Posts Tagged ‘Franchising’

Walk Softly, But Carry a BIG Stick!

Sunday, July 20th, 2008
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It was mentioned on Coach’s Saturday Morning call that this “consideration” of Franchising was meant to be a “Soft Rollout”. However due to all the focus and obsession right now squarely on the company everyone is talking about, there was nothing “soft” about it. When Coach said “soft rollout” I honestly laughed out loud. I immediately thought about what I learned in school many, MANY years ago when I did a report on Teddy Roosevelt, and remembered the phrase “Walk softly, but carry a big stick”.

With all the attention, talk, and accusations concerning a proposal that hasn’t even been officially released, let alone outlined, manuals produced, training implemented, pricing arranged, and compensation laid out, it makes me wonder what all this fuss is about.

At one exact moment last week, 10:21AM on Tuesday, July 15th, an 8-K Regulation FD Disclosure was filed with the SEC. A Directors call followed with Scott Tomer informing our Directors of this filing, and a Press Release was issued Tuesday afternoon with our “consideration” of franchising.

I feel it’s important to updated and inform you about this proposal from the PROPER sources. Scott has agreed to share a Directors Letter in the Biz Report and I want to make sure you have this communication directly from Scott.

Now just why would Scott have to do something like this? Amusingly enough, and Scott addresses this specifically in his communication, about our competitors and skeptics who make inaccurate, deceitful, slanderous and outright fraudulent statements about YTB. This obsession with YTB is so consuming, that by 10:27AM a post was up on a blog stating that YTB has turned its back on RTA’s. (Note: only 6 minutes after the SEC filing!) Likewise, as soon as the Press Release was issued it was commented on a financial forum that the stock would crash , and one brilliant critic posted Scott’s letter in it’s entirety on another Anti-YTB thread incorrectly assuming that this would cast doubt instead of clarifying our direction in becoming a dominant player in the Travel Industry.

This company can’t sneeze without someone painting some negative spin about it.

With the stock price actually rising following both days of outrageous claims and spin, we can’t help but laugh at the egg on the face of these obsessed critics who think they have YTB all figured out. Clearly the scare tactics used to distract and worry those of us in YTB didn’t take hold or we just didn’t care to listen.

I mentioned some of my reasons why on Friday, but I also like Scotts reasons, and I’d like to document them here as well.

“We became a publicly traded company in 2004 and the skeptics said we would never make it. People said we were crazy to introduce a Reps’ “Bill of Rights” at the 2005 “Your Time to Build” national convention. It was unheard of in our industry. No one had ever guaranteed earnings for its Reps prior to the 2006 “Business of Champions” YTB convention, but that didn’t stop us from introducing the Success from Home Magazine program with its $6,000 Guarantee. We became members of the Direct Sales Association in 2007 and added the “First Amendment to the Bill of Rights” at the “Cleared for Take Off” National Convention to the dismay of our detractors.”

Here is what you need to know about this consideration before the coin has even been tossed to guess heads or tails, and this comes DIRECTLY from Scott Tomer and no one else. I figured here is as good of place as any to get the truth out about what’s in the works, and what we have to look forward to.

We know how to recruit, build a sales force and sell products and services using the direct sales or network marketing approach. We are convinced this is the best marketing system ever created and we are ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED to continuing the use of this system with YTB. While there will be changes to the process as it relates to the sale of franchises, the downline genealogy and network marketing division will remain intact.”

“We believe a franchise model of our existing business will be easier to comprehend and more readily accepted by the general public. Since franchising is recognized as a traditional business model in virtually all developed countries, YTB’s timeline for global expansion will be accelerated.”

We anticipate everything that currently exists for RTAs will be in the franchise model and any additional products offered through the franchise will be available to RTAs should they elect to become franchisees.”

“If RTAs elect not to become franchisees, they will be able to continue with no change to their status with all income opportunities and privileges they currently enjoy.

You can clearly see that this is not all the doom and gloom that some would like you to believe. While there are questions yet to be answered by many, I’m confident they will be answered in time. If the program even launches, it won’t be until next year, so we have plenty of time to get our ducks in a row, take the proper time, and make an informed, educated business decision. Honestly, I don’t think 6 minutes is ample time to base a decision on much of anything, let alone an opportunity like the one proposed.

Thank you Scott for stepping up and making this available to us to answer the plethora or questions and accusations that are out there on the Internet. Scott Tomer is a clear leader and one of three Founders in our company. It would not surprise me to see as a result of this announcement and the way Scott handled it, to see a report that Scott Tomer is now being nominated for President!

Can you imagine? Scott Tomer, from President of YTB International, to President of the Untied States!

Roosevelt who?

Editors Note to the goofballs who would like to take this idea of Scott being President seriously: Be our guest! We’d LOVE the publicity and also love to show the world just how gullible you critics really are.

PS - If you're involved with YTB, sign up for our FREE Newsletter. As a Website Owner or Website Seller, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB.

PPS - Subscribe to the Just Picture It Now RSS feed, (including e-mail) for all the latest posts and updates found right here!

