Business Franchise articles from February 2003

Business Franchise archives from February 2003

The British Franchise Exhibition 2003.
February 1, 2003... Welcome To Franchising On behalf of the British Franchise Association, I would like to welcome you to the British Franchise Exhibition. This event is key in the franchise calendar, providing an excellent opportunity for entrepreneurs...

New editor for business franchise.(franchise news)(Charlotte Harmes)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Business Franchise has a new editor--Charlotte Harmes, the former editor of the bakery trade magazine Bake 'n' Take, who took over from Pat Malone at the beginning of the year. Charlotte, who has wide experience of both magazine production...

Toplis quits ODC for stake in recognition express.(franchise news)(Nigel Toplis, On Demand Communications)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Nigel Toplis (above, left) has resigned as chief executive of On Demand Communications, the holding company for Kall Kwik and Prontaprint, to take an equity stake in Recognition Express. His successor at ODC is 37-year-old Philip Muller...

Snap-on gives new kick to the brand.(franchise news)(Snap-On Tools Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Snap-on Tools is pushing out the boundaries of the brand by offering a line of fashion footwear to the public. Snap on boots, long popular among the mechanics who form the bulk of Snap-on franchisees' customers. will now be offered more widely...

New owner, same principles for Molly Maid UK.(franchise news)(Pam Bader )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Pam Bader OBE has taken full charge of Molly Maid after its Canadian parent company bought out Agostpolar, which had owned the UK master licence since 1984. Pam, a former chief executive of Molly Maid and the first woman chair of the...

Hundred up for cartridge world.(franchise news)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... It is highly visible--the strong corporate colours of yellow and blue make it difficult to miss--and it is opening at a ferocious pace. After just two years of franchising, Cartridge World is opening its 100th UK store. David Darling, who...

Hair comes second at 'The Salon'.(franchise news)(Saks London Academy)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Saks London Academy has hosted the auditions and trade tests for an exciting new TV show which will follow the action in a real life hair and beauty salon in the heart of London. 'The Salon' will be run by nine members of staff in a...

Penny wins Franchisee of the Year 2002.(Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Club)(Penny Schouten)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Penny Schouten (below, left), the Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Clubs franchisee in Horsham, West Sussex, has scooped its coveted Franchisee of the Year 2002 Award after beating competition from 180 franchisees nationwide. Rosemary...

Can-do accountant and foot doctor take on Coventry for O'Briens.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... O'Briens Irish Sandwich Bars opens has opened its first outlet in Coventry. O'Briens, currently the leading franchise chain in Ireland and Scotland, opened its 100th store in the UK late last year, and the opening of the latest store highlights...

First birthday for third Wednesday.(Third Wednesday Club anniversary celebrations)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Horwath Franchising's Third Wednesday Club has celebrated its first birthday. Brian Duckett, managing director of Horwath Franchising, initiated the club exclusively for franchisors. He believed that franchisors would welcome an opportunity to...

Joint venture allows you to eat while you surf.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... EasyInternetcafe and Subway have announced an alliance that will see a series of co-branded stores launched throughout the UK and Ireland. Subway and EasyInternetcafe have already signed deals for more co-branded outlets to open in the...

Magnificent seven for chips.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... CHIPS is celebrating after opening its third new store in just three months. CHIPS Arnold is the company's seventh franchise outlet and 13th outlet overall. The new store, in Croft Road, Arnold, Nottingham, is being run by franchisee Mike Smith...

Thrifty moves to kick-start franchise package.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Thrifty Car Rental UK has revised its franchise package to encourage new franchisees and expand its existing distribution network. Some of the new incentives to be adopted include lower initial franchise fees and reduced fixed quarterly...

American investment group cuts deal for Burger King.
February 1, 2003... Fast food franchise Burger King has been sold to a group of American investors. The long-awaited deal sees the burger giant transferred from Diageo to a group of owners comprising Texas Pacific Group, Bain Capital and Goldman Sachs Capital...

The national Successful Housekeeping Awards competition run by cleaning franchise Stainbusters in conjunction with the RAC and the magazine Housekeeping Today has been won by Jane Johnson and Alex Townsend of the Willerby Manor Hotel in Hull, Yorkshire.(franchise news)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The national Successful Housekeeping Awards competition run by cleaning franchise Stainbusters in conjunction with the RAC and the magazine Housekeeping Today has been won by Jane Johnson and Alex Townsend of the Willerby Manor Hotel in Hull,...

Amtrak hits the fast track in Birmingham.(franchise news)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The new head of Birmingham's largest express parcels franchise has pledged to help the city's businesses stay ahead of the competition by providing them with new delivery services. Local businessman Mohammed Munir, who also runs a...

