27 days ago
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For many years, franchising rewarded momentum. A compelling concept, solid unit growth, and a polished sales presentation were often enough to attract development interest.
Not anymore.
As inflation, higher labor costs, tighter lending standards, and shifting regulations reshaped the operating environment over the past year, prospective franchisees have become far more selective about where they invest. Excitement still matters, but it no longer closes the deal on its own.
"The past year has really acted as a stress test, and not everyone passed," says Liane Caruso, owner of ****** oCMO and cofounder of Franchise ****** embly. "The brands that held up were the ones with lean, simple operations and realistic unit economics built for normal conditions."
#jolt #liane #franchise #assembly
For many years, franchising rewarded momentum. A compelling concept, solid unit growth, and a polished sales presentation were often enough to attract development interest.
Not anymore.
As inflation, higher labor costs, tighter lending standards, and shifting regulations reshaped the operating environment over the past year, prospective franchisees have become far more selective about where they invest. Excitement still matters, but it no longer closes the deal on its own.
"The past year has really acted as a stress test, and not everyone passed," says Liane Caruso, owner of ****** oCMO and cofounder of Franchise ****** embly. "The brands that held up were the ones with lean, simple operations and realistic unit economics built for normal conditions."
#jolt #liane #franchise #assembly
2 months ago
Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams suggested to a nodding former Vice President Kamala Harris during an interview Thursday that the American South is what the United States looks like as an authoritarian country.
On her "Assembly Required" podcast, Abrams, who ran unsuccessfully twice for governor of Georgia, spoke to Harris about the future of the Democratic Party and the challenges it faces, particularly in southern states.
"I grew up in Mississippi, came of age in Georgia, and I know you've been spending a lot of time in the South recently. You've been to Tennessee and Louisiana and North Carolina," Abrams told Harris. "And what I tell people when they want to understand what authoritarianism can look like in the U.S., I say, 'Look South.' We have lived under soft authoritarianism, I would say, since, oh, 1776."
"And what it has meant is that we have seen the warning signs long before the rest of the country, but we've also been the architects of the solutions long before the rest of the country understands it," she continued.
Blockbuster Supreme Court Voting Rights Ruling Ignites Redistricting War Across Southern States
#states #country #look #like
On her "Assembly Required" podcast, Abrams, who ran unsuccessfully twice for governor of Georgia, spoke to Harris about the future of the Democratic Party and the challenges it faces, particularly in southern states.
"I grew up in Mississippi, came of age in Georgia, and I know you've been spending a lot of time in the South recently. You've been to Tennessee and Louisiana and North Carolina," Abrams told Harris. "And what I tell people when they want to understand what authoritarianism can look like in the U.S., I say, 'Look South.' We have lived under soft authoritarianism, I would say, since, oh, 1776."
"And what it has meant is that we have seen the warning signs long before the rest of the country, but we've also been the architects of the solutions long before the rest of the country understands it," she continued.
Blockbuster Supreme Court Voting Rights Ruling Ignites Redistricting War Across Southern States
#states #country #look #like
2 months ago
CARACAS (AP) — Venezuelans are watching the start of a round of U.S.-backed talks between the ruling party and the opposition on Saturday with cautious optimism after several previous negotiations failed to bring reconciliation.
The latest talks follow the January capture of then-President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces, and will focus on strengthening democracy and restoring rights after nearly three decades of socialist rule.
The talks will be led by members of Venezuela's overwhelmingly pro-government National **** embly and a group of former opposition lawmakers who previously attempted to oust Maduro. U.S. officials say they will have a facilitating role.
"I hope these people (the government) finally understand that we won't move forward with the usual arbitrary actions; they must respect agreements," said Soraida Martínez, a 58-year-old homemaker. "Both sides need to make concessions for the good of the country."
Saturday's meeting comes nearly seven weeks after a gathering in Caracas between National **** embly chief Jorge Rodríguez — the brother of Acting President Delcy Rodríguez — and former lawmaker Dinorah Figuera, who briefly returned to Venezuela after nearly eight years in exile.
#talks #caracas #maduro #assembly
The latest talks follow the January capture of then-President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces, and will focus on strengthening democracy and restoring rights after nearly three decades of socialist rule.
The talks will be led by members of Venezuela's overwhelmingly pro-government National **** embly and a group of former opposition lawmakers who previously attempted to oust Maduro. U.S. officials say they will have a facilitating role.
"I hope these people (the government) finally understand that we won't move forward with the usual arbitrary actions; they must respect agreements," said Soraida Martínez, a 58-year-old homemaker. "Both sides need to make concessions for the good of the country."
Saturday's meeting comes nearly seven weeks after a gathering in Caracas between National **** embly chief Jorge Rodríguez — the brother of Acting President Delcy Rodríguez — and former lawmaker Dinorah Figuera, who briefly returned to Venezuela after nearly eight years in exile.
#talks #caracas #maduro #assembly
2 months ago
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A ghost gun company has been ordered to pay more than $100 million in the death of a Kentucky teenager who had purchased the company's pistol-building kit online.
The verdict — believed to be the largest ever against a gun dealer — was awarded by a jury Wednesday following a trial focused on whether the vendor, Husky Armory LLC, skirted federal regulations barring the sale of the gun-assembly kits to those under 21.
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EDITOR'S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org. Helplines outside the U.S. can be found at www.iasp.info/suicidalthou...
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The verdict — believed to be the largest ever against a gun dealer — was awarded by a jury Wednesday following a trial focused on whether the vendor, Husky Armory LLC, skirted federal regulations barring the sale of the gun-assembly kits to those under 21.
___
EDITOR'S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org. Helplines outside the U.S. can be found at www.iasp.info/suicidalthou...
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1 yr. ago
Loan: Tinubu seeks $21.5bn N’Assembly Approval, N758bn to Clear Pension Debt - https://wabusinessnewsng.c...
https://wabusinessnewsng.c...
https://wabusinessnewsng.c...
