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Love the commute! Why home-based businesses are the hottest trend—and fastest moving opportunities– in franchising.

 HIALEAH, FLORIDA… 

The appeal of working from home isn’t difficult to see. Great commute. Setting your own hours and adjusting those hours to your lifestyle. Lower overhead costs and, in many cases, no need to purchase or lease space. Yet the trend towards more franchisors offering home-based franchises and more opportunity seekers opting for a franchise rather than simply starting their own home-based business is less about dollars up front and more about long-term success.

According to HomeBasedBusinessDevelopmentCenter.com, statistics show that 95 percent of home-based franchises succeed. By the same token, 97 percent of home-based, small businesses fail.

Hunter Stokes, President of Franchise Solutions, a seasoned franchise marketing company noted, “Especially in the last decade, there has been a real trend among franchisors to offer home-based businesses as a growing number of prospective franchisees look to career pursuits that keep them close to home. If the American Dream can be sought from a home office, why stand behind a counter or commute to an office?”

Natural Fruit Corporation Senior Vice President Susan Morris adds, “The home-based franchise doesn’t have the huge start-up costs associated with franchises that require a physical location, plus you get the benefits of working from a home office. At the same time, you’re not completely on your own like many independent small business owners are. Being a franchise owner should mean that you have a proven, marketable product or service to sell and support from your franchisor in running and marketing your business.”

Natural Fruit Corporation makes Chunks O’ Fruti® 100% natural frozen fruit bars. The company recently repackaged its franchise opportunity—including a distributorship to sell Mars ice cream products as well—to be even more attractive to people seeking a home-based franchise opportunity.

Each franchisee purchases an exclusive territory with a capacity for 1,000 freezers. Franchisees are then responsible for negotiating with merchants at high-traffic retail locations (e.g. convenience stores, health clubs, independent supermarkets) to place a Chunks O Fruti® freezer at the location, stocking those locations and acquiring new locations.

While the opportunity does require an initial investment for the freezers and product, storage space for product and the refrigerated truck for delivery can be leased. The typical Fruti franchisee can start their business for around $100,000 and run the business entirely from a home office.

“We’ve been researching franchise opportunities for a few years now with the goal of living on our ranch outside of Albuquerque in Tijeras and starting a family. The Chunks O’ Fruti® franchise provides an opportunity we can run out of our home,” said Jamie Linn, who along with her husband Roger, runs a Chunks O’ Fruti® franchise in New Mexico. “Probably more importantly, it involves selling an all natural, healthy product that’s good for you and that we believe in.”

Chunks O’Fruti® frozen fruit bars are 100% natural and contain real fruit with no artificial coloring or flavoring–the fruit is spread evenly throughout each bar by a proprietary manufacturing process. It’s also low calorie and there are more than 20 natural flavors to choose from.

Fruti franchises are available across the U.S. For complete information on Fruti ‘s franchise offering, please visit www.frutifranchise.com or contact Bruce Wildes, Acadia Business Advisors, LLC at 207 370 8210 or info@acadiabiz.com.

About Natural Fruit Corporation
Brothers Simon and Jorge Bravo Sr. founded Natural Fruit Corporation in 1985. Equipped with their vast backgrounds in food processing and production, the brothers set out to produce the highest quality, 100 percent natural, frozen fruit bars. Nearly three decades later, the company is still going strong, manufacturing more than 20 flavors of the Chunks O’ Fruti brand products—100 percent natural with no added colors or flavoring. All flavors and color come directly from the fruit! Chunks O’ Fruti brand products are Kosher-certified and gluten-free.

In 2009, Natural Fruit Corporation entered into an agreement for its distributors to offer the full line of Mars Ice Cream products, including Twix, Snickers, Dove bars and M&M brands. Natural Fruit Corporation began offering a revised franchise opportunity in 2010.

Fruti franchises are available across the U.S… For complete information on Fruti’s franchise offering, please contact Bruce Wildes, Acadia Business Advisors, LLC at 207 370 8210 or info@acadiabiz.com or visit www.frutifranchise.com.

For information on Fruti products, please visit www.nfc-fruti.com.

Love the commute! Why home-based businesses are the hottest trend—and fastest moving opportunities– in franchising.Read More

A 100% natural choice for a business advisor. National Fruit Corporation retains Acadia Business Advisors to sell Chunks O’ Fruti® franchises.

 HIALEAH, FLORIDA…

When Natural Fruit Corporation (NFC), makers of Chunks O’ Fruti® 100% natural frozen fruit bars, revamped its franchise opportunity, it had one goal in mind: find franchise owners who had the desire and talent to be successful. NFC passed on high-priced consultants and business brokers content to simply to move units and collecting franchise fees. Instead, NFC chose Acadia Business Advisors, LLC, a firm known for its ability to understand a business first and then tailor the franchise offering to attract desirable candidates.

