Business Franchise articles from February 2007

Business Franchise archives from February 2007

Small business owners go large.(Need to know)
February 1, 2007... MOST ENTREPRENEURS expect their businesses to grow quickly over the next three years, revealing high levels of optimism among business leaders, according to a new poll. Over half the small business owners polled by Finance Wales said they...

Big bullies.(Need to know)
February 1, 2007... BIG NAME retailers are abusing their purchasing power at the expense of small firms and are damaging their profits, it has been claimed. Large retailers are bullying suppliers out of business in an effort to increase profit margins, according...

Transport report puts SMEs at risk.(Need to know)
February 1, 2007... A REVIEW of the British transport infrastructure has been received with disappointment by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The recommended introduction of road pricing to reduce congestion would not help small businesses who cannot...

Jargon buster.(Need to know)
February 1, 2007... HAVE YOU got your ducks in a row? Is your business on the runway and are your employees ready to do a 'brain dump'? If the answer to any of these questions is 'yes' then chances are you are the type of boss that uses jargon, while your...

Fewer days off at small firms.(Need to know)
February 1, 2007... A NEW study by the Federation of Small Businesses has found that the average numbers of days lost in small businesses per employee per year is 1.8 days compared with 8.4 days in all other businesses. Forty-three per cent of small businesses...

Bosses 'should take note' of employee stress levels.(Need to know)
February 1, 2007... EMPLOYERS ARE being encouraged to take steps to help alleviate stress in the workplace as part of National Stress Awareness Day. Bosses are being asked to recognise the effects on business of having employees becoming stressed due to problems...

The year of the franchisee.(FRANCHISE NEWS)
February 1, 2007... FREEZING WEATHER, a multitude of bills, and excess Christmas fat. All at the start of the new year. Still, it's not all doom and gloom--2007 is set to be a great year for the franchisee, according to Rob Mott (pictured), Enfields' managing...

Electric dreams.(FRANCHISE NEWS)
February 1, 2007... RUTH AND Graham Freeman, joint managing directors of Mr Electric Staffordshire and South Cheshire, have scooped the National Electrical Contractor of the Year award for their dedication to customer service, constant strong performance and best...

SUMO: I did it highways.(FRANCHISE NEWS)
February 1, 2007... SUMO SERVICES has scooped its second major award of the year when it picked up the Highways Magazine Excellence Awards, Innovative Maintenance Product of the Year. SUMO, one of the largest suppliers of underground utility detection...

Market in your diary ... Following the inaugural Franchise Marketing Awards in 2006, the search is on for the 2007 winners. But hurry! Entries will need to be in by February 23.(FRANCHISE NEWS)
February 1, 2007... THE FRANCHISE Marketing Awards recognise the industry's most innovative and effective marketing campaigns for products, services and franchisee recruitment. The ultimate winners of each category will be announced at the award dinner, which...

Express delivers: specialist franchise X-Press Legal Services celebrates its successful first year with its debut conference and five award winners ...(FRANCHISE NEWS)
February 1, 2007... Just 14 months after the franchise was launched, X-Press Legal Services held its first conference and presented five franchisees with outstanding achievements awards. X-Press is a specialist franchise that provides property searches and...

Emerald smiles.(FRANCHISE NEWS)
February 1, 2007... The Irish Franchise Awards 2006, which were inaugurated by the Irish Franchise Association to recognise success and achievement in the franchise industry, were presented by Frank Ryan, CEO, Enterprise Ireland, at the Davenport Hotel, Dublin, in...

bfa new members.(bfa NEWS)
February 1, 2007... A MAJOR part of the British Franchise Association's work is to help prospective franchisees recognise the ethical franchise systems operating in the UK today. Franchisors apply to become bfa members by meeting standards set by the...

bfa announces workshop dates for 2007.(bfa NEWS)
February 1, 2007... THE DECISION to consider franchising as a route to running a business is an important one. There are many considerations and many different sources of information; the difficulty is knowing where to start. The British Franchise Association...

bfa workshop calendar.(bfa NEWS)(Calendar)
February 1, 2007... February 2007 20th Prospective Franchisor Seminar in Birmingham 21st Prospective Franchisee Seminar in Birmingham March 2007 27th Prospective Franchisee Seminar in Manchester 28th Prospective Franchisor Seminar in...

bfa announces new board appointments.(bfa NEWS)
February 1, 2007... MEMBERS OF the British Franchise Association (bfa) have elected six new representatives to sit on the Association's board of directors. The results of the election were announced at the Association's annual general meeting in December. The...

