Nothing is Sweet about Candy Bouquet!
If Candy Bouquet International has been around since 1989, why don't they have a standardized POS (point of sale) system for their franchisees?
They claim to spend millions on building their brand - but did you know that the name "Candy Bouquet" can be used by anyone! The trademark office denied their claim to the name - not once but twice! The only trademarks they own are their logo and a few slogans! The millions they spend is on selling more franchises seeing how the average life of a franchise is only estimated at 2.5 years! The attrition rate is also estimated at 60-70%! So many of the franchisees listed on the candybouquet.com locator are homebased businesses for which they work a real job because the Candy Bouquets do NOT support themselves!
The franchisees of Candy Bouquet are so despondent with the franchisor that they set up an independent association through the AAFD early last year! (Congrats on the AAFD awards!)The franchisees I've talked to complained of carpal tunnel and numerous other physical issues from making the bouquets due to repetive motion. The equipment referred to in the offering circular does less than 2% of the work and the rest is manual labor - hence the issues previously mentioned.
The only franchisees surviving the failing trend are those who have so diversified their stores as to NOT be dependent on the actual candy bouquets they were led to believe would carry their stores! Speaking of stores, did you know that there is no fixed model for a candy bouquet store? Go into any store, none are the same - so much for branding!
Candy Bouquet collects a monthly association fee which is a guaranteed revenue stream. Since so many franchisees struggle, a royalty wouldn't be profitable, so they offer a fixed fee. And not such a low cost franchise, none of the stores I spoke with were ever able to operate within the expenses indicated on the site. In fact, most owners are unable to pay themselves a salary or are able to afford employees!
Oh lets not forget the noncompete clause - no candy stores, floral shops and gifts stores. The franchisees claim they were never taught ANYTHING as to how to operate a floral shop or gift store. As far as candy stores are concerned, you don't need to buy a franchise for that - you can do it on your own. As for Candy Bouquet, my advice? Buy a video!
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Don't understand all the miscommunication
Why so many lies?
Here we go again...Candy Bouquet 2009 AllBusiness AllStar?!?!?
Candy Bouquet touts on their homepage to be an Inner City Inc All (ICIC) Business All Star for 2009.
Check the 2009 list according to www.ICIC.org
http://www.icic.org/atf/cf/%7BC81898B2-76E9-4A18-B838-A3F65C9F06B9%7D/ICIC_innercity100_award.pdf
Do you see Candy Bouquet International listed anywhere?!?!?
Re: Here we go again...Candy Bouquet 2009 AllBusiness AllStar?!?
They made the list back in 2000 and 2001. (From ICIC)
Re: Here we go again...Candy Bouquet 2009 AllBusiness AllStar?!?
No! But I DO see Edible Arrangements and Candywarehouse.com!
Re: Re: Here we go again...Candy Bouquet 2009 AllBusiness AllSta
OOPS! I was looking at www.inc.com. That's where Edible Arrangements and candywarehouse.com are listed.
Oh, by the way...no mention of CBI there either.
Re: Re: Re: Here we go again...Candy Bouquet 2009 AllBusiness Al
BIG OOPS!! Neither Edible Arrangements, candywarehouse.com nor Candy Bouquet International. Get your facts correct!! Like what's been said before...The Truth will Set You Free!!!
Re: Re: Re: Re: Here we go again...Candy Bouquet 2009 AllBusines
BIG OOPS ON YOUR PART, my friend.
I correted my first statement, if you cared to read it all, and then said that EI and candywarehouse were not listed on www.icic.com, but were listed on www.inc.com, and not CBI. Take a look for yourself.
Read through everything before you reply so harshly, please.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Here we go again...Candy Bouquet 2009 AllBus
No need to grow angry. Be certain you are looking at 2009 list many archives are listed.
hmmmmmmmmmm............
The 2009 Inner City 100 is complete! View the list of winners here. http://www.icic.org/atf/cf/%7BC81898B2-76E9-4A18-B838-A3F65C9F06B9%7D/ICIC_innercity100_award.pdf
What is the Inner City 100?
Now in its 11th year, the Inner City 100 is a ranking of fast-growing companies located in America’s inner cities. The program is a partnership between the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) and BusinessWeek SmallBiz magazine to spotlight and support growing companies in urban areas and to highlight the importance of a healthy economy in developing healthy urban communities.
