Business Franchise articles from September 2004

Business Franchise archives from September 2004

Government recognition for 25-year franchise.(franchise news)
September 1, 2004... RECOGNITION EXPRESS has celebrated 25 years of business success at an event attended by Nigel Griffiths MP, minister at the Department of Trade and Industry responsible for construction, enterprise and small business. To mark the occasion,...

New award for best of British.(franchise news)
September 1, 2004... A NEW QUEEN'S AWARD for contributions to the promotion of enterprise has been announced by The Queen's Awards Office and the Treasury. The Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion will go to individuals, and is designed to celebrate a wide...

All the support of the Irish.(franchise news)
September 1, 2004... THE IRISH FRANCHISE ASSOCIATION (IFA) is exclusively supporting the new Irish Franchise Exhibition organised by Venture Marketing Group, which is launched this November in Dublin. John Green, chairman of the Irish Franchise Association,...

Bartercard bolsters small business.(franchise news)
September 1, 2004... BARTERCARD UK, Britain's largest bartering exchange, has announced a 50,000 [pounds sterling] small business grant for London. The initial programme will be rolled-out in conjunction with the annual South London Business Awards, where the...

No feet up at Domino's.(franchise news)
September 1, 2004... DOMINO'S PIZZA has announced its interim result for the first half of 2004, which show that profit before tax increased 41.5 per cent from to 2.9 million [pounds sterling] to 4.10 million [pounds sterling]. There have also been 19 new stores...

New head of franchise for Bank of Scotland.
September 1, 2004... BANK OF SCOTLAND CORPORATE has appointed Syed Jaffery to head its dedicated franchise team and drive forward the bank's growth in the sector. Jaffery replaces Mark Pavis as head of franchising. Currently an area director with the bank's...

DTT expansion makes room for promotion.
September 1, 2004... DRIVER TRANSPORT TRAINING has appointed Paul Van der Hulks to the position of franchise director. Driver Transport Training, based in Stanton, Bury St Edmunds, is the UK's largest commercial training organisation, with 19 training centres...

S&N moves onwards and upwards.
September 1, 2004... LEADING UK leased pub company, Scottish & Newcastle Pub Enterprises, has appointed two new members to its team of operational and sales directors (OSDs) across its key regions. Moving internally, Ken McGown has become OSD for Scotland and...

The masterful Mitmans.(franchise news)
September 1, 2004... DRAIN DOCTOR PLUMBING, the Peterborough-based national plumbing franchise, has scooped two top awards from its US-based master franchisor The Dwyer Group. Freddie and Jan Mitman, who launched the UK firm in 1994, were presented with the...

Northampton gets a touch of the action with Eden Park.(franchise news)
September 1, 2004... EDEN PARK, the rugby-inspired French fashion brand, is set to open a new store in Northampton, owned by Colin Deans MBE, ex-Scottish rugby international and accomplished businessman, and England hooker Steve Thompson. As the director of...

New forces at Kall Kwik.(franchise news)
September 1, 2004... KALL KWIK, the leading business print, digital and design specialist, celebrated its 25th anniversary at its national conference entitled 'Destination: success'. The conference was attended by a record number of centre-owners--120 in total. ...

Horwath peaks on time.(franchise news)
September 1, 2004... THE HORWATH FRANCHISING/INTERLINK TEAM has successfully completed the Four Peaks Challenge in aid of The Wooden Spoon Society. The team climbed all the highest peaks in Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland in just 48 hours--with only a few...

Exclusively for dogs, by Barking Mad.(franchise news)
September 1, 2004... BARKING MAD, organisers of 'home-from-home' accommodation for dogs while owners are on holiday, has held its inaugural franchisee conference by Lake Windermere. Managing director Lee Southern reported excellent results, with franchisees...

New dimension added to CNA.(franchise news)
September 1, 2004... RECRUITMENT AND CONSULTANCY franchise group CNA International has formed a strategic alliance with Lloyds TSB Development Capital (LDC) to facilitate the capital investment and funding requirements of its corporate clients. CNA's CEO...

