Business Franchise articles from July 2003

Business Franchise archives from July 2003

HSBC appoints new franchise manager. (Franchise News).
July 1, 2003... HSBC Bank has appointed Sej Bhabra to join the franchise team as assistant franchise manager. Sej will take over from Tessa Spiers who leaves the bank this month. A familiar face within the franchise sector, Tessa has been with HSBC for almost...

Ancram visits snap-on. (Franchise News).
July 1, 2003... Shadow foreign secretary Michael Ancram MP has visited Snap-on Toots' UK Headquarters in Kettering, Northants, to see first-hand how an American corporation's continued investment in the UK has reaped dividends for its staff and franchisees,...

Sean awarded Gerstenhaber. (Snap-On).
July 1, 2003... Sean Derrig, national franchise manager of Snap-on Tools, has won the prestigious Moshe Gerstenhaber Franchise Award for best franchisor essay paper 2003. The Gerstenhaber award scheme, launched last year, takes the form of an essay...

Red admiral spreads its wings. (Interlink Adds To Variety).
July 1, 2003... Pam Feltham, formerly of Carewatch Care Services, has joined a new franchisee recruitment company, Red Admiral Franchising Limited, as franchise director. Red Admiral is the franchising arm of Smartfish Ltd., a company set up by Debbie Ingrain,...

Free pizza for Exeter's Edwards. (Interlink Adds To Variety).
July 1, 2003... Edward Edwards, a property agent from Husseys in Exeter, has won a year's supply of free pizza by becoming the first winner of the Domino's Pizza property search prize. He responded to the Domino's call for a suitable site in Paignton, Devon...

Seven centuries of Burger King. (Franchise News).
July 1, 2003... Burger King International has opened the doors of its 700th restaurant in the UK. The new outlet in Leyton, Essex, comes hot on the heels of the previous month's opening of Europe's 3,000th Burger King outlet in Hamburg, Germany. The new...

Baroness boost for Kall Kwik. (Franchise News).
July 1, 2003... Baroness Emma Nicholson MEP has turned out to show her support for a successful new Kall Kwik print and design centre in Weybridge, Surrey. Centre owners Bill and Elizabeth Vickery welcomed their prestigious visitor to the Temple Market Centre...

Cannock comes first. (Pastiche).
July 1, 2003... Midlands-based bistro group Pastiche Bistro has opened its first franchised restaurant at Cannock, West Midlands. Pastiche already has three company-owned restaurants in Stafford, Lichfield and Hanley, and it has an extremely successful concept...

Furnishings triumph for Amtrak. (Franchise News).
July 1, 2003... High street icon Laura Ashley has chosen Amtrak Express Parcels to provide all its UK courier services. The multimillion pound contract, based at Laura Ashley's 350,000sqft warehousing and distribution headquarters at Newton, Powys, sees Amtrak...

Curtis moves in. (Franchise News).
July 1, 2003... As part of its commitment to an already successful franchising operation, estate agency Your Move has announced the appointment of John Curtis as legal and operations manager for the company's franchising division. Curtis has been with...

Consett with extra Chips. (Franchise News).
July 1, 2003... Consett, the Durham town that is home to the famous Phileas Fogg tortillas, has attracted even more chips. Independent video games retailer Chips has just opened its 17th store with new franchisee Neil McKie at the helm. Neil's 47 years...

Recession remedy. (Drain Doctor).
July 1, 2003... The uncertainty overhanging British manufacturing industry has prompted engineering consultant Tony Robinson to switch careers and launch his own recession-proof business as a 24-hour Drain Doctor Plumbing franchisee in Oxford. Tony, 48,...

More drivers as market multiplies. (Franchise News).
July 1, 2003... Driver Hire, the UK's leading driver supply agency, has announced a major recruitment drive as a new report reveals the market for temporary drivers is set to double in the next two years. The Ernst & Young report, based on current growth...

Dyno Rod's Dayglo dominance. (Franchise News).
July 1, 2003... Dyno Rod celebrates its 40th birthday this year and maintains it is one of the few widely recognised names in 'man with a van' franchising today. The most famous and striking feature that characterises Dyno-Rod's service is the dayglo red van...

Big money for growing franchise. (Franchise News).
July 1, 2003... Scenic Blue, the UK's only landscape gardening franchise, today announced an agreement for Aggregate Industries--owners of Bradstone paving and stone products--to invest a six figure sum in the business in return for minority shareholding. ...

