General News

Chicago – September 24, 2026 -- Fishman Public Relations has been named the No. 1 franchise PR firm in Entrepreneur magazine's Top Franchise Suppliers ranking for the ninth consecutive year, based on a survey of more than 1,000 franchise brands.

Entrepreneur's survey scores suppliers on quality, cost and value across the franchise industry

The annual ranking draws on responses from franchisors and franchisees who rate the suppliers they work with, covering both emerging brands and long-established chains. Each supplier receives a composite score, with top performers ranked within their category.

Gillette, Wyoming – September 24, 2026 -- Well depth in Wyoming oilfields, where wells often extend thousands of feet below the surface, directly dictates the strength of equipment, the length of maintenance windows, and the safety protocols crews must follow, according to insights from Lydia Cogburn of True Grit featured in a HelloNation article.

Deeper wells demand heavier tubing and stronger pumps

Higher pressure conditions at extreme depths require heavier tubing to support production, while pumps must be engineered to lift oil from far below the surface. Equipment selection becomes a critical factor in sustaining consistent output.

Oilfield service rigs require reinforced lifting systems for deep-well repairs

Service rigs used to maintain deep wells must feature strong lifting systems and precise controls to safely handle the greater mechanical stress placed on tubing, pumps, and other downhole components.

Milan – September 24, 2026 -- Four cashmere manufacturers from Yulin, China signed Brand Market Entry Cooperation Agreements with Italian buying companies Casile & Casile and IWC on September 24, 2026, establishing direct access to Europe's high-end retail networks.

Yulin companies secure direct entry into Italian luxury retail channels

The agreements were signed at the "Oriental Cashmere Radiance: Milan Moment" promotion event held at the Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology in Milan. Yingguo Industry, Shaanxi Tuocheng Cashmere Industry Technology, Yulin Yanglaoda and HBEH presented their brands and full-chain manufacturing capabilities before finalizing the deals with the two Italian buyers.

Brentwood – September 24, 2026 -- FreightWise, which manages over $1 billion in annual freight through its Kuebix TMS platform, has been named to the 2027 FreightTech100 list by FreightWaves, an industry recognition awarded to just 100 companies out of a record nominee pool.

More than half of this year's FreightTech100 list consists of newcomers, underscoring rapid sector turnover

Now in its eighth year, the FreightTech Awards saw FreightWaves' Research team evaluate nominees on documented innovation, market impact, and year-over-year technology evolution. FreightWise's inclusion follows what CEO Chris Cochran called one of the most active product development years in the company's history.

New Orleans – September 24, 2026 -- HOTWORX, the 24-hour infrared sauna fitness franchise, has surpassed 900 open studios worldwide and now serves more than 400,000 members, putting the brand on track to hit 1,000 locations by spring 2027.

Franchise Network Crosses 900 Studios Nearly a Decade After Launch

HOTWORX opened its first studio in Oxford, Miss., in 2017. The brand has since expanded across the United States, Canada, Ireland and Dubai, with 408,693 members recorded this year and new studios in development in Mexico and Kenya.

Member-to-Owner Pipeline Drives Majority of Franchise Growth

A majority of HOTWORX franchisees joined the system as members before converting to ownership, according to the company. Founder and CEO Stephen P. Smith said the model is working at scale, noting that most owners experienced the infrared workout firsthand before signing a franchise agreement.

Chicago – September 24, 2026 -- WovenX Health, a Chicago-based specialty care platform, has won the Industry Disrupter Award at 1871's 19th Annual Momentum Awards for its model expanding access to gastroenterology care.

National GI wait times average 40 days as two-thirds of U.S. counties lack a specialist

One in five Americans is affected by a gastrointestinal condition, yet the average wait for a GI consult has grown to 40 days nationally, according to the company. GI-related visits account for 10% of all emergency department visits, 86% of which WovenX says are avoidable with timely specialty access.

Arlington, Va. – September 24, 2026 -- Eagle Hill Consulting's new HR Technology and Service Delivery Survey finds that 51% of HR professionals spend at least half their workweek on routine, repetitive, or low-value administrative tasks, even as 86% say automation or AI improves the service they deliver to the business.

Fragmented systems undercut technology investment across HR functions

Ninety-one percent of surveyed HR professionals use two or more systems to complete a single task, and 43% rely on three or more. Seventy-eight percent regularly re-enter the same information across multiple platforms, while 68% turn to workarounds such as spreadsheets, shared drives, or manual tracking to get work done.

Helsinki – September 24, 2026 -- Helsinki has ranked first on the Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) Index for the third consecutive year, with results published Wednesday, September 24, 2026, scoring 93% across more than 70 sustainability indicators.

Helsinki scores 93% while over 100 global cities compete on sustainability metrics

The GDS Index evaluates tourist destinations across four categories: environmental performance, supply chains, destination management and social sustainability. More than 100 cities committed to sustainability were assessed in this year's comparison, and Helsinki again topped the ranking.

"Securing the top position for the third consecutive year demonstrates that sustainability is not a one-off achievement but a long-term strategic commitment," said Nina Vesterinen, Director of Tourism, City of Helsinki.

Dallas – September 24, 2026 -- TGI Fridays has signed a development agreement with Meerab Hospitality to scale to 15 restaurants across Pakistan, marking the brand's second market signing this month as it pursues a global target of 1,000+ restaurants and $2 billion in annual revenue by 2030.

First flagship restaurant targets Lahore's Hyatt Regency within 12 months

Meerab Hospitality, the franchise and development arm of Meerab Properties, plans to open its first TGI Fridays location at the Hyatt Regency Hotel complex in Lahore within the next 12 months. The company will develop restaurants across Pakistan over the next decade through a mix of company-owned and approved sub-franchised units, according to Pervaiz Iqbal Shahid, Founder and Group CEO of Meerab Properties.

Chicago – September 24, 2026 -- Fifty-six Taiwanese manufacturers closed out the Taiwan Flagship Showcase at IMTS 2026 with a metal processing exhibitor securing direct alignment with a U.S. manufacturer needing local service capabilities for overseas operations, opening a long-term entry point into the semiconductor supply chain.

TAITRA draws 250-plus attendees to Chicago networking events

The Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) ran the showcase September 14–19 at McCormick Place, drawing more than 250 combined attendees to its opening ceremony and Taiwan Night event. Representatives from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, the Association for Manufacturing Technology, Siemens and HEIDENHAIN attended alongside trade press including Machine Design and Cutting Tool Engineering.