#learn to blame griffith for everything <3

[paint-it-dead]

this is completly self indulgent and fucking random but i HAVE to vent

this was one of my favourite few months fandon wise istg

first i experienced dazai osamu- THE Mr. Bungou Stray Dogs himself die on the anniversary of Bakugou Katsuki's death. Both of these occurencies very fucking hilarious to me for different reasons but needless to say i celebrated both(dazai's more, REST IN PISS BOZO) nevertheless

then i read a post here on the site of the tumblr that apparently griffith berserk has managed to live this long(over 30 human yrs) cus he "allegedly" survives by stealing the life force of other white haired anime boys. i found this hilarious and jokingly prayed to him that if that WAS the case then 'Please o please o please o great griffith i'll take any penalty just fucking kill Gojo Satoru i cant stand his fake ass' and GUESS WHAT

GOJO SATORU DIES WITHIN THE FUCKING WEEK OF ME SAYING THAT

but on that same day fucking DAZAI comes back from the dead.

so griffith did what he had to do to rid us of the annoying white haired twink but said brunettes r not his type.

what a wild ride.

i wish my life made as much sense as this lmao

[robertjameshomeservices]

Why is Franchising in Australia on the Decline?

Australia was a world leader in franchising in the 1990s, what happened?

Robert James and James Home Services: What has trigger the decline the Franchising Industry in Australia? Why is Australia's largest franchisor, Retail Food Group, losing franchisees faster than they can recruit new ones? Where will it end?

But the writing has been on the wall for some time.

#1 There is a Sharp Decline in Australian Families Buying Franchises

Australian's are choosing to go it alone as independents small business owners as a more attractive alternative to investing in franchise systems.

There is a small business revolution going on!

There are more home-based family businesses than ever before, but they are not seeing the value for their money in being a franchisee.

The Retail Food Group(RFG) currently resources getting all the headlines, their recent results should be terrifying to all those in franchising in our c country. Consider, in March 2018, Retail Food Group stocks hit 10-year low on $88m loss and 200 stores to be closed in 2019.  The company blamed unsustainable rent, declining shopping centre performance and a sharp decline amongst domestic franchise sales and renewals as the main reasons for it's disappointing performance.

Our largest franchisor can't sell franchise!

They have huge financial resources and the largest marketing budgets of any Australian franchisor, they are planning to close 200 franchises in the next 12 months, what chances do the lessor lights have.

Australian Franchisors are reliant on new franchisee's buying into their business. In the most part they are Families' who invest in franchises. This just isn't happening at the same rate as in the 90s and 00s.

Secondly, but very tellingly, even long term successful franchisees are choosing not to resign their "renewal agreements". They are choosing to be rebrand from the network, rebrand in their own name and carry on without paying those annoying franchise fees.

The world has changed, but it appears that most Australian franchisors are still Partying like it is 1999, but most family small businesses are deciding it is better to go it alone.

Australian's aren't buying franchises like they did in the good old days of 1999 and they aren't signing up for renewal of their second term, even if they were successful.

#2 Australia is Oversaturated with franchisors.

The Franchise Council of Australia, FCA, has some key insights to what is happening in the Australia Franchising.

The "Franchising Australia 2016 Report", comply by the Griffith University's Professor Lorrelle Frazer, sponsored by the Franchising Council of Australia is the last detailed industry report directly from Australian Franchisors'

This is a valid, up to date report that is based on information supplied by Australia's Franchisors, If anything this report is most likely to be franchisor friendly?

To quote the report:

Griffith University is proud to endorse the tenth biennial Franchising Australia survey sponsored by the Franchise Council of Australia. Representing the only reliable and systematic data collected on the Australian franchise sector, the Franchising Australia 2016 report provides an up-to-date profile of the sector.

One of the most telling facts in this report , To quote the report

Continuing the trend that began in 2010, the number of franchise brands operating in Australia has declined.

In 2014 the number of franchise brands was 1124; in 2016 there were 1089 brands — reflecting a net decrease of 3.1 percent. (Given that several franchise brands operate multiple franchise concepts the population of franchise systems is estimated to be 1120.) A gradual decline in the number of franchise brands is anticipated as the sector continues to mature.