Perfect branding. (Papa John's).
July 1, 2003... Papa John's, one of the world's largest pizza delivery restaurants, has hired Chris Macleod, a former managing partner at McCann Erickson, to be its marketing director for the UK and Europe. Papa John's has over 200 restaurants in the UK,...

Thrifty keeps on motoring. (Franchise News).
July 1, 2003... Thrifty has recruited Ian Saxon as franchise manager to launch a nationwide drive for new franchisees. This new drive will target entrepreneurs with motor industry experience who wish to own and run their own business, including independent...

100 per cent pet care record. (Franchise News).
July 1, 2003... Petpals, the country's leading, mobile, petsitting franchise is soon to be celebrating its third year with a 100 per cent success rate for its franchisees. Business is going well for Petpals--as well as being on target for it planned growth of...

Raft of sliderobes success. (Franchise News).
July 1, 2003... Fitted bedroom company Sliderobes entered a team of wardrobe fitters in the annual Portrush Raft Race in aid of the Royal Navy Lifeboat Institution. All competitors designed their own rafts and crew costumes, and the Sliderobes team...

Saks the way to do it. (Franchise News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Saks, the UK's leading hair and beauty salon group with over 85 salons nationwide, is welcoming another franchisee to its rapidly expanding network. Juliette Marr has opened the doors to her new Saks salon in Ilkley. Juliette has owned a...

Yellow pages partnership renewed. (BFA News).(British Franchise Association)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The BFA has renewed its successful partnership with Yellow Pages for a further year. Building on developments of the last three years, Yellow Pages will continue to help support the BFA's educational programme by sponsoring the franchisor...

Scottish workshops a big hit. (BFA News).(British Franchise Association)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... A report from Scottish Enterprise shows that its franchise workshops run over the past year, in conjunction with the BFA's Franchise Group for Scotland and whichfranchise.com, have been a roaring success. The main reason for respondents...

BFA diary dates: July/August 2003. (BFA News).(British Franchise Association)(Calendar)
July 1, 2003... BFA DIARY DATES JULY/AUGUST 2003 JULY 3/4 Annual conference, University of Warwick 16/17 Scottish franchise seminars 23/24 Franchise seminars, Hertforshire AUGUST 20 ...

The leadership challenge. (BFA News).(British Franchise Association)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Following the pilot in late 2002, the first open workshop to focus on coaching and mentoring skills was run this May. BFA affiliate Coaching4leaders ran the workshop in collaboration with the BFA. The day started with a review of...

Community plans for franchise clean-up. (BFA News).
July 1, 2003... Brian Smart, director general of the BFA, was recently asked to address a Community Action Network (CAN) seminar to discuss the application of business format franchising techniques to social enterprise projects. CAN describes social...

Business format franchising made clear. (BFA News).
July 1, 2003... HAVING JUST WON the prestigious BFA Franchisor of the Year award, sponsored by HSBC and the Daily Express, Recognition Express has a right to be proud of itself. Against stiff opposition, the company has proved to be an exemplar in the...

Animal magic is child's play: as Blue Peter presenters will surely tell you, animals and children are a law unto themselves. But if you can rise to the challenge there are plenty of rewarding franchises on offer. (Franchises with children and animals: words).
July 1, 2003... THEY SAY THERE ARE two things you should never work with--children and animals. This is because, as well as being cute and loveable, they can be unruly, unreliable and unpredictable. But many franchisees successfully to work with at least one...

Need for speed: snap-on tools has a hugely popular method of rewarding its most successful franchisees which is guaranteed to get their blood pumping and adrenaline racing. (Snap-On).
July 1, 2003... THE LAST COUPLE OF doughnuts had almost finished him off, but then the Mad Finn screeched sideways off the track and spun like a dervish in a volcano of noise and blue smoke before slamming sideways into the pit lane leaving an extravagant,...

Dallaglio's new pitch: not content with weaving his magic on the pitch, Lawrence Dallaglio and fellow rugby stars are moving from the scrum to the shop counter as Eden Park franchisees--and they have ambitious plans to build the brand. (Cover Story).
July 1, 2003... IF YOU'RE A FABULOUSLY successful rugby star with a tidy sum to invest and an affinity for fine clothing, we might just have the perfect franchise for you. Even if you're not, you might one day get your hands on a piece of Eden Park--but...

Call that a sandwich? You haven't seen Subway: here in Britain we think two flat bits of bread and a smear of jam constitutes a sandwich--but out there in the big wide world, where Subway has established more than 19,000 franchised outlets, consumers know the true meaning of the word. Now, Subway plans to modify our vocabulary, too. (Subway).
July 1, 2003... SUBWAY IS A MASSIVE international brand that barely registers on the British consciousness. On a global scale it is the biggest fast-food operation after McDonald's, with more than 19,000 outlets in 72 countries. It is expanding at a phenomenal...

