5 ms·

He already posted an update that he's allowed to continue and the company is supporting him: https://www.facebook.com/KrispyKremeRunMinnesota/posts/449232749046

He already posted an update that he's allowed to continue and the company is supporting him: https://www.facebook.com/KrispyKremeRunMinnesota/posts/449232749046048 https://www.facebook.com/KrispyKremeRunMinnesota/posts/44923... "Hi everyone, here is the next important update! I am pumped to announce that I will be able to continue the business soon, and have the support of Krispy Kreme. They want to ensure I become an independent operator and make sure the brand is represented well. On both ends, there are things that are being worked on right now to achieve that as this is being made as a special exception. But nonetheless, we can get started up again soon once certain things are in place." Seems like confirmation that this was most likely about trademarks and representation.

forgingahead 7y ago
It will be interesting if Krispy Kreme also makes an effort to be flexible with their operation with him. It obviously didn't work to have store franchises previously, the total sales likely didn't cover all the fees and costs, hence the closure. Besides the geo-arbitrage, it seems obvious that a huge part of this guy's success was going to 8 different Target parking lots, and splitting the (pretty small) total across them. Simple envelope math: 100 boxes across 8 lots, that's 12 boxes per lot. Pretty horrible if you're a franchisee, but nice and comfortable if you're a college kid looking to earn extra bucks. If KK can be flexible with him ("here's a regulated supply, you guarantee and agree to certain food safety/brand provisions, now you can drive around like an ice-cream man and sell this"), it's likely he can continue, but if he's diving headfirst into a typical franchisee arrangement, he should run for the hills.
gridspy 7y ago
He's looking to expand his delivery van: https://www.gofundme.com/f/krispy-kreme-vehicle-upgrade https://www.gofundme.com/f/krispy-kreme-vehicle-upgrade
- kennyadam 7y ago
  I respect what he's doing, but I'm not totally clear on why he expects people to donate for him to buy a van? I get it when people ask for help with medical bills (well, I'm in the UK but I sympathise with them), but he just wants a bigger vehicle? Save up your donut money and buy it dude!
  - pgt 7y ago
    People want to be a part of his story and enjoy his donuts at their convenience so they can invite their friends for donuts and retell the story.
  - CydeWeys 7y ago
    If you can ask for free money, and people actually will give it to you, why not ask? I don't think he expects it per se, but since it's in the offering? Get it.
  - watwut 7y ago
    It is business. He has traction now, he is known now, there is a chance people will be willing to help him. Because they know his story and like him. Crowdfunding is about making people know you and being personal, he got that now. It is not like he would be getting filthy rich never have to work again from that. It is his sudden chance to get a bit better business, so he is trying.
twic 7y ago
It's great HN fun to start by reading this comment, then go on to read patio11's comment explaining why this is impossible. Life comes at you fast!
- patio11 7y ago
  I didn't say it was impossible; I said that there was regulatory risk in doing it the way he was doing it. Reading his comment here does not decrease my confidence that I was correct. Is your model that no paperwork (reps & warranties, transfer of liability, etc) is getting signed between him and Krispy Kreme as a result of this turn of events? If so, I bet your model is wrong. There's a playbook.
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
- ryanSrich 7y ago
  Do you have a link to patio11's original comment? Can't find it.
  - patio11 7y ago
    The reply down thread to this one: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21446225 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21446225
- paulcole 7y ago
  If you read his commments regularly, he comes across as really corporate-minded and risk averse. There was one post where he talked about how much money he was spending on one of his businesses and for a pretty simple web app it was astounding. Like the exact kind of stuff you see big businesses blowing money on but it’s just one guy.

forgingahead 7y ago

It will be interesting if Krispy Kreme also makes an effort to be flexible with their operation with him. It obviously didn't work to have store franchises previously, the total sales likely didn't cover all the fees and costs, hence the closure. Besides the geo-arbitrage, it seems obvious that a huge part of this guy's success was going to 8 different Target parking lots, and splitting the (pretty small) total across them. Simple envelope math: 100 boxes across 8 lots, that's 12 boxes per lot. Pretty horrible if you're a franchisee, but nice and comfortable if you're a college kid looking to earn extra bucks. If KK can be flexible with him ("here's a regulated supply, you guarantee and agree to certain food safety/brand provisions, now you can drive around like an ice-cream man and sell this"), it's likely he can continue, but if he's diving headfirst into a typical franchisee arrangement, he should run for the hills.

gridspy 7y ago

He's looking to expand his delivery van: https://www.gofundme.com/f/krispy-kreme-vehicle-upgrade https://www.gofundme.com/f/krispy-kreme-vehicle-upgrade

kennyadam 7y ago
I respect what he's doing, but I'm not totally clear on why he expects people to donate for him to buy a van? I get it when people ask for help with medical bills (well, I'm in the UK but I sympathise with them), but he just wants a bigger vehicle? Save up your donut money and buy it dude!
- pgt 7y ago
  People want to be a part of his story and enjoy his donuts at their convenience so they can invite their friends for donuts and retell the story.
- CydeWeys 7y ago
  If you can ask for free money, and people actually will give it to you, why not ask? I don't think he expects it per se, but since it's in the offering? Get it.
- watwut 7y ago
  It is business. He has traction now, he is known now, there is a chance people will be willing to help him. Because they know his story and like him. Crowdfunding is about making people know you and being personal, he got that now. It is not like he would be getting filthy rich never have to work again from that. It is his sudden chance to get a bit better business, so he is trying.

twic 7y ago

It's great HN fun to start by reading this comment, then go on to read patio11's comment explaining why this is impossible. Life comes at you fast!

patio11 7y ago
I didn't say it was impossible; I said that there was regulatory risk in doing it the way he was doing it. Reading his comment here does not decrease my confidence that I was correct. Is your model that no paperwork (reps & warranties, transfer of liability, etc) is getting signed between him and Krispy Kreme as a result of this turn of events? If so, I bet your model is wrong. There's a playbook.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
ryanSrich 7y ago
Do you have a link to patio11's original comment? Can't find it.
- patio11 7y ago
  The reply down thread to this one: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21446225 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21446225
paulcole 7y ago
If you read his commments regularly, he comes across as really corporate-minded and risk averse. There was one post where he talked about how much money he was spending on one of his businesses and for a pretty simple web app it was astounding. Like the exact kind of stuff you see big businesses blowing money on but it’s just one guy.