“Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it.” ~ Samuel Johnson

Recently we discovered a handy on-line resource that tracks and monitors extraordinary events around the world as near to real-time as possible which is then displayed on a global alert map.  The icons on the map are linked to detailed event information and status updates.  The website, RSOE-EDIS, is the Emergency and Disaster Information Service (EDIS) operated by The Hungarian National Association of Radio Distress-Signaling and Infocommunications (RSOE).

RSOE-EDIS Motto:
“Prepared Citizens – Prepared Communities”

The service tracks a wide variety of events including earthquakes, volcanic activity, severe weather, tsunamis, animal infections, insect infestations, forest fires, vehicle accidents (planes, ships, mass transit, and more), major power outages, bioterror/terrorism, health epidemics, flash floods, explosions, chemical accidents and even jellyfish invasions and shark attacks.  If you want to know what is going on in the world at any given moment, they’ve got it all.  You can select a world-wide view detailing the most significant events occurring around the globe, or narrow your focus on a particular continent/region with additional events identified.

At GeoMetrx we believe that visualizing data allows for making better informed decisions. Every business has a wealth of data at its fingertips just waiting to be mapped. If you’d like to find out more about how GeoMetrx can help your business grow, give us a call today at 1.888.848.4436

It’s the 3^rd Monday in February and depending on where you live you may or may not be celebrating a holiday today.  While federal government offices close and the majority of state offices do so as well, many businesses make the most of the holiday by offering patriotic-themed sales. Officially, the United States federal government is celebrating Washington’s Birthday, not Presidents’ Day. Washington’s Birthday was originally celebrated on February 22^nd, but in 1968 Congress moved the holiday to the 3^rd Monday in February, and this created a lot of debate across our great land.  There was a proposal at one time to change the observance from Washington’s Birthday to Presidents’ Day in order to celebrate President Lincoln as well; however this has never come to pass.

State governments set their own holidays, only some of which are the same as federal holidays. Since 1968, most states have opted to observe some form of presidential holiday on this 3^rd Monday in February, but exactly what is celebrated varies from state to state. Some celebrate Washington’s Birthday, some celebrate both Washington’s and Lincoln’s birthdays, while the majority simply celebrate Presidents’ Day (though even the placement of the possessive apostrophe varies). Here’s how things stack up across the land*:

• States observing some form of Washington, Lincoln or Presidents’ Day = 41
• States observing a form of this holiday on the 3^rd Monday of February = 38**
• States observing Washington’s Birthday only = 9
• States observing Presidents’ Day only = 24
• States not observing any form of this holiday at any time during the year = 9

For the past six years, the U.S. has been making steady progress toward achieving energy independence. According to Bloomberg, we are now meeting more than 80% of our own energy demands, which is the highest level achieved since 1992. The last time we were 100% energy independent was back in 1952. There are many factors contributing to this achievement including:

• Average daily oil output – 5.7 million barrels (highest in 8 years)
• Increased natural gas production – 22.4 trillion cubic feet in 2010
• Average U.S. passenger vehicle efficiency – 29.6 mpg in 2011 (19.9 in 1978)
• North Dakota  booming – 4th largest oil producing state behind Texas, Alaska and California

The Bakken Formation is currently the most productive oil field in the United States. There are over 6,000 active oil wells in this oil field, most of which are located in North Dakota and Montana. It is estimated to hold over 4 billion barrels of oil. In addition to the oil there is also natural gas that has been released from the fracturing in the Bakken Formation. America’s Natural Gas Alliance reports that the shale gas industry supports more than 600,000 jobs in the U.S., and that number is expected to rise to more than 1.6 million by 2035. These figures include not only the jobs provided by the companies and their suppliers, but also hotels, restaurants and other services.

Many business opportunities exist for franchisors and franchisees in and around this booming industry. Unemployment in North Dakota was a mere 3.3% in December 2011. According to Bloomberg, hiring is frantic, so much so that one area McDonald’s store was offering $300 signing bonuses.

How close are you to finding Romance, Harmony or even your Romeo?  Look no further than our monthly thematic map!  We’ve included a dozen roses, er… cities and towns with names that conjure up images and thoughts of Valentine’s Day. Did you know some of these towns, such as Loveland, CO, have a Valentine’s remailing program providing a romantic postmark on a card for that extra-special someone? Last year volunteers in Colorado cancelled over 160,000 cards and letters from more than 110 countries.