Recycling plan from Lasertech. (Lasertech).
July 1, 2003... LASERTECH HAS INTRODUCED a national recycling scheme for printer consumables that helps the environment, benefits charities, conforms to new European laws and makes better business for franchisees. The fast-growing company is the only...

Make a move to your move: one of Britain's best known estate agencies is launching a new franchise opportunity that offers profitable prospects for established independent agents, and the chance for would-be franchisees from outside the property sector to enter a lucrative, growing industry. (Your Move).
July 1, 2003... ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS for buying a franchise is the back-up the franchisor provides--a strong brand, national marketing and promotion, management training and help, purchasing power, perhaps the kind of IT support to which no independent...

Recognition for a winner: in a strong field of finalists, Recognition Express is named as the BFA's Franchisor of the Year for moving a successful company beyond the comfort zone. (Franchisor Of The Year Awards 2003).
July 1, 2003... SIX MONTHS AGO when he was taking over as managing director of Recognition Express, Nigel Toplis said: 'If you were to draw up a list of the top dozen reputable and ethical franchises, Recognition Express would have to be on it.' Now, a jury of...

HSBC award for enterprise: Metro Rod. (Franchisor Of The Year Awards 2003).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Winner Metro Rod has transformed a loss-making business into a 17million [pounds sterling] success story and is now projecting profits of half a million pounds. Spice Holdings acquired the business in 2001, inheriting 4million [pounds...

Daily express brand builder of the year: Riverford Organic Vegetables. (Franchisor Of The Year Awards 2003).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Riverford supplies 6,500 boxes of organic vegetables a week through its network of 24 franchisees throughout southern and southwest England. Riverford was founded by Guy Watson, who created the world's first direct-from the-farm organic...

Can your market take the strain? In the second instalment of his series on advice for franchisees, Alick Jones, head of franchising at Lloyds TSB, stresses the importance of understanding your customers, your suppliers and your competition, and getting the best out of them. (franchise advice).
July 1, 2003... BEFORE BECOMING a franchisee you should carefully research your chosen franchise system, making sure you have spoken to existing franchisees to find out how the business has worked for them. Having established what you want to achieve from...

On the right track. (Amtrak Express Parcels).
July 1, 2003... ITS BEEN A BUSY YEAR for Amtrak, one of the UK's most successful express parcel franchises. Several large contracts have been acquired by the company and many new franchisees have joined the network, as it goes from strength to strength. One...

Going solo, but not alone. (exhibition preview).(GROWING YOUR OWN BUSINESS SHOWCASE & FREE CONFERENCE)
July 1, 2003... Incorporating GROWING YOUR OWN BUSINESS SHOWCASE & FREE CONFERENCE Hall 9, NEC BIRMINGHAM 12 & 13 SEPTEMBER 2003 OPENING TIMES 10am-5pm, Friday 10am-4pm, Saturday COST Tickets cost 13 [pounds sterling] on the door and 8 [pounds...

Word from the wise. (Case Studies).
July 1, 2003... Franchising is not just about the brand and the successful growth of profits--it's about individuals taking up the challenge of being their own boss and becoming part of a bigger team, working together to make the most of the company. Five such...

What people said about the National Franchise Exhibition 2002. (exhibition preview).
July 1, 2003... EXHIBITORS: Peter Fielding, Marketing & Business Development Manager, Countrywide: 'We were so busy we considered asking the exhibition organisers to close the gates. We've got a number of promising leads from across the UK--all in all we...

Exhibitor list. (exhibition preview).
July 1, 2003... WHO CAN I MEET AT THE NATIONAL FRANCHISE EXHIBITION? The variety of franchise opportunities has become increasingly diverse. Whether you're interested in running a coffee shop, supplying water to offices, repairing cars or pet sitting, the...

Hitting all the right notes: new music tuition franchise Soundsteps could be instrumental in bringing music to the masses, as it strikes a chord with children and parents alike. (Soundsteps).
July 1, 2003... THE CHANCE TO LEARN and play musical instruments is ideally something all children ought to be given during their formative years. It is often said that musical ability at an early age can be linked to advanced development and happy, contented...

You're better in than out--aren't you? (Recognition Express Essay Award).
July 1, 2003... It's an article of faith that if you take a franchise, you stand a better chance of surviving than if you start an independent business, isn't it? But in a robust and provocative analysis, business student Steven Williams argues that the facts...