Significant improvements: the British Franchise Association's 29th Annual General Meeting took place on December 5 and reported a number of new developments over the past year ...(bfa NEWS)
February 1, 2007... HELD AT the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Birmingham, the AGM was opened by chairman of the board, Nigel Toplis. A review of the past year highlighted significant developments for the Association, including a strong financial performance as the...

Flexible franchises.(MARKET FOCUS)
February 1, 2007... There are many reasons people either want, or need, to gain leeway in their working lives. Whether it's a new addition to the family, early retirement or simply the desire to be professionally independent, finding a franchise that fits the...

The bottle bank: following its conception in the late 19th century, Threshers has marched into the 21st with confidence, not to mention 2,000 stores, a highly respected brand name, and now a blossoming franchise network. John Bensalhia gets the lowdown on what this refreshingly different franchise can offer you ...(Cover story)
February 1, 2007... Just like a fine wine or an ice-cold pint of beer on a hot summers day, a Threshers franchise is an irresistible proposition. A combination of a reputable brand name, an established customer network, staff and outlet await the successful...

Car medic: the best automotive franchise money can buy!
February 1, 2007... EUROPE'S largest, Britain's number one and FACT: the most cost effective automotive franchise available... the Car Medic group has lots to offer. When S.M.A.R.T. repair technology came to the UK nearly 15 years ago, Car Medic Managing...

Brand aid: the branding of a franchise company is key to its success, whether it's the logo, the literature or the mission statement. John Bensalhia speaks to franchisors and franchise experts to find out why both branding and rebranding are so important.(SPECIAL FEATURE)
February 1, 2007... It's not every day that you can link diminutive pop star Prince and evergreen soap melodrama Emmerdale. But I've just gone and done it... No, Prince didn't make a cameo appearance as the Sugdens' long-lost third cousin from America. But...

The invaluable shop window: that's how John Green, chairman of the Irish Franchise Association, regards the Irish Franchise Exhibition, which took place at the Royal Dublin Society on November 17 & 18, 2006. Business Franchise gets the lowdown on all that happened at the show ...(EXHIBITION REPORT)
February 1, 2007... The Irish Franchise Exhibition, held recently in Dublin on the 17th and 18th November 2006, at the Royal Dublin Society, delivered two days of superb business and networking opportunities for the many exhibitors and thousands of visitors who...

Sea for Miles: former army captain and Boatshed franchisee Miles Booker tells John Bensalhia how his franchise combines his interest in sailing with a profitable business to great effect.(NEW LAUNCH)
February 1, 2007... BOATSHED Boat Brokerage From Horatio Nelson to Captain Birds Eye, it seems there's nothing people like better than messing about in boats. Think about it: your own little sea-bound house in which you can get away from all the...

Hot property: with more people trying to get on the property ladder in the south, why not give them a helping hand onto the rungs by becoming a franchisee with property firm, Enfields? John Bensalhia discovers what it takes to be associated with this highly regarded brand.(NEW LAUNCH)
February 1, 2007... ENFIELDS Estate agency A recent slew of awards at the 2006 Estate Agency of the Year Awards were just the cherries on the cake for Southern-based property firm Enfields. The company, which picked up a second Gold win for the Best...

Superwoman: in 1989, Tina Huelin was a homeless mother of two with no savings. Today she has a 3 million [pounds sterling] property empire and is about to launch her franchised business HandyWoman. Alison Ledger traces Tina's 'rags to riches' story.(NEW LAUNCH)
February 1, 2007... HANDYWOMAN LTD Property maintenance Standing in a queue in her local job centre in 1989, Tina Huelin, now 46, felt compelled to turn her life around. 'I felt I was surrounded by people that did not want to work, and in that moment, l...

