Cuppy's Coffee Real Estate Ties Record For Signed Leases

Franchisees realize that their dreams are closer to fruition when they find that perfect location. Searching for square footage to open their coffee stores seems like a daunting task in futility sometimes. But with the help and assistance, not to mention diligence, of Cuppy's Coffee real estate specialist, that road is easier to travel.

Realtors, brokers and developers are constantly looking for those tenants that bring a certain atmosphere to their centers and shopping malls. Many are starting to realize that Cuppy's Coffee franchisees meet that criteria. This outlook and attitude is opening a lot of doors for perspective Cuppy's franchise in assisting them in finding that suitable location. That fit between developers and Cuppy's franchisees is one factor to why Cuppy's Coffee real estate department tied its record of 12 signed leases in a single month. That averages out to 3 signed leases a week.

"Our commitment to our franchisees and the overall goal of getting them open in A or A+ locations is what drives our real estate department to aggressively find, analyze and eventually approve locations that we feel are a perfect fit for both our franchisees and the Cuppy's Coffee brand." Trinetti McDonald, Director of Real Estate states.

To put this in perspective Cuppy's Coffee has seen a 67% increase in signed leases versus the same quarter figures in 2007. In the same quarter last year, Cuppy's signed a total of 15 leases. The 2008 1st quarter data reveals 25 signed leases.

"Our goal is to sign a lease every day of the week. If we meet that goal, we will be on track to bringing the Cuppy's Coffee brand into the national radar." McDonald states.

Cuppy's Coffee, Smoothies & More is a specialty coffee and smoothie franchise, located in Fort Walton Beach, FL.

Cuppy's Coffee Barista Scholarship Essay Contest Extended!

The 1st annual Cuppy's Coffee Barista Scholarship Essay Contest has been extended to May 7, 2008. All high school seniors working at Cuppy's Coffee are eligible to participate to win the grand prize of a $500.00 college scholarship to the college of their choice. Awards and prizes are also available for 1st and 2nd place finishers.

Details, prizes and submission requirements can be found in the past issues of "The Bean Street Journal" and/or at The Beanstreet Blog. Ask your manager for details on how you can enter.

To learn more on how you can become a part of our growing Cuppy's Coffee family, visit our website at www.cuppys.com

Specialty Coffee Gets a Weeks of its Own

Minneapolis, MN has declared May 2-5 as "Specialty Coffee Week".
Read more>>http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20080428005375/en

Cuppy's Coffee Coming Soon to Nazareth, PA

Franchisees in Nazareth, PA a city north of Allentown signed a lease to open a Cuppy's Coffee, Smoothies & More store. This moves them onto the next stage of planning and construction.

To learn more about the Cuppy's Coffee, Smoothies & More family, visit us at www.cuppys.com

Franchisee's Response to New Mgmt at Cuppy's Coffee

News of the acquistion of Cuppy's Coffee by FranSynergy has been met with overwhelming enthusiasm by franchisees and vendors alike. Here is a sample of some responses to the news sent in by members of the Cuppy's Coffee family.

I've been a part of the Cuppy's family for three years now and it has been a great experience being a part of such a fast growing company. The addition of Dale Nabors, I think, is a great one. I have worked Dale on a number of projects and have found him to be knowledgeable and outstanding in his field. I look forward to working with him in the future.

Scott Smith

Cuppy's Coffee Smoothies & More

Hanover, MA

******************************************************

Dale, congratulations!

I hope you can keep your circle divided properly and wish us both the very best in the future. I look forward to building a stronger Cuppy's.

Jason Winters

*******************************************************

Figueroa Brothers is excited to hear the great news of Dale Nabors, becoming

the CEO of Cuppy's Coffee . I have been working with Dale closely to

establish the new Cuppy's distribution system and his vision to get the

company streamlined to the benefit of the current franchisees and future

store openings, is exactly what is needed to move the Cuppy's Brand to the

next level of success. Figueroa Brothers is looking forward to working with

Dale and Cuppy's franchisees to continually improve the bottom line profits

and customer satisfaction.

Gregory P. Figueroa, CEO

Figueroa Brothers, Inc.

********************************************************

Hi Dale!

Congratulations on Fransynergy acquiring Cuppy's. You have been very helpful with the problems I have had and it's nice to know we will have someone like you to come to. We still need to completely resolve our issue but I am sure we will be able to get it worked out.

Sincerely,

Brian D. Burgett

Cuppy's of Des Moines

Read the official memo sent out to franchisees here.

FranSynergy Acquires Cuppy's Coffee, Smoothies & More

Business is a fast paced and sometime difficult road to manuever. It is also a series of evolutions from startup to completion. And it is in that process that Cuppy's Coffee is proud to announce that FranSynergy has acquired our fast growing coffee company to navigate it thru the next stage in that evolution. Below is a copy of the letter sent to all franchisees acknowledging the transition and welcoming the new management team to Cuppy's Coffee.

Dear Franchisees,

Cuppy's has grown leaps and bounds since our humble beginnings in May of 2006. We currently have more than 231 franchisees nationwide and 73 open stores, with many more stores in the works!

It's our ultimate goal to see the Cuppy's brand grow strong and be successful. In order for this to happen, change is inevitable. Our objective is to always keep you, our franchisee, up to date as these changes occur.

With that in mind, we have some really exciting news! We are pleased to announce that FranSynergy Inc., lead by Dale Nabors, CEO, has acquired Cuppy's Coffee & More, Inc.

Dale Nabors has over 25 years of franchising experience and worked for the Dwyer Group from March, 1995 to August, 2000....

To read the entire letter follow this link.

Granbury TX Set to Open Cuppy's Coffee

Folks in Granbury, TX will soon be able to experience a true Italian espresso when Cuppy's Coffee, Smoothies & More opens later this year. Franchisees have signed a lease moving them into the next phase of planning and construction.

