with a friendly, no-haggle sales policy and unsalesmanlike salespeople who cheered when happy customers drove their new cars off the lot and into their lives

I remember those bold commercials that featured Saturn customers, “technicians,” officials and local yokels gathering for a huge family picnic in Springville, TN – and withstanding rain and gale-force winds together… their spirits undaunted… excited …read more

Saturday night, my 12-year old son, 7-year-old grandaughter and I had a simultaneous craving for buffalo wings.
I gave my son his choice of places (we’re a wing-savvy family) and his choice was immediate:  WingZone.
We headed for the WingZone franchise on Fruitville Pike in Lancaster.  They always did a good job, and just celebrated their second anniversary this past October.
Unfortunately, we found a depressing site:  a sign in front of WingZone that read “Sorry we are closed.  Thanks for all your support.”
WingZone opened in late 2006 and must have just closed within the last week or so.
I’m not sure why, but …read more

Thursday, Chrysler released a list of 789 dealers that it was letting go. Today, G.M. will send the letters to 1100 dealers with the bad news that their franchises will not be renewed after October 2010.
According to the New York Times:
Over all, G.M. plans to eliminate 2,369, or 40 percent, of its 5,969 dealers by the end of 2010. G.M. on Friday revised its number of current stores down from 6,200. In addition to the cuts being revealed Friday, the company expects to shed about 500 dealers that sell only Pontiac, Saturn, Saab or Hummer, the brands it intends to …read more

Less than a year ago, Make & Take Gourmet founder Michele Bellso sent out a blast email announcing the closing of two franchise stores of the chain’s 16 locations. 
Bellso’s nonchalant, cheery tone and characterization of the lost investment of her franchise owners as  business-as-usual prompted the first (Make & Take Gourmet: Meal Prep Franchisor Takes Failures in Stride April 28, 2008) of 20+ posts  I’d write on the ill-conceived and ill-fated meal prep chain.
“Interest and excitement in the Make and Take Gourmet concept has never been greater!” wrote Bellso in her email last April.  “We anticipated that as this …read more

The contents of two bankrupt Cork & Olive wine stores are up for auction.
See them here:  Bay Area Auction Services
Read more about the Cork & Olive WINE STORE FRANCHISE woes here:
Cork & Olive Franchise
CORK & OLIVE: Michael Probst Forms New Corporation

CORK & OLIVE: Oldsmar Store Reopens; C&O Coming to Ocala?

CORK & OLIVE: New Ownership & Franchise Rumors

CORK & OLIVE: The Probst Method of Guilt Avoidance
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH CORK & OLIVE?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
Image:  Bay Area Auctions

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced last week that LA Weight Loss Centers Inc. reached a settlement to pay $275,000 in refunds to thousands of New York state customers who paid for but never received services after LA Weight Loss closed its doors in January 2008.
Read more here: LA Weight Loss to Pay Refunds to New York Members
Also Read:  LA WEIGHT LOSS, PURE WEIGHT LOSS