HSBC inspires today's youth.(franchise news)
September 1, 2004... THERE'S MORE competition to come in the franchising industry, reveals HSBC. Ahead of Chancellor Gordon Brown's plan to provide all pupils with enterprise education by 2006, the news comes from a group of 15 to 19-year-olds who have just...

A winning formula.(franchise news)
September 1, 2004... FRANCHISE RE/MAX UK is the first estate agency to sponsor Formula 1 motor racing through its support for Team Jordan. To celebrate the sponsorship RE/MAX organised a party on the eve of the British Grand Prix. Over 100 guests attended the event...

Property search merges with L&BI.(franchise news)
September 1, 2004... THE PROPERTY SEARCH GROUP (PSG), the Huddersfield-based personal search franchise, is merging with AIM-listed London and Boston Investments plc. Founded by Julia Hester, PSG is one of the UK's leading providers of private property searches...

Stagecoach heads east.(franchise news)
September 1, 2004... AS PART of its overseas expansion plans, Stagecoach Theatre Arts--the part-time performing arts schools for children--has announced the opening of its first two franchises in Germany. Stagecoach started its pilot operation in Nuremberg five...

Cutting it at Dyno-Locks.(franchise news)
September 1, 2004... WHEN THE BBC was looking for an experienced locksmith during filming for the popular serial Cutting it, they called in leading emergency locksmith Dyno-Locks to assist. Local franchisee Petar Hamby of PJH Services was called out to open...

What's in a Phonename?(franchise news)
September 1, 2004... JIM ZOCKOLL might be about to walk away with a 50million [pounds sterling] fortune from the sale of Dyno-Rod--the drain clearing business he spent 40 years building up--but the 74-year-old former airline pilot has no plans to retire. 'I'm...

Weeds are welcome.(franchise news)
September 1, 2004... COMPLETE WEED CONTROL franchisees have seen healthy growth this year, thanks to the simultaneous rise in weeds. Managing director Roger Turner says: 'By the end of April, franchisees reported turnover was already up by 19 per cent.' As...

The sign of things to come: setting the standard--both within business and in the wider franchise community--was the theme for the British Franchise Association's (BFA) 2004 annual conference at the University of Warwick.(News special: the British Franchise Association)
September 1, 2004... AMONG THE MANY conference highlights were BFA president Sir Bernard Ingham's opening remarks and chairman Brian Lewis' conclusion, as well as the various workshops that covered standards in the country's franchising sector. Sir Bernard...

Franchisee of the year: Johanna Roughley takes a look at the successful brands whose franchisees have made it through to the final nominations shortlist for BFA Franchisee of the Year 2004.(Franchise Of The Yer)
September 1, 2004... FRANCHISEES FROM the British Franchise Association's (BFA) network of members have been battling it out to be named finalists in the 2004 BFA Franchisee of the Year Awards. This year's theme is 'Beating the competition' and franchisees had to...

Value and meaning: for the British Franchise Association, this year has been one of looking back at 27 years of achievements, as well as looking towards the future and to bigger things.(News special: the British Franchise Association)
September 1, 2004... PART OF THIS PROCESS was the BFA re-evaluating what it stood for and what it meant to its membership, the wider franchise community, the general public and other audiences like the media, government and business community. As a result of this...

Feel fabulous: the sheer number of opportunities in the health and beauty market means there is a franchise regime out there that will work for you.(health and beauty)
September 1, 2004... Most of us try to look after ourselves. Many of us love to pamper ourselves--some of us on a rather regular basis. Naturally this is just what you want to hear if you're interested in a feel-good franchise. To succeed with one of these...

Getting down to the nuts and bolts: a year on from Printing.com's Newcastle territory management buyout, Alex Dean talks to the team that's taken the store to a higher level and added 'bolt-on' franchise partners along the way.(Cover Story)
September 1, 2004... It's been 12 months since Printing.com enhanced its franchise offering from a simple store-based franchise model to its more sophisticated territory franchise format. Launched under the strapline 'start a store--build a territory', the concept...

