Business Franchise articles from June 2003

Business Franchise archives from June 2003

Making your move towards franchising.(Franchise News)(estate agency chain Your Move)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... National estate agency chain Your Move is Launching a brand new franchise opportunity, aimed primarily at existing independent estate agents and property professionals. Your Move has around 300 managed branches across the country and is now...

Seven years' good luck.(Franchise News)(Snappy Snaps)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Snappy Snaps has won Amateur Photographer magazine's High Street Photo Lab of the Year award for the seventh time. And, as if that's not enough, it has also claimed the title of Digital Lab of the Year. The awards were based on a survey...

New faces at the BFA.(Franchise News)(British Franchise Association's Laura Pickering, Catherine Jackson, Katherine Hopper )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The British Franchise Association's head office has been strengthened with three new appointments. The association now has a full team of administrators with the arrival of Laura Pickering in the position of general assistant. Catherine Jackson...

Bright future for Mr Electric.(Franchise News)(MEB (Contracting) Ltd.)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Electrical contractor Mr Electric has announced that it's management team is purchasing the UK franchise company From owners MEB (Contracting) Ltd for an undisclosed six-figure sum. Mr Electric was formed in 1991 and is the UK's only...

Dell has a Domino's effect.(Franchise News)
June 1, 2003... Domino's Pizza has joined forces with Dell Computers Corporation to completely regenerate its store hardware, enabling it to cope with the demands of today's pizza delivery business. A typical Domino's Pizza store has between six and ten...

Caring for the future.(Carewatch)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Carewatch has held its annual conference in Dublin--the first overseas trip for this established care service franchise network in its eight-year franchising history. Keeping to the conference theme of 'Forward to the future', Carewatch...

Diamonds for Drain Doctors.(Carewatch)(Drain Doctor Plumbing UK)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Drain Doctor Plumbing UK is celebrating a decade of outstanding growth, having reached over 65 franchise areas and covering 90 per cent of the UK population and the Republic of Ireland. To mark the occasion, founders Freddie and Jan Mitman were...

Fit for charity challenge.(Lloyds TSB's Action Research program for charity)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Lloyds TSB's head of franchising Alick Jones, and a team of his colleagues from Business Banking head office have set out to prove that contrary to some reports, bankers are human after all. A frequent contributor to Business Franchise,...

Sliderobes goes beyond TV.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Leading bedroom franchise company Sliderobes has found fame after participating on Ireland's leading home improvement show, Beyond The Hall Door. The popular television show has a huge following in the home-interest market and offers great...

Olympic quality sandwiches.(O'Briens)(O'Briens Irish Sandwich Bars)
June 1, 2003... O'Briens Irish Sandwich Bars has opened its first store in Britain's newest city--Wolverhampton. As official sponsors of the 2003 Special Olympics, O'Briens brought forward the store opening to allow new franchisees, Tony and Gill Brown, to...

Wizard's marathon magic.(Rainbow International)(Huw Smith)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Not content with being one of the UK's most successful franchisees, Huw Smith--South Wales franchisee with disaster restoration specialists Rainbow International--successfully completed the personal challenge of a lifetime by competing in the...

Little and large friendship.(Blazes)(Andy Taylor)(Mike Jenkinson)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Blazes' two newest northern franchisees were in for a big surprise when they met at a recent training session. The unlikely pair have a difference in height of more than a foot between them. But that hasn't stopped Andy Taylor and Mike...

Fast food found everywhere.(Franchise News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Research by the University of Warwick suggests that burger outlets are more likely to open in areas with competition already nearby, rather than finding locations that keep their rivals at a distance. Economics professor at the University,...

Bin there, doing that.(Fast Food Found Everywhere)(Bin Masters)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The Bin Masters sales team has secured a number of important contracts for its newly recruited franchisees. Bin Masters is a growing franchise operation specialising in the refurbishment and repair of millions of commercial waste containers...