“There’s nothing like Chunks O’ Fruit® frozen fruit bars. They are 100% natural, fruit is always the first ingredient, there is no artificial coloring or flavoring, and the fruit is spread evenly throughout each bar by a proprietary manufacturing process. It’s also low calorie and there are more than 20 natural flavors to choose from.,” said Susan Morris, senior vice president for Natural Fruit Corporation. “We wanted to work with an advisor who approaches our business with the attitude of a partner committed to our long-term success, before and after the franchise fee has been collected. Bruce Wildes and the team at Acadia understood the uniqueness of this product, how our franchisees had to not only have the capital but the drive to be successful.”

The franchise opportunity calls for owners to sell 100% natural Chunks O’Fruti® frozen fruit bar products wholesale to retail outlets like their local convenience stores, hospital cafeterias, schools, independent grocery stores, deli’s, family style restaurants, swim clubs and many other high-traffic locations. Through a special partnership arranged by Natural Fruit Corporation, franchise owners can also sell the enormously popular Mars ice cream products—like Twix, Snickers, M&Ms and Dove bars—on a wholesale basis to those same retail locations as a Mars distributor. 

Each franchisee is given an exclusive territory within a two-hour driving radius. Franchisees are then responsible for negotiating with merchants to place a Chunks O Fruti® freezer at the location, keeping those locations stocked and acquiring new locations. Each territory has the capacity for 1,000 freezers.

Start up costs, including the franchise fee, can range from $75,000 to $101,000 depending on how they choose to finance the business.

“The Fruti franchise opportunity is extremely attractive for a number of reasons. It doesn’t require a huge capital investment up front. You can run the business out of your home and tailor it to your lifestyle. Those attractive qualities also make it a challenge to find potential buyers who have the right tools and capital to succeed at the business,” said Wildes, the owner of Acadia Business Advisors, LLC. “Because we have experience in representing both franchisors and franchise candidates, we have a pretty good idea in what’s necessary from both a financial standpoint and personality standpoint to be a successful Fruti franchise owner.”

Adds Morris, “Bruce Wildes and the Acadia team have helped us to fine tune our offering, our approach to our offering and our execution of successful Discovery Days. The day-to-day dealings are professional, effective and stream lined.  Their use of automation as well as technology provides us with an avenue to deal with a high volume of franchisees economically in time and effort.”

With headquarters in Maine and offices across the United States, Acadia Business Advisors is a full-service franchise consultant and business advisory firm, serving clients throughout North America and international markets. Yet almost in spite of its broad reach, Acadia maintains a low profile and a reputation for honest answers and deliverable results.

Fruti franchises are available across the U.S. For complete information on Fruti’s franchise offering, please visit www.frutifranchise.com or contact Bruce Wildes, Acadia Business Advisors, LLC at 207 370 8210 or info@acadiabiz.com.

About Natural Fruit Corporation
Brothers Simon and Jorge Bravo Sr. founded Natural Fruit Corporation in 1985. Equipped with their vast backgrounds in food processing and production, the brothers set out to produce the highest quality, 100 percent natural, frozen fruit bars. Nearly three decades later, the company is still going strong, manufacturing more than 20 flavors of the Chunks O’ Fruti brand products—100 percent natural with no added colors or flavoring. All flavors and color come directly from the fruit! Chunks O’ Fruti brand products are Kosher-certified and gluten-free.

In 2009, Natural Fruit Corporation entered into an agreement for its distributors to offer the full line of Mars Ice Cream products, including Twix, Snickers, Dove bars and M&M brands. Natural Fruit Corporation began offering a revised franchise opportunity in 2010.

Fruti franchises are available across the U.S… For complete information on Fruti’s franchise offering, please contact Bruce Wildes, Acadia Business Advisors, LLC at 207 370 8210 or info@acadiabiz.com or visit www.frutifranchise.com.

For information on Fruti products, please visit www.nfc-fruti.com.

About Acadia Business Advisors, LLC

Acadia Business Advisors, a full service franchise consultant and business advisory firm with headquarters in Maine and offices across the United States, serves clients throughout North America and international markets. Acadia specializes in the franchise industry and also works with related non-franchise companies for similar issues. For more information, please visit www.acadiabiz.com or call toll-free 877-456-4197.