Putting this into perspective, the USA has approximately twice the number of franchise brands as Australia servicing 13 times the population

Simply: Australia is oversaturated with franchisors, there are 650% more franchisors to ratio of population than the USA, the home of franchising!

Franchise brands are vanishing each year and the FCA expects this to continue into the near future.

On these numbers, Australian Franchisors are an endangered species. We have to lose around 800 brands to be on par with the USA?

It will be survival of the fittest. The strongest and long term ethically sound businesses will be around in the next 5 to 10 years.

In 2018, Master franchising in a market as small as Australia is an outdated concept.

The internet has more useful tools available to manage, educate, support and market franchisee's businesses. The Master Franchisor model adds an extra level of unnecessary cost for both the Franchisee and the Franchisor.

It is true, that if Franchisors do go out of business, then some franchisees may go with them, but successful franchisees can still trade on with their own sign above the door.

#3 The Internet has Changed the World and Most Australian Franchisors Haven't Caught Up.

Many Franchisors are overcharging to compensate for the decline in sales.

In every franchise system there are 3 keys systems areas that are the foundations on their intellectual property.

Training,

Marketing.

Support.

In the 1990s to early 2000s, it wasn't easier for the average small business owner to get access to these tools or education. In 2018, it is a very different world.

Training:  

Everyone has access training in everything needed to run a successful small business. There are qualified trainers all around the world.

Marketing:

It has never been easier for small business owners to market their businesses. They can hire your own Marketing Guru to build their local brand for a fraction of the franchise fees. Just check out Upwork.  

Support;

There are a huge range of business coaching and support options. The selection of specialist business coaches is never ending.

The reality is that the business coach that a small business owner can now employ on-line is more qualified than any employees of the franchisor or a master franchisor who bought his/her way into the business.

There is plentiful supply of information, education and business systems online.

If franchisors are asking new business owners to spend for a $30,000 for initial fees they have to offer greater value than the other suppliers that are available on the internet.

For many franchisors, they are offering no intellectual property that the average family cannot be buy elsewhere on the internet for a fraction of the price they are asking them to pay.

There is a simple an answer.

Franchisors have to offer a better product for family business than what is available online!

Simply, the elite franchise systems will continue to grow and prosper. The strong credible brands will be the survivors, McDonalds is here to stay.

Robert James and James Home Services: The franchise systems who can demonstrate they are true value for money, compared with starting up as an independent business owner, will get Australian families to investments in their franchise.

In the 1990s franchising in Australia was cutting edge business stuff, it truly empowered small business owners to succeed and prosper. But the reality is that in many systems there will be in a continuous negative growth over the next five to ten years.

For many franchise systems the internet is the catalysts to the beginning of the end.

In 2018, there is a small business revolution around the world, more families than ever are choosing to work from home .

The vast majority are choosing to go it as independents with help from experts found on-line.

The internet changed the game for franchising in Australia, but most Franchisors are living in the good old days of 1999, before the internet came along.

This is a time of great opportunity for pragmatic Franchisors who embrace the changes ,evolve their business systems and to add the extra value to the franchisees business.

If you want to learn more follow us on Balance Enterprises

Originally Posted: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-franchising-australia-decline-robert-james/

[cdyssey]

Once Rewatch: Snow Falls, 1x03

“You’re a... girl?!”

“Woman.”

And then she clocks David upside the face with a big rock.

Now this is start of a beautiful pair. :’)

Omg, I’d forgotten that MM had gone on a date with Whale.

Talk about awkward.

Hm, I also think I’ll do some Whale analysis here as well. He’s arrogant, misogynistic, and kind of spineless when it comes to dealing with forces more powerful than himself. I think this is a great interpretation of source material, lol.

Bc if we’re being honest here, Victor Frankenstein is a whiny college dropout, a prototypical incel who probably passed biology but severely failed ethics.

I’m not crying—there’s just some Snowing in my eye.

On a related note, Isham’s swelling score is particularly powerful here; he amps up the suspense perfectly.

I love Once’s retcon of the name Prince Charming; it works so much better as an ironic moniker.

Snow: “True love? It doesn’t exist. It’s all arranged marriages and business transactions.” (1) So in my writeup on the pilot, I wrote something to the effect that Snow is less vulnerable to optimism than David is, that she’s long been disillusioned about the possibility for happy endings. I think this quote backs that sentiment up quite nicely. (2) I know A&E probably haven’t figured out the logistics of Regina and Leopold by this point, but even still, this quote very well applies to their farce of a marriage. (Snow’s cognition and/or ignorance of this is such a rich place to explore in fic.)

