Boston Chicken founder joins Totally Wireless.SAN JOSE San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 20, 1996--George Naddaff, the founder of Boston Chicken, has joined Totally Wireless, the nation's first retail chain dedicated exclusively to wireless communications wireless communications System using radio-frequency, infrared, microwave, or other types of electromagnetic or acoustic waves in place of wires, cables, or fibre optics to transmit signals or data. products and services. Naddaff served as Chairman and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Boston Chicken from 1988 to 1992, when he sold the company to a group of executives from Blockbuster Entertainment. In addition to taking an equity stake in Totally Wireless, Naddaff will serve on the company's Board of Advisors and help develop and implement a national expansion plan. "Totally Wireless is a cutting edge concept," said Naddaff. "We're living in the age of communications, and our delivery of those systems and the manner in which we will market them makes Totally Wireless unique. The world is looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. an incredible business opportunity in the communications field." "George Naddaff is widely recognized as the guru of franchising, and we're excited to have him on board," said Michael F. Merrill, President and Chief Executive Officer of Totally Wireless. "He brings the talent and experience we need to take this concept nationwide." In addition to cellular phones and pagers, Totally Wireless carries products ranging from two-way pagers and wireless E-mail to Global Positioning System Global Positioning System: see navigation satellite. Global Positioning System (GPS) Precise satellite-based navigation and location system originally developed for U.S. military use. (GPS) receivers and wireless Internet access See how to access the Internet. . Totally Wireless is currently the only company in the nation bringing together all the wireless options under one roof. With a dizzying array of wireless products and services already arriving on the market, customers are confused by the wide range of choices and the conflicting claims of vendors. By offering one-stop shopping, Totally Wireless cuts through the confusion and assists customers in finding the most cost-effective solutions available. Despite its high growth, the wireless industry is still very fragmented at the consumer level. With different cellular operators in every market, most carriers are limited to a local or regional influence. The introduction of new Personal Communication Services (communications) Personal Communication Services - (PCS) Telecommunications services that bundle voice communications, numeric and text messaging, voice-mail and various other features into one device, service contract and bill. PCS are carried over cellular links, most often digital. (PCS (1) (Personal Communications Services) Refers to wireless services that emerged after the U.S. government auctioned commercial licenses in 1994 and 1995. This radio spectrum in the 1. ) licensees in the next two years will further divide the marketplace. "You can walk into a Blockbuster Video or Boston Market Boston Market (known before 1995 as Boston Chicken), headquartered in Golden, Colorado, is a chain of American fast-food restaurants. Founded in December 1985 in Newton, Massachusetts, the chain grew rapidly in the early and mid-1990s, filed bankruptcy in the late 1990s, and anywhere in the country and know what to expect," said Merrill. "You can't do that in the wireless industry today." Naddaff has a 25-year history of founding and expanding successful multi-unit retail and service enterprises, starting in 1967 when he began as a Kentucky Fried Chicken Fried chicken is chicken which is dipped in a breading mixture and then deep fried, pan fried or pressure fried. The breading seals in the juices but also absorbs the fat of the fryer, which is sometimes seen as unhealthy. franchisee, opening 19 units. In 1970, he established Living and Learning Centres Inc., which he expanded to 47 units and led through a public offering prior to its acquisition by Kindercare Inc. In 1980, he founded VR Business Brokers Inc., which grew to a publicly-traded network of 350 brokerage offices nationwide. Naddaff continues to serve as Chairman and President of Business Expansion Capital Corp., the venture firm he founded in 1986 which was instrumental in launching Boston Chicken and Mulberry Child Care Centers. Naddaff is also Chairman of Food Trends Acquisition Corp., a publicly traded company publicly traded company A company whose shares of common stock are held by the public and are available for purchase by investors. The shares of publicly traded firms are bought and sold on the organized exchanges or in the over-the-counter market. which recently spent over a year in a highly publicized search for a new restaurant concept, culminating in the acquisition of the Washington, D.C.-based Silver Diner chain. Totally Wireless is his first venture in the high tech arena. Naddaff was attracted to Totally Wireless because he believes it is a unique concept that can be replicated. "I think we have a viable business opportunity to offer potential franchisees," he said. "The entrepreneur is also critical, and Mike Merrill has what it takes to pull this off. I personally like his strength and commitment." In 1994, Totally Wireless opened the nation's first retail stores dedicated exclusively to wireless products and services. Last year, Totally Wireless launched the nation's first wireless catalog. The company is seeking additional capital to fund its expansion. Totally Wireless is headquartered in San Jose and is privately held. For more information or a free wireless data catalog, call 800/96-WIRELESS (800/969-4735), E-mail: wireless6@radiomail.net or visit http://www.totallywireless.com on the Internet. CONTACT: Totally Wireless Maria Felipa, 408/366-5956 E-mail: wireless5@radiomail.net |
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