| Village Coffee brews up growth
Village Coffee is branching out. Village Coffee founder Tommy Lowery currently owns three stores -- the original in Troy and two in east Montgomery -- and he's sold licenses in Millbrook, Prattville and Enterprise as well as one in California. He says he's negotiating a dozen other license deals. The Alabama-based company is growing through licensing, which allows the buyer a more affordable and more flexible opportunity than franchising, Lowery said. Under a franchise agreement, the store operator follows instructions from corporate on almost every aspect of running the business. In a license agreement, the store owner has permission to use a company's name and sell its products, according to Daniel Slocki, a counselor at the Auburn University Small Business Development Center.
Find out about franchises, how to buy one
Sparks residents considering buying a franchise are invited to attend a seminar from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Thursday at the Washoe County Complex, 1001 E. 9th St. in Reno. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about small business and franchise facts, strategies for finding the right business, the legalities of franchising and how to properly investigate franchises. To register, visit www.sparkschamber.org .
Lines expected with release of video game "Halo"
Hoping to make entertainment history, Microsoft plans to release the latest video game in its hit "Halo" franchise today. The "Halo" series, set in a future when humanity is battling a hostile alien race, has sold more than 14.8 million copies since its debut in 2001, making it one of the most successful game franchises. The last major game in the series, "Halo 2," set a record in 2004 for first-day sales of any entertainment product, generating more than $125 million in the United States in its first 24 hours. Locally, Taylor Hall, a Cabrillo College student majoring in computer science, planned to buy the $60 version of the game at Game Stop in Capitola. He was planning to camp out Monday night in front of the store to get first whack at the sales.
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