Business Franchise articles from December 2004

Business Franchise archives from December 2004

Best bank boost.(franchise news)
December 1, 2004... HSBC BANK has been named the UK's Best High Street Bank for Small Businesses by the Forum of Private Business (FPB), a group comprising representatives of the UK's leading small business organisations. FPB's biennial independent survey of...

Benjys on a roll.(franchise news)
December 1, 2004... SANDWICH CHAIN Benjys has announced ambitious plans to launch another 150 stores in the UK by the end of 2006. In addition to expanding its 'vanchise' sandwich delivery operation, Benjys aims to open one new retail store a week, taking the...

Still king of the castle.(franchise news)
December 1, 2004... PROPERTY MANAGEMENT and lettings franchise Castle Estates is celebrating 25 years in business. Launched in Milton Keynes, the company began to expand its operation through franchising in 1980 and now has more than 55 offices across the UK and...

Supplying the future.
December 1, 2004... NATWEST AND HORWATH FRANCHISING joined forces recently to hold the 2004 Franchisor Supplier Showcase in Wantage, Oxfordshire, in conjunction with BMW/Williams Formula 1. The showcase is dedicated to presenting specialist suppliers to...

Birthday greetings.
December 1, 2004... CARD LINE GREETINGS LIMITED is celebrating its tenth year as a greetings card franchise. More than 60 franchisees and the company's management team recently attended Card Line's annual conference in Wolverhampton, where they enjoyed a full...

New flavour in the mix.
December 1, 2004... LEE DALE GINSBERG has joined Domino's Pizza UK & IRL as finance director and company secretary. Ginsberg, who previously held a number of senior financial positions in the retail and leisure sectors, says: 'This new position gives me the...

Baker to build brand.
December 1, 2004... KALL KWIK UK has appointed Richard Baker as national creative director to spearhead its drive for more design-based custom. Baker joins Kall Kwik UK from a successful career as franchisee of Kall Kwik Winchester and Newbury. His team was...

Owen's helping hand.
December 1, 2004... HINCKLEY-BASED Recognition Express has appointed Jon Owen as its franchise development manager. Owen will be responsible for marketing activities and recruiting individuals interested in owning a franchise business. He says: 'This is...

Perfect reception for Papa John's perfection.(franchise news)
December 1, 2004... THE PIZZA, PASTA AND ITALIAN FOOD ASSOCIATION has named Papa John's Delivery Operator of the Year 2004 after the US-based company implemented a string of operations and marketing initiatives to improve customer service and perceptions. The...

Badge of recognition.(franchise news)
December 1, 2004... THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES implementing new security strategies has risen by 20 per cent in the last year, according to corporate recognition franchise Recognition Express. The company has seen demand for name badges soar in regions...

Stockton sits at top spot.(franchise news)
December 1, 2004... THE STOCKTON BRANCH of AlphaGraphics has chalked up sales of 300,000 [pounds sterling], ranking it the number one outlet across the entire international AlphaGraphics network. This is the first time an AlphaGraphics business outside of the US...

Boxing clever at MBE.(franchise news)
December 1, 2004... MAIL BOXES ETC and its partner UPS revealed there are now a grand total of 5,000 outlets operating the brands worldwide. From humble beginnings as a single site in the US 24 years ago, MBE has grown into a worldwide franchise network. ...

Month in numbers.(franchise news)(Calendar)
December 1, 2004... 5 VACANT BFA BOARD PLACES TO BE FILLED AT THE 2004 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 41 PER CENT OF FRANCHISORS SITE THE LACK OF SUITABLE FRANCHISEES AS THE BIGGEST BARRIER TO EXPANSION, ...

Blinding result at National Business Awards.(franchise news)
December 1, 2004... HILLARYS BLINDS has been named Sales Operation of the Year at the National Business Awards 2004. Hillarys operates through a national network of franchisees and its advisors visit around 10,000 customers' homes every week. Mellisa Bunyan,...

CNA hits Holland.(franchise news)
December 1, 2004... RECRUITMENT AND CONSULTANCY group CNA International has opened its first corporate office in Rotterdam, Holland. The new office is part of the company's ongoing European expansion programme and joins the Frankfurt, Brussels, Prague and Paris...