Look for the Grand Opening announcement later on this year.

To learn more on how you can become a Cuppy's Coffee owner, visit our website at www.cuppys.com

Cuppy's Coffee: Easy No-Cost Marketing Tips For Your Store

These are fantastic ideas for your location that is just getting started or to help improve sales. The good thing about them is that these tips also work! Choose two out of the five and move forward on them this week. Once you begin to see that in fact these promotional ideas can bring you business your momentum will build and drive you to pick two more.

1. Network at events. Go to Chamber of Commerce meetings, Local business group meetings, and other organizational meetings that will be attracting your "ideal" client. Gather business cards. Get as many as you can and then begin to phone and email to follow up. Do this immediately while you are still fresh in their mind. If they cannot use your services, ask them if they know of someone who can and get their contact information.

2. Attend public meetings. At every public meeting, make a commitment to say something that could be useful to those that are attending. This is a great way to not only share you knowledge and help others, but it also puts you in the eye of those who could use your services.

3. Create a "useful" handout. (Check with the Cuppy's Coffee marketing department on your idea, first) A handout that when given to a recipient they keep because it has value. Make sure that you include your name, phone number, email address, website information and your 30 second commercial that tells the recipient about your location and services.

4. Create joint-ventures. Find colleagues and business associates whose business compliments yours and do joint promotions.Who could you partner with? A bakery, an independent coffee store, the local businesses around your store? The list goes on and on.

5. Write letters to editors of local newspapers and business publications. Make them interesting and newsworthy. You'll be surprised at how often a good letter will get printed. Do not forget to include your contact information and website address.

By committing to one of these items on a weekly basis within one month you will see your business gain recognition and business. You can get the word out there without spending hundreds of dollars.

Cuppy's Coffee: Will McCafe Help or Hurt Your Sales?

Fear among coffee stores owners permeates whenever the news of a Starbucks move into the neighborhood arise. But for years, many independent coffee owners have flourished with the addition of the green neighbor. Customers will in fact visit each location a few times a week. If your product is superior, expect to see those customers more often.

But what of the McCafe? This burger powerhouse move into the specialty coffee arena and it's price structure, well below that of most coffee houses, will it affect the cash register and a independent coffee shop's ability to stay in business? This question and answer was raised in a recent web article on QSR Magazine. Read the entire story.

One group of retailers that probably won't be hurt is higher-end independent coffee shops. Contrary to popular belief, these types of retailers often experience a boom in business-sometimes as much as 20 percent-when a Starbucks sets up shop nearby, Hetzel says. The same phenomenon could presumably result from a neighboring McDonald's selling similar beverages.

"I believe it's only helpful," Hetzel says. "It educates consumers on a better quality of coffee that exists. There's so much more that the independents can do that it expands their market. When coffee tastes better…people drink more."

Learn more about the specialty coffee business at www.cuppys.com

Coffee War Heating Up: Take This Survey

There will always be competition among like minded businesses. This is what drives our society. This is no different in the specialty coffee arena as well, with each coffee shop touting their wares and prices, each with its advantages and disadvantages.

Recent press given to McDonalds and Starbucks reign for coffee superiority, Cuppy's Coffee would like to get your feedback on what you think is appropriate for a premium coffee beverage.

To take part in this survey just follow this link and place your vote. You'll find the survey on the right sidebar. Place your vote by Sunday April 20th to have your opinion counted.

Learn more about Cuppy's Coffee at www.cuppys.com

Cuppy's Coffee Open in Palm Desert CA

Palm Desert and the surrounding communites have pause to celebrate. Cuppy's Coffee, Smoothies & More is now open serving hand picked, hand roasted espresso to the public. Look for this Cuppy's located at 73091 Country Club Dr in Palm Desert to host its Grand Opening celebration in the coming weeks.

Learn more on how you can become a part of fast growing family at www.cuppys.com and for information on the construction company, Elite Manufacturing visit their website at www.elitemfgcorp.com

WHAT IS "BUSINESS FORMAT" FRANCHISING?

Business Format Franchising vs. Company-owned Expansion

In business format franchising, the franchisor prescribes for the franchisee a complete plan, or format, for managing and operating the establishment. The plan provides step-by-step procedures for major aspects of the business and, anticipating most management problems, provides a complete matrix for management decisions confronted by the franchisees. The major advantage of buying a business format franchise is that the "system," the means for distributing goods and or services, has been developed, tested, and associated with the trademark. As a result, rapid expansion of a successful retail concept can occur more quickly than through company-owned expansion.*

Sales by business format franchisors continued to increase steadily throughout the 1990s and into the 21st century. In 2001, comparing business format franchising to product distribution franchising, business format franchising had about 4.3 times as many establishments, employed 4 times as many workers, generated 2.5 times the payroll, and produced nearly 3 times as much output.

Source: IFA faq

Cat Poop Coffee! Would You?

Considered to some as a delicacy to others an outright disgusting thought. Beans gathered by farmers only after they've passed thru the intestinal tract of a cat is considered to be the very best coffee available. The extent to which farmers harvest this rare coffee, makes it a very expensive cup of coffee ranging anywhere from $50 a cup and up.

What do you think? Would you or wouldn't you drink cat-poop coffee. Take part in our survey by clicking here.

Cuppy's Coffee College Underway

It's Monday and Coffee College is underway. Franchisees that are attending are within weeks of opening their locations.

While at Coffee College, franchisees will learn the nuances of espresso based drinks and smoothies. But that's not all, they will also learn operational processes of running their stores that will keep their customer's coming back for more. Marketing, customer service, procedural and business development training are just some of the knowledge these attendees will take with them after graduation from the week long course.

As a refresher, Cuppy's will send a field trainer to franchisee's locations prior to a opening date to assist with training and setup of their store. Soon thereafter, franchisees can set a Grand Opening date for their customers.

