Franchising's Weekly Rewind

Walmart to let shoppers trade in gift cards Starting on Christmas Day, big-box giant Walmart is letting customers exchange gift cards from more than 150 retailers, airlines and restaurants for Walmart gift cards. These cards don't have an expiration date and are redeemable both in-store and online. (From Fox News) Franchises and chains taking over New York City  Dunkin' Donuts and Subway are slowly taking over the Big Apple, and now boast 1,004 locations in NYC combined - up 17 percent since 2010, according to the 2014 State of the Chains report by the Center for an Urban Future. Other chains quickly growing in the city include MetroPCS, T-Mobile, CVS, 7-Eleven, Checkers*, Chipotle, and Applebees. (From The Business Insider) NRN releases top consumer trends for 2015 Nation's Restaurant News released its top five trends for 2015. Trends to look out for include consumers being active participants in the dining experience by co-creating menu items and being involved in providing feedback; fast-casual restaurants delivering on the fresh needs of Millennials; and a shrinking middle class will affect restaurant visits. (From Nation's Restaurant News) Restaurants having hard time reaching consumers via social media  Before turning to social sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to spread information, restaurant businesses relied on word-of-mouth communication. Social media channels, however, have been a challenge for restaurants to navigate because employees such as hostesses, waiters and bartenders are responsible for updating content while also performing their daily responsibilities. (From The Boston Globe)