ICIC is a national, not-for-profit organization founded and led by Professor Michael Porter of the Harvard Business School. In 1999, ICIC created the Inner City 100 program to change perceptions about inner city business. ICIC uses data to prove that not only can companies thrive in inner cities, but there are competitive advantages of doing business in the inner cities. The results are astonishing. From 1999 – 2009, the 557 Inner City 100 companies that have made the list:
∗ Are responsible for creating almost 63,000 new jobs
∗ Employ nearly 86,000 people of which 41% are inner-city residents
∗ Have an average compound annual growth rate of 52%
∗ Generate approximately $2.3 billion in total sales per year
Led by some of today’s most creative entrepreneurs and our program sponsors such as Bank of America, Chevron and The Staples foundation for Learning(SFFL), the Inner City 100 have shown the nation how the advantages of inner cities, such as a diverse workforce and strategic location, can combine to create explosive growth. Inner City 100 business successes over the past eleven years have inspired political and business leaders, academics and the media. The program has led to innovative investment programs, helped blaze a path for other inner city entrepreneurs, and provided enormous stimulus for change in their communities. The Inner City 100 has become a national movement with the support of civic, community, business, and academic leaders from across the country.
Process Overview
Each year, ICIC and BusinessWeek SmallBiz magazine put out a call for nominations and select the fastest-growing from among the applicants. The winners are determined based on revenue growth over a five-year period. To apply for the list, companies are asked to complete a brief, one-page application form. Companies that qualify based on that application are then asked to complete an extensive survey and provide financial documentation to verify self-reported sales figures. The final list will be published in the Spring issue of BusinessWeek SmallBiz magazine.
Qualification Criteria
To qualify for Inner City 100 a company must:
*Be an independent, for-profit corporation, partnership, or proprietorship.
Be headquartered in or have 51% or more of its physical operations in economically distressed urban areas.
Have 10 or more full-time employees.
Have a five-year operating sales history that includes sales of at least $200,000 in the base year and at least $1 million in the current year with no decrease in sales over the two most recent years in consideration.
The Inner City 100 Summit:
Companies who make the list are invited to the Inner City 100 Summit in Boston for a two-day event featuring seminars for Inner City 100 CEOs and Senior Managers at Harvard Business School, and a gala awards dinner that historically draws more than 800 guests.
Let's See
Let's Review the criteria and see if CB even qualifies:
1. for profit - you bet - as greedy as it gets
2. 10 FULL time employees? I'm not sure who even is remaining there these days?
3. 1 million in current year "sales" with NO decreases over the past two years - not likely considering the failure rate and lack of franchise sales this year
4. Business week "put out a call" for nominations? I'm wondering who actually nominated CB - probably her buddy Susan!
Still a glory hound I see....
Re: Let's See
Her sister Susan?
So who's gonna tell her
that she didn't put her reading glasses on when she read the list of winners!!!
I certainly don't see the name Candy Bouquet on the listing?????
CMON Margaret McEntire.....maybe you think you are oh so powerful that if you say it they will come. that will only work once you are sanrred in your trap, and only for a minute but unfortunately it has to be a five year very very expensive minute. So ow is it that you actually sleep at night on top of all your lies and greed. I can only pray for your soul. Hopefully in the next lifetime your soul will actually inhabit a human being. It sure has a lot of work to do to undo this lifetimes sins!!!!
Laughable!
Okay - what is on the CB home page? The "Get Well" bouquet - using what? The chocolate bandaids they no longer supply! Are we supposed to call candy blast to buy them now? HA!
Chocolate bandaids
CB carried the real chocolate band-aids until the owner fell ill
and had to change manufacturers. It's not CB's fault that they won't be available until Fall. Candy Blast took advantage and is illegally
using the trademark. Shame on them.
Really now Margaret
Please get your facts correct Margaret. Visit http://www.uspto.gov/ Candy Blast has not done anything illegally.
For those who don't know USPTO stands for United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Like what's been said before...Quit complaining, worrying, or whatever, concerning what candy bouquet is not doing for the franchisees. Take fate into your own hands and walk from them. Quit paying those fees...candy bouquet is broken and beyond repair. Is corporate really chasing those not paying anyway???
Re: Chocolate bandaids
Oh really? Not a trademark specialist, but if you look at Candy Blast's Chocolate Band-Aid Box and the other company's there is no trademark infringement or misuse.
