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Silly Franchise Concepts
By JLP | November 8, 2007
Every Thursday the Wall Street Journal has a section on franchises, where different franchises advertise their particular “opportunity.” This week’s was a year in review. Looking through the listings, I found some franchises that I don’t think I would touch. Of course some of them may not be a bad idea if you can locate them in an area with lots of people. Here’s the franchise opportunities that I would pass on and the reason why I would pass:
Pollo Campero
Description: Latin American chicken concept founded over 35 years ago.
Website: www.campero.com
Why I Would Pass: Although in some parts of the US this concept might go over well, most people aren’t going to know what the heck “Polo Campero” is. The concept looks like a Spanish version of KFC, Popeyes, or Church’s Fried Chicken.
The Great Frame Up
Description: Where picture framing is an art.
Website: www.thegreatframeup.com
Why I Would Pass: Stupid name. Enough said.
College Hunks Hauling Junk
Description: Your Junk Removal Specialist.
Website: 1-800-junk-usa.com
Why I Would Pass: It sounds like a franchise opportunity for a kid.
Robeks
Description: Premium Smoothies For Healthier Lifestyles.
Website: robeks.com
Why I Would Pass: Do we really need another smoothie company? Besides, do people still drink smoothies? Also, how long will it take before people attach the name “Robeks” to smoothies? At least with a franchise like SmoothieKing, people know what you are selling.
Red Rock Chili
Description: A chili restaurant.
Website: www.redrockchili.com - at the time of this writing the website was not working. Not a good sign!
Why I Would Pass: Too focused! By including the word “chili” in their name they are limiting themselves to cold-weather dining. I mean, who eats chili during the summer?
We Olive
Description: The finest place for everything olive.
Website: www.weolive.com
Why I Would Pass: WAY TOO FOCUSED! It sounds like a cool place to visit - ONCE! I can’t imagine people coming back time and time again. But, that’s just my opinion.
Finally, there was one interesting concept that might just work:
Dagwood’s Sandwich Shoppes
Description: Sandwich shop named after the comic strip.
Website: www.dagwoods.us.com
My Thoughts: This is actually an interesting idea. However, there’s a ton of sandwich shops out there so competition would be tough.
Okay, those are the franchises that I found in the Wall Street Journal.
What are some silly concepts you have come across?
Topics: Miscellaneous |
November 8th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
I’ve actually eaten at a Dagwood’s before. Universal Studios in Orlando I believe. I wasn’t impressed. Nice novelty place for the link to the comic strip, but the food wasn’t that great. We won’t go into the price since it was in a theme park.
November 8th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
Here’s one…
If Hooters were a barber shop: http://www.knockouts.net/
November 8th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
Well, Skyline Chili seems to be doing pretty well with that name. In Florida, no less! I used to take my dad there every Father’s Day. Yes, chili in June in Florida. I love it!
November 8th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
I think I disagree about Pollo Campero; I think its ‘foreign-ness’ is precisely it’s biggest marketing asset. Dagwood’s biggest problem is that it’s really not any different fro Subway, Quizno’s, yada yada. Pollo Campero doesn’t have that problem; it’s noticeably different from the start. Obviously, the success of the franchise depends on the local market, but in this case, being different is a good thing. I’m in the midwest, and I think they’d have a much easier time establishing themselves here than, say, Chick-Fil-A, or Fatburger (whose brands are better-known, but whose products are not significantly different than its competitors).
Of course, we don’t have them here yet, so I couldn’t tell you anything first-hand about the quality of the food, but I’ve heard good things about them from people on the west coast.
November 9th, 2007 at 7:42 am
I agree with Kimberly (we need more Skylines in Michigan)…. Chili is an all weather food. It’s the cooking of it that you don’t want to do in the summer to make your house all warm, but going to an air conditioned restaurant to eat it would be a little bit of heaven (being that I love chili).
and too focused? I suppose “Mcdonald’s Hamburgers”, “Wendy’s Hamburgers“, “Burger King”, “Taco Bell”, “Subway” are also too focused.
I’m reminded of the old John Heffron bit about “Boston Chicken” changing their name to “Boston Market” because they sold more than just chicken…. did people really thing that they couldn’t get something to drink there, too?
November 9th, 2007 at 12:27 pm
Interesting, I just went to a Pollo Campero for the first time this week (on East Coast). It does have a unique specialty chicken recipe, which seems to be less greasy / oily than KFC or Popeye’s etc. - perhaps a more healthy alternative? I think most people would understand what “pollo” means, otherwise their logo pretty much explains what they’re about.
I could see this kind of place getting more popular as people are trying to find something other than the “same old, same old”.
November 10th, 2007 at 9:14 am
“Also, how long will it take before people attach the name ‘Robeks’ to smoothies? At least with a franchise like SmoothieKing, people know what you are selling.”
By that logic, Quizno’s should be valled SandwichKing and Starbucks should be called CoffeeKing. And yet they seem to be doing pretty well. I do agree about your point about smoothies being a fad, though.
November 11th, 2007 at 11:38 am
[...] All Financial Matters: I’ve got relatives who’ve gone into franchising but I’m personally wary of doing so. Like JLP, I would pass on these franchise concepts as well! [...]
November 11th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
[...] JLP talked about how silly franchise concepts. [...]
November 11th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
[...] JLP talked about how silly franchise concepts. [...]
November 12th, 2007 at 11:16 am
Since you were looking…
I drink smoothies (though generally not while out - they cost too much!) and I eat chili in summer (and if you make it in the crockpot, it doesn’t heat up your whole kitchen).
Can’t speak for the others, as I don’t like olives, don’t eat fast food, and haul my own junk