Stains mean big gains for one franchisee.(Fast Food Found Everywhere)(Mike Brighton)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Mike Brighton from Solihull has been rewarded with the Stainbusters Franchisee of the Year award at their annual conference in Northamptonshire. Natwest's franchise manager Mark Scott presented Mike with the award in recognition of his...

Staff brings success for sale.(Prontaprint)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Prontaprint's Sale franchisees Peter and Lynne Clark are celebrating the 20 year anniversary of their business opening its doors to the public. At the time, neither had any experience of the print industry but two decades later the husband and...

A load of bollards.(franchising of telescopic security bollard systems)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Leading manufacturer ATG Access has granted the first in a series of franchise licences to help satisfy demand for the company's range of telescopic security bollard systems. The first franchise has been taken by Newcastle-based Northeast...

Franchising with the daily mail.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The Daily Mail's Monday Franchise section has been running for over fifteen years going from strength to strength, and growing ahead of the market. Our dedicated editorials--written exclusively by Linda Whitney--are topical, varied and topical,...

Driving force behind franchising.(BFA News)(sponsorship of National Franchise Week Campaign)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has been named as the headline sponsor for the BFA's 2003 National Franchise Week Campaign. Mike Owens, marketing communications manager for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, says: 'We hope that by lending the...

Intro disk now available.(British Franchise Association )(DVD's)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The BFA's new DVD 'Your introduction to franchising', sponsored by HSBC, is now available online in the BFA's bookshop at www.british-franchise.org.uk or from the national franchise helpline on 0870 161 4000 (calls charged at national rates).

BFA diary dates 2003.(British Franchise Association)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
June 1, 2003... BFA DIARY DATES 2003 JUNE 2 Entry deadline for 2003 Franchisee of the Year awards 4 Franchisor of the Year awards luncheon. Dorchester Hotel 9 Regional forum, Midlands 10 Regional forum, North 11 ...

Franchisee awards for forward thinking.(British Franchise Association)(Franchisee of the Year Awards 2003)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The British Franchise Association is delighted to announce the launch of its Franchisee of the Year Awards 2003. Sponsored by HSBC and the Daily Express, the awards will be presented during National Franchise Week at a gala dinner on Thursday...

First for Scotland.(British Franchise Association)(Franchise Awareness Day)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Hot on the heels of the Wembley franchise exhibition, the BFA's Franchise Group for Scotland ran the first ever Franchise Awareness Day at Livingston Football Club in April. More than 350 people attended the 'Franchise First' event which...

Accreditation, that's what you need.(British Franchise Association membership)
June 1, 2003... Q&A When considering investing your time and money in a franchise, do not underestimate the value of franchising with an accredited member of the BFA. For an insight into the BFA's accreditation procedure and its benefits, deputy director...

Food for thought: in the second half of our feature on the food and beverage industry, Barbara Oaff samples a selection of franchised pubs, restaurants and fast-food outlets.(Food And Beverage Franchises)
June 1, 2003... MANY OF US DREAM of running a local pub or small restaurant. Even more think that owning a fast-food outlet, in today's takeaway society, is a licence to print money, But the reality of surviving--let alone thriving--in the food and beverage...

Would you award a franchise to this man? All the best franchises are overwhelmed with applications from would-be franchisees, but how do you sort the sheep from the goats? Psychometric testing is proving to be a valuable tool at Signs Express, as Pat Malone found out.(Special feature: psychometric profiling analysis)
June 1, 2003... MANY WOULD-BE franchisees who are hunting for the franchise that best suits their talents and ambitions lose sight of the tact that they themselves are being sized up with as much thoroughness as they are using in their own research. For the...

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.(the Belle Casa success story)
June 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...

Futuristic fast-food franchise: with the desire to eat on the go as popular as ever, Hot Bite has come up with a catering concept that should appeal to the most discerning of fast-food palates.(Hot Bite)
June 1, 2003... EVERY SO OFTEN a new concept enters the marketplace that changes the way consumers think, and Hampshire-based Hot Bite is hoping its Auto Cafe will do just that. The company believes the concept will not only add value to its franchise offering...