February’s map also includes a thematic layer depicting the percentage of ‘never married’ folks in the U.S. The light pink represents the areas with the fewest and the dark red represents the areas with the highest concentration. Will Valentine’s Day 2012 be the year some of these folks find their soulmate?

Valentine Cities and Towns in the U.S.:

Click on the map to view a larger version.

What exactly is Fast Casual dining?  Fast Casual dining restaurants, a relatively new market concept, have found their niche sandwiched between fast food and casual dining.  These restaurants are upscale quick service formats that offer more service along with higher quality food than their traditional fast food counterparts, yet do not provide the full table-side service associated with casual dining.

Perhaps surprisingly, this market segment has increased in popularity since the onset of the economic downturn reaching back to 2007. When you think about it though, it makes a lot of sense.  As Americans, we love our food and we love dining out, but we have to keep a watchful eye on our budgets and our waistlines.  The beauty of Fast Casual dining is that it allows us to double dip when tightening our belts.  The menus tend to be healthier than traditional fast food options, therefore reducing our calorie intake; add to that lower than average bills compared to casual dining, and we save again. Voila, the double-dip!

The NPD Group, a leading market research company, conducts the NPD Recount, a bi-annual census of restaurant counts.  According to their most recent report, the number of Fast Casual dining units has grown from 11,013 in 2007 to 13,643 in 2011.  In addition to the rise in total units, annual traffic at Fast Casual restaurants has also increased from 4% to as much as 11% during each of the past five years.  Conversely, traffic has been on the decline for fast food, casual dining and midscale establishments for the past three years, consecutively.

Source: The NPD Group, Inc.

FastCasual.com, which reports on the important news, events, trends and people in the $23.5 billion fast casual restaurant industry segment, will release their 7^th annual Top 100 Movers & Shakers report in March 2012.   Which companies do you think will top the list this year?

Here were the top five 2011 Movers & Shakers:

• Firehouse Subs
• Wildflower Bread Company
• Genghis Grill
• Mooyah
• Five Guys Burgers & Fries

When the time is right to expand, every business should conduct a thorough and complete site location analysis, and it is critical for franchisors to provide optimized franchise territories.  GeoMetrx enables you to build and define the right territories and select the best sites.  Call or email us today at info@geo-e.com for more info and let us help you map your success!

Photograph by Hank deVre, Squaw Valley

Just hearing the name National Geographic conjures up images in one’s mind of some of the most spectacularly amazing photography of all time.  And they don’t stop there; National Geographic’s in-depth articles inspire us to travel the world.  As old man winter is finally coming out of hibernation, we’d like to bring you their latest website listing of the World’s 25 Best Ski Towns as a follow-up to our most recent newsletter.  Our January 2012 issue featured a thematic map depicting average annual snowfall and concentration of skiers by state. Check it out here!

The National Geographic list provides a brief overview of each of the featured ski-towns including a “Best For” recommendation as well as some of the best digs, eats and non-skiing day activities.  Follow the links for more detailed info:

