Business Franchise articles from October 2003

Business Franchise archives from October 2003

Birmingham bonanza: so many visitors flocked to the National Franchise Exhibition at the NEC last month that the show was the busiest many exhibitors had ever seen.(exhibition report)
October 1, 2003... EVERYONE WHO'S ANYONE in franchising attended this year's National Franchise Exhibition at the Birmingham NEC, and it was generally agreed to be one of the best in the exhibition's history. A record number of visitors--over 14,000 members of...

Benjys brings Quail on board.(New Appointments)(Andrew Quail becomes franchising director of Benjys Delivered)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Sandwich business Benjys has headhunted Andrew Quail to become its first franchising director. Quail will head up Benjys Delivered, the company's new franchised mobile catering opportunity. Quail brings a wealth of franchising experience...

Low interest rates but more Winkworth interest.(New Appointments)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Winkworth Franchising has noticed a dramatic increase in the number of individuals now looking at franchising. Since the start of the year the company has received over 140 committed applications from people wanting to run their own business....

Building business overseas.(New Appointments)(International Franchise Consultancy Network)(international business development services)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... UK franchisors will soon be able to benefit from the new International Franchise Consultancy Network (IFCN), created by a group of experienced independent franchise consultancies. The group will offer specialist advice to the national and...

Williams works wonders.(New Appointments)(David Williams hired by the Royal Bank of Scotland)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has appointed David Williams as associate director of the bank's commercial banking franchise team. Williams previously worked for RBS's retail franchise department as regional franchise manager and has...

25 years on and still going strong.(Prontaprint)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... When Prontaprint in Chapel Ash, Wolverhampton, opened its doors in 1977, Maggie Reid was one of the first employees recruited to work there. That was 25 years ago this month and Maggie is still working at the digital design, print and copy...

Saks more like it.(Franchise News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The UK's leading hair and beauty salon group is on target to open its 100th salon by the end of 2003, which in turn is leading to continuous expansion at Saks headquarters. One of the most significant and groundbreaking developments at Saks...

Pizza plans.(Franchise News)(Stelios Haji-Ioannou to possibly open pizza franchise)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... At the recent launch of National Franchise Awareness Week, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the brains behind easyGroup and the franchise easyInternetCafe, let slip that he is considering launching his own pizza chain. During a speech extolling the...

First steps to franchising.(Franchise News)(ViewPlus)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... ViewPlus, the Sussex-based movie and game rental company, has a novel approach to increasing its franchisee network. Company directors Helen and Steve Monteiro have decided to adopt a 'grow your own' approach. The method appears to be...

Bath's second bite.(Pastiche Bistro)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Pastiche Bistro, the Midlands-based bistro group that launched its franchise arm last October, has opened its second franchised restaurant in Bath. The group began in 1997 with a unique, price-led restaurant concept and has grown from...

Building the foundations.(House Doctor)(membership with the British Franchise Association)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... New franchise House Doctor has just been awarded provisional listing with the British Franchise Association. Founded in Scotland by Doreen Smith, the company has shown a commitment to the idea of ethical franchising and wants to recruit...

Blood on the roads.(Franchise News)(Signs Express Manchester signs contract with the National Blood Service)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Signs Express Manchester has applied reflective graphics to a number of the country's National Blood Service emergency response vehicles as part of a national contract. The Manchester store has also branded nine Ford Focus cars with livery...

Hot prospects.(Hot Bite)(Snackpoint Ltd. appoints John Belcher as operations director)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Hampshire-based Snackpoint Ltd is pleased to announce the arrival of former Amtrak executive John Belcher as the company's operations director. This appointment is part of Snackpoint's new drive to develop its Hot Bite brand through its UK...

Dieters gain pounds.(Rosemary Conley)
October 1, 2003... The second Rosemary Conley Challenge looks set to smash its fund-raising record of 500,000 [pounds sterling] for national charities such as Breast Cancer Campaign. Many of the 80,000 members of Rosemary Conley's Diet and Fitness Clubs...

From kids to coffee.(Beanscene)(Jan Henderson opens first franchise)
October 1, 2003... Jan Henderson, an English teacher for 24 years, has swapped life at the chalk face to become the first ever franchisee of Beanscene, having secured the deal for the Scottish coffee and music house's first franchised outlet. The coffee house...

Say hola to Lakme.(Capelli Salon Products)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... UK distributor of the Lakme haircare range, Capelli Salon Products, is holding its first annual conference in Barcelona, the home of Lakme. The conference will feature the announcement of new Lakme products and the 2004 business strategy for...

