Franchise Focus Business News…

Celia Marrec, our representative for our French sister site – Franchise Directe recently attended the International Franchise Expo in Paris. I spoke with Celia about her experience at the expo and what she feels the atmosphere is like in the French franchise market at present.

Celia said she “got good general feedback from our clients on our website. They are happy with our reactivity and the quality of our website. The franchisors on our site who also attended the expo also received good feedback and made a few contacts with potential franchisees which could lead to new openings in the coming months.”

According to Franchise Expo Paris, there were more than 31,000 visitors for the 2010 French Expo (up 15.5% in comparison to 2009) with 400 companies exhibiting their opportunities. 40% of the visitors were people currently working for a company who have the project of becoming a franchisee (up 66.98% in comparison to 2009). 39% were people who already owned an independent business or who were already franchisees (up 87% in comparison to 2009). 20.4% were people who were unemployed (were working previously for a company) and were looking for a new challenge: becoming franchisee (up 65% in comparison to 2009).

In terms of foreign visitors, a significant number were Moroccan (Morocco was the promoted country chosen by the organizers for the Franchise Expo 2010), followed by Belgian people, Spanish, Italian, British and Canadian. Canada will be the foreign country promoted in 2011.

With the economic climate still unsteady in France, and difficulties still being experienced in securing financing from French banks, the figures above and the feedback Celia received is encouraging for the French franchise industry. Here are a few pics from the Franchise Expo Paris:

Last week, Franchise Direct’s UK team attended the Franchise Show in Excel, London. As we previously blogged, a lot of the franchises featured on our site were in attendance at the show and our team really enjoyed the chance to “put a face to the name” and met a significant number of franchisors face to face.

Brian Rogan, our Sales Manager, commented that the show was very busy and successful in that “a lot of people were approaching our stand and had clear ideas of what kind of franchise they would be interested in - this is great because our site can help those people find a variety of franchise opportunities to suit what they are looking for”. There is a lot of choice in the franchise industry nowadays and with franchise in attendance from such diverse industries as home services franchises to business consultancy franchises - there is something to suit everyone.

Franchise Direct girls Lillie and Sandra most certainly enjoyed their weekend in London and especially enjoyed meeting YourPlumber’s novel mascots:

Brian ready to help attendees discover the world of franchising through Franchise Direct! 

If you missed last week’s The Franchise Show, then don’t worry because another great franchise event is coming up in March!

The British & International Franchise Exhibition, endorsed by the British Franchise Association (bfa), will bring a vast range of new career opportunities to Olympia, London on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 March 2010.

Featuring a host of new and leading franchise industry businesses, valuable conference presentations and helpful experts from banks, accountants and lawyers, the event will provide aspiring business owners with all the knowledge they need to take a major step forward into a new venture. 
 
This year the exhibition will feature more than 100 franchising companies covering a vast range of industry sectors from travel and recruitment agencies to food and drink, health and fitness, cleaning companies and automotive repairs. The choice of franchises available at the exhibition is huge, giving visitors the perfect opportunity to find the business that is an ideal match for their interests and skills.

As well as many leading names in franchising, the list of exhibitors includes new companies with exciting proven ideas and concepts from all over the world. Exhibitors will include 0800 Handyman, Agency Express, Business Doctors, Cash Generator, Castle Homes, Computer Xplorers, Esprit, Expense Reduction Analysts, Explorer Travel, Gas-Elec, Go Cruise, Kumon Educational, Home Instead, Lloyds TSB, Lasertech UK, McDonald’s and Thebestof.

The extensive conference programme, with keynotes speakers including Toni Mascolo,co-founder of Toni & Guy hair salons and Brian Mullens of McDonalds, will cover the key franchise-related topics including couples in franchising, high level investment franchising; franchise resales; management in franchising, hands-on franchising, women in franchising, franchising your business and Growing Your Own Business. The International Conference, sponsored by the UKTI, will discuss both how to launch a franchise in the UK and how to take a UK based franchise overseas. The bfa will also address the key issues of trends, benefits and challenges associated with franchising.

To find out more, visit this website. You can gain FREE admission by using the promotional code FRDT when you register on the website.

Well, that was something, wasn’t it? The 50th IFA Convention in San Antonio, Texas is over, and what an event it was. The entire franchising community was present to meet, network and discuss all of the relevant issues that will dominate franchising over the next year. George W. Bush was on hand to give the keynote address and, of course, Franchise Direct was there every step of the way.

Today, we’re providing you with a direct glimpse of the convention itself. We’re collated some images from the event. Below you’ll see photos of the Convention floor, plus images of the Franchise Direct team that were in San Antonio- Chaz Williams, Jill Ptacek and Marie-Andree Maurice as well as some photos of The Alamo.

We hope you had as good a time as we did…

Franchise Direct sales representative Chaz Williams meets a very realistic George W. Bush impersonator.

Here is a view of the Convention floor. Nearly 1100 franchise companies were in San Antonio, plus 10,000 franchisees and more than 500 firms that cater to the industry.

Jill Ptacek and Marie-Andree Maurice of Franchise Direct enjoy a conversation at the Franchise Direct stall.

Here’s a glimpse of the hustle and bustle of the Convention. For 50 years, the IFA convention has been an essential meeting place for the franchise community.

You can see from these photos just how easy it is to network with various groups and organization in franchising. Everyone in the industry is under one tent for one weekend.

Jill and Chaz of Franchise Direct outside the FD booth.

Here’s a photo of some of the stalls you’ll find around the historic Alamo.

You’ll always find a few cowboys around San Antonio.

And of course The Alamo itself, which we will always remember.

Just a quick reminder about this week’s franchise show in Excel London (February 12th and 13th). The show will showcase the variety of franchise opportunities available in the UK and abroad today. The show will feature stands for franchises as broad reaching as print and sign, to health and beauty and pet franchises.

Those at the exhibition will have the chance to attend various talks from established figures in the franchise and entrepreneurship sector such as Steve Bolton of Platinum Property Partners, Professor Roy Seaman and Richard Holden – Head of Franchising for Lloyds TSB. To find out more about attending, visit the show’s profile on Franchise Direct.

Franchise Direct will also have a stand (no. 567 to be exact!) at the exhibition and the team is looking forward to meeting you there. Below is a list of the franchises, which currently feature on Franchise Direct and will also be at the Excel this weekend. Why not read about them today, so you can decide who you really want to meet this weekend. Can’t make it this weekend, explore our calendar of upcoming franchise expos and events.

Sign-A-Rama
Cash Generator Ltd
Dent Wizard
Signs Express
FASTSIGNS International
Esquires Coffee Houses
Pink Connect
Fortune Networks Limited
Earle’s Direct
The Global Travel Group Plc
Hometyre Group Ltd
Platinum Property Partners LLP
Mobi-Tyre
Mathnasium Learning Centers
Dietcare
YourPlumber Ltd
The best of
LawnScience Ltd
Coverall
Driver Hire Group Services Ltd
Fortuna
Wheel Wizard
Go-Kart Party (U.K.) Ltd
The Club Scrub Ltd
Mail Boxes ETC
EmbroidMe
Jan-pro Cleaning Systems
Oscars
Bairstow Eves Franchising
The Alchemy Network
DepiCool