Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Pita Pit featured in the Denver Post

Recently Margaret Jackson, a reporter at the Denver Post, wrote a story about franchisors’ increased interest in the Denver market for expanding their brands. Due to certain characteristics, Denver and Colorado as a whole has been one of the markets that has seen an upswing in development and is an attractive market for franchises to grow. Pita Pit was one of the brand’s featured in the article and Corey Bowman, Pita Pit’s Vice President of Franchise Development, was interviewed discussing Pita Pit’s growth plans in the market and some trends seen in the real estate opportunities. Bowman also discussed some of the incentives that Pita Pit is offering to new franchisees entering the system to help entrepreneurs go into business ownership despite the economic climate. Below you will find a portion of the article and a link to read the full article as well.

Metro franchises rise as proven models hit the ground running
By Margaret Jackson | The Denver Post

Widespread job losses combined with strong regional demographics have turned metro Denver into a popular spot for franchises.

But even though many people who've lost their jobs want to go into business for themselves, getting financing remains a challenge.

As a result, some franchise companies are making special offers to lure franchisees, and many landlords are negotiating more favorable lease rates to attract tenants.

"When the economy lags, franchising sees an increase in the number of people becoming franchisees," said Corey Bowman, vice president of franchise development for The Pita Pit, a Coeur d'Alene, Idaho-based quick-service restaurant chain that is expanding in the Denver area. "People who were working and got laid off have a sour taste in their mouths and don't want to work for somebody else." (Read More)

Friday, July 23, 2010

Pit Pit Rolls Into Week 3 in New York City with FOX and Friends

FOX and Friends interviews Pita Pit VP of Corporate Development Peter Riggs, discussing the original concept, franchising, and breakfast food! This segment comes for Pita Pit's second week of their FOX and Friends summer residency.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Franchisee Opens Pita Pit at Young Age

The job market is tough these days for many college graduates. This has lead to a growing trend of college grads starting their own businesses and opening up franchises. Generation Y is full of entrepreneurs and Justin Kopelman of the Pita Pit at Clemson University is just one. He was recently featured in an article on AllBusiness.com where he shares his entrepreneurial story of opening his own franchise straight out of college. He also gives advice to other young people about following their dreams and how they can also be successful in becoming young business owners. The full article can be read here, while a portion is shared below.

The Truth About Buying a Franchise in Your 20s
By Sara Wilson

When Justin Kopelman was fresh out of college, he didn’t interview for jobs or choose a set career path. Instead, he tried his hand at entrepreneurship and purchased a Pita Pit franchise. At 29, Shawn Ligon struck out for business ownership and invested in a DoodyCalls franchise. Though only in their 20s, both Kopelman and Ligon are already their own bosses. And they’re not the only ones.

Over the past decade, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of young adults opening franchises, according to David Cahn, founder of Franchise & Business Law Group, a boutique law firm in the Baltimore area that primarily represents early-stage franchisors and startup franchisees. It sounds glamorous to be twentysomething and already own a franchise, but what’s it really like? We asked Kopelman and Ligon to give us the scoop. (Read More)

Friday, July 16, 2010

Pita Pita Returns to FOX and Friends for Week 2

FOX and Friends interviews Pita Pit VP of Corporate Development Peter Riggs, discussing the history of the company, exponential growth, and delicious food! This segment comes for Pita Pit's second week of their FOX and Friends summer residency.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Pita Pit Kicks Off 8-Week Segment on Fox and Friends

FOX and Friends interviews Pita Pit VP of Corporate Development Peter Riggs, discussing the original concept, franchising, and breakfast food! This segment comes for Pita Pit's first week of their FOX and Friends summer residency.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Pita Pit highlighted in The Intelligencer

Pita Pit was recently interviewed in an article in The Intelligencer in Doylestown, PA about the measures they had adapted to attract potential entrepreneurs into the franchise system. The article states that Pita Pit has reduced their initial franchise fee by 40% of the $25k it once cost, and limits royalties for the first two years of operation. These measures allow potential entrepreneurs to enter into the system at lower costs and help give them stronger incentives to join into a franchising system. A portion of the story is shared below, and you can view the full article here.

Programs lure franchisees
By: CRISSA SHOEMAKER DEBREE

Owning a franchise has gotten a little bit easier, thanks to the still-slumping economy and tightened credit markets.

Franchise companies across the country are reducing their fees, crafting financing plans and, in some cases, temporarily eliminating royalty payments, all to help prospective owners open their own locations or expand with more franchise units.

Alisa Harrison, a spokeswoman for the International Franchise Association, said the industry typically sees rapid growth during economic downturns, as laid-off employees decide to go into business for themselves. But the difficulty of obtaining credit is holding some people back and spurring franchise companies to be more creative. (Read More).