The attending franchisees are from the following cities and states:

• Athens, TN


• Savannah, GA


• Columbus, OH


• Salem, OR


• Carollton, GA

Withdraw From Mind Escrow To Grow Business

Entrepreneurs and people looking to go into the coffee business for themselves, either thru a franchise or from scratch, will greatly benefit from investing a majority of their time researching the specialty coffee industry. Information and knowledge leads to a better understanding of all the variables that go into the formation of a business. Be it financial, legal and/or marketing anyone will have a clearer picture once they've done their homework.

It can be compared to banking; deposits in to a long term CD (time) plus yields and interest (information) will greatly enhance your dividends (knowledge). The escrow that you accumalate over time, you will be able to withdraw or get a refund on your investment to grow your business more successfully.

There are countless resources for anyone looking to get into the coffee business. One valuable resource can be located at www.scaa.org and/or Google 'specialty coffee business'.

Cuppy's Coffee Opening in Athens TN

Nestled at the base of the Smoky Mountain Range, Athens TN will be home to one of the nation's fastest growing coffee stores,Cuppy's Coffee, Smoothies & More. Franchisees are attending required training at the corporate office wher they will learn the nuances of espresso recipes, operational procedures and to learn the business of specialty coffee.

Grand Opening events are being schedule for the location to be held at 2037 South Congress Parkway.

Join our growing company. Learn more at www.cuppys.com

A Coffee Bean Conundrum

Recently I was asked "Is espresso, coffee?" There have been several debates on this subject through out our offices but now I'd like to poise the question to you, faithful readers of the Coffee Conundrum Blog.

This is my response: Espresso is a nectar of the Gods. Truly an elixer to stimulate the senses and awaken the mind. Although derived from the arabica bean which is used to make coffee, espresso can be compared in certain circles to that of a wine.

The leap isn't all that far if you follow my logic...wine is derived from a fruit, the grape; cider is derived from a fruit, the apple and let's not forget our favorite orange juice. So to answer espresso is not coffee, it is a derivative of a fruit seed, arabica beans.

What do you think?

Is Espresso...Coffee? Looking forward to your responses and comments.

~Coffeeknut

Social Networking Sites? Marketing to Gen Y

The popularity of social networking sites like YouTube, MySpace and Facebook have opened the door to companies looking to capitilize on the Y Generation customers who frequent these locations. Viral marketing, word of mouth and buzzing are terms most experts commonly associate with this growing population. But merely signing up and showcasing your stuff will not attract customers to your location. There are other marketing techniques that have to coincide and interact with using networking sites to attract this youthful but powerful economic group.

Companies and experts agree that Y Generation will play a huge factor in the success of any given brand. Whereas TV programs like MTV and BET played a significant role in the success (or not) of brands of the previous generation, the internet, instant messaging and social networking sites are the medium of choice for Y Gen.

Companies and brands looking to capture a piece of this group, utimately will need to have a strategy in place that will address the concerns, likes and dislikes as well as the needs of Y Gen on their terms and on their turf.

One Cuppy's Coffee franchisee realizes the importance of social networking sites and was recently interviewed on his strategy to gain more customers by reaching out and meeting this young group head on. Read the interview here.

Cuppy's Coffee Coming to Westchester County

Jefferson Valley Mall in Yorktown Heights, NY will be home to a new Cuppy's Coffee, Smoothies & More kiosk. Franchisees there recently signed a lease to bring the growing franchise into the Westchester County area.

Cuppy's Coffee serves true Italian specialty coffee drinks, smoothies and a host of other products and pastries. Planning and construction will be the next phase in this location getting open to the public.

To learn more about Cuppy's Coffee, visit our website at www.cuppys.com

Cuppy's Coffee First Event with "Thunder Over Louisville" Festival

Look for the Cuppy's Coffee mobile unit to be grinding out true Italian espresso and real fruit smoothies at the Thunder Over Louisville event this month. The annual event is one of the nation's largest with an expected crowd total nearing 50,000 people a day. This event is one of many that kicks off the Kentucky Derby festivities.

The Derby Festival lasts just two weeks, but its impact on the local community is felt year-round. The Derby Festival is a non-profit organization, but it provides world-class entertainment for its customers. Thunder Over Louisville is the region's largest annual event, but the Festival makes virtually no financial return on the show. However, Thunder greatly benefits a large number of other local non-profit organizations. For instance, Thunder is the No. 1 fund-raiser for the Louisville Science Center, the Kentucky Center for the Arts, Louisville Slugger Museum, Easter Seals, Actors Theatre of Louisville, the Louisville Ballet and the Belle of Louisville. In addition, a recent study found that Thunder produced an estimated impact of $31 million for the local economy on both sides of the Ohio River. For these and many other reasons, the Festival remains committed to producing such an important community asset.

If you are a visitor to this event, leave us a comment on your experiences at the event and especially your take on Cuppy's Coffee. Have fun and enjoy the event.
Want to join our growing family? Check us out at www.cuppys.com

Training At Cuppy's Coffee College: Barista to Management

When you join the Cuppy's team we stand behind you throughout the entire process of opening your store. Coffee College is a unique experience in which you will learn all of the basics to run your store. In 9 days you will not only be educated in the craft of espresso making, but you will also be able to network face-to-face with other store owners and learn from top industry experts on drink preparation, marketing, operations and so much more

Courses include everything from barista training to operational budgets. Sales techniques are explained thoroughly and goal setting guides are provided to get you on the right track. Our marketing team provides you with everything you'll need to start your company off right and our management and employee reviews will provide you with the knowledge you'll need to keep your customer coming back again and again.

Learning the nuances of espresso based drinks and how to deliver it with great customer service are just more ingredients that goes into building your customer base with loyal and satisfied customers. Learn how you can join our growing family at www.cuppys.com

Massachusette Opening 2nd Cuppy's Coffee Soon

Western Massachusettians will now have reason to celebrate. Cuppy's Coffee will be opening soon in Chicopee, MA a city outside of Springfield MA. Elite Manufacturing is scheduled to start delivery of the modular building to Chicopee witin the next week.