A 100% natural choice for a business advisor. National Fruit Corporation retains Acadia Business Advisors to sell Chunks O’ Fruti® franchises.Read More

A 100% natural choice for a franchise opportunity. Roger and Jamie Linn purchase Chunks O’ Fruti® franchise for Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Chunks O' Fruti's Roger and Jamie Linn
Chunks O' Fruti's Roger and Jamie Linn

ALBUQUERQUE and TIJERAS, NEW MEXICO AND HIALEAH, FLORIDA… 

As longtime members of the Stage Hands Union in Las Vegas, Roger and Jamie Linn know it’s the headlining act that draws the crowd. That’s’ why in selecting and ultimately purchasing a franchise, the couple made sure it had a star product to sell–Chunks O’ Fruti® 100% natural frozen fruit bars—in a place where they want to be: Albuquerque, New Mexico.

“We’ve been researching franchise opportunities for a few years now with the goal of living on our ranch outside of Albuquerque in Tijeras and starting a family. The Chunks O’ Fruti® franchise provides an opportunity we can run out of our home,” said Linn. “Probably more importantly, it involves selling an all natural, healthy product that’s good for you and that we believe in.”

Created by the Natural Fruit Corporation (NFC),  Chunks O’Fruti® is 100% natural  and uses real fruit with no artificial coloring or flavoring–the fruit is spread evenly throughout each bar by a proprietary manufacturing process. It’s also low calorie and there are more than 20 natural flavors to choose from. The franchise opportunity, administered by  NFC’s sister company, Natural Fruit Franchise Group (NFFG), involves franchise owners selling Chunks O’ Fruti® frozen fruit bars wholesale to retail outlets like local convenience stores, hospital cafeterias, schools, independent grocery stores, deli’s, family style restaurants, swim clubs and other high-traffic locations.

In addition to Chunks O’ Fruti® 100% natural frozen fruit bars, the Fruti franchise opportunity enables franchisees to also sell the enormously popular Mars ice cream products—like Twix, Snickers, M&Ms and Dove bars—on a wholesale basis to those same retail locations as a Mars distributor. 

Each franchisee is given an exclusive territory with a capacity for 1,000 freezers. Franchisees are then responsible for negotiating with merchants to place a Chunks O Fruti® freezer at the location, keeping those locations stocked and acquiring new locations.

“Beyond great products, this franchise offering gives the right person a growth opportunity they can tailor towards their lifestyle. You’re not tied down to a physical, brick-and-mortar location or a 24/7/365 schedule,” said Susan Morris, senior vice president for Natural Fruit Corporation. “We’re extremely excited to have Roger and Jamie Linn in the Chunks O’ Fruti® family and looking forward to big things from them in the Albuquerque area.”

The Linns have been married since 2002. Prior to working as a projectionist in the Stage Hands  Union, Roger Linn was a quarter back for several Arena League football teams. Since 1998, Jamie, a Las Vegas native, has worked as an IT consultant in the legal industry as well as a graphics programmer for the Stage Hands Union.

“Working for a Stage Hands Union, you worked when other people said it was time to work. With the Fruti opportunity, we have some control of our own destiny,” said Jamie Linn. “On top of all the great reasons to buy into this particular franchise opportunity, perhaps the most compelling one was the people. The people have been NFFG have been absolutely wonderful and made us even more ready to begin this new chapter of our lives.”

Fruti franchises are available across the U.S. For complete information on Fruti ‘s franchise offering, please visit www.frutifranchise.com or contact Bruce Wildes, Acadia Business Advisors, LLC at 207 370 8210 or info@acadiabiz.com.

About Natural Fruit Corporation
Brothers Simon and Jorge Bravo Sr. founded Natural Fruit Corporation in 1985. Equipped with their vast backgrounds in food processing and production, the brothers set out to produce the highest quality, 100 percent natural, frozen fruit bars. Nearly three decades later, the company is still going strong, manufacturing more than 20 flavors of the Chunks O’ Fruti brand products—100 percent natural with no added colors or flavoring. All flavors and color come directly from the fruit! Chunks O’ Fruti brand products are Kosher-certified and gluten-free.

In 2009, Natural Fruit Corporation entered into an agreement for its distributors to offer the full line of Mars Ice Cream products, including Twix, Snickers, Dove bars and M&M brands. Natural Fruit Corporation began offering a revised franchise opportunity in 2010.

Fruti franchises are available across the U.S… For complete information on Fruti’s franchise offering, please contact Bruce Wildes, Acadia Business Advisors, LLC at 207 370 8210 or info@acadiabiz.com or visit www.frutifranchise.com.

For information on Fruti products, please visit www.nfc-fruti.com.

A 100% natural choice for a franchise opportunity. Roger and Jamie Linn purchase Chunks O’ Fruti® franchise for Albuquerque, New Mexico.Read More

DirectBuy of DuPage County ranks 2nd in March 2011 for merchandise sales among U.S. DirectBuy Clubs.

