Business Franchise articles from March 2009

Business Franchise archives from March 2009

Keep your glass 'half full'.(EDITOR'S column)
March 1, 2009... NEVER MIND the black cloud, always look for the silver lining. Take the infamous credit crunch: true, blank cheques are not being written by lenders anymore (not that they ever were), but banks are still providing loans to good businesses...

Need 2 know.
March 1, 2009... The British & Intl. Franchise Exhibition at Olympia on 20-21 March is the only bfa-endorsed franchise show in London in 2009. Call 0870 777 1082 for more details

FitKid franchisees offer LazyTown classes.(Franchise news)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FRANCHISEES OF FITKID, a fun activity organisation for children, are providing official LazyTown themed classes as part of a new partnership with the popular TV show. The new classes were unveiled on BBC...

Ten years on--and still going strong for franchisee.(Franchise news)
March 1, 2009... WHEN JONNY Masters was 17, he joined Recognition Express in Coalville (originally based in Hinckley) as a production operative, printing and packing name badges. Ten years on, he has worked his way through the ranks, in production, research...

Plumb career for ex-kitchen fitter.(Franchise news)
March 1, 2009... HOMES AND businesses throughout the North West can now benefit from the launch of a new plumbing and drainage franchise in Bolton. The Birmingham-based emergency repair and maintenance specialist ReactFast has signed up Paul Garrity as...

A passage to India for printing firm franchisee.(Franchise news)
March 1, 2009... PHIL SHELLAM, centre owner at Signs Express (Worcester), has travelled to India to take part in the Karmaenduro, a charity car rally through southern India. The rally, which saw over 50 cars travel 2,000km from Goa to Kerala, raised an...

Countdown to international awards.(Franchise news)
March 1, 2009... THE FRANCHISE Marketing Awards, a highly coveted accolade that recognises marketing excellence among UK and international franchises, takes place on Friday, 20 March at the Marriott London. Grosvenor Square. Comedian Ed Byrne will announce...

Franchisor of the Year Awards--recognising excellence in franchising.(British Franchise Association)
March 1, 2009... IN A time when the economy has been less than kind to many businesses, the British Franchise Association (bfa) Franchisor of the Year Awards 2009 recognises those franchisors that have best prepared and positioned themselves to survive and...

Franchising: a secure next step after redundancy: bfa director general Brian Smart says that franchising is a safe haven for would-be entrepreneurs who have been made redundant.(British Franchise Association)
March 1, 2009... IN THE later part of 2008, the British Franchise Association (bfa) started to write to numerous businesses that were announcing redundancies, and continues to do so today, It was a way of offering help and advice to employees that may be...

Franchising boost: Manchester's premier business event, the British Franchise Exhibition last month, proved there's still potential for business success.(Manchester exhibition review)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THERE WAS passion and energy, ambition and eagerness as aspiring franchise buyers from all over the UK descended on Manchester Central for The British Franchise Exhibition, long established as the north of...

Countrywide open: for those looking for a reputable award winning franchise company with continual growth, Countrywide Grounds Maintenance is the one to root for ...(Cover story)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] COUNTRYWIDE GROUNDS Maintenance is part of the largest franchise group operating in the horticulture, gardening and landscaping sectors, Established in 1984, the Countrywide group comprises two separate franchise...

Resale away: Carol Davis assesses whether buying into an established business poses an element of risk or a foundation of future success.(MAIN FEATURE)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AFTER 35 YEARS in the print industry, Graham Mitchell wanted to buy a franchise but was reluctant to start from scratch. Instead if launching a completely new business, he instead chose to acquire Recognition...

Signs of the times: signage and printing franchises say they are going to be strong enough to weather the economic storm.(MARKET FOCUS)(Company overview)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THERE IS a light at the end of the tunnel. Even though the main concern at the moment is the current economic climate, franchising is a safer bet, especially in the competitive world of signage and printing. ...