Before this location, Boston was the only Cuppy's Coffee cafe in the state. The store located in Chicopee will be the dual drive thru modular building. Built for high volume traffic, the franchisees plan to meet the high quality of espresso making with the speed of service that customers want .

Cuppy's Coffee plans to open other locations throughout the state. When asked about Dunkin Donuts stronghold in the area.

"People will soon get to see and taste the difference in what a real Italian espresso should be." states Andi Davidson, PR Director at Cuppy's Coffee.

Look for the Chicopee location Grand Opening soon in the area.

Cuppy's Coffee in The News

People are noticing. Cuppy's Coffee, Smoothies & More is moving towards opening more locations across the US. This article in the GreenvilleOnline.com tells the story of one such opening in South Carolina.

Simpsonville got an extra shot of espresso last June when Steve Parker opened Cuppy's Coffee, Smoothies & More in front of Big Lots on Woodruff Road. Read the entire article...

All Roads Will Soon Lead To Cuppy's Coffee: Normal IL

Where Interstates 75, 39 and 55 all merge, Cuppy's Coffee will be there to serve up a true Italian espresso to commuters and travelers alike. Franchisees in Normal IL have signed a lease to open a Cuppy's Coffee restaurant.

Look for the new Cuppy's Coffee to open soon.

Manufacturing Falls in March

Recent reports show a slight decline in the manufacturing sector of the country. A majority of data presented in the report stems from the automotive industry which has seen record drops in earnings due to the slow economy and the high price of gasoline. The Wall Street Journal published this article on the manufacturing slump.

[The nation's manufacturing activity shrank in March, but at a slower pace than in February, and construction spending fell for a fifth straight month.

The Institute for Supply Management reported Tuesday that its manufacturing index inched higher last month to 48.6 from 48.3 in February.] Read more...

American Franchise Icons Cave In to Signs of the Times

The signs of the time is change. American icons such as Pizza Hut, Burger King and now Nestles Butterfinger are all jumping on the bandwagon of change. The new class of marketing experts are taking long established franchises and turning them on the time in an effort to be either politically correct and or capture the share of upcoming Y Generation consumers.

Will it succeed? Only time will tell. Some institutions such as Coke have waded out into this pool of reformulation, renaming and have fell on their faces. Consumers are a weird bunch and we await their outcries and/or acceptance of change.

For those who are at a lost, here are the changes.

Pizza Hut is now Pasta Hut, Burger King is adding the Whopper Bar, and Nestles' 80 year old Butterfinger will now be called The Finger. Marketing campaigns have already begun to educate the public to the changes.

Marketing Problems? Cuppy's Coffee Ideas to Get You Going

Cuppy's Coffee realizes that there may be problems associated with a slow economy. Here are a few techniques that may help your bottom line.

• Rethink the value of your employees-get them out their talking to their peers


• Team up with like minded business to cut advertising costs


• Knock on doors and give out drink coupons


• Don't get ripped off by vendors looking to take advantage of unfortunate companies


• Return coupons


• Give coffee to a fundraising activity


• Sponsor a little league


• Join community associations and network

The ideas are numerous. Keep your head up and continue to move forward.

Pizza to Pasta: Pizza Hut is Now Pasta Hut

Nothing stays the same. Business moves at the speed of light and keeping up with that light Pizza Hut after 50 years is changing its name to Pasta Hut. This comes on the heel of a successful pasta campaign featuring two new pasta dishes ready for delivery.

Read the entire article at QSR Magazine:

"For 50 years we've been all about pizza," says Bergren. "As we've prepared for the launch of our new line of Tuscani Pastas our customers have consistently told us these pastas are so good we should change our name to Pasta Hut. Starting tomorrow, Pizza Hut is Pasta Hut." more...

Marketing: An Expectation Economy

To successfully market to your target audience, it is necessary to understand the trends in which they, your audience, pays attention to. Watching and tracking cross-industry trends can help you better focus your advertising and marketing dollar more effectively. The following excerpts from an online article is a start to address capitalizing in on your share of this dynamic market.

Sure, we know that what you really, really want is to be told which trends will dictate your industry. If you're in automotive, you want to know about the future of transport; if you're in food and beverage, you're no doubt interested in everything healthy and green and organic. And of course you have a near-obsession with what your main competitors are up to. But in an EXPECTATION ECONOMY, business professionals should obsessively think and look cross-industry, as opposed to suffering from industry tunnel vision.

Here are three reasons why looking cross-industry isn't just great for inspiration, but a prerequisite for understanding how to fuel innovation in an EXPECTATION ECONOMY:

First of all, focusing solely on your own industry will obscure the fact that in economies of abundance, consumers are increasingly spending their 'play money' on goods and services that net them the experience, the indulgence, the excitement, the satisfaction they're looking for at a specific moment.

Secondly, limiting yourself to your own industry will make you miss important changes in consumer expectations, and will thus put you at risk of disappointing or even annoying consumers. Every industry has its own 'innovation competence', and the innovations they're bringing to market not only excite their own customers, they also shape their expectations for other industries.

Last but not least, if you're obsessed with what your direct competition is doing, you will always end up copying new concepts in your industry. Which means that, unless you're comfortable with being a 'smart follower', this is not going to unleash your innovative brilliance.

Now, all of this is of course not to say that you shouldn't actively track what's happening in your own industry. But in the next 12 months, do also constantly ask yourself: who are our other competitors? What experiences could our product or service be traded in for? And what can we learn from other industries setting consumer expectations across the board?

Tracking and understanding THE EXPECTATION ECONOMY is not a science; in fact it's a nice mix of experience, intuition, and knowing your sources. Grab your notebook and camera and start taking EXPECTATION ECONOMY notes and pictures.