Wanted: women: Britain has a wealth of untapped business talent and much of it is female. Carol Davis examines gender trends in franchising and the campaign to encourage more women to make their mark in the market.(women in franchising)
September 1, 2004... Traditionally, franchising has been dominated by men but all that is changing--slowly. The 2004 NatWest/British Franchise Association survey shows that women now make up 24 per cent of all franchisees, up from 22 per cent in 1992. And women...

Leading ladies: take it from these women: entering the franchise arena could be the best career decision you've ever made.(women in franchising)
September 1, 2004... Flowers Forever SHEILA BAIN Sheila Bain openly confesses to being fairly mad. As the Flowers Forever franchisee for Aberdeen since April, she also works full-time and brings up her two girls. 'It's busy but I love it,' she says. ...

Wise beyond years: today's youth is not best known for its compassion, but Carewatch's Bexley franchisees show how kindness coupled with youthful energy is a winning mix.(promotional feature)
September 1, 2004... Unlike most twenty-somethings, Paul and Priya Chawla-Lidbrury are already planning their retirement. While their peers are still wondering what career path to take and worrying about financial security, the Chawla-Lidbrurys are already nine...

The franchise show is back in town: Birmingham hosts the franchise industry's flagship exhibition.(The National Franchise Exhibition)
September 1, 2004... Taking place on 8 and 9 October at the NEC, Birmingham, incorporating the Growing Your Own Business Exhibition & Conference and coinciding with National Franchise Week, the National Franchise Exhibition will allow entrepreneurs to research the...

Growing your own business: exhibition and conference.(exhibition preview)
September 1, 2004... THE GROWING YOUR OWN BUSINESS EXHIBITION & CONFERENCE will run alongside the National Franchise Exhibition, profiling companies that offer advice and services to small business decision-makers looking to increase profits, raise turnover and...

Double kwik: Kwikjet's first surface-cleaning specialist franchisee is set to prove two businesses are better than one.(new launch)
September 1, 2004... One year into his franchising career, Paul Andrews has bought his second business. Even more impressive is the fact that he's running both by himself--his Tankwik sun bed operation in the evenings and now Kwikjet during the day. But what...

Go for broker: there's a lot of money and satisfaction to be had in the delicate world of business brokering, as Jenny Gray found out when she spoke to Sunbelt Business Advisors' new master franchisee, Stuart Montgomery.(new launch)
September 1, 2004... You could say Stuart Montgomery fell into franchising. And it's something he's stayed with ever since. After completing his MBA in Edinburgh, Montgomery's professor presented him to an ex-pat in Thailand who subsequently introduced him to his...

Home and dry: Chem-Dry's UK master franchises have joined forces to offer a more coherent approach and Mark Taylor, franchisee-turned-CEO, explains the benefits of his experience on both sides of the fence.(franchise focus)
September 1, 2004... Mark Taylor isn't someone who likes to take the usual route through life. While most people spend their university years in a haze of beer and parties, he spent two years working as a charity volunteer before getting married and studying for...

Young contenders: Michelle Witthaus talks to Cash Generator's new breed of investors and finds out how more young people are getting in on the franchising act.(franchise focus)
September 1, 2004... As a growing franchise network, used goods retailer Cash Generator has noticed a striking trend towards younger franchisees coming into the business. This is not a cheap franchise to enter: franchisees need about 45,000 [pounds sterling] of...

Calling all carpetologists: its trained professionals offer a high service standard, but you don't need an ology to run your own Cleaning Doctor franchise.(franchise focus)
September 1, 2004... The market for cleaning services has grown at a phenomenal rate in recent times. Any franchisee in the business of providing a competitive, comprehensive service is bound to be capitalising on this booming demand. But what makes Cleaning Doctor...

Must-have Minster: business franchise sent Dave Wilson to talk to Minster founder Alan Haigh about past successes and future plans for his cleaning management company.(franchise focus)
September 1, 2004... DW: At what stage in your career did you decide that you wanted to run your own business? AH: I always knew that I would end up working for myself one day. My real break came in the mid-seventies when I joined Tandy Corporation--just as...

Little people make big business: the Little Gym serves a demanding market but it keeps the children happy.(franchise focus)
September 1, 2004... Together with her husband Gautam, Mita Mitra has just become The Little Gym's second franchisee in the UK. 'Our daughter joined The Little Gym in Wandsworth this February and it was the positive experiences she gained from her visits that...

