The Mershimer Group to provide royalty assurance Services to Johnny Rockets Group, Inc.

We are very excited to announce that The Mershimer Group has been selected to provide Royalty Assurance services to the Johnny Rockets corporation. Initially we will be conducting audits, and will ultimately grow to a broader program for helping both the franchisor and the individual franchisees improve profitability through improved royalty reporting, and reduction in the errors that cause profit loss.

Corporations need to make examples out of corrupt executives and not just lower level employees.

While I'm on a rant of corruption by business executives and others in positions of great trust, or who have been trusted with high security positions.... it amazes me that public companies would hire a such an executive without doing proper due diligence.

How can a person who was walked out of their office with one of the largest multi-brand organizations in the country for alleged corrupt business practices be hired (whether as a consultant or employee) by a trade association this person initially helped build. Then within a year, lands another senior level executive position in the same industry!!! Meanwhile, there are minimally 100 other executive level individuals with high integrity and huge success stories behind them in this same specialized industry, who have been downsized due to economic conditions beyond their control. Who did this company call for a reference on his last position??

Shame on the company that walked this person out of their corporate offices who basically swept the issue under the table to avoid bad press.

Happens on a regular basis, and it's time to start holding executives accountable in a big way.

Investors lose millions with SF accountant & Ice Cream Franchisee

Roberto Heckscher, the subject in this story is or was a Baskin-Robbins Franchisee, and while I was at Allied Domecq QSR (Dunkin' Donuts & Baskin-Robbins), Roberto headed the Franchise Advisory Council for the Baskin brand. There would be little argument that he was viewed as the most widely respected voice for the Baskin Franchisees. Roberto was one of the strongest voices of support for my Loss Prevention program when I was at Allied Domecq QSR.

It just never ceases to amaze me how people in responsible positions, or in positions of great trust abuse their positions, or get themselves in these situations. Most times it is greed, and as it seems with Roberto (if the news reports are correct, and he is ultimately found culpable for the losses), he just kept digging himself into a deeper hole, instead of putting down the shovel and coming forward.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/video?id=6875224

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/video?id=6880750

NBC 10 has the inside scoop on a part-time job that can be a ticket to lots of freebies.

Although our Mystery Shopping programs are used largely to measure the guest experience for our clients, more and more Loss Prevention departments are using integrity shopping as a less expensive tool to identify under-ringing and other loss issues at restaurants and retail stores. This piece was done by Channel 10 in Providence, RI to promote Mystery Shopping and recruit shoppers and evaluators to the industry.

http://www.turnto10.com/jar/news/local/article/-JAR_2008_02_19_0020/2355/#fragment-1

AVP, Zone Manager of Asset Protection-BJ's Wholesale

Open LP position Mid Atlantic region:

http://www.smartbrief.com/jobs/nrf/job_detail.jsp?id=5691&sid=e392cc47-b7ee-4562-92e8-603baad04042

Woman gets 3 years in jail for stealing from employer

Chain restaurants or stores are at significant risk when they allow direct billing to occur with suppliers or other stores. We have seen this type of fraud occur repeatedly over the years. In this case, the manager was issued a corporate card to use to buy supplies. Centralized purchasing and billing should be the policy to avoid these types of employee dishonesty.

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2009/06/23/woman_gets__years_in_jail_for_stealing

Retail downsizing driving Mershimer Group staff growth.

Over the past two weeks, The Mershimer Group has added over a dozen new Field Consultants with varied backgrounds. We have added Loss Prevention Auditors, Franchise consultants, and several Loss Prevention Consultants who will be conducting audits, training, and investigations for our retail, restaurant and franchise clients throughout the US, and overseas.

Most of these folks will be landing full time, permanent positions with retailers in the future, but are happy to be able to supplement their income with contract projects for us. We are continuing to build our network, and appreciate all the calls and messages from those of you who are out of work and looking for project work. Please continue to forward folks you know who have multi unit retail and restaurant loss prevention and audit backgrounds to us at mike@mershimer.com

If you are a current Mershimer Group contractor, we would love to receive your feedback on this concept.

Reacting to Franchisee Refusal of Audit Request

So many times, franchisors I've worked with take a passive stance when a Franchisee refuses to cooporate with an audit request. This is a very slippery slope, and I strongly encourage our clients to not be shy when it comes to enforcing the right to audit clause in the franchise agreement. When you fail to default, arbitrate or otherwise deal with this refusal, you open the door for all others to not cooporate with an audit.

Remember, that, in any franchise system, word of the companies failure to enforce this agreement will travel quickly, and others will follow suit.

West Coast Trip

Looking forward to being in California, Portland, and Seattle next week. Visiting with old friends at the LP Conference in LA on Monday and Tuesday.

Welcome Message

My first blog... Hope to get some good exchanges going on retail, restaurant and franchise loss prevention topics.

Welcome!!