Find competitors and non-competitors, big and small, who are setting consumer expectations much higher than you've ever been able to. Then compile what you think are now the global standards for whatever it is you do, and from there start thinking about new goods, services and experiences that at least incorporate those standards, and preferably outdo them.

With a little practice and perseverance, you will begin to see trends that you as an owner can utilize to capture your target market. Sometimes, being the biggest is not necessarily being the best.

(Courtesy: TrendWatching.com

Read the entire story at

www.trendwatching.com/briefing/)

Cuppy's Coffee Real Estate on a Mission

The process of opening your store is a very in-depth and carefully orchestrated strategy developed by Cuppy's Coffee to ascertain the data you need in finding that perfect location. This stage of the project can be the most time consuming and frustrating part of the process, but with the assistance of our trained specialists, we are dedicated to making this process a little less stressful.

When you become a Cuppy's Coffee franchisee, you will work along side an expert in the real estate field who specializes in locating, analyzing and researching A and A+ locations within your specific geographic area. Your specialist is a liaison between you and your landlord, helping you to find, negotiate and secure that prime location.

One key factor in the success of your Cuppy's store is the location. When you become a franchisee you will work one-on-one with specialists who know the real estate market. Most franchisors leave it up to you, and you alone, to find and negotiate your location. Cuppy's prides itself on providing you access to locations and real estate professionals who are dedicated to your overall success.

Working side by side with your specialist, you will have the comfort knowing she is communicating with top local brokers as well as the giants in the real estate development industry. These developers, such as General Growth Properties, Cafaro, Taubman and Simon, give you access to major locations and luxurious shopping centers throughout the United States.

To better understand what your real estate specialist can do for you, you must first understand the different models available to you, as well as their functions and descriptions.

Read more about Cuppy's Coffee Real Estate

"Pimp This..." BK Plans New Menu and Dining Experience:QSR Probably Not to Far Behind

It was just a matter of time. The success of TV reality series like "Pimp my Ride" and "Pimp my Truck" has trickled over into our fast food dining experience. The next generation of BK restaurants may include the phrase "Pimp my Burger".

Burger King announced plan to build a new version of their restaurant called the Whopper Bar that will sell a wider selections of signature burgers in a hipper more Gen Y atmosphere.

Menu items have yet to be finalized but expect names like Western Whopper, the Texas Double Whopper and the Angry Whopper (a burger topped with spicy onions) to rule the board.

If successful look for newer more hip names from all the aspects of the quick serve industry:

Pimp my Coffee, Mack out my Mac, Load my Latte; I can see the marketing gurus chomping at the bits.

Read more about Burger King's vision:

Over Coffee Obama-Bloomberg Talk Politics

Is New York's mayor a potential VP candidate for Obama if he wins the Democratic nomination? Reporters and onlookers all gathered outside a NY cafe as the two discussed politics inside eating and drinking coffee.

The NYC mayor has yet to endorse a candidate for the nomination. This may be also the reason for the Presidential candidate, looking for super delegates to support his nomination for the White House.

The Cuppy's Coffee Cart

The Cuppy's Coffee cart appeals to the most free-spirited franchisees. The cart allows franchisees the freedom to choose when, where and how long they would like to work.

In 2008 the coffee and smoothie cart business will be one of our fastest growing business models due to the fact that you can use it almost anywhere. It works great at high schools, football games, basketball games, little league tournaments, and for any kind of gathering or special event. In fact WedNet.com said espresso coffee carts are growing in popularity as a healthy and safe alternative to alcohol, and they add a classy touch to any occasion!

Elite Mfg and Cuppy's Franchisees Target Open Dates

Cuppy's Coffee franchisees are working towards getting their locations open to the public. The process of opening their stores happens when they've signed a lease and that is where the fun begins. Working with a local general contractor or an Elite Manufacturing Specialist, Cuppy's franchisee begin the tedious task of getting their sites up to trade dress standards. Currently Elite has over 20 projects in the works.

Thinking of Franchising: Here Are The Facts

Thinking of opening your own business? Here are the facts associated with opening a franchise.

There are an estimated 1,500 different franchisors (franchise business companies) operating in the U.S.

There are believed to be more than 750,000 franchise businesses in the U.S.

The franchising industry and businesses employs over 18 million people in the U.S.

In 2004, it is estimated that franchise businesses were responsible for over 1.5 trillion in economic

output.

The franchise industry accounts for 40% of all retail sales in the U.S.

A new franchise business opens every 8 minutes of every business day.

Approximately one out of every 12 businesses in the U.S. is a franchise business.

Franchise fact: More than 75 different industries use franchising as a means to distribute goods and services.

The average initial franchise investment is $250,000- excluding real estate.

The average royalty fees paid by franchisees range from 3% to 6% of monthly gross sales.

Most franchise companies have fewer than 100 units.

The average length of a franchise contract is 10 years.

Top franchise industry- Fast Food.

Top franchise company- McDonalds.

How to Buy An Espresso Machine: Coffee 101

Coffee franchisees have the luxury of not having to purchase their espresso machine, the corporate offices has already done the research and has determined which machine is best for the company. But what if you're a independent coffee shop entrepreneur? What guidelines do you have to go by in order to select the best espresso machine for your business?

Manufacturers and distributors have a slew of shiny, bell whistling machines, that if your not careful, can end up costing you thousands of dollars before you realize you've got the wrong machine. The following are some typical suggestions to follow when you're out looking for that perfect espresso machine that will be the bread and butter of your store.

1. Do Your Research -- The specialty coffee industry has its share of reputable consultants to lead you thru the murky waters of espresso machine selection. Their years of experience in this field can determine if a machine is the one or if its crap. Other options are for you to visit local coffee shops and check out what machines they are using. Owners are proud of their machines and can give you the ups and downs on any particular model. Make sure your visit stores that have different models and manufacturers to get a rounded view on which machine may be best for you. Coffee message boards, blogs, company web sites, and trade shows are another option to consider in your decision making process.