Welcome from TaxAssist.(franchise news)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Troy Schmidgall has joined TaxAssist Direct Telemarketing as call centre manager. Troy will primarily be providing leadership and directional support to lead generation team, which is responsible for providing telemarketing services for...

Interlink brings sunshine to special children.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The set of Coronation Street was the venue when express parcel carriers, Interlink Express, presented its second Variety Club Sunshine Coach of the year. While stars of the popular soap opera looked on, the coach was presented to Primrose Hill...

Elephant doctor brings relief to thirsty beasts.(franchise news)(Drain Doctor Plumbing)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... When 24-hour plumber Paddy Corkery received an emergency night-time call to help some thirsty elephants, he could be forgiven for thinking it was a practical joke. But it was no laughing matter when workers with the Vegas circus could not...

National accounts men join Rainbow.(franchise news)(Doug Astle, David Jamieson, Rainbow International)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Disaster restoration company Rainbow International has recruited two managers to expand the national accounts team based at its corporate headquarters in Nottinghamshire. Doug Astle joins as national account manager--south. He has had a...

A wise investment: franchisees are making big money by investing in Domino's--and the market is only getting stronger.(Domino's Pizza L.L.C.,)(Cover Story)
February 1, 2003... There has never been a better time to invest in a franchise--especially in the home-delivered pizza market. Franchisees working with Domino's Pizza are seeing exceptional returns on their investment--latest figures show that on average their...

Minster celebrates 20 years of growth: in two decades, Alan Haigh has grown Minster Cleaning from nowhere into a business with a turnover of 22 million [pounds sterling] and 38 franchisees. Pat Malone discovers his secrets.(Success story)
February 1, 2003... Twenty years ago Alan Haigh was sitting in an insalubrious office above a dry cleaners in Sutton Coldfield watching his wife Glynis type out the 95th unsuccessful cleaning quote his fledgling company had produced. Glynis was bearing up well...

All change at NatWest: Mark Scott steps up to head of franchising as Phil Atherton moves on.(Franchise news)
February 1, 2003... Mark Scott has been appointed national franchise manager at NatWest bank to replace Phil Atherton, who has accepted a major promotion and is leaving the franchise arena. Mark, who was Phil's number two, is well-known in franchising and has...

From baby smuggling to retail domination: O'Briens Irish Sandwich Bars has grown by leaps and bounds since it came to the UK six years ago and is now the fastest-growing retail franchise in the UK. Founder Brody Sweeney tells Pat Malone how he did it.(In focus)
February 1, 2003... In the next year, O'Briens Irish Sandwich Bars will open 50 new stores in the UK and turn over in excess of 50 million [pounds sterling]. Brand awareness is growing fast and expansion across the world is gathering pace, with more outlets...

Express calls for Kall Kwik's Toplis: in a surprise move, Kall Kwik's chairman Nigel Toplis has bought an equity stake in promotional goods franchise Recognition Express and has taken over as managing director. He tells Pat Malone why he made the jump from employee to employer.(News special)
February 1, 2003... Nigel Toplis, one of the most effective managers in the franchising sector, has been lured away from Kall Kwik in a major coup for Recognition Express. Toplis, former chairman of Kall Kwik and chief executive of On-Demand Communications,...

Franchises between 25,000 [pounds sterling] and 50,000 [pounds sterling]: continuing our series of articles aimed at finding you a franchise to suit your budget, Barbara Oaff looks at what's available if you have a significant sum to invest.(Special feature)
February 1, 2003... There's a huge number of possibilities in this price bracket. They range from big operations to one-man-band practices. They cover domestic, industrial, retail and wholesale markets. They include products and services for businesses and...

20 ways to make a clean break from that dull job: cleaning franchises are burgeoning as companies increasingly outsource their needs and career women pay for a top-quality service that relieves them of the burden of domestic chores--and the market can only grow further.(Market Focus)
February 1, 2003... The cleaning sector is positively bristling with franchise opportunities. They can be management or hands on. They can be small or large. They can be based in the domestic or the commercial market. Potential franchisees really can pick and...

Invest less, gain more as a Monk Marketing franchisee: promotional gifts franchising will never be the same again, promises the latest entrant to a market that is worth 550m [pounds sterling] a year in the UK alone.(New launch)(Monk Marketing Partnership Ltd )
February 1, 2003... The promotional gifts market has something of the air of a cottage industry about it--men and women working away in bedrooms and kitchens, stamping out logos on pens and keyrings, mugs and coasters, supplying their local market with goods of an...