1. Girdwood, Alaska Best For: Off-the-beaten-path powder hounds with an aversion to glamour
2. Fernie, British Columbia, Canada Best For: Adventurous skiers with a hunger for the steep and deep
3. Zermatt, Switzerland Best For: Photographers with a taste for old-world culture and never-ending descents
4. Bozeman, Montana Best For: Diehard skiers who wear their duct tape with pride (and beginners who look forward to doing the same someday)
5. Chamonix, France Best For: Adrenaline junkies who like their mountains big
6. Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy Best For: Aesthetically minded skiers who appreciate fine wine
7. Whitefish, Montana Best For: Families and groups with disparate skiing abilities
8. Crested Butte, Colorado Best For: Families hoping to raise the next freeskiing world champion
9. Aspen, Colorado Best For: Well-heeled scenesters and celebrity-stalkers with a love for top-quality skiing
10. Niseko, Japan Best For: Powder worshippers with plenty of frequent flyer miles and a taste for hot springs and sushi
11. Kitzbühel, Austria Best For: Intermediate skiing couples with a taste for the cosmopolitan
12. Bend, Oregon Best For: Multisport junkies with a taste for microbrews
13. Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Canada Best For: Croissant-loving skiers and snowboarders looking for European ambiance without the overseas flight
14. Taos, New Mexico Best For: Art-loving skiers and boarders with a taste for steep runs and green chilies
15. Park City, Utah Best For: Cinephile families with a range of abilities
16. Truckee, California Best For: Families with aspiring ski or rider rock star kids; also, ski and rider rock stars
17. Whistler, British Columbia Best For: Skiers and snowboarders who want the biggest of everything
18. North Conway, New Hampshire Best For: History-buff families in the northeastern U.S.
19. Banff, Canada Best For: Hardy skiers and snowboarders of all abilities who love big views, wild panoramas, and bighorn sheep on the front lawn
20. Steamboat Springs, Colorado Best For: Families hoping to groom the next Bode Miller
21. Telluride, Colorado Best For: Big-lunged skiers and boarders with a taste for fine wine and the mountain high life
22. Jackson, Wyoming Best For: Advanced skiers and riders looking for test pieces and line dancing
23. Wanaka, New Zealand Best For: Skiing and snowboarding addicts from the Northern Hemisphere who just can’t let go when winter slips away
24. Stowe, Vermont Best For: Patrician eastern U.S. skiers with a taste for fine dining
25. Ketchum, Idaho Best For: Hard-carving skiers and boarders who like playing “spot the movie star”

Enjoy the beautiful pictures of these amazing scenic ski towns.  See you on the slopes!

Skiing is a dance, and the mountain always leads. ~Author Unknown

"Where's Waldo?" Photograph by Gordon Wiltsie, National Geographic

If you are in the hospitality industry, chances are your business is impacted by the number of people who travel by air. The Bureau of Transportation has recently released the latest numbers for 3Q2011 U.S. Air Carrier Traffic. Despite all we hear about the recession and its negative impact on travel, the number of passengers over the last year has increased. In fact, more than 736 million passengers travelled on a U.S. Air Carrier between Nov. 2010 and Oct. 2011, reflecting an increase of 2% over the 721 million passengers in the same period one year earlier.

And what is it costing folks to fly these days?  The average fare at all airports* for 3Q2011 was $361.  Here is a list of airports with the five highest and lowest average itinerary fares:

Highest Average Fares

• Cincinnati, OH            $488
• Huntsville, AL            $473
• Memphis, TN             $472
• Houston Bush, TX     $469
• Washington Dulles     $468

Lowest Average Fares

• Atlantic City, NJ         $167
• Long Beach, CA          $240
• Bellingham, WA          $253
• Ft. Lauderdale, FL     $256
• Orlando, FL                $263

*Top 100 Airports based on 2010 U.S. Originating Domestic Passengers (not including Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico). Fares are based on domestic itinerary fares. Itinerary fares consist of round-trip fares unless the customer does not purchase a return trip. In that case, the one-way fare is included. Fares are based on the total ticket value which consists of the price charged by the airlines plus any additional taxes and fees levied by an outside entity at the time of purchase. Fares include only the price paid at the time of the ticket purchase and do not include other fees paid at the airport or onboard the aircraft. Averages do not include frequent-flyer or “zero fares” or a few abnormally high reported fares. Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

Check out this fascinating video depicting a 24 hour period of air traffic over the United States:

According to the NOAA’s Science on a Sphere,“On any given day, more than 87,000 flights are in the skies in the United States. Only one-third are commercial carriers, like American, United or Southwest. On an average day, air traffic controllers handle 28,537 commercial flights (major and regional airlines), 27,178 general aviation flights (private planes), 24,548 air taxi flights (planes for hire), 5,260 military flights and 2,148 air cargo flights (Federal Express, UPS, etc.). At any given moment, roughly 5,000 planes are in the skies above the United States. In one year, controllers handle an average of 64 million takeoffs and landings.”

Most of us are familiar with what has become known as the “Groundhog Day Effect,” or recurring / repetitive events, based on the blockbuster film starring Bill Murray and Andie McDowell, but what about a “Groundhog Year Effect?”  Well, brace yourselves, because 2012 may bring us exactly that!

Mount Cleveland Volcano, Aleutian Islands Image:Courtesy of Steve J. Smith

The Aleutian Islands southwest of mainland Alaska is a remote and mostly uninhabited region which conjures up an image of being picturesque and serene, but it is anything but serene.  The chain is formed by a series of more than 300 small volcanic islands, one of which has been making some noise again in recent months.  Mount Cleveland, a.k.a. Cleveland Volcano, has formed its second lava dome in less than six months.  A previous lava dome formed throughout the fall and winter of 2011, and was largely removed by explosive activity on December 25 and 29, 2011.