One million calls and counting: a day in the life of a Kendlebell franchisee is always busy, and has countless opportunities for a thriving and profitable business. MD Simon Carter tells Business Franchise what you can expect from your investment.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
February 1, 2007... KENDLEBELL Telephone answering services Kendlebell, the UK's number one provider of personal telephone answering services for small businesses now takes more than one million messages a year for its growing portfolio of customers....

Jobs for the girls! Following on from a recent Business Franchise special feature on the growing number of women in franchising, Mail Boxes Etc tells us how more women have signed up as successful franchisees.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
February 1, 2007... Business was once the virtually exclusive province of men but, nowadays, it is not unusual to find women in senior and influential roles throughout commerce and industry. This is especially true in franchising, where women run their own...

A cut above the rest: nicenstripy is the UK's premier professional, domestic residential and commercial lawn cutting and garden maintenance franchise, with more than 11 year's business success. Business Franchise examines its franchise proposition ...(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
February 1, 2007... NICENSTRIPY Garden maintenance Currently, nicenstripy is the only franchise in the garden services industry to have been awarded membership of The Guild of Master Craftsmen, which recognises the company's commitment to work with skill...

Everybody's welcome: countrywide's amazing no-cost Lawn Doctor franchise has attracted an across-the-board response from all quarters. Business Franchise looks at the positive implications of this popular offer ...(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
February 1, 2007... COUNTRYWIDE Lawn care A totally free lawn care franchise--that's the offer made recently by Countrywide Grounds Lawn Doctor. Not surprisingly, it has generated a massive response from applicants throughout the UK. More than that...

Corporate identity: Recognition Express has been successfully operating in the corporate recognition and promotional products market since 1979, and is now the most successful franchise network for this sector in the UK. Individual franchise owners have backed up this claim with their own experiences.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
February 1, 2007... RECOGNITION EXPRESS Promotional products When Sally Findlay wanted to start her own company, she decided to look for a franchise. 'I started looking at franchises that would fit my requirements and strengths/One franchise immediately...

Devon's above: Sunbelt's Devon franchisee Sean McQuitty had been looking for a business to buy in the region, but when he came across Sunbelt the opportunity arose to invest in a Sunbelt franchise, so Sean grabbed it with both hands. John Bensalhia finds out what that opportunity held in store ...(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
February 1, 2007... SUNBELT Business brokers Sean McQuitty had been looking to buy a business--but little did he know that the boot would be on the other foot, when in the process, he would become the Sunbelt franchisee for the Devon area. Sean has...

The Lee way: having grown tired of his previous strenuous working hours, Lee Andrews decided to take another working path, and become a PCC franchisee. Business Franchise looks at how Lee has achieved the perfect balance of work and home life ...(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
February 1, 2007... PCC Automotive Lee Andrews is one of the latest recruits to join Professional Car Cleaning (PCC), the rapidly growing valeting franchise from the ChipsAway Group. The former driving instructor was used to being self-employed, but felt...

Begin your investigation: if you've ever harboured dreams of conducting your own private investigations, then Nationwide Investigations Group is the franchise for you. Business Franchise takes a magnifying glass to this company's potential.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
February 1, 2007... NATIONWIDE INVESTIGATIONS Professional private investigators 'So what do you do for a living?' 'Well, actually, I'm a private investigator' 'Wow, how exciting!' And you can honestly reply, 'Yes, it is'. But what opportunities are...

Setting sale: as the UK's only nationwide For Sale board contractor, Agency Express has experienced record growth over the last few years. Business Franchise reports.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
February 1, 2007... AGENCY EXPRESS For Sale board contractor With more than 20 per cent of the nation's estate agents on their client list, as many as one in five of all For Sale boards displayed in the UK are now erected and serviced by Agency Express...

What makes a Lasertech franchise work? With high demand for its services, Lasertech can offer franchisees the chance to be a part of its successful network. Business Franchise speaks to three franchisees, who tell us of Lasertech's excellent reputation ...(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
February 1, 2007... LASERTECH Printer consumables One of the largest manufacturers and suppliers of printer consumables in the UK, Lasertech's van-based management franchisees are able to offer more than 30,000 quality office products with an unbeatable...

