Friday, November 22, 2013

Allentown Philly Pretzel Factory Official Toys for Tots Drop-Off

The Philly Pretzel Factory in Allentown, located at 5942 W. Tilghman St., is an official Toys for Tots drop-off site this holiday season. Owner Jeff Shaedle hopes by partnering with the non-profit, he’ll be able to help less-fortunate families this winter. Toys for Tots is a not-for-profit  program run by the United States Marine Corps, which distributes toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. Customers who come into the Allentown Philly Pretzel Factory can drop off new, unwrapped toys to be donated to families.

Toys will be collected now through December 2, 2013.


To further promote the cause, Jeff is offering 5 free pretzels and a coupon for $5.00 off a full size party tray for anyone who donates a new and unwrapped toy at the store. He will also be collecting cans for Second Harvest Food Bank. Those who donate canned goods to the location will receive two free pretzels. 

You can call the store for more information at: (610) 366-1265.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Philly Pretzel Factory hosts Franchise Seminar in Fayetteville, North Carolina

About our Philly Pretzel Factory Fayetteville, NC Franchise Seminar: 

When:                  Thursday, November 14, 2013

Where:                Courtyard By Marriott
                            4192 Sycamore Dairy RD
                            Fayetteville, NC 28303

Time:                     6:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Philly Pretzel Factory is excited to introduce our new franchise opportunities inside Walmart stores in North Carolina. 

These Walmart store franchise opportunities in North Carolina are available for a limited time only.  Reserve your seat at our Franchise Seminar to learn more and be considered for Philly Pretzel Factory locations inside Fayetteville, Wilmington or Raleigh, NC Walmart Stores. The opportunities will go quickly.  If you attend the seminar you will be eligible to win a live drawing for a FREE Franchise Fee if you open a Philly Pretzel Factory inside a Walmart.

Contact Doug Jackson at djackson@spfsinc.com or cell 215-704-8401 to reserve your seat.


Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Franchisee Spotlight: Marc Ferraro and Mike Curran, Multi-Unit Owners

Marc Ferraro grew up in Cherry Hill, NJ and still lives there, but commutes 120 miles to Annville, Penn. to serve as rank of Colonel in the Army where he works during the week. Marc earned a bachelor of science in accounting and business administration and a master of arts in strategic studies and following, spent three years working as an analyst for a major defense contractor. For the past 31 years, Marc has served in the Army and has held numerous leadership positions, has had three combat tours in Panama, Kosovo and Iraq, and has managed budgets in excess of $850 million. But Marc’s long-time experience in the restaurant industry from when he was a kid and a college student was an experience that stuck with him, and one pointing him to Philly Pretzel Factory.

How did you learn about the brand?
Philly Pretzel Factory locations are all over in the Jersey area where I live. One day, four military partners (four in the Army, one in the Air Force) and I were talking about how good it would be to open a pretzel location in the Lebanon area. Most of us are from Philadelphia, so the prominence of this food item is definitely part of what we know.  

Why did you choose an opportunity with Philly Pretzel Factory (PPF)?
We looked at a couple options such as Annie Ann’s, but we decided to go with PPF because of the name, how they are stand-alone locations versus a mall concept, and the fact we’re from the Philly area. People identify with the brand, so we already have that to go off of. We also thought the structure of the company was real strong. In Philly or South Jersey, the pretzel is perceived as an actual meal in many cases, but where we’ll be opening, it’s a popular food currently considered a snack, so it’s an interesting culture we’re going to be offering. The brand is also veteran-friendly as they offer a franchise fee discount of 50 percent off.  

Are you involved with any charities or do any community outreach with your business?
We intend to. We’re looking to donate a portion of profits to Wounded Warrior programs, and we also intend to have a workforce comprised of 80 percent veterans or family of veterans currently serving.

How have you utilized your Army leadership tactics to the benefit of PPF?
In the Army, you not only have to display leadership but need to be able to organize well, plan accordingly and execute. When it comes to running a business, your business is the people, so it’s important to have strong relationships.

What challenges have you overcome to get where you are now?
Budget is budget. You have to be able to manage a budget whether it’s an Army budget or a PPF budget. But as things change, you have to be able to remain flexible. Luckily, three of the partners I’m with have other businesses, one has a hotel business and the other is a beer distributor, so we can utilize their combined leadership skills as well.

What are your expansion or development plans? What is your end goal with PPF?

We want to have a successful business that caters to the community and gets fully involved. From a mission statement, wherever we open a store, we want to be part of the community. Secondly, our goal is to have four to five stores and we’ll consider different locations, such as in department stores, amusement parks, and Hershey Park, which is 10 minutes from where we are. We’re also considering the PPF kiosk operation especially since the Lebanon, Hershey, and Carlisle area is only 30-45 minutes from each other. We may also look into Myrtle Beach at some point. 

Friday, November 1, 2013

Philly Pretzel Factory featured in Main Line Media

Most kids want to be super heroes, robots or princesses for Halloween, but not Tommy and David. They watched Undercover Boss and saw CEO of Philly Pretzel Factory and were so inspired that they wanted to be pretzel vendors this Halloween. Their dad, Jay Ciccarone, called the Philly Pretzel corporate office to see how they could make this dream come true. DiZio was so excited that he decided to donate shirts, hats, pretzel boxes...and of course freshly baked pretzels that they boys could share with their friends at the St. Katharine of Siena School. Jay knew it would be the perfect costume to help encourage his boys to become entrepreneurs and also have fun at the same time. 

Check out the article from Main Line Media here

At St. Katherine of Siena, Halloween costumes teach tasty lesson

Published: Thursday, October 31, 2013
Wayne parent Jay Ciccarone got the idea for his sons, Tommy, 10, and David, 8, to dress as pretzel vendors after seeing Dan DiZio, CEO of the Philly Pretzel Factory, on the TV show “Undercover Boss.” Photo Pete Bannan
At the St. Katharine of Siena School Halloween parade Thursday, children disguised themselves as robots, super heroes, princesses, athletes and animals. However, two brothers came decked out as pretzel vendors, complete with pretzels in boxes.

Wayne parent Jay Ciccarone got the idea for his sons, David, 8, and Tommy, 10, to dress as pretzel vendors after seeing Dan DiZio, CEO of the Philly Pretzel Factory, on the TV show “Undercover Boss.”

“With Halloween, you create and dream and ask for things,” said Ciccarone, an entrepreneur himself who holds five patents. He thought that dressing as pretzel vendors might be a way of encouraging entrepreneurship in his sons.

To continue reading, click here
 
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