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Katie Lee

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Starbucks Board of Directors Affirms CEO Transition Details

by Katie Lee

Seattle — Starbucks Corporation’s board of directors has provided an update to affirm the search details for the company’s next chief executive officer. The board has agreed with founder Howard Schultz that he will remain as interim CEO through the first fiscal quarter of 2023. This timeline provides the company the ideal runway for a seamless transition and continuity of leadership through the 2022 holiday season, as the business transformation continues. Since returning as interim CEO on April 4, Schultz has engaged deeply with employees of all levels of the …

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Aqua-Tots Swim Schools Opens 125th Franchise Location

by Katie Lee

Mesa, Ariz. — Aqua-Tots Swim Schools has expanded with the opening of its 125th worldwide franchise location in Falls Church, Va. The new location neighbors Staples in the newly remodeled Broad and Birch shopping center. It officially opened its doors on May 25, 2022. The 7,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art swim facility is the first location for franchise owner Mike Steele and 12th location for his business partners, Andrew George, Jesse Rhodenbaugh and Tommy Fisher, who also own schools in North Carolina and Georgia. Aqua-Tots Swim Schools serves over 120 communities worldwide, offering …

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Fransmart Expands Leadership Team to Prepare for Investment in New Brands

by Katie Lee

Scottsdale, Ariz. — Fransmart plans for a multibillion-dollar portfolio of category-leading franchise brands by the end of 2030. To reach this goal, Fransmart will continue to identify and invest in concepts ripe for national and international expansion, while accelerating growth of its legacy brands. Additionally, the company is expanding its best-in-class leadership team to support each of its brands with operational expertise and highly-effective sales and marketing strategies. “To succeed in the world of franchising requires continual improvements to the brand’s business model, growth strategy, systems and processes,” says Dan …

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Camping World to Expand National Footprint in 11 Major Markets by End of 2022

by Katie Lee

Lincolnshire, Ill. — Camping World Holdings, Inc. plans to continue expanding its RV sales and service network through the completion of 11 new dealership locations, in seven states, by the end of 2022. This announcement is on the heels of the recent acquisition of Richardson’s RV Centers. “We are committed to strategically and profitably expanding our sales and service presence to capitalize on the 11 million-plus installed RV owner base along with the tremendous growth of new entrants to the lifestyle,” says Marcus Lemonis, chairman of Camping World. “The expansion …

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Panera Opens First “Panera To Go” Digital-Only Restaurant for Off-Premise Dining

by Katie Lee

St. Louis — Panera Bread has opened the first “Panera To Go,” a new Panera Bread restaurant format offering digitally-enabled convenience for Rapid Pick-Up® and Delivery orders. The Chicago-based restaurant is the first of three Panera To Go test locations scheduled to open this year. Two additional Panera To Go cafes will open in California and Washington D.C. this year; the company will also evaluate adding in kiosk and catering orders to the new format in the future. Panera To Go is a digital-only bakery-cafe, with a reduced front of …

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Crash Course

by Katie Lee

— By Garrett Fishaw — Storefront crashes: the incoming cost you can’t afford.   60 times a day. More than 4,000 injured annually. As many as 500 killed each year. According to the Storefront Safety Council, those are the statistics for storefront crashes in the United States. There’s no argument anymore. Storefront crashes are an epidemic in this country and something that every business owner needs to be aware of when designing their storefront layouts. The Storefront Safety Council estimated that the cost of a car-into-building crash that does not …

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Maximizing The Experience

by Katie Lee

— By Jon Jaggers — Cross-pollinating your retail experience: store-within-a-store, dual brands, and sub-brands.   In today’s retail climate, many customers are looking for experiences beyond the store. These days, more and more brands are partnering with other businesses to offer a unique experience that both brand partners can share. This is called cross-pollination within retail, and it has become one of the hottest trends in the business world. In this column, we’ll explore what exactly cross-pollinating your retail experience means and how you can use it as an opportunity …

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The Container Store Publishes its First Sustainability Report

by Katie Lee

Coppell, Texas —The Container Store, the leading specialty retailer of organizing solutions, custom closets and in-home services, has published its 2021 Sustainability Report, a first for the company. The Container Store plans to report on sustainability progress on an annual basis; download the 2021 report here. The inaugural sustainability report builds on the foundation laid by the company’s first materiality assessment to identify and prioritize top environmental, social and governance (ESG) topics most important to the company’s business and stakeholders. The process included internal and external stakeholder interviews, benchmarking, research …

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Taco Bell Opens New Drive-Thru Prototype in Brooklyn Park, MN

by Katie Lee

Brooklyn Park, Minn. — Taco Bell has opened its new and innovative drive-thru prototype in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Park. Coined Taco Bell Defy, the two-story restaurant features four drive-thru lanes. A proprietary vertical lift transports food items straight from the kitchen to guests. The drive-thru experience at Taco Bell Defy is designed to be 2 minutes or less. The restaurant was built in partnership with longtime franchisee Border Foods. Minneapolis-based Vertical Works Inc. handled the design of the concept. The project was first announced last year.     …

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Batteries Plus Rolls Out Rebrand to Spotlight Brand Evolution

by Katie Lee

Hartland, Wis. — Batteries Plus, the nation’s largest and fastest-growing battery, light bulb, key fob and phone repair franchise, is evolving its customer experience across multiple touchpoints. The rebranding — called “Project VOLT” — was a result of comprehensive merchandising testing which brought to light the opportunity to update and transform stores. The enhancements revolutionize the concept’s online and in-store customer experience and more accurately represent consumers’ preferences when it comes to a retail shopping experience. Now, when customers walk through the doors, a modernized, refreshed look will help them …

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