Singh scoops award.(franchise news)
December 1, 2004... STRATFORD FRANCHISEE Jaspal Singh has won the Prontaprint Franchisee of the Year award at the Company's prestigious European awards ceremony, held at The Grove in Hertfordshire. The event gives Prontaprint a chance to recognise high levels...

Right place, right time: franchising is taking off in Ireland and the first ever Irish Franchise Exhibition was the place to be for anyone looking to start their own business or find out more.(The Irish Franchise Exhibition)
December 1, 2004... Dublin may have been a little cold and rainy, but that didn't seem to dampen the spirits of those attending the inaugural Irish Franchise Exhibition on 19 and 20 November at the Royal Dublin Society (RDS). A steady stream of visitors passed...

A year to cheer: it's been a busy 12 months for the British Franchise Association, championing ethical franchising through a range of projects. Johanna Roughley charts the events of 2004.(news)
December 1, 2004... EVERY MONTH during the past year, the BFA has presented and facilitated educational seminars around the country for both prospective franchisees and franchisors. It has also hosted very successful events during National Franchise Week and...

Doing the business: while some companies offer a service for individual consumers, other firms specialise in meeting the varied needs of business clients. Barbara Oaff negotiates the tricky waters of business-to-business trade to help you fish for the perfect franchise.(b2b franchises)
December 1, 2004... The UK business-to-business (b2b) sector is a large and lucrative marketplace. Many franchise businesses thrive in this arena and can count large corporations as customers, rather than individual consumers. Casting out a line to try and hook...

Glad tidings or merry hell? Depending on the nature of your business, Christmastime can signal a sales bonanza or a trading lull. Carol Davis finds out how different franchises plan for--and cope with--the challenges of the season.(Special feature: season challenges)
December 1, 2004... The time to be joyful and triumphant is upon us once again, as the nights draw in and carol singers come out. But in business terms, Christmas brings with it a period of fluctuating demand. Those in retail will probably see a phenomenal...

The brand with a plan: 2004 has been a sterling year for Snap-on Tools as it reaped the benefits of forward planning and hard work, but after a brief pause to tuck into the Christmas turkey it's straight back to the business of selling tools.(Cover Story)
December 1, 2004... It's been another year of record growth,' says national franchise manager Sean Derrig, as he ponders Snap-on Tools' achievements in 2004. 'One of our franchisees came second in the BFA Franchisee of the Year Awards and we've also been finalists...

Fit for a challenge? Everyone knows exercise has health benefits, but it can also be a money-spinner for those looking to flex their business muscle. New franchise Energie is shaping up to be a serious contender in the fitness market.(franchise focus)
December 1, 2004... Whether it's pumping iron, spinning to music or stretching out in a Pilates session, there's no doubt that taking some form of exercise is essential to our wellbeing. More and more people are integrating regular exercise into their lives, often...

All aboard: ever wondered who is responsible for erecting for sale signs that mysteriously pop up when properties are on the market? Agency Express is the thriving franchise dedicated solely to the task.(franchise focus)
December 1, 2004... Agency Express, the UK's only national estate agents board contractor, is celebrating after adding the 100th vehicle to its fleet. The company works with all major estate agents to provide a comprehensive service errecting for sale boards, as...

Member for the franchise fraternity: as he joins the board of Globalink, Francis Maude MP talks exclusively to Business Franchise on the importance of the UK franchise industry and ideas for raising its national profile.(special feature)
December 1, 2004... Faces in the crowd at the House of Commons change as regularly as the guard. Members of Parliament come and go, seats are won and lost and the cabinet is often shuffled like a pack of cards, but Rt Hon Francis Maude remains one of the most...

Voyage of discovery: with the advent of cheap flights and accommodation, these days our holidays can be more frequent and go further afield without breaking the bank. Michele Witthaus finds out how Global Travel Group franchisees are keeping up with customers' desire to see the world.(franchise focus)
December 1, 2004... The travel industry today delivers its service through a variety of channels, as customers take full advantage of new ways to plan and book trips abroad. But whether individuals prefer to utilise recent internet innovations and book holidays...