NAPERVILLE, ILLINOIS…

DirectBuy of DuPage County, located at 1864 High Grove Lane in Naperville, Illinois has long prided itself in offering consumers in the greater Chicago area a brand new way to save on home improvement projects, furnishings, and accessories. The efforts in showing members how to get the most out of their DirectBuy membership resulted in DirectBuy of DuPage County ranking 2nd among DirectBuy Clubs in the U.S for the month of March 2011 in merchandise sales.

The leading home improvement and furnishings club with direct insider prices, DirectBuy of DuPage County offers products ranging from light fixtures to televisions to kitchen cabinets, from more than 700 manufacturers or their authorized suppliers at direct insider prices.

“A tough economy makes a DirectBuy membership even more valuable because you can stretch your dollar even further,” said Jeremy Vest, owner of DirectBuy of DuPage County. “In recent years, we’ve been able to help our members save even more by making our vendors available at Vendor Days and workshop so they can make wiser decisions and save even more on purchases.”

DirectBuy of DuPage County regularly hosts kitchen and bath remodeling seminars, and has conducted a range of informative workshops on such topics as greener appliances, window treatments and more.

Beyond its informational programs and the tremendous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products, flooring, and accessories, DirectBuy Club also offers design and delivery services to its members, as well as a listing of local contractors who offer installation services, many times at a discounted rate.

“Homeowners are investing more in their current homes rather than testing a shaky real estate market,” said Vest. “A DirectBuy Club membership makes it more affordable to make improvements that improve their home’s value and enhance their enjoyment of their property.”

Conveniently located at 1864 High Grove Lane, Suite 124 in Naperville, Illinois, DirectBuy Club offers consumers a comfortable setting where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

For more information on a DirectBuy membership, you can visit http://www.directbuycares.com.

About DirectBuy Club

Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped hundreds of thousands of families enjoy a better quality of life, enabling them to buy directly from more than 700 manufacturers or their authorized suppliers. Buying direct makes members’ hard-earned money go much further, while having the selection and choice not available at any retail store. Access to confidential prices, local suppliers, and unparalleled selection helps make members’ dream projects a reality. The DirectBuy Clubs serving the greater Chicago area are part of more than 130 locations throughout North America.

Consumers interested in becoming members may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting http://www.directbuy.com. 

Locations of the DirectBuy clubs serving the greater Chicago area are: DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates, 2200 Stonington Ave Ste. 150, Hoffman Estates, IL; DirectBuy of Chicago North, 6325 North Avondale Ste. 110, Chicago, IL; DirectBuy of DuPage County, 1864 High Grove Lane Ste. 124, Naperville, IL; DirectBuy of Lake County, 3900 Washington Street, Gurnee, IL; and DirectBuy of Tinley Park, 18400 S. 76th Avenue Ste. B, Tinley Park, IL.

To learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy Club membership, visit www.directbuycares.com.

DirectBuy of DuPage County ranks 2nd in March 2011 for merchandise sales among U.S. DirectBuy Clubs.Read More

Chunks O’ Fruti® introduce “Escape” from summer heat with Strawberry Colada 100% natural frozen fruit bar.

Chunks O’ Fruti’s Strawberry Colada

HIALEAH, FLORIDA…

In the late 1970s, Rupert Holmes came out with a chart-topping hit called Escape (The Pina Colada Song) with a very catchy chorus asking “do you like pina coladas?”. With its tasty new Strawberry Colada 100% natural frozen fruit bar, Chunks O’ Fruti® is hoping it has just as big of a hit during the summer of 2011 and beyond.

The Chunks O’ Fruti® Strawberry Colada eatures all natural ingredients—including chunks of real strawberries—and no artificial coloring. The fruit is spread evenly throughout each bar by a proprietary manufacturing process so real fruit is in almost every bite. The Strawberry Colada is also low in calories, has no salt or cholesterol, is gluten-free and kosher-certified.

“There really is nothing like our Strawberry Colada bar out on the market today with two very distinct flavors as part of one bar,” said Susan Morris, senior vice president for Natural Fruit Corporation, the makers of Chunks O’ Fruti frozen fruit bars. “When you throw in that it’s 100% natural, parents actually have a cool summer snack for their children—and themselves for that matter—that’s actually good for you.”

The suggested retail price for Chunks O’ Fruti® Strawberry is $1.29. All 20 flavors of Chunks O’ Fruti® 100% natural frozen fruit bars are sold at retail outlets across the US via a network of independent distributors and franchisees. Chunks O’ Fruti®’s other flavors include such mouth-watering favorites as Strawberry, Strawberry Cream, Coconut, Pineapple, Mango, Caribbean Mix, Chocolate Dipped Strawberry and more.

