Franchisers: L.A. County-based firms, ranked by number of franchised units.THERE was little movement at the top of the list of L.A.-based franchisers, with the Top 7 companies holding their rankings. The highest debut was made by sandwich Sandwich, city, Canada Sandwich, Ont., Canada, part (since 1935) of the city of Windsor. Sandwich, town, England Sandwich, town (1991 pop. 4,184), Kent, SE England, on the Stour River. chain Tacone, which came in at No. 8. The quick service restaurant brand started franchising in 2001 and has added more than 100 stores in the past year, bringing its total to 128 franchises. Also debuting on this year's list is No. 12 iSold It. The Pasadena-based franchiser of drop-off eBay (eBay, Inc., San Jose, CA, www.ebay.com) The major auction service on the Web. eBay popularized the concept of buying and selling online, and both individuals and commercial enterprises list items for sale. sales operations was founded in 2003 and opened its first franchises last year. It has expanded to 100 stores nationwide and signed franchise agreements for another 200. ISold It customers bring items to the store, where they are auctioned, packaged and shipped. A check is then mailed to the customer, minus a commission. Items that are not sold can be picked up by the owner or donated do·nate v. do·nat·ed, do·nat·ing, do·nates v.tr. To present as a gift to a fund or cause; contribute. v.intr. To make a contribution to a fund or cause. to charity. Overall, the 25 largest L.A.-based franchisers have 7,629 franchised units, up 4.1 percent over last year. Only four franchise companies reported lower unit totals this year. Closet Factory dropped six units and Collegiate col·le·giate adj. 1. Of, relating to, or held to resemble a college. 2. Of, for, or typical of college students. 3. Of or relating to a collegiate church. Sports of America America [for Amerigo Vespucci], the lands of the Western Hemisphere—North America, Central (or Middle) America, and South America. The world map published in 1507 by Martin Waldseemüller is the first known cartographic use of the name. dropped eight units in 2004. Both fell four spots to Nos. 14 and 15, respectively. THE PACESETTER MERLE merle a pattern of coat color pigmentation with dark, irregular blotches on a lighter background. Seen in some Collies and Welsh corgis. In shorthaired dogs, e.g. Great Danes and Dachshunds, the similar pattern is called dapple. NORMAN Norman, city (1990 pop. 80,071), seat of Cleveland co., central Okla.; inc. 1891. It is the center of a livestock region. Oil wells, food processing, and printing and publishing contribute to the economy, and there is diverse manufacturing (machinery, communication COSMETICS cosmetics, preparations externally applied to change or enhance the beauty of skin, hair, nails, lips, and eyes. The use of body paint for ornamental and religious purposes has been common among primitive peoples from prehistoric times (see body-marking). INC inc - /ink/ increment, i.e. increase by one. Especially used by assembly programmers, as many assembly languages have an "inc" mnemonic. Antonym: dec. . MERLE Norman Cosmetics Inc., the perennial perennial, any plant that under natural conditions lives for several to many growing seasons, as contrasted to an annual or a biennial. Botanically, the term perennial leader among L.A.-based franchisers ranked by franchised units, added 113 units in 2004, bringing its total to 1,924 franchised locations in North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. . Strongest growth came from the South and Southeast Southeast or south east is the ordinal direction halfway between south and east. It the opposite of northwest. Southeast or South East can refer to: The Los Angeles-based firm franchises studios but does not collect franchise fees or royalties Not to be confused with Royal family. Royalties (sometimes, running royalties) are usage-based payments made by one party (the "licensee") to another (the "licensor") for ongoing use of an asset, most typically an intellectual property (IP) right. . The greatest source of revenues comes from selling its product line, entirely manufactured at its Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. headquarters, to franchisees. "We manufacture everything locally," said Carol LaPorta, vice president of studio development. Despite the possibility of lower manufacturing costs overseas, Merle Norman Cosmetics has no plans to move those functions out of Los Angeles. "We have found that the French mystique mys·tique n. An aura of heightened value, interest, or meaning surrounding something, arising from attitudes and beliefs that impute special power or mystery to it: the cowboy mystique; the mystique of existentialism. is no longer as important for cosmetics consumers, who feel a sense of patriotism Patriotism See also Chauvinism, Loyalty. America, Captain comic-strip character known as the “protector of the American way.” [Comics: Horn, 155–156] American elm traditional symbol of American patriotism. when buying American-made products," said LaPorta. Jack Boison Nethercutt, chairman and co-founder of the privately held business, died last month at age 91. He helped establish the company with his aunt AUNT, domestic relations. The sister of one's father or mother; she is a relation in the third degree. Vide 2 Com. Dig. 474 Dane's Ab. c. 126, a. 3. Sec. 4. , Merle Norman in 1931. His son, Jack Nethercutt II, is expected to take over as chairman.