The British Franchise Exhibition.(exhibition preview)(Calendar)
December 1, 2004... WHERE: G-Mex, Manchester WHEN: 28 and 29 January 2005 OPENING: 10:00-17:00 Friday TIMES: 10:00-16:00 Saturday COST: Entry is free with the ticket from the front of this magazine. Additional tickets cost 10 [pounds sterling] on...

Balance of power: while they share similar goals, small businesses have unique needs and financial concerns distinct from their larger corporate counterparts. The Royal Bank of Scotland has some fresh ideas to help franchisees manage the minefield.(banking)
December 1, 2004... Competition is increasing among the major high street banks to win the custom of the UK's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). After all, SMEs account for more than 99 per cent of all the businesses in Britain, employing over 40 per cent...

Tenancy tricks and traps: franchisees often overlook the obligations and pitfalls of becoming business property tenants. Mark Kendrick of Goodman Derrick investigates how to negotiate the tenancy triangle between franchisee, franchisor and third-party landlord.(Hot topic: industry expert tackles a current issue in franchising)
December 1, 2004... When entering into a franchise agreement, franchisees usually have to contemplate becoming a tenant of commercial premises. This may be for a retail unit, distribution centre or office premises, depending on the nature of the franchise...

Q&A: franchising is a complex business and it is often hard to know where to turn for reliable advice. Help is at hand--ask our selected panel of industry experts, who offer invaluable advice on franchising in every issue.(franchise advice)
December 1, 2004... Q: What business insurance must a franchisee have by law? Andrew Lincoln, Preston, Lancashire Anton Bates replies: A: There are no franchise-specific insurance requirements, but of course some risks have to be legally covered, such...

End of the road: once a franchisor and franchisee sign an agreement, they are locked in for the duration, right? Wrong--a franchise agreement sometimes comes to an end before running its course.(agreement termination)
December 1, 2004... 'It's a funny old world--nothing seems as it is,' says George. 'What do you mean?' I ask. 'Well, you'd think that if you signed a five-year contract with someone, it meant you had a contract for five years, wouldn't you?' 'Yes,...

Need to know: from the annual bank holiday merry-go-round to capping the minimum wage, Barrie Pennington delves into the complex small business world to pull out the points that matter.(business bulletin)
December 1, 2004... BANK HOLIDAYS NOT BACKED The long gap between August bank holiday and Christmas Day always energises the TUC to repeat its annual call for extra holidays. Brendan Barber, TUC general secretary, would like Britain to have three extra days...

You'd better watch out: if you value your business then it's something you'll want to protect. Richard Watson recommends a Christmas list of insurance options to ensure you're covered in any event--including a collision with Santa's sleigh.(business insurance)
December 1, 2004... It's all in the genes, so they say. My DNA is recognised instantly by all forensic scientists. I am the last in a long line of accidents and my revered ancestors always managed to stand just slightly to one side of fame and fortune. For...

Franchisee of the month: Mohammed Aufogul, Papa John's.(class act)
December 1, 2004... NAME: Mohammed Aufogul AGE: 32 OCCUPATION: Papa John's franchisee FRANCHISE LOCATION: Northwood Hills, London HISTORY: Previously worked in the IT industry, but got into franchising after deciding his future lay in running his...

Resale of the month: Minister Cleaning Services.(Franchise Resales)
December 1, 2004... Minster Cleaning Services is a cleaning management franchise providing an essential business-to-business service. Many people like the idea of working for themselves but find the prospect of setting up or buying a business far too daunting....

Resale directory.
December 1, 2004... CHILDRENS ART EXHIBITIONS Images Type of franchise Childrens art exhibitions/educational fundraising Territory available Herefordshire/Shropshire (parts of Gloucs, South Wales, Worcs and Powys Minster Services Group ...

Season of goodwill?(last word)
December 1, 2004... Christmas is a happy time of the year. That is, as long as a scrooge-like cloud of melancholy does not devour your soul. For among the mass of happy faces are some sad ones. The people who are not enjoying the cheery atmosphere of Christmas may...