Emma (talking about Regina): Where does she think you are anyway?

Henry: Playing Whack-a-Mole.

Emma: And she bought that?

Henry: She wants to believe it, so she does.

This exchange is funny but also purty revealing, even if Henry doesn’t quite know it. Regina desperately wants things between them to return back to normal, so when Henry tells her that he’s off doing something normal, that he’s returning to his old habits of playing games and having fun and not becoming Storybooke’s new junior sleuth, she’s more than ready to take his word at face value.

Side-by-side, Ginny and Jared look so much alike, and I love that. <3 They also share a buoyant, youthful kind of energy when they play off each other. So I hereby headcanon that Snow and Henry, post-uh-everything, are always going out on mini-adventures together. With their combined imaginations and mutual penchants for curiosity, this grandmother-grandson can make even the most mundane of grocery runs into something like a hunt for buried treasure.

Regina: “Now you’re lying to me?” A simple question which cues us in on lying being a v. new trait that has surfaced in Henry. The psychology of it is pretty logical. She lied to him, and now he’s reciprocating the favor, both of them unable to trust each other at this point.

So Regina says that she found David lying on the side of the road somewhere and that she brought him to the hospital. Whale supports this statement and claims that she saved his life by this act. Assuming that this is true, then I’m reminded of that popular meta which essentially proposed that the Evil Queen rarely, if ever, made a move that would deeply or permanently harm Snow. Theoretically, Regina could have left him on the side of the road to die, could have dealt Snow an irreparable amount of damage without so much as lifting a finger... but she didn’t. #SnowQueen

“Enjoy my shirt... because that’s all you’re getting.” SJKhdsha. 

I like to think that Emma kept the shirt, and every once and while, she pulls it on just so she can mock a v. embarrassed Regina. “Hey, Regina, what was it you said to me again? You know, back when you wore a lot of dark eyeliner and had a giant stick up your—” “Oh, shut up, Miss Swan.”

Lolol, I love how Storybrooke’s hospital is apparently bordered by the woods. That’s some reaaaaally safe architectural planning there.

Snow wants to go somewhere “isolated, where she can never get hurt,” and in the context of the entire show, I hurt to fully comprehend that Snow’s young life was a hellhole. Her parents were killed, she’s forced out of her kingdom and into exile by a vengeful witch, and now, as a bandit, her existence, for all its flux, is constantly defined by paranoia and fear and cynicism and... well... guilt.

In the grand scheme of things, I think we sometimes forget about Snow.

How much she’s endured.

How much she’s suffered.

Snow: She blames me for ruining her life.

David: Did you?

Snow: [Pausing, thinking, her voice hard and wistful.] Yes.

This is a great beat because it further emphasizes that this isn’t your Disneyfied version of Snow White and the Evil Queen.

There’s no such thing as black and white morality in the world of Once Upon A Time.

The Evil Queen wasn’t always evil.

Snow White was not always as pure as the color of her name.

It’s complicated.

They both are.

MM: “Henry told me that you were from a similar situation to his own?” Honestly, beyond the fact that they were both adopted, I don’t think comparing Henry and Emma’s situations is exactly... apt. Emma bounced around from foster home to foster home and had to deal with the fact that she was ‘abandoned’ by her parents. Henry was given up by Emma to receive his best possible chance at life, and accordingly, he grew up in a mansion with a—as we’ll come to find out—loving mother. 

But, lol, that’s not the point the show’s trying to make here. Point is, Emma is a lost kid, and she’s trying so hard to make sure that Henry doesn’t end up being one as well. Plus, it’s heartbreakingly ironic that the very person she’s been trying to find is standing right next to her.

Oh, Kathryn, you have a v. painful arc coming up.

You know, had I been in the OUAT fandom when Ginny and Josh announced that they were together, that would have been the end of me.

The chemistry between these two is incomparable.

Like, I know it’s for the aesthetic™, but this bag is so impractical for the life Snow lives, lololol. 

Had to include these iconic lines.

Regina: We’ll talk about your insubordination later. Do you know what insubordination means?

Henry: [Shakes his head.]