Financial times: in 2005, Alasdair MacLean sold his cleaning franchise and joined TaxAssist Accountants. He's just celebrated his first anniversary with the company by opening a second shop front.(PROMOTIONAL FEATURE)(Company overview)
February 1, 2007... TAXASSIST Accountancy, taxation and b2b services At the age of 50, Alasdair MacLean needed a new challenge. He knew he could gain a good sum of money for his commercial cleaning franchise, so he decided to sell u p and invest in a very...

Mrs motivator: with so many people concerned with staying in shape, the health industry is booming, and one woman is reaping the rewards. She's sold millions of books and now runs her own franchised business. Alison Ledger chats to diet and fitness guru Rosemary Conley.(FRANCHISE PROFILE)
February 1, 2007... ROSEMARY CONLEY Diet and fitness classes You wouldn't know it from her immaculate appearance, but Rosemary Conley has recently turned 60. She also doesn't look like a woman who has ever battled with the bulge, but to believe that, you...

Welcome to the cruise: the forecast for cruise holidays is very bright. At the moment, 12 million people enjoy this popular form of holiday, with a predicted number of 17 million by 2010. John Bensalhia finds out about top cruise franchise GoCruise and speaks to Preston franchisee Paul Kennedy.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
February 1, 2007... GOCRUISE Travel/Cruise So here we are bang in the middle of Winter. It's freezing cold, we're recovering from the annual Christmas/New Year binge, and Summer seems like a vague dot on the horizon. What better time to take a cruise?...

Home sweet home: 2.7 million households spend about 11 billion [pounds sterling] every year on domestic help. With more than 10 years' business success and a client base that stretches to thousands of satisfied repeat customers, Myhome is one of the UK's leading residential cleaning businesses.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
February 1, 2007... Key to Myhome's success, for both franchisee and franchisor, is the comprehensive training and development programme that it provides its franchise partners. One of the main reasons that people buy a franchise, rather than setting up their own,...

Exhibitors by category.(The British Franchise Exhibiton)
February 1, 2007... AUTOMOTIVE Autosheen P140 ChipsAway International R90 Dent-Technique S140 Dial A Rad T90 Professional Car Cleaning S40 Revive! Auto Innovations ...

Northern delights: the first franchise exhibition of 2007 takes place at the G-MEX in Manchester in January, and what better place to begin your journey into the lucrative world of franchising. Director general of the bfa Brian Smart explains further ...(The British Franchise Exhibition)
February 1, 2007... On behalf of the British Franchise Association (bfa), I would like to welcome you to The British Franchise Exhibition. The bfa is the major sponsor of the five franchise exhibitions to be held in Britain this year, with Manchester being the...

Opportunities knock.(The British Franchise Exhibition)
February 1, 2007... 26-27 January 2007 | G-Mex MANCHESTER More than 80 leading British franchise companies as well as a fascinating variety of seminars will make the 2007 British Franchise Exhibition, at Manchester's G-Mex, on January 26 & 27, an event not to...

Franchise Match-Making Zone.
February 1, 2007... A new feature for The British Franchise Exhibition, Manchester, in 2007 is the Franchise Match-Making Zone, which has been especially created to help match visitors to their desired businesses. Visitors will be presented with a list of the...

Event details.(Calendar)
February 1, 2007... To register for The British Franchise Exhibition in Manchester incorporating the Growing Your Own Exhibition & Conference call: 0870 7771082 or visit: www.franinfo.co.uk Callers can purchase tickets in advance by credit card for 8 [pounds...

Future events.(Calendar)
February 1, 2007... THE BRITISH & INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISE EXHIBITION, incorporating the Growing Your Own Business Exhibition & Conference--Olympia, London, 23 & 24 March 2007 THE FRANCHISE EXHIBITION, incorporating Growing Your Own Business Showcase &...

Directions to the G-Mex Centre.
February 1, 2007... Train You could arrive at any of the following rail stations: Manchester Piccadilly Manchester Victoria Manchester Oxford Road Deansgate All are within a few minutes of the G-Mex Centre. Metrolink From Piccadilly or...

Your A-Z exhibitor guide.(The British Franchise Exhibition)
February 1, 2007... Action International R80 Contact name: Dean Morris Business Coaching Tel: 01452 751010 Fax: 01452 7511020 Website: www.action-international.com bfa status: ...