Clean living and a tidy profit: home may well be where the heart is, but when it comes to spring cleaning, homeowners' hearts just aren't in it any more. Deserting their mops and dusters, most are getting someone else in to do the dirty work, so domestic cleaning management franchise Belle Casa is tapping in to this trend, and seeing dramatic growth as a result. (Advertorial: Belle Casa).
July 1, 2003... WHEN PETER DALTON set up his domestic cleaning company in 1998, he began with 10,000 leaflets and just 250 [pounds sterling]. From these humble beginnings he has turned Belle Casa into one of the Midlands' fastest growing independent cleaning...

Laundry money: Cotton Bottoms is a new franchise not to be pooh-poohed. (Cotton Bottoms).
July 1, 2003... DIRTY NAPPIES MAY NOT be the first things that spring to mind when you're trying to come up with a new business idea, but they were inspirational for Joanne and David Freer. The husband and wife team started their award-winning company Cotton...

S'coolwear for less. (Resale Of The Month).
July 1, 2003... S'COOLWEAR FOR LESS operates in the virtually recession-proof and risk-free market to supply school clothing direct to schools. The company has over 25 successful franchisees in the UK and a continued programme of consolidated expansion. ...

Buying into resale success. (A uniform profit-maker).
July 1, 2003... Looking for an established franchise opportunity? Most franchises have mature businesses with track records of success that can give you cash flow from day one. Resales are available in every part of the country, and in every type of...

Why buy a resale? (A uniform profit-maker).
July 1, 2003... Existing franchises are sold for various reasons--retirement, ill-health, moving abroad, etc. Some franchise companies operate networks comprising hundreds of franchisees and more than one entry in the listings may simply reflect the scale of...

Resale directory. (franchise resales).
July 1, 2003... AUTOMOTIVE Car Medic Type of franchise Mobile car detailing exterior/interior Territory available Postcode for Merseyside and Warrington INVESTMENT REQUIRED 12,000 [pounds sterling] TELEPHONE 01704 535 341 mobile 07753 730 483...

Art and soul: in the search for balance between work and rife, perhaps having a second childhood is the key to being a happy adult. One new franchise is bringing playtime to the boardroom and making business more fun--and more profitable. (Artescape).
July 1, 2003... IT'S A BEAUTIFUL spring evening in Sydney and a group of 35 corporate heavyweights, comprising CEOs, company directors and top level managers, is gathered together in a cavernous loft studio, euphoric from an experience that has brought them...

The road to cleanliness: from carpets to cars, Stainbusters now offers a comprehensive service to a variety of customers--so its successful franchisees can clean up. (Stainbusters).
July 1, 2003... WITH OVER 20 MILLION cars in the UK and quality car ownership on the increase, demand for high-quality, professional car valeting is also steadily growing. That's why Stainbusters, the established carpet and soft furnishing cleaning franchisor,...

Postcard from Malaysia: Mark Abell once spent several years living in Malaysia and, as head of franchising and licensing at city law firm Field Fisher Waterhouse, client matters have recently taken him back to its shores. Together with fellow franchise lawyer and co-author Yvonne Pah, he discovered that the franchise industry there today is thriving. (special feature).
July 1, 2003... THERE WAS A TIME when the mention of Malaysia conjured up images in the minds of 'Matsalaleh' (as white foreigners are called there) of endless plantations of rubber trees and oil palms and mile after mile of beautiful golden beaches....

Simple remedy works wonders: asking clever questions and planning ahead will perk up your sales pitch and be the best medicine for your franchise operation. (franchise advice).
July 1, 2003... MY FIRST, SHORT apprenticeship in sales and marketing began at Messrs W.S. Shadforth Prescription Services. For five of my formative years I manufactured gallons of 'Shadforth's Road to Mandalay Anti-Mosquito Extract', consisting of one part of...

Need to know: it seems nightmares about Monday mornings and faking sickness are to be expected these days--it's the careful company-car driver you should be worrying about. (franchise advice).
July 1, 2003... SELLING THE FAMILY JEWELS Owner/managers are increasingly viewing the sale of their business as their pension. Abbey National Business research has found that nearly a third of business owners intend to sell off their companies to the...

Reap what ye sow. (the last word).
July 1, 2003... AS A FRANCHISOR, a constant source of wonder is what happens to the never-ending river of people who apply for franchise information packs, but do not take on a franchise. At Domino's we sent out more than 2,400 of them last year. This takes no...