Faster, better, cheaper: Printing.com is a relative newcomer to the print industry, but is proving itself a major player against established market leaders and it's about to take the next big step ...(Printing.com)
June 1, 2003... PRINTING.COM HAS taken a giant step forward with the announcement of a new, high-tech, centralised production hub, with capacity for sales to grow from their current Level of 8million [pounds sterling] to over 30million [pounds sterling] over...

Catering for red tape: Chemex International franchisee Stephen Crinks gave up a successful hotel business to join the cleaning and hygiene supplies franchise, and soon found his background knowledge gave him a major advantage.(Chemex International Inc.,)
June 1, 2003... AS A FORMER hotel manager, Stephen Crinks understands only too well the pressure put on businesses operating in the food and catering sectors to meet the high standards demanded by government legislation. It's this insight that has enabled him...

A smashing franchise: one fifth of all crime is vehicle-related so it's no surprise that drivers are taking steps to protect themselves and their vehicles. With increased demand for safety and security, Pentagon Glass is perfectly placed to grab a piece of the action.(Pentagon Group)(Company Profile)
June 1, 2003... THEY SAY THAT prevention is better than cure--nowhere is this more true than with the driving public who welcome, value and quickly embrace improvements to vehicle safety and deterrents to vehicle related crime. There are now some 26...

How's about that then? That Cafe offers an internet cafe franchise with a difference.(That Cafe)(Advertisement)
June 1, 2003... YOU MAY NOT have thought that combining a coffee house with a plethora of high-tech computing equipment would be the ideal combination--hot drinks slopping over keyboards and muffin crumbs sticking between the keys. Most interact cafes don't...

The man with the plan: if you've never run a business before, where do you begin? Over the next three months, Alick Jones, head of franchising at Lloyds TSB, examines the foundations for building a solid business. First ask yourself what you want to achieve from running your business as a franchise, and figure out how you will go about achieving your aims.(franchise advice)
June 1, 2003... WHEN YOU GET GUIDANCE from the professionals to start your own business, they all talk about business plans and their importance, and rightly so. If you don't know where you want your franchise business to go, then how can you take it there?...

Bags of sweet ideas.(Cottage Industries)
June 1, 2003... CHOCOLATE, MUSIC, SWEETS and greetings cards--as a supplier of these everyday products it is likely we've all had a taste of what Cottage Industries has to offer. But, as with many business-to-business companies, the product doesn't always get...

Strong roots and more branches: it's been a remarkable year for the property market and a busy one for estate agents, but how many of them will still be around when the property market goes off the boil? One name guaranteed to be in it for the long haul is Bairstow Eves Countrywide, which is continuing to expand its successful franchise.(Progress report: Bairstow Eves)
June 1, 2003... BAIRSTOW EVES IS PART of the Countrywide Assured Group, the UK's largest estate agent. The franchise division was launched in February 2000 with the aim of expanding the Bairstow Eves brand by up to 500 outlets. With a total of 55 new branches...

Come into my office: would you swop this scenery for skyscrapers and a sea of concrete? Neither would Royal Bank of Scotland's Charlie Morton, who travels the length and breadth of Scotland to share his expertise.(Franchising In Scotland)
June 1, 2003... CHARLIE MORTON BELIEVES he has one of the best jobs in banking, He provides franchise advice to customers in Scotland for the Royal Bank of Scotland, and his job takes him daily through some of the most beautiful scenery in the United Kingdom....

Sex, lies and videotape: OK, there's no sex or lies, but it got your attention, didn't it? The BFA has revamped its 'Your introduction to franchising' video. Des Garnier gives it an honest appraisal.(British Franchise Association)
June 1, 2003... FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS, the British Franchise Association has aimed to be the voice of ethical franchising in the UK and is clearly succeeding. Its information guide for prospective franchisees is now so popular that the association sends out...

Show guide: Hall 2, SECC, Glasgow 20 & 21 June 2003.
June 1, 2003... OPENING TIMES: Friday 10am-5pm Saturday 10am-4pm STAYING AHEAD OF THE LAW Chemex franchisee Stephen Crinks welcome EU legislation on health and safety--his in-depth knowledge on the subject helps him stay ahead of the competition ...