Candy Blast has Chocolate First Aid with the TM after that and the little saying on the box reads The Ouchees Cure for Life’s Little Hurts. The other has CHOC-AID with the registered trade mark symbol and then milk chocolate under it and the little saying for life's boo boos.
The only thing Candy Blast took advantage of is the need to fill a void with that product. They even created jobs here in the US which in turn helps our economy! Instead of looking the world over - they became innovative to fill a need and a want! Kudos for them - what true leaders in the Candy Industry! True Entrepreneurial Spirit!
Donna Klim
Re: Re: Chocolate bandaids
Wait one minute ~~~~~ someone has the audacity to be critical of Candy Blast for "taking advantage of a situation and illegally using a trademark." Did I actually read that post correctly? Candy Bouquet deceived countless franchisees by using the registered mark after Candy Bouquet for years. They did not nor do not own the name Candy Bouquet. Where is your incredulity concerning the antics of Margaret McEntire?
Like what has been said before...
Quit complaining, worrying, or whatever, concerning what candy bouquet is not doing for the franchisees. Take fate into your own hands walk from them. Quit paying your fees...candy bouquet is broken and beyond repair. Is corporate really chasing those not paying anyway???
Re: Laughable!
MM advertises that Candy Bouquet is the largest candy company in the world yet her competitor, a much smaller company, solved the chocolate band-aid problem. She could have easily done the same thing. Now her franchisees are ordering the new chocolate band-aids from Candy Blast. It doesn't make any sense.
Counting down the days
I'm CB #3305 in High Ridge, MO (right on the other side of St. Louis) and my franchise is, thankfully, up in August. I haven't done any business since Dec. '08. Thank God my regular client came through with his usual Christmas order or I'd be scraping the bottom to make the last of my monthly payments to MM. I feel so badly for people who invested their life savings into opening a store or worse, many stores! There was a lady and her daughter in my training class in August 2004 and she had bought something like 4 or 5 zip code areas! I didn't go into debt to buy the franchise nor did I acquire any while in business. I sure hope that CA gal made it OK....anyway, as I count down the days, I am counting useless inventory and wondering what the hell I'm going to do with it all! Anyone have any ideas?????????? It might be worth the drive to Little Rock to deposit it all on their doorstep during the middle of the night.
Re: Counting down the days
Hey there - me too! 60 more days 'til the end. As far as leftover inventory - yes eBay is a great dumping ground. You can also donate to daycares, senior centers, The Goodwill, etc. Whatever you do, don't just throw it away.
I'm really confused when a franchisee says they did not go into debt when purchasing this franchise or any franchise for that matter - the money had to come from somewhere. Even if you used your own personal savings/retirement,etc. to buy in - that should have been looked at as loan. That is just my opinion.
Best of luck to you.
Donna Klim
CBI596
Re: Counting down the days
Email other franchisees in your state and surrounding states, and give them a discount (20% - 30% off original price? Maybe 40% or 50% depending on how bad you want the stuff out of your attic!) I got rid of everything that way.
Congrats on ending in August!
Re: Counting down the days
eBay???
Re: Re: Counting down the days
Or you could post a way someone could get in touch with you and purchase some of your inventory. (Your email on the CBI locator did not work). I sold mine to a lady that is using it for her business. And I have also put her in contact with franchisees that were closing and she bought some of their stuff. 50% is better than nothing.
Father's Day?
Not a word about how Father's Day went for franchisees... so I'm assuming one of two things, sales were great or totally stunk - likely the later!
Re: Father's Day?
I didn't get one Father's Day order. Not one. I did see 3 Edible Arrangement billboards while heading down I-94 into Detroit this weekend. Edible Arrangements is very popular in Michigan and certainly taking a bite out of the CB franchisees orders.
Re: Re: Father's Day?
In all my 10 years, father's day has never been huge! Baskets and lots of fudge this year. Think only one CB and a little candy bar sundae.
Don't blame EA for taking a bite out of CB orders -they are advertising and marketing like crazy. You have to realize that 80% of your sales are going to come from 20% of your customers. Keep in touch with your current clientele and ask for referrals and so forth -build relationships with both your current clients and prospects and eventually you will see your sales soar.
Retail is awesome and once you learn how to work smarter and not harder, it will all pay off.
Donna Klim
CBI596
Any news on Advisory Committee
I thought we were going to have a new one....
or was it another lie....
