On the 5th and 6th of April, the Franchise Direct UK team headed to London to exhibit at the International Franchise Show in the ExCel.
The show was on from 10am until 4pm and it's fair to say the Franchise Direct team were kept busy! We were at stand 741 and the attendance on both days was excellent. We were delighted to have an opportunity to meet our clients and to network with other franchisors and franchisees. There was an impressive variety of franchise opportunities on offer in sectors such as property, food, health, care and pets. There really was something for everyone at this year's show, which certainly explains the high attendance rate! It was the perfect place to learn more about franchising in the UK and the first steps needed to get the ball rolling for 2019.
As the 2018 bfa NatWest Franchise Survey reported, care franchises are booming in the UK and it was no surprise that lots of the exhibitors at this year's event were in the care sector. High quality care services are needed more than ever – 18% of people residing in the UK are over the age of 65 and 80% of them own their own home! Older people are living longer and staying in their own homes, thanks to the amazing care services available. If you're considering running a care franchise this year, there really is no better industry to thrive in.
Franchisor Sally Wilse was exhibiting this year to promote her brand Seniors Helping Seniors. It is a unique care franchise that matches experienced carers with people requiring help to live independently at home. Sally states: "We love the ExCel as a venue. We’d say it attracts the people we want to meet from the South East and East of England better than any other. Our brand has had coverage on the BBC and in national press and it was great to share how we do that."
Franchise Direct conducted video interviews with selected clients at the show, which went very well. In the video, clients were asked to explain what their business is about, the type of training that is provided, the skills needed from prospective franchisees and what successful franchisees can expect. Thank you to everyone who participated! The content has added something very unique to the website and will certainly resonate with visitors. We were delighted to receive such positive feedback on the high quality leads we provide, as well as our excellent customer service.