Regina: It means you’re grounded.

Good God—Kathryn’s fake backstory is so intricate and moving. (Also, I love Anastasia Griffith. She really portrays the duality of Abigail/Kathryn well.)

“Because all of this has reminded me of something, oh, so very important... how grateful I am to have Henry.”

“Because not having somebody... well, that’s the worst curse imaginable.”

Lana Parrilla has no right giving such a nuanced performance of what should have been a one-dimension villain.

But that’s why we love her.

Over the course of the seasons, we learned that the curse backfired on Regina. Sure, everyone was miserable, but so was she... and at least her victims weren’t even cognizant of the fact that they were cursed. Heck, in that sense, they had it better than she did.

So in exacting her perfect revenge, Regina only deepened the void inside of her, drove herself to an emptiness like no other she has felt before.

By the time Greg and Owen showed up, it was nearly unbearable.

And then... she adopted Henry.

And suddenly, she wasn’t alone anymore.

Without Henry, her life is but a void, an emptiness, a nothingness of her own design, and right now, Emma Swan is a perceived threat to the tenuous solace she has carved out for herself these past ten years.

What Regina doesn’t understand is that she’s the real threat.

She’s the one who is ultimately pushing Henry away.

Okay, y’all aren’t allowed to make eye-contact anymore. 😭

:’)

I think I can safely say that “Snow Falls” is one of the most tightly written and acted episodes in the series. On an architectural level, the dialogue parallels were especially poignant, and the sentimental moments were well chosen. For instance, concluding the episode on this sweet, tender moment between Emma and Mary Margaret is an expert choice that ameliorates the Snowing pathos we’re currently feeling. Theatrically, it’s the little nuances that make “Snow Falls” so great: JMO’s uncomfortable vulnerability as Emma talks about her history with MM, the mutual attractions of Snow and David that surface in meaningful glances expertly affected by Ginny and Josh, the softnesses Lana and Anastasia imbue their hardened characters with.

Just really wonderful stuff all around.

[bthump]

nico-jero replied to your post “If Casca didn't try a deter Guts from staying and if the Eclipse never...”

Your writing is so good! I love you brought up Guts tenderness and helping attitude with holding Shizu's hand. I wonder how much different Gut's life would be if she lived? He probably would be a Merc still but would he have the same characteristics that attracted Griffith to him?

thank you so much <3 and yeah I find that moment so touching ngl, it’s such an interesting character establishing moment for Guts, after the Black Swordsman arc especially.

Good question tbh. We know at least some of Gambino’s abusiveness is rooted in blaming Guts for Shizu’s death (he says it’s why he sold him to Donovan), and it also contributed to the rest of the band considering him cursed. Plus yk just having a mother around, assuming Shizu would’ve been an alright mom, and I’m fine with defaulting to assuming parents aren’t going to suck, would probably be a good influence on Guts. So Guts’ issues with feeling like an ousider would be way lessened, probably.

He’d live a much happier life if Shizu never died imo. More love in his life, Gambino as a distant but maybe not actively horrible father figure. I imagine Guts would’ve started learning the sword at a more reasonable age under these circumstances, being mostly raised by Shizu until he’s actually old enough to fight. No oversized sword in this AU.

Also I think his rape trauma is largely responsible for his run directly into danger by himself and then claw his way back out style of fighting. I think it’s how he deals with a deep seated fear that started there (compounded w/ Gambino trying to kill him later too) and that hits him again every time he faces an opponent and makes him want to lash out to a somewhat irrational extent (tho he wouldn’t be conscious of it when it comes to typical human soldiers imo. monsters bring it out more). Hence things from pre-emptively charging the ram knights as a one-man army to insisting on taking wyald one on one.

So yeah without that trauma I think he would be much chiller on the battlefield. He wouldn’t be as strong as he is, or as driven, or as singular, and he might not’ve caught Griffith’s eye at all. Though I like to think there still would’ve been that spark between them. But they would lose that two lonely dudes finding their loneliness eased around each other vibe. Also Guts would probably not be as desperate for attention, though he might still be a little, since lbr Gambino wouldn’t be a doting parent under any circumstances.

I mean okay I guess I gotta admit that 99% of Guts’ character stems from his childhood and Gambino’s treatment of him, so if that changed, anything and everything could be different, and his relationship with Griffith especially is informed by his shitty childhood imo.

