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Starbucks Dumps Plans for Teavana Bars

Starbucks announced on Friday that they will integrate their 3 Teavana tea bars located in New York into regular Starbucks locations as well as closing completely the Beverly Hills, California, store, effectively putting the nix on plans to expand their tea stores.

The company says that they are not abandoning their tea idea altogether, but they feel Starbucks would be better served by simply offering their teas to customers inside regular locations. The only exception being the Teavana tea bar which is located in the Seattle University Village. This location, which opened in 2013, will remain in place and unchanged.

Starbucks purchased Teavanan in late 2012 for $616 million. These locations, in addition to selling designer teas, also offered upscale pastries and foods. The company states that they still believe that Teavana tea is a winning idea that customers want, however, this move seems to indicate that Starbucks is refocusing on their core plans.

History

There are currently 350 Teavana stores across the United States, which offer bulk tea sales, but do not offer individual cups of tea, or food, for sale. Tea sales are expected to grow by double digits in the next year and do more than $3 billion dollars in sales over the next 5 years.

Starbucks also purchased La Boulange bakeries and cafes in California in 2013 but ended up shutting down most of these upscale bakeries. Starbucks also purchased Evolution Fresh, a juice company, in 2011. The company has yet to develop this end of the business any further than the 3 locations they now have, all located in the Seattle area.

Starbucks coffee and Teavana tea. Do they go together? Or is this a doomed relationship? Only time will tell.

Source: Seattle Times

Mac Tools Corporate Office

Mac Tools

Mac Tools was founded in 1938 in Sabina, Ohio. Originally named Mechanic Tool and Forge Company, the company’s mission statement was that the company intended to make the best tools in the world. The company changed their name to the familiar Mac Tools in 1961. In 1980, Mac Tools was purchased by the Stanley Black and Decker Company.

Mac Tools began franchising operations in 2011 and is now listed as #17 on the Entrepreneur list of Top Fastest Growing Franchises in America. The company has relationships with third party’s that will finance start up fees, franchise costs, inventory and equipment.

The company sells automotive, truck, and bus tools, tool boxes, and specialty tools which are sold and delivered directly to consumers via trucks which visit body shops, mechanic shops, and automotive dealerships.

History

Mac Tools was founded in 1938 in Sabina, Ohio. Originally named Mechanic Tool and Forge Company, the company's mission statement was that the company intended to make the best tools in the world. The company changed their name to the familiar Mac … [Continue reading] about Mac Tools Corporate Office

New Cancer Drug Could Send Bristol-Myer Stock Skyrocketing

The new cancer fighting drug, Opdivo, could be the next miracle drug of the future. Shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb could also perform miraculously for long term investors.

Opdivo has shown tremendous success in stopping the progression of numerous types of cancer including cancers of the head and neck, lung cancer, renal cell cancer, as well as the deadly skin cancer melanoma. This drug is the front runner when speaking of the new immuno-oncology drugs, which are prolonging the lives of persons affected with late stage cancers. Although this drug is not completely free from side effects, it has considerably fewer noted side effects than current cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy.

Opdivo blocks important receptors in T-cells, which improves the patients own immune system, allowing it to recognize and attack mutant cancer cells and cancerous tumors. To date, Opdivo has been the most successful in this new class of cancer drugs, even outperforming some of Bristol-Myers (Ticker: BMY) other drugs, such as Yervoy, in this same class. In fact, at least 5 clinical trials have been stopped early because it was obvious that Odivo was greatly increasing survival rates by slowing or stopping the advancement of cancer. The Food and Drug Administration has given no fewer than 7 approvals for Opdivo to treat certain types of cancer in 2015.

History

After Bristol-Myers stock rose during the summer of 2015 from $60 to $70.87, it took a nose dive in the fall that found it back at $60 by December. Even at $60, this isn’t considered to be a cheap stock, but for investors who are interested in the long haul, this is one they should seriously consider buying.