Cleaning up in the sunshine state.(Franchise News)(VIP Bin Cleaning)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... VIP Bin Cleaning is delighted to have signed a master franchisee agreement in Florida. A successful break into the US market is a rare achievement for a British franchisor, which makes the feat even more special. Two new franchise territories...

National franchise week launch.(BFA News)
October 1, 2003... Stelios Haji-Ioannou, serial entrepreneur and mastermind behind easyGroup and the franchise easyInternetCafe, officially launched the British Franchise Association's National Franchise Awareness Week on Monday 8 September at HSBC's...

Six steps in free seminars.(BFA News)(Franchise Alliance seminars)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The Franchise Alliance, formed by a number of established BFA franchises and sponsored by NatWest, is continuing its free evening seminars on franchising around the UK from September. The seminars concentrate on six steps to selecting the...

BFA diary dates 2003.(BFA News)
October 1, 2003... OCTOBER 1st Regional forum, North 2nd Regional forum, Midlands 8th Regional forum, Southwest 9th Regional forum, London 22nd Prospective Franchisor Seminar, London 23rd Prospective Franchisee seminar, London ...

Online poll position.(BFA News)(British Franchise Association poll on starting a business)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... According to an online poll carried out on the BFA's dedicated National Franchise Week website, nationalfranchiseweek.co.uk, visitors still look favourably on starting a business despite the current uncertainty in some sectors of the economy....

Know your membership.(BFA News)(British Franchise Association)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... THE BRITISH FRANCHISE ASSOCIATION (BFA) evolved from the franchise industry itself in 1977, as the only voluntary accreditation body for franchising in the UK. The BFA accredits franchise companies for membership on the basis of a strict...

New members.(BFA News)(British Franchise Association)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... We are delighted to welcome the following new members to the BFA: PENTAGON GLASS-TECH MR CLUTCH GUARDIAN HOMECARE APETITO KUMON NATIONAL SCHOOLWEAR CENTRE HOUSE DOCTOR EX CHINA TH:AT CAFE IDEAL...

Bringing home the bacon for Danish franchising.(BFA News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Brian Smart, director general of the British Franchise Association, was the guest speaker at a recent meeting of the Danish Franchise Association where he outlined his views on the essential ingredients for a successful Franchise association....

Who's who?(BFA News)
October 1, 2003... BFA accredited companies are listed under the following membership categories: * FULL MEMBERS Established franchisors with a proven trading and franchising record. To qualify as a member, franchisors are required to submit a...

Specialist franchises are something special: do you want to run a business that's a little bit different? An astonishing range of franchises offer niche products and services, says Barbara Oaff. So, if you want to make your living doing something out of the ordinary, read on.(Niche Franchises)
October 1, 2003... NAME A PRODUCT or a service, no matter how unusual, and chances are there's a franchise that can provide it. The Nationwide Investigations Group is a group of private investigators. Eden Park franchisees are purveyors of stylish, upmarket...

Hose replacement heroes: it's amazing how many industries rely on hydraulic machinery to get the job done, yet hydraulic hoses regularly fail and are complicated to fix. Luckily, Pirtek franchises can come to the rescue.(Pirtek)
October 1, 2003... MONEY, PEOPLE and sales are said variously to 'oil the wheels of industry'. In truth, however, it is the oil itself that ensures the wheels of industry keep turning. The productivity of diverse market sectors--ranging from construction and...

Care to make a difference: as more of us live to a ripe old age, the demand for healthcare is escalating. Such dramatic growth means recruitment management franchise Carewatch Care Services Ltd has a prosperous future ahead of it.(Carewatch)
October 1, 2003... THE CARE INDUSTRY is a rapidly developing market in the UK, with current spend estimated to be over 12billion [pounds sterling] a year. The market is predicted to grow even more in the next five to ten years, as the UK is faced with an ageing...

Franchises for less than 10,000 [pounds sterling]: the cost of getting started is a key consideration when choosing a franchise. In our new series, Barbara Oaff investigates franchises to fit a variety of budgets, beginning with opportunities for 10,000 [pounds sterling] or less.(Franchise Opportunities)
October 1, 2003... FRANCHISING HAS SOMETHING for everyone--from multimillion pound operations with thousands of employees to sole traders working from home. One of the greatest appeals of franchising is that a relatively small investment can go a long way....

Converted and content: most of us love a good bargain, which is why the pre-owned goods retail market will always thrive and Cash Converters franchisees continue to enjoy huge success.(Cash Converters)
October 1, 2003... HAVING SPENT most of his career in retail, David Thomson was no longer prepared to tow the line in corporate life. After holding the positions of general manager and division director at HMV and Marks & Spencer, Thomson wanted to be his own...