Doug & Ronda Bauknight
Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812
Book Your Travel & Vacations With


TSO #588629
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Forthcoming Proposal

Wednesday, July 16th, 2008
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I was telling someone a few weeks ago that things were going to be very slow news wise up until the National Convention in a few weeks. I have to apologize to that person…Boy did I get that one wrong! It made perfect sense when I said it…why would the company release any new features, announcements, upgrades before the biggest meeting of the year?

Of course it’s not all YTB’s fault. We certainly can’t help that the news media took a keen interest in our Lady Liberty that’s now complete and ready to ship to the convention.

The last few days YTB has come to the forefront once again and the speculation is flying all over the place. I would have thought both events would have been worthy enough to save for the Convention. We can all figure out just why we took the Booking Engine and Steals and Deals links off the Marketing sites. It has been mentioned that this was long overdue and really should have been done at the same time the Rep Links were taken off the Booking Engines years ago. It’s my believe that this separation between the Marketing Site and our Booking Engine is going to prove to be an important element, but for different reasons.

The news yesterday, I suspect was offered up in response to some rumors that I’ve heard about running around the Network Marketing circles which surfaced a few weeks ago. Rumor has it that YTB is getting out of the MLM business.

I’m really not at Liberty (pun intended) right now to write about what all this means. (Other than I REALLY like the idea of being a Franchise Owner.) I do want to point out that the company is only “contemplating” at this time. I’m amazed and dazzled however at how some of our critics who are so well versed as “MLM Experts” were able to switch hats at a moments notice and suddenly become “Franchise Experts”. How they know so much about everything astounds even me.

Here is what I will do. I will post the Press Release here in its entirety and the emphasis will be mine as you read the company statement. For those of us in YTB who truly understand our model, please read carefully and it’s my hope that with my emphasis, you will get a more accurate interpretation of what is being conveyed in this release.

We can let the “experts” speculate on their own. Frankly at this point, I’m actually very amused over some of the interpretations and concerns over this. Reading comprehension and full understanding of YTB’s two separate and unique business models are at a premium. Lack of fully understanding our current business model can be oh so dangerous.

YTB International Contemplates Implementation of Franchises

Company Considers Adopting Franchise Operating System in 2009

WOOD RIVER, Ill., July 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — YTB International, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: YTBLA) (‘YTB’ or the ‘Company’), a provider of Internet-based travel booking services for travel agencies and home-based independent representatives in the United States, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and Canada, today announced that the Company is contemplating the replacement of its referring travel agent (‘RTA’) business model with the implementation of a franchise operating system, potentially in 2009. The Company expects that a franchising model, if adopted, would facilitate the Company’s expansion into additional markets by providing more comprehensive training and a new proprietary e-commerce platform.

Details regarding price, product offerings and the conversion plan are all under consideration, but the Company anticipates that its existing RTA base would be treated favorably under its forthcoming proposal. Scott Tomer, Chief Executive Officer of YTB International, Inc. commented, ‘We have retained iFranchise of Chicago to consult in the planning and development of the franchise model and are excited about the potential impact on YTB’s business.’ If a franchising model is adopted, its distribution is expected to be managed by the current marketing arm of the Company, YourTravelBiz.com, also known as YTB.com

The iFranchise Group brings decades of experience to franchise development and implementation efforts. Their consultants have worked with over 30 Fortune 2000 companies and with 98 of the world’s top 200 franchisors as rated by Franchise Times magazine. iFranchise has worked with clients such as Blockbuster Video, Ace Hardware, and McDonald’s.

About YTB International

Recognized as the 26th largest seller of travel in the U.S. for travel sales reported in 2007 by Travel Weekly, YTB International, Inc. provides Internet-based travel booking services for home-based independent representatives in the United States, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Canada, Bermuda, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Company operates through three subsidiaries: YourTravelBiz.com, Inc., YTB Travel Network, Inc., and REZconnect Technologies, Inc. YourTravelBiz.com focuses on marketing online travel websites through a nationwide network of independent business people, known as ‘Reps.’ YTB Travel Network establishes and maintains travel vendor relationships, processes travel transactions of online travel agents and affiliates, collects travel commissions and pays sales commissions. Each RTA directs consumers to the YTB Internet-based travel website. The REZconnect Technologies division operates as a travel vendor relationship management company and offers franchises of brick and mortar travel agencies. For more information, visit http://www.ytbi.com/investor.

Statements about the Company’s future expectations, including future revenues and earnings, and all other statements in this press release other than historical facts are ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange of 1934, and as that term is defined in the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, and the Company’s actual results could differ materially from expected results. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequently occurring events or circumstances.

SOURCE YTB International, Inc.

PS - If you're involved with YTB, sign up for our FREE Newsletter. As a Website Owner or Website Seller, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB.

PPS - Subscribe to the Just Picture It Now RSS feed, (including e-mail) for all the latest posts and updates found right here!

Doug & Ronda Bauknight
Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812
Book Your Travel & Vacations With


TSO #588629
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