“Chunks O’ Fruti® truly are a snack you won’t feel guilty eating,” said Morris. “With our new Strawberry Colada flavor, you might even want to change the words to that song and start singing, ‘Yes, I like Strawberry Colada!’”

Just recently, Natural Fruit Corporation revised its franchise opportunity to sell Chunks O’ Fruti® frozen fruit bars via its sister company Natural Fruit Franchise Group (NFFG). In addition to selling Chunks O’ Fruti®, the offering includes a special arrangement with Mars to sell its ice cream products–like Twix, Snickers, M&Ms and Dove bars–wholesale to retail outlets like their local convenience stores, hospital cafeterias, schools, independent grocery stores, deli’s, family style restaurants, swim clubs and many other high-traffic locations.

Fruti® franchises are available across the U.S. For complete information on Fruti®’s franchise offering, please visit www.frutifranchise.com or contact Bruce Wildes, Acadia Business Advisors, LLC at 207 370 8210 or info@acadiabiz.com.

For information on Chunks O’ Fruti® frozen fruit bars, please visit  www.nfc-fruti.com.

About Natural Fruit Corporation

Brothers Simon and Jorge Bravo Sr. founded Natural Fruit Corporation in 1985. Equipped with their vast backgrounds in food processing and production, the brothers set out to produce the highest quality, 100 percent natural, frozen fruit bars. Nearly three decades later, the company is still going strong, manufacturing more than 20 flavors of the Chunks O’ Fruti® brand products—100 percent natural with no added colors or flavoring. All flavors and color come directly from the fruit! Chunks O’ Fruti® brand products are Kosher-certified and gluten-free.

In 2009, Natural Fruit Corporation entered into an agreement for its distributors to offer the full line of Mars Ice Cream products, including Twix, Snickers, Dove bars and M&M brands. Natural Fruit Corporation began offering a revised franchise opportunity in 2010.

Fruti franchises are available across the U.S… For complete information on Fruti’s franchise offering, please contact Bruce Wildes, Acadia Business Advisors, LLC at 207 370 8210 or info@acadiabiz.com or visit www.frutifranchise.com.

For information on Fruti products, please visit www.nfc-fruti.com.

Chunks O’ Fruti® introduce “Escape” from summer heat with Strawberry Colada 100% natural frozen fruit bar.Read More

DirectBuy Member Purchases Continue to Grow Despite Slow Economy

MERRILLVILLE, INDIANA…

DirectBuy, the home improvement and furnishings club with confidential dealer prices, has announced that the company’s more than 400,000 members throughout the US and Canada purchased nearly $750 million in merchandise during a 12-month period ending April 30, 2011. DirectBuy members have the collective buying power to purchase directly from hundreds of name-brand manufacturers or authorized suppliers to avoid hidden retail markups on a wide variety of merchandise for their homes.

The three quarters of a billion dollars in DirectBuy member purchases from May 2010 through April 2011 represents a 14% increase in order volume over the same period in the previous year, an indication that purchasing activity among DirectBuy members is continuing to grow – most notably in the areas of small appliances (38.7% increase), and home accessories (20.9% increase).

Through their unique business model, DirectBuy has enabled its members to save hundreds of millions of dollars year after year on products ranging from kitchen cabinetry, countertops, and appliances to furniture, flooring, electronics, and even jewelry. In today’s economy, those savings become even more important.

And while the economy is improving, many traditional retailers are still struggling to recover from one of the worst recessions in US history and a corresponding decrease in consumer purchasing. In contrast, the information released by DirectBuy suggests that not only are consumers continuing to invest in their homes, but that they are doing so at an increasing rate thanks to the confidential dealer pricing available through DirectBuy membership.

In fact, in the category of Home Improvement alone, DirectBuy members purchased nearly $350 million in merchandise, while also investing heavily in Home Furnishings. These numbers include a 20.3% increase in merchandise purchases related to Home Entertainment Furnishings.

The company’s purchasing success stems, in part, from its strong relationships with more than 1,000 manufacturers or authorized suppliers in the US and Canada and large selection of more than one million products – all available at confidential dealer prices. DirectBuy also recently re-launched its e-commerce portal – members.directbuy.com – that gives members the ability to browse, price, compare, and purchase merchandise online. As a result, members are now purchasing even more merchandise online thanks to the improved site and its speedier search returns, increased product availability, and user-friendly interface.

Along with a new website, DirectBuy has also beefed up its member email communications and expanded its Club Exclusive email offers that deliver savings from their suppliers that exceed the everyday values already available to members. The company noted a more than 25% increase in online order volume following the site enhancements and increased email communications, and that number is expected to rise as the company invests further in additional technology advances and membership offerings.