Conference program.(Calendar)
February 1, 2007... Friday January 26 10:45-11:15 OPENING ADDRESS What does it take to succeed as an entrepreneur? * Beyond the concept--how do you ensure your business idea will be here to stay? * What differentiates an entrepreneur from a...

Flourishing business: Jayne Lawton, founder of award-winning gardening gifts company GroBox Gardens, welcomes you to the Growing Your Own Business Exhibition & Conference.(GROWING YOUR OWN BUSINESS: exhibition & conference)
February 1, 2007... In my capacity as keynote speaker I am very proud to be able to address the Growing Your Own Business Exhibition & Conference at Manchester's G-Mex. This exhibition and conference provides a diverse range of business concepts, ideas and...

Your A-Z exhibitor guide.(GROWING YOUR OWN BUSINESS: exhibition & conference)(Directory)
February 1, 2007... All entries correct at time of going to press Businesslink.gov.uk GYOB60 Contact name: Lisa Vander Westhuizen Tel: 0845 600 9006 Website: www.businesslink.gov.uk Businesslink.gov.uk is an...

SMART thinking: nobody really likes Mondays do they? The start of a new week at work ... But ChipsAway franchisee Peter Barber says his Mondays--and every working day--are brighter. Business Franchise finds out why.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
February 1, 2007... CHIPSAWAY Automotive services At 50 years of age, Peter Barber (pictured) has gained a new lease of life. Formerly general manager of a large haulage contractor, Peter invested in a ChipsAway franchise after the small family business...

The ultimate management franchise.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
February 1, 2007... AUTOSHEEN Vehicle valeting RUNNING YOUR OWN MULTI-VAN OPERATION The UK's leading mobile vehicle valeting company, Autosheen, requires the manage of specialist, professional valeting services hundreds of corporate and residential...

Top gear: Eddie Mulrooney's first four months with MCV were so successful he bought the master franchise licence for Southern Ireland, took Christmas off and went on holiday. Alison Ledger gains an insight into Eddie's life-altering 18 months.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
February 1, 2007... MCV Car valeting There aren't many franchises where you can finish your training on a Saturday and have money rolling in by the Tuesday, but with Mobile Car Valeting (MCV), Eddie Mulrooney, 40, did just that. He says: 'I was a retail...

Fuel's gold: one of the most recognisable names in the industry, BP allows its franchisees to serve its customers with both fuel and high-quality food and drink. John Bensalhia investigates ...(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
February 1, 2007... BP Retail Say what you like about travelling by train, you can't beat travelling by car. You have the freedom to go wherever you like without the hassles of waiting at a freezing cold station, relentless delays and crowded coaches...

Moving on up: a new force in the property game has hit the high street in the Midlands--Goodchilds--an estate and lettings agency with a difference. Business Franchise finds out how this franchise could be a great move.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
February 1, 2007... GOODCHILDS Estate agency and lettings From property hunting to securing a parking space for the removal van: moving house is regularly listed as one of life's most stressful events. However, this often agonising transition couldn't be...

Smart Cartridge goes global: with 60 franchisee-owned stores across the globe, Smart Cartridge is to expand its presence in Europe and gain a foothold in North America this year. Business Franchise also talks to franchisees Des and Anne Seenan, who have been with the company for four-and-a-half years.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
February 1, 2007... SMART CARTIDGE Printer cartridges Smart Cartridge, one of the fastest growing franchise groups in the UK, has made significant inroads into the international market in the past year. The Edinburgh-based group now has 60...

The mighty whoosh: if you have the requisite determination and fire to make a Burger King business succeed, then the fast food restaurant franchise wants to hear from you right now, as Business Franchise explains.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
February 1, 2007... BURGER KING Fast food restaurant Rockets do it. Planes do it. Giddy rollercoaster rides do it--they leave your spine and teeth rattling at the start gate. They all take off with a 'whoosh' and, back safely down on the ground, Burger...

