GNC offers displaced retail professionals entrepreneurial opportunity

PITTSBURGH With the retail job force contracting, General Nutrition Company is positioning its franchise base as an attractive alternative to beating the job-search pavement with a 25% discount of its initial franchise fee for displaced retail professionals, available through July 31.

"At a time when many retailers are going out of business, cutting jobs and closing locations, GNC sales are as strong as ever and the company continuesto expand its retail locations," stated EVP president of store development Tom Dowd. "GNC is continuing to do very well, opening 237 stores in North America alone within the last three years and another 50-plus planned to open this year."

GNC suggested that an estimated 14,000 retailers will close their doors this year. 

As part of a press release issued Monday, the specialty retailer stated, “Despite the challenging economic climate in the United States — which has cost thousands of experienced retail employees their jobs — the supplement and self-care industry remains a $21 billion industry and continues to grow at a rate of 4% to 6% each year.”