So even if Gambino and Shizu both died b4 he was 15 and he ended up with the Hawks anyway, I feel like his relationship with Griffith just wouldn’t have that intensity. He wouldn’t feel driven to be his equal and have him look at him, Griffith saying he wants him wouldn’t affect him much, Griffith saving him from Zodd wouldn’t have the same impact, same w/ Guts finding a new family with the Hawks, etc etc.

(Maybe this would be good actually lol. I could see this version of Guts telling Griffith what he needed to hear in Tombstone of Flame, eg. And he wouldn’t leave the Hawks even if he did overhear the Promrose speech. He’d probably be more in a position to recognize that Griffith isn’t so much admirable as fucked up. And he’d be more likely to actually apply Casca’s story about him to what he thinks he knows about Griffith and reach a greater understanding of him, when not blinded by a desperate need to be loved.)

[robertjameshomeservices]

Why is the Australian Franchising Indiustry in Rapid Decline?

Australia was a world leader in franchising in the 1990’s, what happened? When Australia’s largest franchisor, Retail Food Group, is losing franchisees faster than they can recruit new ones? There is clearly a problem within the sector.

The horror stories of failing franchisees across all networks is growing daily. What is the reasoning behind this current Franchising avalanche of failures?

What has triggered the decline t in he Franchising Industry in Australia? Where will it end?

The writing has been on the wall for some time.

#1 There is a Sharp Decline in Australian Families Buying Franchises

Australian’s are choosing to go it alone as independents as a more attractive alternative to investing in franchise systems.

There is a small business revolution going on, there are more home-based family businesses than ever before, but they are not seeing the value for their money in being a franchisee.

The Retail Food Group(RFG) currently seem to be getting all the headlines, their recent results should be terrifying to all those in franchising in our c country. Consider, in March 2018, Retail Food Group stocks hit 10-year low on $88m loss and 200 stores to be closed in 2019.  The company blamed “unsustainable rent”, “declining shopping centre performance” and a “sharp decline amongst domestic franchise sales and renewals “as the main reasons for its “disappointing performance”.

Our largest franchisor can’t sell franchise!

They have huge financial recourses and the largest marketing budgets of any Australian franchisor, they are planning to close 200 franchises in the next 12 months, what chances do the lessor lights have.

Australian Franchisors are reliant on new franchisee’s buying into their business. In the most part they are “Families’ who invest in franchises. This just isn’t happening at the same rate as in the 90s and 00s.

Secondly, but very tellingly, even long term successful franchisees are choosing not to resign their “renewal agreements”. They are choosing to be debrand from the network, rebrand in their own name and carry on without paying those annoying franchise fees.

The world has changed, but it appears that most Australian franchisors are still “Partying like it is 1999”, but most family small businesses are deciding it is better to go it alone.

Australian’s aren’t buying franchises like you did in the good old days of 1999 and they aren’t signing up for a second go, even if they were successful.

#2 Australia is Oversaturated with franchisors.

The Franchise Council of Australia,FCA, has some key insights to what is happening in the Australia Franchising.

The “Franchising Australia 2016 Report”, comply by the Griffith University’s Professor Lorrelle Frazer, sponsored by the Franchising Council of Australia is the last detailed industry report directly from Australian Franchisors’

This is a valid, up to date report that is based on information supplied by Australia’s Franchisors, If anything this report is most likely to be “franchisor friendly?

To quote the report:

Griffith University is proud to endorse the tenth biennial Franchising Australia survey sponsored by the Franchise Council of Australia. Representing the only reliable and systematic data collected on the Australian franchise sector, the Franchising Australia 2016 report provides an up-to-date profile of the sector.

One of the most telling facts in this report , explains the vanishing Australian Franchise industry.

To quote the report

Continuing the trend that began in 2010, the number of franchise brands operating in Australia has declined.

In 2014 the number of franchise brands was 1124; in 2016 there were 1089 brands – reflecting a net decrease of 3.1 percent. (Given that several franchise brands operate multiple franchise concepts the population of franchise systems is estimated to be 1120.) A gradual decline in the number of franchise brands is anticipated as the sector continues to mature said Robert James and James Home Services.