Capital project: the countdown has begun to The British & International Franchise Exhibition--the only franchise exhibition in London in 2009 to be endorsed by the British Franchise Association.(London exhibition preview)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WITH AN estimated 600,000 UK jobs forecast to be lost this year, thousands of people will be looking for their next career challenge, with many interested in the possibility of working for themselves. Franchising,...

Uniting redundancy with business success: redundancy need not be a disaster--as previous visitors to The British & International Franchise Exhibition testify.(London exhibition preview)
March 1, 2009... Revive! Roger Boothman ROGER BOOTHMAN was made redundant when his employer's business collapsed, and decided to take the opportunity to start up on his own with a franchise--something he had been interested in for a number of years....

London exhibition preview.
March 1, 2009... HOW TO GET THERE Olympia is easily accessible by road, rail. air and bus for exhibition visitors. It has its own dedicated underground and mainline train station (Kensington Olympia) By tube On the London Underground, take...

Weight for it: LighterLife franchisee Lindsey Thompson explains how her business has given her satisfaction ...(FRANCHISE FOCUS: Franchises from 10,000 [pounds sterling] to 20,000 [pounds sterling])
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] UK OBESITY rates have doubled in the last 25 years, and it is estimated that 60% of men and 50% of women will be obese by 2050. LighterLife is an ambitious weight-loss and weight management company looking to...

Snack of confidence: ChariSnack franchisee Gemma Thorne talks about the benefits of her business.(FRANCHISE FOCUS: Franchises from 10,000 [pounds sterling] to 20,000 [pounds sterling])
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] GEMMA THORNE, ChariSnack's Cardiff franchisee, is hugely impressed with her business. She has about 200 customers, a figure which is always adding in number Her clients enjoy a variety of delicious snacks, which...

Grass in pocket: meet two brothers who have found fortune with GreenThumb, a major player in lawn treatment.(FRANCHISE FOCUS: Franchises from 20,000 [pounds sterling] to 50,000 [pounds sterling])
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BRITAIN'S BIGGEST lawn treatment franchise and its 182 franchisees are looking forward to strong growth in 2009. Last year saw an impressive performance, with customer numbers across the network soaring to almost...

Train of thought: with its roots traced back to the 19th century, Pitman Training is today widely acknowledged as a global leader in its field. John Bensalhia talks to franchise development director David Shimwell about the opportunities available ...(FRANCHISE FOCUS: Franchises from 20,000 [pounds sterling] to 50,000 [pounds sterling])
March 1, 2009... IF ANYONE did a 'Who Do You Think You Are' on Pitman Training, the roots would be traced back to Sir Isaac Pitman's invention of shorthand in 1837. Pitman's name also has become synonymous with the globally renowned Pitman Training. The...

Cared for: the directors of Wise Choice Care believe their business is recession-proof.(FRANCHISE FOCUS: Franchises from 20,000 [pounds sterling] to 50,000 [pounds sterling])
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AFTER A lifetime of working in the care industry, Wise Choice Care director Pare Jordin decided to start a domiciliary care business, Primrose Care. For the previous a 28 years, she had been involved in the care...

Computer literates: ComputerXplorers franchisee John Reynolds made the best of a bad situation when he was made redundant from his teaching job.(FRANCHISE FOCUS: Franchises from 20,000 [pounds sterling] to 50,000 [pounds sterling])
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SERENDIPITY. THAT'S what former teacher John Reynolds found when he was made redundant from his old teaching job. Instead of finding another regular 9-5 job, he decided to look for a...

Recognising success: meet the Recognition Express franchisees who are still enjoying significant growth after more than 25 years.(FRANCHISE FOCUS: Franchises from 20,000 [pounds sterling] to 50,000 [pounds sterling])
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MANY PEOPLE view buying a franchise as an investment, aiming to see their business build up and grow over a long period of time. Recognition Express franchisees Stephen and Ciorsdan Price, who celebrated their...