Your problems answered: they say the simple ideas are the best. So if you're looking for an easy-to-run franchise opportunity, Kendlebell might be the one to ring your bell.(franchise focus)
September 1, 2004... Kendlebell's telephone answering and virtual office service has had another good year. And so has its Milton Keynes franchise, run by husband-and-wife team Ethel and David Morris. Their fantastic progress over the last few years has inspired...

What's it worth? Mark Scott from NatWest looks at the emerging impact of the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme on franchise resale negotiations.(Hot topic: industry expert tackles a current issue in franchising)
September 1, 2004... The Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme (SFLGS) has certainly made an impact on franchising since 2003, when it was expanded to include retailing. Since this expansion the use of the scheme has dramatically increased, which in turn has meant the...

Time for the professionals? Public relations success is easier said than done. Gay Turner debates whether it's better to seek professional help or to go it alone.(franchise advice)
September 1, 2004... Public relations is often neglected and usually much misunderstood, yet it is the most cost-effective way to reach the maximum number of people in the shortest possible time. Many people make the mistake of thinking that it is easy and that...

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 advice on franchising in every issue.(franchise advice)
September 1, 2004... Q: I'm thinking of investing in a franchise that can be and, of course, What legalities do I need to consider before starting work from my home office? Penny Noble, Harrogate, North Yorkshire Anton Bates replies: A: I'm glad to...

Marketing plan: key to success.
September 1, 2004... When it comes to marketing your business effectively do you: want to communicate with more potential customers and convert more cold prospects but are not sure how to go about it? Feel your current marketing activity is unplanned because most...

Solid as a rock: there are simple but fundamental points to bear in mind when matching potential franchisees with existing franchisors. Richard Watson has advice for both parties searching for an enduring partnership.(franchise relationships)
September 1, 2004... As an eight-year old my treat was to drive through Wilford village, standing on the leather seat of grandfather's Armstrong-Siddeley Sapphire limousine, head out the sunroof and tongue out at the other children. Through town, to where the...

Protect yourself: there are many possible pitfalls in any new venture, but they can be avoided if you arm yourself with knowledge. Manzoor Ishani investigates franchise territory rights.(territory rights)
September 1, 2004... 'What is the point of paying thousands of pounds for a franchise if I don't get protection?' 'What exactly do you mean by "protection", Mr. Harbinger?' I asked, thinking that here was a new franchise concept with vigour--net to mention...

Need to know: Barrie Pennington sifts through stacks of information to gives you the latest developments that could make a difference to your business.(business bulletin)
September 1, 2004... PAPER COSTS MONEY Accountants could be costing small businesses hundreds because of an obsession with storing paper. Powergen believes that by throwing out filing cabinets and paper bills and by using e-invoicing, accountants could free-up...

Franchisee of the month: Geoff and Lee Eaton, Signs Express.(class act)
September 1, 2004... NAME: Geoff and Lee Eaton AGE: Geoff 57; Lee 31 OCCUPATION: Management franchisees with sign manufacturer FRANCHISE LOCATION: South Manchester HISTORY: Father-and-son team started Signs Express South Manchester in 1995. Geoff...

A taste of franchising.(bfa seminars)
September 1, 2004... Take a bite of the franchising pie with a British Franchise Association (BFA) taster seminar. A nationwide tour of Informative franchising seminars run as a joint project between the BFA and Business Link and continues this year. There are two...

Resale of the month: Chips.(Franchise Resales)
September 1, 2004... Chips, current holder of Best Independent Retailer of the Year, buys, sells and trades new and second-hand video games, consoles, DVDs and accessories. With 24 outlets currently operating across the UK from Edinburgh to the south coast, the...

Why buy a resale.(Franchise Resales)
September 1, 2004... 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...

Buying into resale success.(Franchise Resales)
September 1, 2004... 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...

A question of economics.(last word)
September 1, 2004... There are four factors of production--or so I remember from my long-gone school days. Economics was a new subject in the curriculum then. It was attended by the less academic pupils, presumably because it was surmised that a new subject would...