Invest in success: with more than 200 outlets in the UK, master franchisees in Australia, Southern Ireland and mainland Europe, Ovenclean has become the first choice in bringing a sparkle to customers' kitchens.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
February 1, 2007... OVENCLEAN Domestic oven cleaning Surveys reveal that cleaning the oven is one of the domestic chores people hate most: more Britons than ever are getting professionals to clean their household ovens. The homeowners' reluctance to do...

On a roll: not only is it listed on the Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market, United Carpets Group Plc has recently gained full membership status from the bfa and appears to be on a roll. Business Franchise uncovers another success story.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
February 1, 2007... UNITED CARPETS Carpet retail From its humble beginnings in 1998, United Carpets now occupies the lofty position as the fastest growing carpet retail brand in the UK. With more than 60 stores throughout northern and central parts of the...

A Miller's tale: Business Franchise tells the tale of Car Medic franchisee Greg Miller who, on seeking 'true success' for himself and his family, found great value for money, unlimited work potential and an improved quality of life with his franchise.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
February 1, 2007... CAR MEDIC Mobile automotive services Greg Miller worked as a finance analyst on a respectable 35,000 [pounds sterling] a year until last June when his wife Alison became pregnant with their first child. On analysing his own finances,...

Refurbishment revolution: Surface Doctor, the leading bathroom and kitchen resurfacing franchise in the United States, has more than 20 years' proven business success and is now available as a franchise throughout the UK.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
February 1, 2007... SURFACE DOCTOR Bathroom and kitchen resurfacing Choosing your franchise is a big step and it's likely that you'll be looking for a franchise that services a vast market. Surface Doctor may provide the solution you've been searching...

Follow the Dublcheck system: the Dublcheck franchise has met with positive responses from its franchisees. Find out how this cleaning services franchise can offer the opportunity of a lifetime.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
February 1, 2007... DUBLCHECK Commercial and domestic cleaning services Dublcheck, founded in 1993 and having been named one of the UK's fastest growing companies, according to The Sunday Times and Virgin Fasttrack 100, is still going from strength to...

What a card! Bath franchisee Roger Hookway is the star performer of greeting cards franchise Card Connection. His willingness to 'go the extra mile' sets the standard for all the other franchisees in the business ...(FRANCHISEE OF THE MONTH)
February 1, 2007... CARD CONNECTION Roger Hookway 'Roger's help, cooperation and determination to go the extra mile makes him stand out from the crowd,' confirms Dave Galvin, Card Connection's senior franchise manager. 'Franchisees like Roger are what...

Hot topic.(FRANCHISE ADVICE: Social enterprise sector)
February 1, 2007... Julie Waites of The Franchise Company has a track record working in the social enterprise sector and believes that social enterprise franchising presents a number of opportunities. 'Social enterprises are businesses with primarily social...

Where there's a will ... Manzoor Ishani looks at the possible circumstances of what might happen if a franchisee unexpectedly dies, and how this affects the original franchise agreement.(FRANCHISE ADVICE)
February 1, 2007... By their nature, franchise agreements are standard form documents to be used for all franchisees throughout the network. There is usually little room for negotiation between franchisor and prospective franchisee and therefore little scope for...

A marriage made in heaven? What do a marriage licence and a franchise licence have in common? Richard Watson points out the different commitments and aspects of your potential new franchise licence ...(FRANCHISE ADVICE)
February 1, 2007... A wonderful sight is a franchise agreement. My example has 22 heavyweight foolscap pages. It boasts a mere 34 clauses, an insignificant 174 headings, and all this in 80,000 words of legalese. When signed, you are then committed to working...

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 expertise on franchising in every issue of Business Franchise.(FRANCHISE ADVICE)
February 1, 2007... ETHNIC SUPPORT I have noticed that some banks offer financial and franchising advice specifically for ethnic minorities. As I am from Southern Asia, how can I benefit from using these services? Suraj Valand, Skipton Cathryn Hayes...

A franchisee on the wall: forget Planet Earth. Our own undercover reporter Bill Ewbank visits the bfa chairman's annual dinner to examine the curious habits of those in attendance ...(LAST WORD)
February 1, 2007... In December I was invited to dinner in Birmingham. The occasion? The bfa chairman's annual dinner. The event was well attended and involved dancing, drinking, eating and dressing up. I have to say, the occasion had all the attributes of a...