Stronger networks: meet the managing director of Network Brand Partnerships, Debbie Smith, and discover the secrets of her success ...(FRANCHISE FOCUS: Franchises from 20,000 [pounds sterling] to 50,000 [pounds sterling])
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "IF YOU want to be successful, surround yourself with successful people, be honest and work hard and there is a very high chance you will succeed," says Debbie Smith, managing director of Network Brand...

No place like home: the SureCare franchise is at the forefront of the fast-growing care at home market.(FRANCHISE FOCUS: Franchises from 20,000 [pounds sterling] to 50,000 [pounds sterling])
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IN THE words of the ruby slippered Dorothy, "there's no place like home", According to Chester based company SureCare, allowing people to remain in their own homes to receive care is beneficial to their well-being...

Picture perfect: since launching last October, Photography For Little People has been getting lots of enquiries.(FRANCHISE FOCUS: Franchises from 20,000 [pounds sterling] to 50,000 [pounds sterling])
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A PHOTOGRAPHY FOR Little People franchise gives people the freedom of running their own business, a good work/life balance and lots of fun. At a time when so many are fearful of their job security and the...

Front doors: Dream Doors founder Troy Tappenden and other key people within the network reveal more about a brand defying economic gravity ...(FRANCHISE FOCUS: Franchises from 50,000 [pounds sterling] to 100,000 [pounds sterling])
March 1, 2009... DRIVEN ON by Troy Tappenden, the tour de force behind the company's success, Dream Doors now has 25 franchisees, with top performers turning over more than [pounds sterling] 500,000 [pounds sterling] a year Still better news is that, even in...

Fortunes favour the brave: Minster Cleaning has survived a number of recessions and its franchisees have continued to prosper.(FRANCHISE FOCUS: Franchises from 50,000 [pounds sterling] to 100,000 [pounds sterling])
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SERENDIPITY. THAT'S Starting a new business when times are tough may seem to Fly in the face of common sense but many well-known and successful organisations were born during economic slumps. Multi millionaire...

Commited contributions: a brother-in-law team of Mail Boxes Etc franchisees are this month's pick.(FRANCHISEE CLOSE-UP: Franchisees of the Month)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MBE's current "Franchisees of the Year", London-based Murli Mulchandani and his brother-in-law, Rikesh Nichani, already had two West End Hail Boxes Etc (MBE) business centres when they opened their third site, in...

Flexible working to be more widespread.(Need TO Know: ESSENTIAL UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION FOR FRANCHISES AND SMEs)
March 1, 2009... 2009 WILL see a greater use of flexible working, according to a Cable & Wireless study. It reveals that 70% of employees believe that the right to flexible working is a 'deal breaker' in job applications. However, 85% of UK firms are unable...

Employers struggle to keep top talent.(Need TO Know: ESSENTIAL UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION FOR FRANCHISES AND SMEs)
March 1, 2009... EMPLOYEE RETENTION is one of the biggest challenges of 2009, according to a study from Taleo Corporation. It found that HR managers are most concerned about keeping skilled and experienced staff. Half of them wanted a company programme in...

TUC: 27 billion [pounds sterling] in unpaid overtime.(Need TO Know: ESSENTIAL UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION FOR FRANCHISES AND SMEs)
March 1, 2009... MORE THAN five million workers put in a record 27 billion [pounds sterling] worth of overtime in 2008, according to the Trades Union Congress (TUC). It also says that more unpaid work is being done for firms than in any other year since their...

Government guidelines help firms save millions.(Need TO Know: ESSENTIAL UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION FOR FRANCHISES AND SMEs)
March 1, 2009... BUSINESSES HAVE saved 418 million [pounds sterling] in dealing with employment law by using free online systems. the government claims. The Department for Business states that it has helped one million small firms tackle some o! the latest...

Business MOTs encouraged.(Need TO Know: ESSENTIAL UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION FOR FRANCHISES AND SMEs)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BUSINESSES ARE being encouraged to conduct an MOT of operations to ensure they are maximising efficiency, The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform is promoting 'business health checks' and is...