2. What is it you Need and Want? -- What you want is not necessarily what you need. These are two different criteria that you will need to address. The most colorful, aerodynamic and shiniest machine may be just barriers of what's inside and that may be a recipe for disaster. To navigate this mostly Italian maze you will need to sit down and logically determine your needs. First figure our how much volume you'll be doing. Next, the type of machine will dictate what quality of drink you'll be able to make. Traditional espresso machine vs Automated espresso machine. The traditional espresso machine requires a barista, a highly trained coffee bartender while the automated machine needs someone to push a button. Each has its benefits and draw backs but you will need to determine how much interaction you want with your customers. How fast do you want your lines to flow, consistency is important and maintenance of the machine all have to be taken into account.

3. How Much? -- Espresso machines are not cheap. Knowing your needs will eventually effect how much you're going to spend for the workhorse of your business. Espresso machines run between $12,000 - $19,000 for a good quality machine.. Automated machines fall into the same window with slight variations depending on the maker. Before settling into a used machine do the the math. Determine the payoff of your expenditure for a new machine vs the expenditure of a used one. Warranty and service issues will need to be addressed with both a new and used machine. Figure out how much coffee you'll need to sell to pay off the cost of your espresso machine. Information on that can be found at many specialty coffee association web sites.

4. Training -- No matter which machine you purchase, you'll need to be trained on how to maintain it, pull the perfect shop and how to keep it running smoothly. With such a large capital output to open your coffee store, you should take formal training classes on baristaship. That is money wisely spent.

Remember to ask questions, research diligently and to get the proper training. Doing so and you can honestly say "that was money well spent."

Multi-Unit Ownership: Are They Part of Your Plans?

Financial independence is on the mind of most franchisees and entrepreneurs. But what route should a owner take in order to achieve their dreams? This article from Franchise Magazine addresses this issue.

Franchisees usually operate in their own locality, meaning they bring knowledge of geographic locations and labour markets to the franchise, as well as their own managerial skills and financial capital. Through multi-unit franchising this local market knowledge can be fully exploited. A network of single unit operators is likely to exhibit a wider variation in performance than a group of units operating under the same administrative structure. (read the entire article)

Do Internet Postings Hurt Franchises: Quiznos, Cuppy's, Meineke?

Negative press for any business can be devastating. Look at the Quizno’s situation going on with disgruntled franchisees. I like Quizno’s sandwiches on my lunch break and it’s a welcome break in my usual burger/fries routine. What I don’t understand, and what may come to pass, is that this negative campaign franchisees and bloggers are causing may just cause the brand to go out of business. And where will that leave people who enjoy the Quizno’s menu? Subway…good but no sizzle.

The explosion of the internet has given rise not only to readily accessible information but forums for people to vent their frustrations and anger at companies, political figures, and even the government. Do these forums help or make the situation worse? Your feed back is aprreciated.

Is Weak Economy Effecting New Coffee Construction?

The price of gas is at an all time high, new home construction is the worst in years, and the financial collaspe of a major investment firm may be factors in the slow down in new retail businesses, like coffee stores, opening across the nation.

Fear of a recession and possibly a depression has banking institutions tightening their criteria on who receives financial approval for their projects. Many first time investors are seeing their source for funding drying up at an alarming rate.

These tighter restrictions are being felt by entrepreneurs nationwide looking to open a business or franchise. The growth projections of the economy has long been gauged to new homes and business openings, but now the experts have cause to be concerned. The cost of doing business has just gone up. Gas to deliver goods and materials is causing many business to file bankruptcy, lay off staff and/or close their doors. Most businesses are feeling the effect of higher gas prices, causing many companies to up their prices for goods like wheat, milk, construction material, coffee, and a host of other products which is then passed onto the end user.

President Bush's economic stimulus package may not be enough for businesses like construction, transportation and service oriented businesses to keep their doors open. The $1200.00 for married couples, $600.00 for individuals package may not be enough to help these struggling industies to stay afloat.

Commercial lending institutions are being more selective in which projects they will fund. For the small town entrepreneur, this selection process may not include their dreams of living the American Dream.

Expansion in California Planned by Cuppy's Coffee

A slow economy and credit fears has not stopped Cuppy’s Coffee, a Florida based franchisor, from expanding its coffee operation in California. Three new leases have been signed and with more on the way. The new locations located in Murietta, Lake Elsinore and Palm Desert are on track and are expected to open later on this year. California is already home to Cuppy’s Coffee in Murietta, Oceanside, and Chino.

Andi Davidson, PR Director at Cuppy’s, states that the specialty coffee industry has yet to reach a saturation point in the U.S. With the likes of powerhouse giant Starbucks revamping and others like McDonalds and Dunkin Donuts all vying for a piece of the market, Cuppy’s Coffee is positioning itself throughout the country as an alternative to corporate style coffee.

"It's all about the experience and quality of the coffee." Davidson stated.

Cuppy’s Coffee based in Fort Walton Beach, FL has 60 stores throughout the country open an operating, mostly franchises. For more information about Cuppy’s Coffee visit their website at www.cuppys.com

Medina Enterprises Accelerates Growth by Augmenting Management Team

Medina Enterprises, a Fort Walton Beach based holding company, announced today the newest addition to its executive management team with the hiring of Don Ochsenreiter as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Ochsenreiter brings significant financial and operational leadership to Medina Enterprises. With Medina anticipating tremendous future growth, Ochsenreiter’s primary objectives are to establish optimal capital structure for the company to facilitate its imminent growth, and to help Medina achieve this growth building a solid financial foundation.