Changing face of franchising: its a controversial business, but non-surgical cosmetic treatment is on the increase. For new Collagenics franchisees the future is looking good.(Collagenics)
October 1, 2003... LET'S FACE IT, every one of us has some physical imperfection we would like to change. Our insatiable desire to look as good as we can for as long as possible has enabled Collagenics to expand into more than 160 clinics throughout the country...

Finning and dandy.(Finning Hydraulic Services)
October 1, 2003... THOSE OUTSIDE the hydraulics industry would find it hard to believe just how much of Britain's business is based on the smooth-running and efficiency of hoses, pneumatics and high-pressure couplings. From earth-moving and materials handling...

Cashing in on cheques.(The Money Shop)
October 1, 2003... THE MONEY SHOP is the indispensable service for many people who feel that traditional, high street banks do not offer customers the services they need. Some people can't wait three days for their cheques to clear. Others don't want to get...

Secrets and pies.(Pasty)
October 1, 2003... THERE IS A saying in Cornwall that there are Cornish pasties and then there are Peter Morris Cornish pasties. The Morris family firm has been trading in Cornwall for more than 30 years and its pasties have been rated the best in Cornwall by...

Big enough to care, small enough to cope: franchising offers the best of both worlds--personal service and all-encompassing support. The BFA's new communications manager Katherine Hopper examines why more and more people are becoming franchisees rather than risking starting out alone.
October 1, 2003... DESPITE THE ongoing concerns around some sectors of the UK economy, franchising as a self start-up option continues to grow in popularity. The BFA's dedicated National Franchise Week website has recently carried a poll asking the question:...

Comfort zone--what comfort zone? There were eight worthy finalists and three prize winners but only one Franchisee of the Year 2003-Kall Kwik's Mark and Jemima McCluskey. Sally Giles reports on the most spectacular franchise awards ceremony of the year and a night to remember.(Franchise Of The Year Awards)
October 1, 2003... THE THEME FOR this year's BFA Franchisee of the Year awards was 'Moving forward--beyond the comfort zone', and most of the finalists this year had hardly allowed themselves to get near to what you would normally call a 'comfort zone' in their...

Credit where it's due: the BFA's new accreditation manager Catherine Jackson joined the association this May from a commercial rather than legal background. So six months on, what are Jackson's views on the BFA and its role in the franchising industry?
October 1, 2003... 'I WAS ALREADY aware of the importance of the BFA in the eyes of the business public and of consumers,' she says. 'I have been impressed by the real commitment of BFA members to developing and maintaining ethical franchise networks. This it...

Huge trucks and big bucks: love it or hate it, the sight of large goods vehicles on our roads is a vital part of the UK economy. New franchise Driver Transport Training is poised to capitalise on the booming road haulage industry.(Driver Transport Training)
October 1, 2003... THERE HAVE BEEN plenty of initiatives to restructure the transport system in the UK, all failing as spectaculary as the ministers and other individuals who pioneered them. There seems to be decreasing interest in putting freight on the rails,...

Keep it clean: Belle Casa's professional, personal touch is shifting cobwebs across Britain.(Belle Casa)
October 1, 2003... THE CLIENT was frantic. She was throwing a party for her son's 18th birthday the following day, and needed a housekeeper at short notice. And for once, Belle Casa franchisees Barry and Rachel Turpin could not lind one. Their solution was...

Mobbed by vans.(Benjys)
October 1, 2003... TIRED OF THE same old stale cheese and pickle sarnie that daily costs you the best part of a fiver? Benjys, the nation's best value sandwich chain, is coming to the rescue with its new mobile catering service. Since news was released about...

Telling it like it is: last year, Business Franchise followed the fortunes of a group of new franchisees as they kick-started their businesses. Here, we catch up with them a year on and find out if dreams came true or if reality was a little different than expected.(Dear Diary)
October 1, 2003... ANDY AND CAROL WEST RAINBOW, BURTON-ON-TRENT I CAN'T BELIEVE how far we've come since the early days, when the bank let us down as soon as late payments caused us problems. Now we've no sooner made a new business plan than we achieve...

Staying power: Minster's first two franchisees are still going strong a decade after joining the network and, as Dave Wilson reports, the years of effort have certainly paid off.(Minister Services Group)
October 1, 2003... AFTER TEN YEARS of running his office cleaning business through company-owned outlets in the Midlands and Lancashire, Minster boss Alan Haigh identified franchising as a way to accelerate the company's growth. 'I wanted to expand the business...