Optimism prevails.(Need TO Know)
March 1, 2009... SMALL FIRMS remain upbeat about this year's trading prospects, according to a survey from Orange Business Jury. While a third of entrepreneurs are concerned about their prospects in 2009, a further third believe they will not be affected and...

Not all doom and gloom, says CBI.(Need TO Know)
March 1, 2009... A DIFFICULT economic year is predicted by employers' lobby group the Confederation of British industry (CBI) but it still believes that there reasons to be cheerful. The CBI suggests that the UK is particularly well placed for a soft...

BT scraps 0870 charges.(Need TO Know)
March 1, 2009... BT HAS scrapped its charges for 0870 and 0845 numbers in a move which will cost the company 24 [pounds sterling] million. The two numbers were used b banks, building societies, utilities, insurance firms and doctor's surgeries and cost up to...

Voluntary code on payment terms.(Need TO Know)
March 1, 2009... A SCHEME discouraging the UK's am payment culture is unlikely to succeed, commercial credit agencies warn. The voluntary Prompt Payment Code, drafted with the assistance of the Institute of Credit Management. encourages speedy payment of...

Selecting the right franchise: over the next three issues, Nigel Toplis will guide potential franchisees through the sometimes daunting process of selecting a franchise ...(FRANCHISE ADVICE: Hot topic)
March 1, 2009... THERE ARE six key steps to assist prospective franchisees in selecting a franchise that fits well with their experience, expectations, resources and skills, They are: suitability; investment level; industry; comparing franchise options;...

Q&A.(FRANCHISE ADVICE)
March 1, 2009... THE PANEL [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Nigel Toplis Nigel is managing director of Recognition Express, a leading supplier of corporate recognition products, clothing and gifts, now in its 30th year of business. As part of his Bardon...

New steps to buying a franchise: once you have made one of the most important decisions in your life--whether to start a business of your own--the next decision is almost equally important: what sort of business? Manzoor Ishani offers some handy advice ...(FRANCHISE ADVICE: Franchisee issues)
March 1, 2009... 1. DECIDE whether you want to be involved in a service or retail business. There are pros and cons. If you are the sort of person who does not want to work anti-social hours, a retail operation or a business which operates during office hours...

Top market: a good marketing strategy is key to a successful franchise business. John Bensalhia looks at some of the best methods of achieving this goal.(BEST practice)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PR AND marketing are critical. For example, without the publicity machine, the annual X Factor winner's single would have trouble pushing the Top 40 with its queasy combination of OTT caterwauling, maudlin strings...

Get on your bike: William Ewbank of Domino's Pizza sees the need for good planning.(FRANCHISE ADVICE: Last word)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AN OFT-USED phrase in business is that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. This concise little saying is relevant to many areas of life. A few years ago, I noticed that the advancing years were beginning to...

Exceptional resale opportunities.(RESALE OF THE MONTH)
March 1, 2009... Recognition Express is a major UK Franchisor and very proud of our franchising credentials: * bfa member since 1980 * Franchisor of the Year award winner * Extensive marketing collateral * Centrally managed appointment...

Franchise services.(Directory)
March 1, 2009... Consultants Franchise Development Services Roy Seaman t: 01603 620 301 e: enquiries@fdsltd.com Locations covered: UK Are you considering franchising your business? Or are you an established franchisor? Our 25 years...

A-Z franchise directory.(Directory)
March 1, 2009... The following franchise listings are a comprehensive reference guide to help you find the franchise opportunity that's right for you. They are listed alphabetically and cover all business sectors. Information for these entries is provided by...

Crib sheet: finance: especially in these difficult times, it's worth bearing in mind that a good franchise can be relatively easy to join with a little help from the banks ...(NEW TO franchising?)
March 1, 2009... FROM THE outset, it's down to you to work out how much money you have to invest in the franchise project. It may be that you have had a lottery win, a windfall, or more like y redundancy money, and you are looking to invest in a franchise...