uWink Inc. (UWKI)

[the big guy]

I think the previous strategy was to expand via opening more restaurants, either company-owned or franchised, with technology sales as being a perhaps profitable sideline. I never thought until now that they would rely on the technology sales route. This puts a definite cap on company-owned restaurants at 2.

The application of their technology to retirement homes announces some time ago will take years to develop. Not relevant right now.

This makes the short-term more exciting. But more risky. I would expect a major push to franchise once these new places open. If it is successful, it may be wildly successful.. if not. well.. There was an article recently that was posted here where the writer said that uWink would have to go to the markets again in the fall to expand... not now. Not in the cards, that will not work a second time. The article was overall positive; good concept and technology; expanding; but losing money was the gist of it.

The other day I was comparing this to Crocs, for some strange reason. Totally different business but Crocs came out of nowhere.. Good product but i think there was also a marketing angle. They established a good brand quite unexpectedly.. where cheap imitations would not do.