Since its origins over 22 years ago, Medina has been helping grow franchises on a national and international level. In 2007 alone, Medina welcomed two new franchise companies to the family, Planet Wings and San Gelato Café. Medina also franchises for Cuppy’s Coffee and will add another franchise to its portfolio by second quarter of 2008. The corporate offices in Fort Walton employ over 100 people.

Before joining Medina, Ochsenreiter was President and CEO for Burton Golf, Inc. for the past 13 years. At Burton Golf, Ochsenreiter repositioned and grew the leading golf bag brand to the number one market share position in golf course shops worldwide. Before recently selling the company to a strategic buyer, he managed every aspect of the company through operational and industry change. Ochsenreiter holds a B.A. in economics from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.B.A. from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas.

“I am very excited about what Medina has accomplished in the past year and a half, and I am very optimistic about its future prospects,” said Ochsenreiter. “Medina is a great contributor to the local economy and it is refreshing to have such a growing company here that diversifies our local business community. I look forward to developing a long-term strategic plan to ensure the company’s continued success.”

For additional information on Medina Enterprises visit www.medinaenterprises.com

Cuppy's Coffee Set to Release New Cups to Franchisees

Rising costs and economic forecasts have led Cuppy's Coffee to find a more reliable and cost effective cup for its franchisees. Currently, Cuppy's had been ordering 3 different cup sizes and 3 different lids causing confusion within the company and this is just the hot cups.

Now Cuppy's Coffee is set to release a cup that works for both hot and cold drinks. The cup is also recyclable, giving cause to the environmental waste concerns of both the company and the public it serves.

The new cups features the IMx technology meaning that beverages served in the new cups maintain the ideal serving temperature of 155F to 175F longer than a single paper hot cup with sleeve.

Now instead of using two cups, one for hot and one for cold, the new cup can be used for both. An all in one cup! The insulation properties keep cold drinks cold without the need for a sleeve and while eliminating condensation from the outside of the cup keeping it comfortable to the touch.

One size is all that is needed for new cup. No need for different sized lids for the various sizes. This reduces cost to the franchisee by having a cup that can accommodate flat lids, dome lids and hot lids on all 3 sized cups. In other words each lid type is universal and fits all 3 size cups, allowing the franchisee to stock just one size, while simplifying the ordering process.

The new cup is fully recyclable which eliminates the need to double-cup requiring twice the energy, twice the waste, and emits twice the amount of greenhouse gases.

Cuppy’s Coffee Opens 2nd PA Franchise

According to the Patriot News, Cuppy’s Coffee has opened its first Harrisburg-area franchise location, and it’s second PA franchise (The other one is in Pittsburgh) Congratulations to franchise owner Jason & Joanne Winters.

Here is the story reported by The Patriot News

Jason Winters had a light bulb moment while in a coffee shop on business in New Jersey.
"I saw a guy sitting at a laptop and I thought ‘Why not open a coffee shop?’
This week, he, his wife, Joanne, and their son, Hunter, 8, are celebrating the grand opening of Cuppy’s Coffee Smoothies & More at 6416 Carlisle Pike, Silver Spring Twp. in the Silver Spring Square (with Wegmans and Target). The shop opened late last month.
Never heard of Cuppy’s? You’re not alone. This is the second one to open in Pennsylvania.
The 2-year old national chain operates more than 70 locations in the United States and Canada and is undergoing aggressive growth. The company aims to become a household name much like its counterpart, Starbucks, with more than 200 Cuppy’s scheduled to open nationwide this year.

Coffee is at the heart of the menu with standard drinks along with lattes, mochas, espressos and iced coffees. They blend smoothies in flavors such as mango breeze, berry delight, Cuppy’s colada and strawberry banana extreme.

Breakfast kicks off with egg, bacon or sausage and cheese croissants, French toast sticks, bagels and cereals. Lunch delves into sandwiches such as ham and cheese, turkey and bacon or roast beef barbecue along with salads and soups.

A kids’ menu focuses on peanut butter and jelly, apple sauce and milk, and a child-friendly section of the restaurant has toys, books, movies and learning laptops. The menu also includes baked goods — cookies, muffins, assorted cakes, cheesecakes, pies and chocolate-covered pretzel sticks.

Prices range from 99 cents for a bagel to between $5.95 and $7.25 for sandwiches.
The Winters will link up with nonprofit and community groups to do fund-raisers with a portable coffee cart. Wi-Fi is available in the restaurant.

Obamacans? Will They Be the Difference in A National Election

Scenario: Obama wins the Democratic nomination for President and John McCain the Republicans.
Question: Can Obama pull enough Republican and Independents to win the White House?

This can very well be the case in a national election. Rumors and reports are starting to sprout up in cyberspace about Republicans jumping ship to help elect a person who they believe will overcome the partisanship on Capitol Hill as in this report out of Deleware, Ohio

DELAWARE, OHIO -- Chatter bounces off the bare walls and checkered linoleum floor as Josh Pedaline and other Barack Obama supporters burn through their call sheets.

A map of Delaware County splays across a tabletop. Another table is laden with cookies, pretzels and other snacks. Volunteers sit elbow to elbow, pecking at cellphones and pitching the Illinois Democrat in advance of Ohio's March 4 primary. The scene is a typical campaign boiler room.

Except that four of the 13 dialing away are lifelong Republicans, including Pedaline, 28, who reveres Ronald Reagan and twice voted for President Bush.