Thriving HotBite is hungry for success: less than a year its launch, HotBite's revolutionary vending machine--which produces hot fresh sandwiches--is proving a runaway success, and the company is introducing new products to increase the profits of franchisees.(Success story)
February 1, 2003... Nearly a year after its launch at the British and International Franchise Exhibition, HotBite has made an indelible mark on the franchising industry by truly revolutionising one of the staple components of the British diet--the sandwich. ...

A voice from the other side: after a lifetime in the law, Manzoor Ishani gave it all up to join Stagecoach Theatre Arts as franchise development director--and he finds life on the other side congenial, fulfilling and virtually stress-free.(Franchise news)
February 1, 2003... Manzoor Ishani turns left instead of right out of his driveway these days, heading for his new life as franchise development director of Stagecoach Theatre Arts plc He travels to Walton-on-Thames instead of Esher, but otherwise he keeps the...

BFA group feeds Scottish appetite for franchising.(BFA news)(British Franchise Association)
February 1, 2003... The BFA's Scottish franchise group has made a phenomenal impact in a yearlong campaign to spread the word about franchising. The group, led by Graham Mylchreest and Johnny Sellyn, has held 17 seminars attended by 275 delegates, some 25 of...

Golfplan puts a cricketer on the business fairway: you don't have to be a fanatical golfer to reap the benefits of a Golfplan International Golf Insurance franchise, as two successful franchisees--one an accomplished and enthusiastic golfer, the other a complete novice--are demonstrating.(In focus)
February 1, 2003... Colleagues were wonderfully diplomatic when they took Geoff Seabridge for a few rounds of golf on a rolling Scottish course. 'As a golfer,' they mused, 'you'd make a good cricketer.' So those same colleagues would be amazed that their...

Brand on the run: last year Snap-on set the franchise industry on its heels by introducing its own brand of cola. Now the 'Gucci of the garage' is launching a range of designer footwear. Has it tripped up, or is this yet another branding coup for the tool giant? Des Garnier sticks the boot in ...(In focus)
February 1, 2003... One of franchising's key strengths is that you can start your own business with one of the world's most famous brands above your door. You benefit from the recognition and goodwill attached to the brand, plus all the time and money your...

A special calling: many are called but few are chosen as a premium franchise looks for people with good business sense and a passion for helping others.(New launch)(Wilsher Group)
February 1, 2003... Wilsher Group offers a highly specialised franchise, for which the company needs very special people who are motivated by a desire to help others as much as a need to make money. As a result, it has to be extraordinarily selective in choosing...

The business that's never out of fashion: Jeffrey Keen looked long and hard for a recession-proof company with almost limitless growth potential before bringing the Swisher cleaning franchise to the UK--and he's never had cause to regret his decision.(Success story)
February 1, 2003... Cleaning loos is good business. It might not be very fashionable, but it will never go out of fashion. Recessions come and go, but loos get cleaned regardless. Not only is the service in demand, but once you've got a customer he needs you every...

Creating a style of its own: bbc Le cucine's Italian style offers a great opportunity for franchisees.(In focus)
February 1, 2003... Although there is no shortage of franchise opportunities for those looking to move into a new business, there are not many that offer the chance to work with designer-quality products. The Italian kitchen design franchise bbc Le cucine is one...

Recognition for the guru of franchising: after 18 years in the business Mark Abell has built up the franchising practice at Field Fisher Waterhouse to gain recognition as the No1 legal adviser for the sector in the UK. Tamzin Hindmarch asks just what it is that makes the team so successful.(Success story)
February 1, 2003... Those not entirely au fait with the UK franchising industry may be forgiven for expecting to see a bearded old sage sitting cross-legged on a silk cushion, but when I walk into the office to interview the so-called 'guru of franchising', I find...

Guaranteed success from Belle Casa: domestic cleaning franchise Belle Casa has established itself strongly in the Midlands. It now seeks franchisees to help drive the network out across the country and offers solid guarantees to ensure they'll have business from day one.(Advertising feature)(Belle Casa Ltd.)
February 1, 2003... Thinking about starting your own business? Working for yourself can be very rewarding--both financially and in being able to organise your own time. However, setting up a business yourself can be a daunting experience. Where do I start? How do...

New look for Franchisor of the Year awards: the Franchisor of the Year awards have been revamped to focus on promoting motivational initiatives that take companies beyond the comfort zone, while a new award for enterprise aims to reward creativity.(Franchise news)
February 1, 2003... The UK's premier franchise awards have been updated to ensure that they remain the benchmark for quality in the industry. The British Franchise Association's prestigious Franchisor of the Year awards, backed by HSBC bank and the Daily...