Get on the ball: do you have a passion for sport? Are you looking for a change in lifestyle? SportsCoach, the exciting new sports school for young people, could be the challenge you've been looking for.(SportsCoach)
October 1, 2003... THE SPORTSCOACH concept is designed for youngsters between the ages of six and 16 years. It follows in the footsteps of sister company Stagecoach, whose franchisees teach drama to more than 26,000 young people throughout its UK-wide network...

More time to make money: Lasertech, the nationwide ink and toner cartridge manufacturer, shows how its unique resources and supply capabilities bring big profits for its franchisees.(Advertorial: Lasertech)
October 1, 2003... LASERTECH IS THE ONLY franchisor that actually manufactures ink and toner cartridges for its franchisees, so they have more time to concentrate on running the sales side of the business. The company benefits from over 14 years' experience and...

Making money from munchies: Snack-in-the-Box has taken the confectionery delivery and vending business by storm, so we don't have to go far for our favourite bar, as Sally Giles reports.(Infocus: Snack-in-the-Box)
October 1, 2003... CHOCOLATE IS ONE of life's little pleasures. Most of us indulge in a chunk or two on a regular basis and for over 3,000 years chocolate has had a universal appeal. Today the confectionery industry is big business, fuelled by demand from...

Fit and mobile: rising numbers of vans on Britain's roads show the country's moving workforce is changing and expanding. Megan Dunmore looks at Van-Fit Direct, an exciting new opportunity in the mobile workplace, as it launches its franchise operation.(Infocus: Van-Fit Direct)
October 1, 2003... VAN-FIT DIRECT, a hot new franchise opportunity at this year's National Franchise Exhibition, is set to tap into the lucrative and rapidly expanding commercial van sales marketplace with a specialist fitting service that has already been...

Doing the business.(Advertorial: Knightsbridge)
October 1, 2003... IN THE HIGHLY competitive marketplace that is the British franchise industry, it is sometimes difficult to locate a source of advice, help and the correct type of franchise in what is considered a fluid and active sector. Knightsbridge...

The U factor: in his final words of advice, Alick Jones--head of franchising at Lloyds TSB--turns his attention to the most important factor in the franchise equation: you, the would-be franchisee.(franchiseadvice: Alick Jones)
October 1, 2003... SINCE STARTING this series of articles, I have built up a structured process for you to follow when building your business plan, the blueprint for your company. A plan is essential, not just for raising finance but for the future of the...

O'Briens to go.(Resale of the months: O'Briens)
October 1, 2003... O'BRIENS IRISH SANDWHICH BARS is one of the rising stars of the franchise market and an example of a true success story in action. The company was founded in Dublin in 1988 and franchising commenced in 1994. Since then the operation has...

Why buy a resale?(Brief Article)
October 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 listing may simply reflect the scale of...

Franchise resales.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... AUTOMOTIVE Car Medic Type of franchise Mobile car detailing exterior/interior Territory available Postcode for Merseyside and Warrington CLEANING SERVICES Swisher Full member Type of franchise Management of unique...

Resale directory.(Directory)
October 1, 2003... INVESTMENT REQUIRED 12,000 [pounds sterling] TELEPHONE 01704 535 341 mobile 07753 730 483 WEBSITE www.carmedic.co.uk INVESTMENT REQUIRED from 50,000 [pounds sterling] (fee+working capital) TEL 01202 30 33 33 EMAIL franchise@swisher.co.uk...

Delivering first-class customer care ... In this modern age of cost targets and sales figures we often overlook our most valuable asset--the customer. Richard Watson shows us where we're tripping up in the the ubiquitous race for tighter margins and bigger profits.(Franchise advice)
October 1, 2003... NICE CHAP WAS Keith Nichols. He had all the attributes that most employers appear to value. He was hardworking, helpful, honest and courteous. Keith applied for a post with Royal Mail. The thought of walking around his village at the...

Need to know: with tips to be taxed, maybe you should start your own business, but if you're too successful this may well damage your health--or is it the spam that's hurting?(Franchise advice)
October 1, 2003... BUSINESS ILLNESS Starting a business is fun at first but can start to affect your health later, according to Office World's quarterly survey. It appears that ailments set in when a business expands and more demands are made on the...

Never mind the quality, feel the width.(The last word)(Editorial)
October 1, 2003... THE BRITISH ISLES is not such a vast and important area as its proud citizens believe, but at least it has enough population to support a great many franchisors and franchisees, as I am sure was witnessed by the success of the National...