"I am so sick and tired of the partisanship," Pedaline says before starting his night shift at Obama's outpost in this affluent Columbus suburb. "I don't want to be cheesy and say, 'He'll bring us all together.' But he seems like someone willing to listen to a good idea, even if it comes from a Republican."
read the LA Times article here

The Answer: Well more of an opinion. The key to the White House will very much be determined by the VP pick of each candidate. McCain will no doubtedly choose a running mate that will shore up his conservative base amoung Republicans. Probably retrieving those voters who jumped ship in the primaries. Advantage McCain.
Whereas the Obama Team's choice is still in the air. Talks of a Dream Ticket are still floating out there between Obama/Clinton. But what of John Edwards, he has yet to endorse Obama. He may very well be the VP candidate. That is another scenario. But for this post let's assume its Obama/Clinton. That matchup will he a force to reckon with. Advantage Obama

Cuppy’s Coffee, Elite Manufacturing Customer Complaint on Rip-off Was a Mistake Due to Mis-communications

In the world of business, miscommunications can happen. Sometimes leading to reports of scams and ripoffs. Like in the case of a customer of Cuppy's Coffee. The vendor, Elite Manufacturing, had tried unsuccessfully to contact the customer and here is where the miscommunication happened. The customer had posted on sites of the assumed mis-conduct but after learning the truth, diligently made a correction on these sites. Read the report and the correction here. The correction is at the very bottom of the page.

In other news, franchise giant Jack in the Box and other franchises report they stopped using tainted beef in a major recall issued by the USDA. The LA Times reports that the largest beef recall was ordered after learning the cattle were being treated inhumanely. Read more.

Commissioners Taking on a Name

Marketing or Just a Bad Choice?

Cuppy’s (the name) throughout the blogosphere is the talk of many aficionados of coffee. Pundits abound the name Cuppy’s has been referred to as childish and kid like to a great marketing strategy to get everyone talking. Even the logo has come under considerable conversation by the bloggers. So the question begs to be asked: What’s in a Name?

Millions of business around the globe take into account the public’s view and/or reception of a supposed name for that company. How will the name reflect the services or product of any given company? Choosing a name can ultimately lead to the success and/or demise of a company along with a few other factors. But when that name is objectionable can the courts and city fathers decide the fate of a company's name?

The question comes to mind from this article about a commissioner wanting to take on a coffee company for the use of its name.

You can read the story in its entirety by clicking on this link.

Cuppy's Coffee on Keeping Your Baristas

Another coffee house is opening down the block and you’re concerned about the impact that will have on your sales. This is not the time to worry. In fact you should welcome the competition. Americans love having a choice, but also love quality products, quality service and a quality experience. You offer all the above so the competition will be of no long lasting consequence. However you may want to shore up your quality service for good measure. If you recognize that you’ve invested many hours, not to mention money, in training your baristas that offer quality service, you should make every effort to keep your baristas grounded and loyal to you.
A well trained barista is very hard to come by, so your employees look more and more promising to your competition and they may try to recruit them. To avoid the migration of your baristas to the competition, a few simple techniques and people skills may be able to keep your investment rock solid loyal to you.
Take an active approach in connecting with your employees. Here are a couple of key points to be aware of:
· Your team members are people first, employees second
· Start each day off by connecting in a non-work way. Keep it casual. How are you doing? A lot of employees appreciate your interest. How is the team doing? Ask them for their input about the store. You will also gain valuable knowledge about other employees and operations that you may not have been aware of.
· How can I help? Offer to help. When you’re not afraid to get down and dirty, neither will your employees.
· Let them know you want them there and value them as a person. Acknowledgement of this magnitude will build loyalty and dedicated employees

Employees don’t quit jobs, they quit bosses. The secret to keeping good employees is simple, “Treat your baristas as people first and employees second” Jeni Habas, Director of Human Resources at Cuppy’s states.
In the end, keeping the good ones comes down to connecting with your employees on a regular basis. The great news is that this doesn’t cost a dime to keep your baristas continuing to give you and your customers that great quality service.

Cuppy's Coffee/Java Jo'z Spirit Emerges

In 2006 Cuppy’s Coffee was formed and is hoping to capitalize on the thirst of specialty coffee drinkers. Dodging potholes and obstacles along the way Cuppy’s Coffee has won awards for its franchise. Building drive-ups, cafes, and kiosk Cuppy’s approved vendor, Elite Manufacturing is dotting the landscapes with coffee stores across America. Elite Manufacturing works closely with Medina Enterprises and Cuppy’s Coffee to facilitate the entire coffee concept experience.

To some people the confusion with Cuppy’s Coffee and another licensing company is understandable. Assuming the leases, equipment and communications equipment from this licensing company was a complex transaction. Wanting to provide a stable work environment and relying on the knowledge of employees Cuppy’s Coffee also offered position to the staff. Licensees of Java Jo’z in this transaction have no financial or legal association with Cuppy’s Coffee, Elite, or Medina. The distinction between the two companies wasn’t clear by some who had relations with Java Jo’z that was defined in the transaction.

Doug Hibbing, president of Cuppy’s can see why the confusion exists. “We had the same location and phone numbers and a similar logo and this is why they think we are the same

Morg Morgan and Medina Enterprises Poised to Go to the Next Level

Medina Management and CEO Robert Morgan are making a bold move into the franchising community. Working with other franchises like Planet Wings, San Gelato Cafe, IDME and others, Robert 'Morg' Morgan plans to take these companies to the next level. The success of the Cuppy's Coffee business format has laid the ground work for these companies to succeed in their push for national exposure.

Other companies like YUM Foods have successfully incorporated several companies under their umbrella. Medina Management is poised to do the same for the companies listed above and many more.

I look for Medina Management to break onto the investor's radar sometime in 2008.

Cuppy's Coffee on the Move

Starbucks may be closing stores and cutting back on new store openings, but Cuppy's Coffee looks to me to be making a move. If you've been keeping up, Cuppy's Coffee stores are opening at a fast pace around the country. So far I've noticed these locations:

• Mechanicsburg PA
• Oceanside CA
• Temple TX
• Edinburg TX
• Longmont CO
• Kennesaw GA
• Tucson AZ

And that is all within the last 2 months. Do the math, that's 3.5 stores a month. At this pace look for Cuppy's Coffee to come onto the radar of many an entrepreneur and investor looking to secure their futures.