Let me advise you!
It's a bunch of crap - an advisory council. It is Margaret McIntire's way of controlling people. She did it in the past and disbanded it when things weren't just so, and she attempted to get the ACBF to disband in hopes of putting another council into effect. It stinks like crap - so it obviously is crap (or the outdated candy in the warehouse!)
It could only be
I think she sold it and just doesn't care anymore. Why worry about the franchisee when someone new is taking over!
RE RE; it could only be
Sold What??? What's left to sell?????
Re: RE RE; it could only be
Good question! What's left to sell when there is no brand??!?! Anyone can open a candy bouquet store on any street corner. Oh wait MM will try to squeeze (sale the contracts) out the dollars from the franchisees who are so stupid to keep paying their fees to her.
So many franchisees are no longer paying their fees and corporate is just allowing it to happen. Corporate is not even chasing those franchisees why not stop paying the fees??? Possibly it's because corporate is running short of funds themselves and unable to afford to pay lawyer fees to go after them. If Margaret is cutting her rental fees 50% as stated on the cb forum that alone says she is hard up for funds.
RE:It could only be
Who really knows and at this point - with no real brand - it's just another sad day for the Candy Bouquet franchisees. Where's the value?
Only 73 more days to go!
Donna
CBI596
Candy Bouquet One upped Again!!!`
So once again, "Sweets in Bloom" eats "Candy Bouquet International's"
lunch!! Once again one of the biggest selling bouquets for CBI runs out of main ingredient, only to be told by McEntire, that it is no longer manufactured. Low and behold, Guess who is able to find it???
Would anyone still consider buying this ill fated franchise with the CEO fast asleep at the wheel???
Need we say more?
Re: Candy Bouquet One upped Again!!!`
I was disappointed that there was a mug and the old golf bouquet featured for Father's Day. My customers want something new and exciting.
Re: Re: Candy Bouquet One upped Again!!!`
Hey - make your own next best creation and market the heck out of it. That wonderful candy bar bouquet has been my best seller.
DO YOUR OWN THING!
Donna
One upped............
Hopefully this link will work - it's actually another "STRONG" copy cat that took the initiative to fill the void -
http://www.wiredprnews.com/2009/06/10/candy-blast-inc-fills-industry-void-with-new-locally-manufactured-chocolate-band-aids_200906104039.html
Absolutely no brand protection from this franchisor whatsoever!
Re: One upped............
Wow, kudos to Candy Blast...forward thinking, positive and a good looking box, to boot!
Candy Bouquet Advisory Committee
Here we go again MM off in a new direction. Anyone ready to start taking bets on how long this committee will last or are we all just sitting back to watch the great MM fail once again? Seems she will hand pick this committee and allow them to help direct the direction of Candy Bouquet…don’t hold your breath people as Margaret Mcentire acts on impulse and cannot manage multiple projects at once with out the other falling flat on it’s face.
Since she can’t seem to dump this business off on someone else for dollars she is trying to reel the franchisees back in. Sorry Margaret your franchisees have wised up to your ways and it is going to take much more than a committee for your franchisees to trust you.
Re: Candy Bouquet Advisory Committee
Wondering who has been selected for the advisory board. Anyone heard yet?
Re: Re: Candy Bouquet Advisory Committee
Nope, but I bet I can guess who'll be hand-picked!
so......
I guess the so called sale is not going to take place?
Re: Candy Bouquet Advisory Committee
Yes, all was ignored, and the webpages, VIP, questions, etc. were left to fall to the wayside until the the projected sale date came and went. Well, now looks like someone's trying to play catch-up!
Re: Re: Candy Bouquet Advisory Committee
Agree totally with the writer who states that the committee will be hand picked. I bet we could name the franchisees on the list before it is made public. I am sure Margaret McEntire will include an association member just to give the appearance of fairness. The phrase "been there, done that" certainly applies to this franchisor. Sound negative? When you have been around this franchise for many, many years, you can pretty much predict the outcome of these antics. I am not a bitter person, just a realist.
JUST CURIOUS
I'm just curious, If this franchise were to take a whole new direction, how many Zees would be willing to stay on and support it?