If Opdivo isn’t enough to sway some people to invest in this stock, perhaps they should reconsider. The company has other promising cancer treatments coming down the proverbial pipeline. Some market analysts see the stock by 25% or more next year. One company, Cowen & Company, states that they even forsee this stock hitting the $100 mark by the end of the year.

Bristol-Myer also had staggering fourth quarter results last year with revenue of $4.3 billion and earnings of 38 cents per share, which was well above expectations.

Although the stock isn’t necessarily a bargain right now, especially when compared to stocks like Merck, but Bristol-Myers drug Opdivo is certainly kicking Mercks behind right now by outperforming Mercks drug Keytruda.

It’s all about Opdivo right now and that is what will be the driving force behind this drugmakers stock, at least for 2016. A T.Rowe Price manager stated that this is one of the best pharmaceutical stocks to come along in quite some time and that long term investors should ride this stock all the way to the bank.

Source: Barron’s

The new cancer fighting drug, Opdivo, could be the next miracle drug of the future. Shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb could also perform miraculously for long term investors. Opdivo has shown tremendous success in stopping the progression of numerous … [Continue reading] about New Cancer Drug Could Send Bristol-Myer Stock Skyrocketing

Are Tat’s Organic? Whole Foods Might Give Them a Whirl

After you do your organic produce shopping, is getting a tat on the way out the next thing on your mind? Whole Foods certainly hopes so. The company is planning on launching new, smaller format stores – 365 by Whole Foods Markets, and they appear to be experimenting with some unique ideas.

Whole Foods has an entire website dedicated to these new 365 stores and is mulling over a potential “friends list” of businesses that might be interested in making a joint venture by setting up their shop inside the new 365 locations. Whole Foods appears to be pretty open about what they are willing to experiment with. The company is not limiting their “business friends” to food related businesses. Almost everything appears to be a possibility including body and hair care products, sandwich shops, music stores, even tattoo parlors!

While the company has yet to announce any hard and fast choices, company spokesperson Emily Wright states that they are not ruling out “lifestyles and services” as potential partners.

History

Whole Foods is facing some very steep competition as competitors such as Kroger offer customers more organic and fresher options. Trader Joe’s appears to have found their niche, offering customers organic or unique items at very low sale prices.

The new 365 stores are intended to bring in the younger consumer, who are often on a tighter budget, but still want quality, organic goods and produce. Some people, however, feel that opening up tattoo parlors inside Whole Foods is not compatible and might backfire. Most people think Whole Foods and health go hand in hand, tat’s and music stores? Not so much.

Perhaps Whole Foods would be better off taking on Peet’s, Starbucks, or The Tea and Leaf Company before they consider tattoo parlors. A coffee bar and organic teas sound much more compatible, not to mention profitable, than outside vendors pushing non-organic stuff on young consumers.

Source: Herald and News

After you do your organic produce shopping, is getting a tat on the way out the next thing on your mind? Whole Foods certainly hopes so. The company is planning on launching new, smaller format stores - 365 by Whole Foods Markets, and they appear to … [Continue reading] about Are Tat’s Organic? Whole Foods Might Give Them a Whirl

Greensmith Corporate Office

Greensmith

Greensmith Energy was founded in 2008 in Herndon, Vermont. The company created a platform which optimizes the performance of grid-scale energy storage systems, such as batteries, inverters and other types of storage system hardware. This lowers costs and ultimately improves the return on system investments.

Greensmith is listed as #107 on the Inc. 5000 list of Fastest Growing Companies in America. The company has a 3 year growth rate of 3,209% and annual revenue in 2014 of $16.7 million. Greensmith has 30 employees, with 18 of these jobs being added in the past 3 years.

The company is also listed as #7 on the Inc. list of Top Energy Companies, #7 on their list of Top Washington DC Companies, and Greensmith takes the #1 spot on the Inc. list of Top Maryland Companies.

History

Greensmith Energy was founded in 2008 in Herndon, Vermont. The company created a platform which optimizes the performance of grid-scale energy storage systems, such as batteries, inverters and other types of storage system hardware. This lowers costs … [Continue reading] about Greensmith Corporate Office