Rank Company (Ranking in 2004) Units
* name * franchises
* address total/L.A.
* company-owned
total/L.A
1 Merle Norman Cosmetics (1) 1,924/14
9130 Bellanca Ave. 6/2
Los Angeles 90045
2 Hilton Hotels Corp. (2) (1) 1,893/22
9336 Civic Center Drive 315 (2)/10
Beverly Hills 90210
3 IHOP Corp. (3) 1,177/NA
450 N. Brand Blvd. 7/1
Glendale 91203
4 Gold's Gym Franchising Inc. (4) 550/7
358 Hampton Drive 39/3
Venice 90291
5 World Gym International Inc. (5) 310/11
3223 Washington Blvd. 0/0
Marina del Rey 90292
6 Wetzel's Pretzels (6) 210/17
35 Hugus Alley, Suite 300 6/2
Pasadena 91103
7 Sizzler USA (7) 193/68
15301 Ventura Blvd., Bldg. B, Suite 300 43/23
Sherman Oaks 91403
8 Tacone 128/21
950 S. Flower St., Suite 105 0/0
Los Angeles 90015
9 Child I.D. Program Inc. (9) 126/12
705 Lakefield Road, Building G 1/0
Westlake Village 91361
10 My Gym Enterprises (8) 122/10
15300 Ventura Blvd., Suite 423 11/8
Sherman Oaks 91403
11 Color Me Mine Enterprises Inc. (13) 103/12
5140 Lankershim Blvd. 1/1
North Hollywood 91601
12 iSold It 100/10
129 N. Hill Ave., Suite 202 1/1
Pasadena 91106
13 Relax the Back Corp. (12) 100/8
6 Center Court Drive, Suite 350 0/0
La Palma 90623
14 Closet Factory (10) 84/0
12800 S. Broadway 6/1
Los Angeles 90061
15 Collegiate Sports of America (11) 75/3
22900 Ventura Blvd., Suite 100 0/0
Woodland Hills 91364
16 Tapioca Express Inc. (16) 66/19
1908 Central Ave. 2/0
South El Monte 91733
17 Postal Connections of America (24) (7, 8) 65/NA
213 S. Robertson Blvd. 4/NA
Beverly Hills 90211
18 Shakey's USA Inc. 63/50
2200 W. Valley Blvd. 15/15
Alhambra 91803
19 Robeks (21) (7) 61/NA
1230 E. Rosecrans Ave., Suite 250 3/NA
Manhattan Beach 90266
20 West Sanitation Services Inc. (17) 55/3
3882 Del Amo Blvd., Suite 602 17/1
Redondo Beach 90277
21 Pizza Man (18) (7) 48/NA
6930 1/2 Tujunga Ave. 0/0
North Hollywood 91605
22 Ameci Pizza & Pasta (19) 46/10
66038 Independence Ave. 3/3
Canoga Park 91303
23 It's A Grind (22) 45/5
6272 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Suite E 5/5
Long Beach 90803
24 Vagabond Franchise System Inc. (20) 43/9
5933 W. Century Blvd., Suite 200 0/0
Los Angeles 90045
25 Fatburger North America Inc. (25) (10) 42/14
301 Arizona Ave., Second Floor 26/9
Los Angeles 90401
Rank Description of Franchise Operation Cost
* initial investment
* franchise fee
* royalty (%)
1 retail sale of Merle Norman cosmetics $28,689-$157,662
products $0
0%
2 hotels, resorts and inns 2,000,000-44,800,000
45,000-100,000
4
3 family restaurants varies
40,000-50,000
4.5
4 fitness centers 500,000-2,400,000
20,000
N/A (3)
5 fitness centers 400,000
13,000
N/A (4)
6 hand-rolled pretzels, lemonade, hot 128,900
dogs 30,000
6
7 casual family restaurants 715,000-2,640,000
30,000
4
8 quick-service restaurants serving 75,000
sandwiches, salads and smoothies 25,000
6
9 child identification and safety program 17,900-32,000
17,900
0
10 children's gyms for ages 3 months to 13 150,000-230,000
years old 49,500
6
11 paint-your-own ceramics studios 135,000-150,000
25,000
5
12 eBay drop-off store and online business 45,000
liquidation 15,000
4
13 retailer of ergonomic and comfort 215,000-275,000
products 30,000
4 (5)
14 custom storage solutions designer and 200,000-297,000
retailer 43,500
5.8
15 athletic recruitment services for 22,000-45,000
high school student-athletes 18,500
0
16 tea-based beverages, coffee, juice, $160,000-$250,000
food quick-service stores $15,000
N/A (6)
17 postal and copy service centers 80,000-120,000
18,900
4%
18 pizza chain 750,000
30,000
5
19 quick-service restaurants serving 190,800-324,600
health foods and nutritional 25,000
supplements 7
20 restroom deodorizing services 4,000-40,000
4,000
8
21 pizza, chicken, ribs and Italian dishes 100,000
25,000
4