Let me explain further; If Candy Bouquet International were to switch from the heavy handed, Autocratic Management style of Margaret McEntire to a more businesslike all inclusive management style with a board of directors (Other than Margarets Family) a well respected CEO with a proven record of success in the franchise business as well as a short term and long term Business plan for existing and new franchise growth, a working business model and an emphasis on branding for the company, Logo, and new name that could be Trademarked
for the protection of the brand and franchisees and last but not least,a VOICE for all franchisees as well as a viable marketing plan and extended franchisee training.
Would existing Franchisees be more apt to stay, as well as renew?
Would it be easier to sell new Franchises?
It seems to me, that none of these things exist in the current franchising model. Franchises need to stay current. CBI has no product research and development department, a training department that is barely limping along, as well as an IT department that is still in the prehistoric stages(does "Pong" ring a bell".
If this is truly a franchise operator that wants to continue, with just these adjustments it could be done.
With the current status Quo, I don't see a furture for this company much beyond making victims out of more people who don't do there homework and buy this ill fated franchise until word of mouth continues to cause decreased franchise sales and it burns itself out at the expense of many.
The statements above are SOLELY MY OWN and are just OPINIONS and are not meant to represent fact. Would love to here yours.....
Re: JUST CURIOUS
With 20 years under MM's belt there is no way things at the top will change unless someone purchases CBI. Have seen MM try to make change and promises but MM always finds some excuse or blames others for things no happening. It's useless to even try to make change. Look at the association they continue to beat their heads up against the wall. Give it up and yes I'm speaking to the association and Margaret Mcentire. MM you will not be able to change and association you will not be ablt to force change.
Re: JUST CURIOUS
Guest - what a pipe dream!!!
First, in order for there to be real change, the whole culture of this franchise organization must change from the top to the bottom! And what a task that would be! Are there any respectful CEO's in franchising with a proven record of success out there? Even the so-called best have had problems within their system. One can present a business plan but with it being a live document, the plan can eventually take a turn for the worse.
From my perspective, if one was to take over this franchise today, the current management at CBI headquarters would have to be canned (distro stays intact). They would have to cease selling any franchises until they operated regional corporate owned stores for at least 5 years to establish a viable model and system in order to define what the franchise truly is to even begin the branding process. Item 19 of the UFDD would have to show true earnings and Item 7 would have to be much more accurate for the initial investment. The name of this franchise would definitely have to be changed due the negativity it is associated with (IMHO - it has been bastardized to no end!) And, of course it would have to be trademarkable and true to what the franchise would be.
Also, the product would have to be less labor intensive as well as quicker ways to make the things need to be explored. Time and labor is money!!! This franchise would definitely have to become product driven and a national advertisement fund & campaign would have to be established, etc. Lastly, an association run by the franchisees is a must!
So now would I renew if all this was to take place? NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I believe there is too much revamping, redoing and repair work to do in order to make it a worthwhile investment for anyone in their right mind. Also, IMHO, this brand has been damaged. Not only do we have too many copy cats, the current attrition rate is one major obstacle for anyone to overcome - our brand was never protected from its inception. In agreement with your status quo. Used to love Pong!!!
Just one who is not afraid to give their opinion and sign her name!
Donna Klim
CBI596
Just Curious
The reason MM doesn't run any corporate Candy Bouquet stores is that she knows from her own experience (when she ran her own 90 square foot store in Little Rock) that it isn't profitable. She'd lose money having corporate stores open. Look at the beautiful store Bobby Hardgraves had in Branson, MO. It must have cost him a fortune to buy all of the inventory and set up shop. Even he couldn't make it in a busy tourist town. I really think that MM has no desire to run this business like a real franchise. And she doesn't care what any of us think. It's her way or the highway. She is just too happy to keep selling territory and living off that income. Someone mentioned that there are three new stores that opened in the middle of nowhere. In a year or two they will fail but she'll keep collecting their monthly association fees. Then she'll resell the territory for another $10-40K and make another profit. Where I live I've seen the same territory sold three times in 10 years. Three different women were out $22,000 for the initial franchise fee and much more in inventory, rent, advertising, etc. Gina was right; this franchise should be investigated. It's a classic churn and burn and common, hard working people are the ones who are getting hurt. That's why she sells to the small towns. A real franchise would do a study to see if it would be profitable to even sell one in that kind of territory. But then again, they would treat their franchisee as a partner. This one doesn't. You pay MM for your territory and you're on your own.
Re: JUST CURIOUS
STUPID QUESTIONS FROM STUPID PEOPLE