DirectBuy also recently announced that it is bringing back the popular Free 30-Day Membership program, which gives families the opportunity to “test drive” membership and make purchases prior to deciding on a membership plan. Consumers and families interested in learning more about DirectBuy and receiving a certificate for a Free 30-Day Membership are invited to visit www.directbuy.com/free30 to sign up.

About DirectBuy

Since 1971, DirectBuy has been showing thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything for in and around their homes – from furnishings, home improvement and flooring, to entertainment and outdoor products, accessories, and much more. With more than 130 locations in North America, DirectBuy offers its members access to approximately 700 brand-name manufacturers and their authorized suppliers in the US, and more than 500 brand-name manufacturers and their authorized suppliers in Canada. In addition, DirectBuy clubs boast a team of designers to help members with their purchases, as well as provide access to a roster of hand-selected contractors to help expedite members’ projects.

Visit us on www.facebook.com/directbuy

DirectBuy Member Purchases Continue to Grow Despite Slow EconomyRead More

DirectBuy Free 30-Day Membership Back by Popular Demand

Limited time promotion gives families the ability to “test drive” DirectBuy’s unique business model and savings prior to purchasing a membership

MERRILLVILLE, IN…

DirectBuy, the home improvement and furnishings club with confidential dealer prices, has announced that the company and its more than 130 locations throughout North America will once again begin offering free 30-Day Memberships to potential members.

DirectBuy has more than 400,000 members throughout the US and Canada who have the collective buying power to purchase directly from hundreds of name-brand manufacturers or authorized suppliers to avoid hidden retail markups on a wide variety of merchandise for their homes. Through their unique business model, DirectBuy has enabled its members to save hundreds of millions of dollars year after year on products ranging from kitchen cabinetry, countertops, and appliances to furniture, flooring, electronics, and even jewelry. In today’s economy, those savings become even more important.

“The very nature of our concept is powerful, in any economy,” said DirectBuy Executive Vice President Bart Fesperman. “What we were seeing was our members faring much better than most families because of their memberships with DirectBuy and the savings they were experiencing. Even with the economy being slow, our members are still able to buy the things they need for their home. And now, back by popular demand, our free 30-day membership offer helps us to share this security with even more families.”

The promotion will run through July 31, 2011 and allows potential members to gain firsthand experience of the benefits of belonging to DirectBuy:

As part of their Free 30-Day Membership, potential members will be able to visit their local DirectBuy club and begin shopping for the things they need to turn their house into a home, or complete that elusive home improvement project – with the caveat of a $1,000 cap on spending during the 30 days. After seeing the type of savings and value that buying direct offers, families can then select a longer-term membership that provides even more benefits, such as access to the company’s online shopping site – members.directbuy.com – and weekly Club Exclusive email offers from DirectBuy suppliers that provide savings beyond everyday values.

The company also recently introduced new varying membership terms to accommodate a wider range of needs and budgets and allow even more families to experience the benefits of belonging to DirectBuy.

“When guests come in to our club, they aren’t deciding anymore if DirectBuy membership is right for them,” said Chris Beile, a DirectBuy franchisee in Dallas. “Instead, guests are now choosing which membership plan best suits their needs.”

Consumers and families interested in learning more about DirectBuy and receiving a certificate for a Free 30-Day Membership are invited to visit www.directbuy.com/free30 to sign up.

About DirectBuy

Since 1971, DirectBuy has been showing thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything for in and around their homes – from furnishings, home improvement and flooring, to entertainment and outdoor products, accessories, and much more. With more than 130 locations in North America, DirectBuy offers its members access to approximately 700 brand-name manufacturers and their authorized suppliers in the US, and more than 500 brand-name manufacturers and their authorized suppliers in Canada. In addition, DirectBuy clubs boast a team of designers to help members with their purchases, as well as provide access to a roster of hand-selected contractors to help expedite members’ projects.

Visit us on www.facebook.com/directbuy

DirectBuy Free 30-Day Membership Back by Popular DemandRead More

The sweet (and healthy) taste of success…Natural Fruit Franchise Group’s Business Builder Program makes selling 100% natural Chunks O’ Fruti® frozen fruit bars an even sweeter deal for hardworking franchisees.

HIALEAH, FLORIDA…

When Natural Fruit Franchise Group (NFFG) launched its franchise offering, it had all the necessary ingredients for success. A relatively low franchise fee. No royalty fees. And two great lines of products—NFFG’s 100% natural Chunks O’ Fruti® frozen fruit bars and Mars ice cream products—to capitalize on the trend towards “better for you” foods and America’s love of ice cream and desserts. The real sweetener to the deal is NFFG’s Business Builder program, which reinvests a percentage of product sales towards the purchase of additional freezers for successful franchise owners.