Images of perfection: Kate Brewer is one of dozens of people who are now making a good living by helping schools with their fund-raising through Images--the innovative franchise that stages exhibitions of children's art, which parents are always keen to buy.(Advertising feature)
February 1, 2003... Working in children's television gave Kate Brewer all the skills she needed to become an Images franchisee. She had trained on Playdays and produced Hullabaloo, and was therefore used to working with children and coaching them for the...

A winning formula: having successfully developed a strong franchise network in Ireland, fitted sliding-door wardrobe specialists Sliderobes is now searching for enthusiastic entrepreneurs with a management background to replicate this success in the UK.(Advertisement)
February 1, 2003... 'Every Sliderobes site is a stand-alone business with showrooms and local manufacturing facilities--so you can quite simply take the Sliderobes unit and replicate it anywhere,' says managing director Richard McMullan. 'We have a great brand...

AlphaGraphics brings life to black and white: AlphaGraphics' franchise development manager David Holliday talks to Alison Coleman about their plans to expand the company and the rigorous training and support they offer their franchisees from initial set-up through to staff employment.(In focus)(Interview)
February 1, 2003... Look along any high street and you are likely to find several businesses offering high quality print and design services. Print is a huge industry, worth around 13 billion [pounds sterling] in the UK--and one that franchises very well. But if...

After all, your life savings are at stake ... Franchise businesses offer the comfort of a phenomenal success rate, but as leading lawyer John Pratt warns, you must be sure that you do your research thoroughly before making a decision on which your family's entire future will depend.(Franchise advice)
February 1, 2003... You've read the statistics--95 per cent of franchisees succeed in the first five years of their operation, but 95 per cent of non-franchised businesses fail in their first five years. Franchising certainly does appear to be a much safer way of...

Signs of success: FASTSIGNS has opened some 440 stores across the world since it was established in 1985 and is now concentrating on developing in the UK, where it already has 15 outlets and has acquired an enviable reputation as a leader in a dynamic industry.(In focus)
February 1, 2003... Men and women across the country dream of owning their own business and being their own boss. Ownership gives you the ability to create equity and value in your own business, rather than in someone else's, and it also gives you a feeling of...

Premium growth in retail.(Resale Of The Month)(franchises for sale)(Directory)
February 1, 2003... Simon Dilkes knows that expanding his Solihull O'Briens Irish Sandwich Bars franchise is going to take all his time and effort and a lot of financial resources--so he's offering his successful Birmingham store for sale to finance his growth....

Cheap products and expensive people: the average wage is 11 [pounds sterling], the cart-out fee for a plumber is 65 [pounds sterling]. Employees are without doubt an expensive commodity, and when they're not being used to their full potential they can be a crippling burden on a business.(Franchise advice)
February 1, 2003... Until recently I retained a slight feeling of superiority when dealing with the inhabitants of foreign lands. Something in the culture of Empire and conquest led me to believe that the British way of doing things was essentially better. I...

Need to know ... Should we all think like Stelios and charge for internet and email use by the hour? New research shows that up to half of your staff's emails are nothing to do with work--and much of the rest is virus-laden spam anyway.(On the grapevine)
February 1, 2003... LIBERATED CASH Pension liberation or trust-busting schemes are now heavily advertised means of releasing much-needed cash. Pension funds are set up in the name of an artificial company that exists for the sole purpose of freeing pension...

Light fantastic for signs express.(movers & shakers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... When Laurence Llewelyn Bowen thought up a wacky idea to transform a Milton Keynes home as part of the hit BBC DIY show Home Front, Signs Express (Milton Keynes) were happy to offer their services. Two large patterned acrylic panels mounted in...

Bin Masters franchisees go north and multiply.(movers & shakers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The two latest Bin Masters franchisees to complete the four-week training course are covering allocated regions in the North. Richard Reed, an engineer and fabricator formerly with Doncaster-based Paralloy Group, has taken his time considering...

Field Fisher aids training franchise with expansion strategy.(movers & shakers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... City law firm Field Fisher Waterhouse advised recruitment specialists Radcliffe Gower Franchising Ltd on the signing of new franchise Ash Anthony Ltd, which will trade as Radcliffe Gower Education and Training. Northampton-based Radcliffe...

Double award by Blazes.(movers & shakers)(franchisee of the year award)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... They were seeing double at Blazes when their Franchisee of the Year was named as newcomers Graham AND Pam Bastow. The enterprising couple, who have only been trading from their showroom in Wakefield for a year, were awarded the accolade in...

International win for Saks.(movers & shakers)(hairdressers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Saks Art Team, headed by international creative director Andrew Barton, has beaten top hairdressers from across the globe to be placed runner-up in a world-class competition. The team came second in the Best Men's Collection category in...