22 pizza, pasta, salads and subs 175,000-225,000
25,000
4
23 specialty coffee houses 241,500-440,000
30,000
6
24 hotels and motels 14,000 (9)
10,000
4
25 hamburger restaurants 361,000-685,500
40,000
6
Rank Contact Information Top Local Executive
* company contact * name
* Web site * title
* phone
1 Carol LaPorta Jack Nethercutt II
merlenorman.com vice chairman
(800) 421-6648
2 Bill Fortier Steve Bollenbach
hiltonfranchise.com ceo
(800) 286-0645
3 Patrick Lenow Julia Stewart
ihop.com ceo, president
(818) 240-6055
4 Courtney Minor Courtney Minor
goldsgym.com director, franchise development
(310) 392-3005
5 M. Uretz/K. Michael Michael A. Uretz
worldgym.com president
(310) 827-7705
6 Bill Phelps Bill Phelps
wetzels.com ceo
(626) 432-6900
7 Todd Peterson Kenneth Cole
sizzler.com ceo, president
(818) 662-9900
8 Craig Albert Craig Albert
tacone.com president
(877) 482-2663
9 Chris Schlopy Marc R. Bakerman
4childid.com president
(805) 557-0577
10 NA Cory Bertisch
my-gym.com ceo
(800) 469-4967
11 Michael Mooslin Michael Mooslin
colormemine.com president
(818) 505-2100
12 Elise Wetzel Ken Sully
i-soldit.com ceo
(626) 584-0440
13 Carrie Fuller Richard W. Palfreyman
relaxtheback.com ceo
(714) 523-2870
14 Joe Bribeaux John La Barbara
closetfactorycom ceo
(310) 715-1000
15 J. Duva/J. Wright Jeff Duva
csaprepstar.com ceo, president
(800) 600-7518
16 NA Tee Jan
tapiocaexpress.com franchise director
(888) 877-1616
17 Larry Simpson Stephen M. Thomson
postalconnections.com chairman, president
(800) 767-8257
18 Joe Remsa William H. Tilley
shakeys.com ceo, president
(626) 576-0737
19 Corey Remington David Robertson
robeks.com ceo
(310) 727-0500
20 G. Emery/J. Hecht Graham H. Emery
westsanitation.com president
(310) 793-4242
21 Robert Ohanian Robert Ohanian
N/A ceo, president
(818) 766-4395
22 Nick Andrisano Nick Andrisano
amecipizzaandpasta.com president
(818) 712-0110
23 Steve Olson Steven Shoeman
itsagrind.com ceo
(562) 594-5600
24 Bruce Weitzman Don Johnson
vagabondinn.com ceo, president
(310) 410-5700
25 Michelle G. Wilkins Keith A. Warlick
fatburger.com ceo, president
(310) 319-1850
NA--No Answer
N/A--Not Available
(1) Includes Hampton Inn & Suites, Homewood Suites, Doubletree, Embassy
Suites, Hilton Garden and Hilton Hotels brands.
(2) Owned and managed.
(3) $1,000 per month.
(4) $7,000 annually.
(5) Plus 2 percent national ad fund.
(6) 6.5 cents per container sold in the licensed store.
(7) Information obtained from World Franchising.
(8) Subsidiary of Global Business Services Inc., headquartered in
Beverly Hills.
(9) Initial investment plus cost of the hotel.
(10) Mathnasium Learning Centers reported 42 franchised locations and
one company-owned location.
Note: Information on this list was provided by representatives of the
franchises themselves unless otherwise noted. Franchisers are ranked by
number of franchised locations companywide and number of company-owned
locations companywide, respectively. JEI Learning Centers, No. 14 last
year, and John Roberts Powers, No. 15 last year, may have qualified for
this list but failed to submit information.
To the best of our knowledge, this information is accurate as of press
time. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and
thoroughness of the list, omissions and typographical errors sometimes
occur. Please send corrections or additions on company letterhead to
the Research Department, Los Angeles Business Journal, 5700 Wilshire
Blvd., Suite 170, Los Angeles 90036. [c]2005 Los Angeles Business
Journal. This list may not be reprinted in whole or in part without
prior written permission from the editor. Reprints are available from
Wright's Reprints, (800) 494-9051.
Researched by David Nusbaum
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