“We’re looking to support the growth of our franchisees. For us it’s all about the sale of our products,” said Susan Morris, senior vice president for Natural Fruit Corporation (NFC). “The best way to do that is to attract franchise owners who have the initial investment and, just as importantly, the drive to get out there and place freezers that move our products.”

The Business Builder Program enables new franchise owners to lease the initial 78 freezers, truck and storage space to get their business off the ground. As the franchise owner places those freezers in retail outlets like their local convenience stores, hospital cafeterias, schools, independent grocery stores, deli’s, family style restaurants, swim clubs and other high-traffic locations, NFC and Mars will reinvest part of the product sales towards freezer purchases after the initial 78 freezers have been placed.

“In effect, we’re giving our franchise owners the opportunity to purchase freezers after the initial 78 have been placed, funded by the sales from those freezers.  It does not cost the franchisee any additional capital; Natural Fruit and Mars also significantly invest in those freezers,” said Morris.

NFFG offers placement assistance and marketing support to help franchise owners identify retail outlets for their freezers as part of its franchise offering. It also provides assistance with leasing storage space for the initial inventory of Mars ice cream products, which include perennial favorites like Twix, Snickers, M&Ms and Dove bars, and Chunks O’ Fruti® frozen fruit bars.

Chunks O’Fruti® frozen fruit bars are 100% natural, with no added color or flavors; all the flavor and color come directly from the fruits. The fruit is spread evenly throughout each bar by a proprietary manufacturing process so real fruit is in almost every bite. Low in calories and actually good for you, Chunks O’ Fruti® offers 20 mouthwatering flavors to choose from including: strawberry, pineapple, lime, strawberry colada and coconutto name a few.

“With people paying closer attention to eating better, particularly parents being more mindful of the foods their children eat, the upside to the Chunks O’ Fruti® franchise opportunity is substantial,” said Morris. “Couple that with the fact that 90 percent of US households consume ice cream and frozen desserts and that sales for the packaged snacks industry are projected to rise from $68 billion in 2008 to $82 billion by 2013 and you have a home-based franchise opportunity where the right franchisee can enjoy success for a long time to come.”

The initial investment, including financing, can range from $75,000 to $101,000 depending on whether you lease or purchase trucks and storage space. The initial offering includes: 

  • Franchise Fee $25,000
  • Minimum of 75 freezers (lease option: 3 years @ $24.54/mo.  $1 buyout)
  • Truck with freezer body (lease option)
  • Leased space in freezer warehouse
  • Computer hardware and software
  • Initial Fruti® and Mars products inventory
  • Initial training and freezer placement service
  • Sales and marketing materials
  • Mobile route management equipment and software

Each franchisee is given an exclusive territory with a capacity for 1,000 freezers. Franchisees are then responsible for negotiating with merchants to place a Chunks O Fruti® freezer at the location, keeping those locations stocked and acquiring new locations.

Fruti® franchises are available across the U.S. For complete information on Fruti®’s franchise offering, please visit www.frutifranchise.com or contact Bruce Wildes, Acadia Business Advisors, LLC at 207 370 8210 or info@acadiabiz.com.

About Natural Fruit Corporation

Brothers Simon and Jorge Bravo Sr. founded Natural Fruit Corporation in 1985. Equipped with their vast backgrounds in food processing and production, the brothers set out to produce the highest quality, 100 percent natural, frozen fruit bars. Nearly three decades later, the company is still going strong, manufacturing more than 20 flavors of the Chunks O’ Fruti® brand products—100 percent natural with no added colors or flavoring. All flavors and color come directly from the fruit! Chunks O’ Fruti® brand products are Kosher-certified and gluten-free.

In 2009, Natural Fruit Corporation entered into an agreement for its distributors to offer the full line of Mars Ice Cream products, including Twix, Snickers, Dove bars and M&M brands. Natural Fruit Corporation began offering a revised franchise opportunity in 2010.

Fruti franchises are available across the U.S… For complete information on Fruti’s franchise offering, please contact Bruce Wildes, Acadia Business Advisors, LLC at 207 370 8210 or info@acadiabiz.com or visit www.frutifranchise.com.

For information on Fruti products, please visit www.nfc-fruti.com.