The December activity did not result in any ash cloud emissions, however, scientists and aviators have raised the Aviation Color Code to Orange and the Alert Level to Watch, as they closely monitor this second lava dome.  An eruption could send an ash cloud more than 20,000 feet above sea level, marking three straight years of major air traffic disruption due to volcanic activity.  Really?  Really!

You might not think that a volcanic eruption in an area as remote as the Aleutian Islands would have much of an impact on us mainlanders, however, it most definitely would.  According to Steve McNutt, a scientist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, “90% of air freight from Asia to Europe and North America flies over Alaska air space, and hundreds of flights, including more than 20,000 passengers, fly through Anchorage’s air space daily.  If there is an explosion and (ash) reaches high altitudes, it will cause flights to be rerouted and ultimately canceled.” Certainly we all recall the impact of the Icelandic eruptions of Grimsvotn in 2011 and Eyjafjallajokull in 2010.

We live in a global economy and activity in one part of the world almost always effects activity in every other part of the world.   Be prepared and keep informed, because undoubtedly your supply chain will be impacted to some degree if Mount Cleveland blows its stack.  To follow the developments of the activity at Mount Cleveland visit the Alaska Volcano Observatory website.

Super Bowl Sunday has practically become another holiday for many, even those that aren’t full-fledged football fans.  More than 100 million folks will gather for parties in homes across the country this Sunday to watch the New York Giants take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI (46).   And what is a party without food?  Super Bowl Sunday is one of the biggest snack-consuming days in the U.S., second only to Thanksgiving.

The most popular items on party menus are chips with dips, wings, and pizza.  It is estimated that nearly 60% of all takeout food ordered on Super Bowl Sunday is pizza (Source:  WPDE).  That got us to wondering here at GeoMetrx what the pizza playbook looks like between New York and Boston.  We sunk our teeth into our Simmons Consumer Behavior database to find out.

The top 3 most visited pizza chains in both markets are Pizza Hut, Domino’s and Papa John’s, respectively.   The match-up for patronizing Papa John’s, the NFLs official pizza, reveals Patriot area fans are nearly 20% more likely than Giants area fans to order their pies from Papa John’s.  But there are plenty of other teams in the hunt for a piece of the pie this Sunday.  Round Table Pizza shows the highest propensity for intercepting calls for pizza in both markets.  Other top performers are Sbarro in the New York area and Papa Gino’s in the Boston area.

For more fun-filled pizza facts and to find great pizza near you visit Pizza.com.  If you’d like to find out more about our Consumer Behavior databases and how to use the information to enhance your business decisions just give us call at 1.888.848.4436.

Thousands upon thousands of young men and women who have so heroically served in the U.S. military are beginning to come home in droves, and many of them are joining the ranks of the unemployed.  As of December 2011, 7.7%, or 857,000 of our veterans, were unemployed according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  In this post, we’d like to share with you an organization that is working hard to help this very deserving group of men and women by providing franchise opportunities for veterans.

The International Franchise Association (IFA) is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide.  In 1991, the IFA founded the VetFran initiative, a program which proudly boasts that “…more than 400 IFA franchisor member companies offer  financial incentives, training and mentoring to veterans interested in small business ownership and/or a career path in franchising. Since the program’s inception, more than 2,100 veterans have become franchise business owners through VetFran.” In fact, according to a recent study conducted for the IFA’s Educational Foundation, one out of every seven franchise businesses is owned and operated by a U.S. military veteran, which accounts for more than 66,000 businesses, employing over 815,000 workers, and generating more than $41 billion in GDP.

Some of the factors that contribute to the success of veteran-owned franchises include their strong leadership skills, personal discipline, team player mentality, systematic approach to achieving tasks, openness to receiving training and guidance while following a proven model, and feeling connected to a support structure by being part of a franchise family.

For a list of specific franchise ownership incentives for veterans visit the VetFran Directory.  Whether veteran or civilian-owned, all franchisors can improve their business by using tools that will help in mapping their success.  Give us a call today to learn more about how GeoMetrx can help your business improve.