Putting this into perspective, the USA has approximately twice the number of franchise brands as Australia servicing 13 times the population

Simply: Australia is oversaturated with franchisors, there are 650% more franchisors to ratio of population than the USA, the home of franchising!

On these numbers “The Australian Franchisors” are an endangered species. We have to lose around 800 brands to be on par with the USA? It will be survival of the fittest. The biggest, strongest and long term ethically sound businesses will be around in the next 5 to 10 years.

On top of these brand franchisors, we have a huge number of “Master Franchisors “with limited rights that will most likely be the first to go.

In 2018, Master franchising in a market as small as Australia is clearly an outdated concept, there are more useful tools now available to manage franchise networks. It only adds a level of unnecessary cost for both the Franchisee and the Franchisor.

It is true, that if Franchisors do go down, then many franchisees may go with them, but successful franchisees will still trade on with their own sign above the door or on the trailer.

Franchise brands are vanish at the rate of 10% each year and the FCA expects this to continue into the near future.

#3 The Internet has Changed the World and Most Australian Franchisors Haven’t Caught Up.

Franchisor are overcharging to compensate for the decline in sales.

The FCA’s”Franchising Australia 2016 Report”, comply by the Griffith University’s reported that

Cost of a new franchise unit

The total start-up cost for a new retail franchise unit was $287 500 compared to $59 750 in a non-retail franchise. This included an initial franchise fee of $31 500 in retailing compared to $28 000 in non-retail franchises.

In the 90’s Franchisors had key intellectual property that wasn’t readily available to the average family wanting to start their own business. In every franchise system there are 3 keys systems areas that are the foundations on their intellectual property.

Training,

Marketing.

Support.

In the 1990s to early 2000s, it wasn’t easier for the average small business owner to get access to these tools or education. In 2018, it is a very different world.

Training:There are professionals all around the world who can train you on line in any practical skill you desire to learn. Anyone now has access training in everything needed to run a small business. There are qualified trainers all around the world, who will teach you how to mow a lawn, clean a house, detail a car, groom dogs, run a hair dressing business or make great.

Marketing:has never been easier for small business, you can even hire your own “Marketing Guru” for less than the cost of a $25 each week. Just check out Upwork.  

Family businesses can now market their products on  Shopify for only $9 a month. These are just a small select of the options available to anyone wanting to start their own business.

Robert James and James Home Services Support; The Internet has made Master Franchisor obsolete. There are a huge range of business coaching and support options. The selection of specialist business coaches is never ending. The reality is that the business coach a small business owner can now employ on-line is more qualified than any employee of the franchisor or a master franchisor who bought” his/her way into the business.

There is an oversupply of information, education and business systems. The internet changed the game for franchising in Australia, but most Franchisors are living in the good old days before that “internet” came along.

Franchisor are charging their franchisees more than ever, but the value of their intellectual property is declining in value with the growth of the internet.

If franchisors are asking new business owners to spend for a $30,000 for initial fees only then they have to offer greater value than the same new business owner can receive if they choose to invest the same money with other suppliers that are available on the internet.

For 90% of franchisors, they are offering no intellectual property that the average family cannot be buy elsewhere on the internet for a fraction of the price they are asking them to pay.

Is there an answer to stop the decline?

There is and answer, but I don’t think the majority of franchisors or master franchisee in Australia want to address the “Elephant in the room”.

The Franchisors have to offer a better product for family business than what is available online!

Simply, the elite franchise systems will continue to grow and prosper. The strong credible brands will be the survivors, McDonalds is here to stay.

The franchise systems who can demonstrate they are true value for money, compared with starting up as an independent business owner, will get Australian families to investments in their franchise.

There is no future for franchise system who function under an outdated “Master Franchisor” system in Australia. They are adding an unnecessary management level that is no longer needed with todays technology.

In the 1990’s franchising in Australia was cutting edge business stuff, it truly empowered small business owners to succeed and prosper. But the reality is that in many systems there will be in a continuous negative growth over the next five to ten years. For many industries the internet is the catalysts to the beginning of the end for many franchisors.

In 2018, there is a small business revolution around the world, more families than ever are choosing to work from home. The vast majority are choosing to go it as independents with help from experts found on-line. Robert James and James Home Services.

Originally Posted:-http://www.robertjameshomeservices.com/why-is-the-australian-franchising-indiustry-in-rapid-decline/