The sweet (and healthy) taste of success…Natural Fruit Franchise Group’s Business Builder Program makes selling 100% natural Chunks O’ Fruti® frozen fruit bars an even sweeter deal for hardworking franchisees.Read More

A sweet (and healthy) franchise opportunity…Natural Fruit Corporation, makers of 100% natural Chunks O’ Fruti® frozen fruit bars, offers royalty-free franchise opportunity

Fruti frozen fruit barsHIALEAH, FLORIDA…

Americans have a sweet tooth. We also know we should be eating better. Parents, in particular, want to give their children (and themselves for that matter) healthier options, especially for snacks and desserts. With its revised franchise offering, the Natural Fruit Corporation is giving go-getters the opportunity to capitalize on this growing trend by selling its 100% natural Chunks O’Fruti® frozen fruit bar products wholesale to retail outlets like their local convenience stores, hospital cafeterias, schools, independent grocery stores, deli’s, family style restaurants, swim clubs and many other high-traffic locations.

Sweetening the pot figuratively and literally for this franchise opportunity is a special partnership Natural Fruit Corporation entered into with Mars, the candy and ice cream product juggernaut. So, in addition to appealing to the “better for you” market with Chunk O’ Fruti® products, franchisees can also sell the enormously popular Mars ice cream products—like Twix, Snickers, M&Ms and Dove bars—on a wholesale basis to those same retail locations as a Mars distributor.

“There is nothing like Chunks O’Fruti® on the market today. It’s 100% natural, fruit is always the first ingredient, there is no artificial coloring or flavoring, and the fruit is spread evenly throughout each bar by a proprietary manufacturing process. It’s also low calorie and there are more than 20 natural flavors to choose from. It is precisely what health conscious consumers want for their children and themselves,” said Susan Morris, senior vice president for Natural Fruit Corporation. “Add to that a name brand like Mars and their incredible ice cream products for the folks who can’t quite kick their sweet tooth and you’ve got a can’t miss offering that’s going to appeal to practically every consumer.”

Morris adds, “Beyond great products, this franchise offering gives the right person a growth opportunity they can tailor towards their lifestyle. You’re not tied down to a physical, brick-and-mortar location or a 24/7/365 schedule. If you want to run your business Monday through Friday, 9-to-5, you can do that. You can be hands on and deliver product and freezers yourself or hire a staff and delegate. It’s really up to you.”

Start up costs, including the franchise fee, can range from $75,000 to $101,000 depending on whether you lease or purchase trucks and storage space. The initial offering includes:

• Franchise Fee $25,000

• Minimum of 75 freezers (lease option: 3 years @ $24.54/mo. $1 buyout)

• Truck with freezer body (lease option)

• Leased space in freezer warehouse

• Computer hardware and software

• Initial Fruti® and Mars products inventory

• Initial training and freezer placement service

• Sales and marketing materials

• Mobile route management equipment and software

Each franchisee is given an exclusive territory within a two-hour driving radius. Franchisees are then responsible for negotiating with merchants to place a Chunks O’ Fruti® freezer at the location, keeping those locations stocked and acquiring new locations. Each territory has the capacity for 1,000 freezers.

“Plain and simple, we want our franchisees to succeed. That’s why we don’t burden them with the additional expense of royalty fees and provide assistance in buying or leasing storage space and transportation and how to market their business,” said Morris. “We also offer an incentive program that rewards franchisees who place 75 freezers with a substantially discounted rate on the next 125 freezers.”

Fruti® franchises are available across the U.S. For complete information on Fruti®’s franchise offering, please visit www.frutifranchise.comor contact Bruce Wildes, Acadia Business Advisors, LLC at 207 370 8210 or info@acadiabiz.com.

About Natural Fruit Corporation

Brothers Simon and Jorge Bravo Sr. founded Natural Fruit Corporation in 1985. Equipped with their vast backgrounds in food processing and production, the brothers set out to produce the highest quality, 100 percent natural, frozen fruit bars. Nearly three decades later, the company is still going strong, manufacturing more than 20 flavors of the Chunks O’ Fruti® brand products—100 percent natural with no artificial colors or flavoring. Chunks O’ Fruti® brand products are Kosher-certified and gluten-free.

In 2009, Natural Fruit Corporation entered into an agreement for its distributors to offer Mars Ice Cream products, including Twix, Snickers, Dove bars and other Mars ice cream favorites. Natural Fruit Corporation began offering a revised franchise opportunity in 2010.

Fruti franchises are available across the U.S… For complete information on Fruti’s franchise offering, please contact Bruce Wildes, Acadia Business Advisors, LLC at 207 370 8210 or info@acadiabiz.comor visit www.frutifranchise.com.

For information on Fruti products, please visit www.nfc-fruti.com.

A sweet (and healthy) franchise opportunity…Natural Fruit Corporation, makers of 100% natural Chunks O’ Fruti® frozen fruit bars, offers royalty-free franchise opportunityRead More