Hartland, Wis. — Batteries Plus, the leading omnichannel retailer of batteries, specialty light bulbs and phone repair services, has added Joe Malmuth as director of franchise development. He joined the Batteries Plus team on May 11, 2020. In his new role, Malmuth will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of franchise development. In addition to working with new owners and franchise consultants to expand the system, he will also be managing programs focused on helping current owners develop territory and facilitate transactions. Malmuth will report directly to Jon Sica, chief …
Newport Beach, Calif. — Mountain Mike’s Pizza, a leading family-style pizza chain for over 40 years, is opening its fifth Oakland, Calif., location. The new Mountain Mike’s Pizza is located near the Oakland Coliseum and Oracle Arena. With the dining room currently closed due to shelter-in-place, Mountain Mike’s is offering its full menu of pizzas, wings, garlic sticks and local beers and wines via contactless delivery and carryout. “Although we’re not able to open our dining rooms just yet, we are proud to begin serving Mountain Mike’s signature pizzas to …
Fremont, Calif. — In observance of Governor Newsom’s new directive, Pacific Commons, a regional lifestyle center in Fremont, Calif., is now offering retail-to-go services with curbside pickup options available to shoppers. While the center itself is open, individual retailers will each determine when they will begin offering sales and curbside services, and their hours will vary. Shoppers taking advantage of retail-to-go services are asked to make their purchases from each retailer or restaurant online or over the phone; payment must be made electronically. When shoppers arrive at Pacific Commons, they …
Fairfax, Va. — As various states begin to open back up, Peterson Companies, known throughout the Washington, D.C., region as one of the largest shopping/lifestyle center owners and managers, has developed a plan to safely welcome back its tenants and their customers, once permitted to do so. Elements of this plan will be implemented at several of its signature properties throughout the DMV including National Harbor, Downtown Silver Spring, Rio in Gaithersburg, Fairfax Corner and Fair Lakes. To better understand changing consumer preferences, the company recently surveyed its customers and …
Seattle — Seattle-based Starbucks has started reopening its company-operated stores across the United States. Operating under modified operations and hours, including heightened safety protocols, the company has approximately 85% of stores open now and expects to have more than 90% of stores open by early June. The company is using its experience in China, where more than 98% of its stores are open and operating under revised protocols, as the foundation for its reopening in the United States amid the continued concerns of the global COVID-19 pandemic. “We have adapted …
Phoenix — Sprouts Farmers Market has expanded its grocery pickup service to 46 stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee as the grocer faces heightened demand amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The service allows customers to plan grocery pickup for the same day or to schedule several days in advance. Their personal shopper will bring the groceries to a designated pickup parking spot when the customer arrives and checks in. A list of specific stores offering the service was not disclosed. The Phoenix-based grocer recently expanded this …
Dallas — Gold’s Gym, a fitness chain founded in California in 1965 and now headquartered in Dallas, has filed voluntary petitions for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code as it works to restructure its debt. In a statement issued earlier this week, the company said that the financial fallout from COVID-19 has forced it to permanently close about 30 company-owned gyms. The company also said that the filing would not impact its licensing division and was not associated with any of its locally owned franchise gyms. Gold’s …
— By Kyle Orlowski — Top 5 questions retailers should ask when evaluating janitorial vendors. A spotless facility shows employees and customers that you take pride in your business and are committed to providing an outstanding customer experience. The best janitorial and facilities maintenance companies offer a wide range of services at a competitive price, but those aren’t the only factors to consider. How do you find the provider that’s the right fit for your business? Here’s a look at the top questions you should ask to determine …
— By Graham Campbell — Choosing a new POS: 5 tips to avoid unexpected costs in the long run. Shopping for a new POS system can be a difficult process. Whether owners have a restaurant, salon, retail store or other type of business, the right POS system can help drive sales, manage their business and even leverage e-commerce features like online ordering, third-party delivery or loyalty programs. However, the wrong POS system can cause serious problems for any business, including unexpected costs. To avoid these incremental costs further …
Tampa, Fla. — There is no good time for store flooding, but it’s even more difficult for facility managers during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, for one Georgia facility manager, MaintenX was able to turn around a bad situation, quickly, professionally and — most importantly — safely. When the mobile phone store reopened, the staff faced 3 inches of standing water throughout the shop (due to a leaky toilet), and the adjacent store was also damaged. After reaching out to MaintenX, its Emergency Response crew was able to respond in less …