First across the border: new initiatives in the Scottish franchise market are having a dramatic effect on growth, so there's never been a better time to find out more.(Progress report: franchise group for Scotland)
June 1, 2003... FRANCHISING IN SCOTLAND is on the rise, and the British Franchise Association's Franchise Group for Scotland is already well on its way to achieving its objectives. The group, comprising leading members of the Scottish franchise industry, aims...

Time to show who's boss.(Exhibition preview: the National Franchise Exhibition, Birmingham)
June 1, 2003... IF YOU ARE THINKING of starting your own business, franchising could be the route to making your ideas a reality. Franchising is the ideal way to become your own boss, but with the support and experience of an established company. Exhibitions...

Prontaprint! Digital design print copy.(Resale Of The Month)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Prontaprint operates in the expanding and dynamic print-on-demand market, with nearly 200 Prontaprint franchises in the UK and Ireland, working to a proven formula developed over 30 years. For those with the desire to start their own business,...

Resale directory.(franchise resales)(Illustration)
June 1, 2003... RESALE DIRECTORY AUTOMOTIVE Car Medic INVESTMENT REQUIRED 12,000 [pounds sterling] Type of franchise Mobile car TELEPHONE 01704 535 341...

Game for anything: Steve Morton's career has taken a U-turn. The former area manager for the CHIPS group, once responsible for the day-to-day operation of company-run stores for the video games chain, has found himself back at the sharp end--behind the counter. Steve, 32, has opened his own CHIPS franchise and is now his own boss.(a life in the day)
June 1, 2003... I DON'T NEED an alarm clock. As a first-time father of a bouncing one-year-old, I get a wake-up call at 7.30am, no matter what day of the week. I feed and play with Taylor--it's a nice way to start the day. Then I get ready to leave for work at...

Tools of the trade: Snap-on Tools' training programme is one of the most intensive in the business, and is well-placed for recognition in the government's forthcoming National Training Awards. Des Garnier went to Kettering to see it in action.(Snap-on)
June 1, 2003... THOROUGH TRAINING is a vital ingredient of any good franchise system, Apparently, the best franchisors can take a person with drive and enthusiasm and give them all the other skills they need to run their own business. Or so they tell you. But...

Yes, prime Minster: the high cost of running a business in the south east is no obstacle to profit, say two Minster franchisees who have prospered in London.(Minster Services Group UK)
June 1, 2003... THE ECONOMIC, cultural and political dominance of London is greater than in any other western capital city. But despite the city's success, running a business in the London area can raise a unique set of obstacles for the aspiring entrepreneur...

Cross country training: the International Franchise Association is championing access to franchise training across the globe. International franchise consultant Angela Bachfeld reports.(special feature)
June 1, 2003... WHATEVER THE NATURE of your franchise. wherever you work in the world, training is a key element of any successful operation. The International Franchise Association (IFA) is especially keen to promote training and continued education in...

In the market for a beanstalk: sales and marketing success isn't magic, says Richard Watson--the secret is paying attention to the details. Just don't ask why your Jaffa cakes taste funny.(franchise advice)
June 1, 2003... THERE ARE SOME things we should never know about. Odd snippets of useless information can create disturbing mental images, which in turn prove impossible to dislodge. Details like these, for example: * Every cow produces enough flatulence...

Need to know: working from home can take over your weekend, but at least you can use the bathroom when you want to--just remember to turn the light out when you leave.(franchise advise)
June 1, 2003... KEEP IT SIMPLE The number of complaints against solicitors has risen over the past three years and the most consistent feature of the complaints is poor communication confused further by legal jargon. A new initiative sees the Law Society...

There's gold in them there hills.(stages of franchising)
June 1, 2003... ONE OF THE MOST important things that any would-be franchisee must investigate from the start is the particular stage of development that his or her preferred franchise has reached. By this I mean that, at the outset, you should enquire from...