(FranchisePick.Com) It’s official. Last Friday Pure Weight Loss filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection from more than 100,000 creditors. In the Pure Weight Loss bankruptcy filing, PWL estimated its assets at $1 million to $10 million and its liabilities at $10 million to $50 million.

Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer, Posted on Wed, Jan. 16, 2008

Business news in brief

Pure Weight Loss files for Chapter 7 protection

Pure Weight Loss Inc., the Horsham diet company, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection Friday in U.S. Bankrupty Court, Philadelphia. In a court document, the company stated it had more than 100,000 creditors. It estimated its assets at $1 million to $10 million and its liabilities at $10 million to $50 million. The company announced in December that it was closing its weight-loss centers Jan. 4. The company’s lawyer didn’t return a phone call yesterday. - Stacey Burling

Source: Kathy, FranchisePick.com reader comment:

I wrote to the Ohio Attorney Generals office and they informed me today that Pure Weight Loss has filed Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. You can contact the following to see if you can file a proof of claim form:
US Bankruptcy Court, Clerks Office
Case #08-10315
900 Market St. Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19107

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(FranchisePick.Com) Today’s “What the Fun?” moment is brought to you by Pure Weight Loss,

the weight loss industry’s Lazarus…

David Copperfield…

Marcel Marceau…

and the second opening scene of Monty Python & the Holy Grail all wrapped into one.

States Pure Weight Loss: I’m Not Dead!

12/14/07 Philadelphia Daily News reporter Krista Hutz wrote:

Pure Weight Loss, Inc, formerly LA Weight Loss, announced on Wednesday that it would close all of its more than 400 locations nationwide effective Jan. 4.

A statement released by the company on Wednesday said, “Fierce competition from the internet, the introduction of Alli, the over-the-counter weight loss pill, and other commercial diet programs, combined with a difficult economic environment, have forced us to take this action.”

States Pure Weight Loss: I’m Getting Superior!

12/19/07 Philadelphia Inquirer’s Stacey Burling did a brilliant job deciphering how Pure Weight Loss had broken off from the franchised L.A. Weight Loss, and explained it so even I could understand it. She also wrote:

In the competitive world of dieting, one of three Horsham-based weight-loss companies has taken an abrupt, mysterious fall….

In a terse statement, Pure Weight Loss stated it would close Jan. 4 after 18 years because of “fierce competition from the Internet; the introduction of Alli, the over-the-counter weight-loss pill, and other commercial diet programs; combined with a difficult economic environment.”

Says Pure Weight Loss: I Think I’ll Go for a Walk!

Yet now the Pure Weight Loss website displays the following notice:

Please note: This closing does NOT affect centers doing business as Pure Weight Loss in the following states because they are independently owned and operated: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Michigan and the Pensacola, Florida and Toledo, Ohio areas.

Can anyone explain this? Are they referring to L.A. Weight Loss franchises? Did Pure Weight Loss have franchises that are now on their own? Krista? Stacey? A tiny help here?

That concludes today’s WTF? moment.

COMMENTS ENCOURAGED. INTELLIGENT COMMENTS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED.

Visit the > PURE WEIGHT LOSS REFUND INFORMATION CENTER page to see other topics and discussions on Pure Weight Loss.

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(FranchisePick.Com)  According an announcement on the Pure Weight Loss website:  “We apologize for any inconvenience that the closing of Pure Weight Loss Centers has caused. Refund applications are currently being evaluated. If you’ve not submitted your refund applications, please do so at your earliest convenience.”

Here’s a copy of the Pure Weight Loss Refund Form:  pwlrefundapp.pdf

HAVE YOU SUBMITTED A PURE WEIGHT LOSS REFUND FORM?  HAVE YOU RECEIVED YOUR REFUND?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

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(FranchisePick.Com)  Is Green Bay Packer fan Mathew Kowald simply a Dad trying to instill cheesehead pride in a rebellious son he fears will be wooed by the existentially better, big-city franchise 200 miles to the south?  Or is he a beer-swilling, Nascar-watching cretin doing irreparable emotional damage to offspring who drew the short ends of both the genetic and geographic sticks?

Or is he just a normal guy whose life is getting turned upside down because his story is funny on a slow news day?

According to WiscTV.com:”Sheriff’s Lt. Wayne Smith stated Mathew Kowald was cited for disorderly conduct for the incident involving his 7-year-old son at their home in Pardeeville this past weekend. Kowald was accused of restraining the boy for an hour with tape and also taping a jersey onto him during that time.

The dad was arrested on Monday after his wife called authorities. Kowald was taken to the county jail and held until Wednesday, when he pleaded no contest, paid a fine of $186 and was released..

“Kowald defended his actions in a phone call to WISC-TV, saying that he did tie his child up but that it was in a playful manner….Smith said that Kowald’s wife filed a restraining order Wednesday, so Kowald won’t be able to have contact with his family. Smith said other domestic issues have surfaced, though he wouldn’t elaborate….”

Authorities: Man Arrested For Forcing Son To Wear Packers Jersey

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHOULD SOCIETY SEND A MESSAGE TO THIS PACKER FAN, OR SHOULD WE GET BACK TO MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES, LIKE BRITNEY SPEARS?

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I love finding headlines like this one Investors cash in on green buildings because it just highlights the fact that, in addition to being better for people and the environment, green can be profitable.

Schuster Group, a Seattle-based real estate development and investment firm, have launched a $100 million private real estate investment fund aimed at projects that use only the highest green building standards.

In the US, the highest green building standards correlate with the US Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program. Schuster’s latest project, Mosler Lofts, is on its way to getting a “Silver” LEED-certification and almost all of the 150 units were sold upon the building’s opening last October. And they look absolutely gorgeous from what I’ve seen, can’t wait to see what these guys are up to next.

What do you consider Schuster’s fund?

Via Sustainable Industries

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BoingBoing.net published an interesting post on Sunday about Ford (NYSE: F) and the BMC (Black Mustang Club). According to the BMC automotive forum, the club planned to put together a calendar using pictures of their members’ vehicles and sell it through CafePress. That plan was swiftly put to a stop when the law firm representing Ford contacted CafePress saying that the pictures of the automobiles in the calendar infringes on Ford’s trademarks which includes pictures of Ford cars even after they’re sold.

What do you consider Ford’s strong-arm tactics here? Are they right in trying to protect their brand and trademarks or is this a case of taking things a bit too far?

I’ve to vote for the latter. I think in today’s society, allowing customers to personalize a brand and give it meaning is a critical component to brand loyalty and word-of-mouth marketing. I think there are times when it’s appropriate to have flexibility around trademark infringements. Sending a cease and desist to a fan club seems like a bad move to me, particularly when that cease and desist tells the most loyal customers to a brand to stop showing off their beloved prized-possessions. I’m sure the Ford Mustang owners who belong to the Black Mustang Club might think twice about buying a Ford in the future now that they know how Fort truly feels about them. At the very least, the message Ford is sending could certainly be interpreted as, “we care more about our trademarks than our customers.”

Luckily, Ford saw the error of their ways, and realized their lawyers were making a mistake and alienating the company’s ideal customers. Yesterday, the BMC forums published an update announcing that Ford has given approval for the club to print its calendar as originally planned, but has some damage already been done to the Ford brand name?

What do you think?

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