Business Franchise articles from September 2006

Business Franchise archives from September 2006

Service matches franchisees with companies.(NEED TO KNOW)
September 1, 2006... A NEW service designed to look after the interests of prospective franchisees is aiming to match individual's interests and skills with franchise opportunities only from approved companies. The Franchise Market is a free 'hand-holding'...

Firms urged to set up donation schemes.(NEED TO KNOW)
September 1, 2006... BUSINESSES ARE being encouraged to sign up to charity donation schemes that allow employees to make monthly contributions from their pay. According to a survey by KPMG, most businesses do not currently have such a 'payroll giving' system and...

Entrepreneurs starting with less cash.(NEED TO KNOW)
September 1, 2006... NEW ENTREPRENEURS are turning to their own savings to meet their financial challenges and starting their own businesses with less cash than in the past. According to a YouGov poll commissioned by Microsoft, more than half of new owner-managers...

Ideas into reality.(NEED TO KNOW)
September 1, 2006... A NEW project developed by the East of England Development Agency is aimed at people who have 'tinkered away for years in a garden shed creating a product which will change the world'. The Agency's proof of concept fund has 1 million [pounds...

Open all hours culture could kill local shops.(NEED TO KNOW)
September 1, 2006... WITH SOME of the country's biggest retailers pushing for deregulation of Sunday opening hours, the Forum of Private Business has warned that wholesale changes could be catastrophic for local shops. It believes that an open all hours policy...

Company law will put small businesses first.(BUSINESS NEWS)
September 1, 2006... THE COMPANY Law Reform Bill will simplify this complex area of legislation making it easier to understand, says the Department of Trade and Industry. Wide-ranging changes should bring about an estimated 250 million [pounds sterling] of savings,...

Working parents get more leave.(BUSINESS NEWS)
September 1, 2006... HAVING RECEIVED royal assent, the Work and Families Act allows working parents more maternity and paternity rights. Under the new law, mothers will receive nine months' statutory pay while fathers will benefit from extended paternity leave....

Inner city enterprise going wrong way.(BUSINESS NEWS)
September 1, 2006... GOVERNMENT EFFORTS to boost business activity in deprived inner city areas have largely failed, according to a new report. A study by the Centre for Cities says that initiatives have focused too heavily on depressed area of major cities like...

SMEs shy away from computers.(ON THE GRAPEVINE)
September 1, 2006... Small businesses are struggling to use even the most basic of recent technological advances such as the internet or emails, according to a joint study by the Open University and Lloyds TSB. The research identified that more than one in 10 do...

Thousands of business opportunities on one website.(ON THE GRAPEVINE)
September 1, 2006... There are more than 7,000 government contracts advertised on a new business portal set up to remove barriers faced by many small businesses when it comes to accessing public sector contracts. More than 10,000 suppliers have already registered...

Online faults stall shoppers.(ON THE GRAPEVINE)
September 1, 2006... Nearly all online consumers would rather take their business elsewhere than contact the web company to report a fault. Findings from Empirix indicates that 91 per cent of web-users give up on a site after three failed attempts and 99 per cent...

Lack of skills slows development.(ON THE GRAPEVINE)
September 1, 2006... A lack of IT skills among staff in SMEs is affecting growth, says a report from Cranfield University. In some cases it can be nine months before a newly purchased system goes live. Potentially useful systems such as Customer Relationship...

Esprit franchise plans gather momentum.(GLOBAL FASHION)
September 1, 2006... INTERNATIONAL LIFESTYLE brand Esprit has opened a new flagship franchise store as part of ambitious expansion plans for 2006/7. Situated in the highly acclaimed Met Quarter shopping centre in Liverpool, the new 4,300 sq ft store is trading...

Sumo goes wild to save badgers.(LOCATION, LOCATION)
September 1, 2006... Sub-surface detection company, Sumo, has undertaken an unusual job. Instead of locating underground services such as water mains, it has used its equipment to find the location of a badger set. The badgers had burrowed under a road in...

Ovenu's awareness warning.(THINK SMARTER)
September 1, 2006... OVEN-VALETING franchise, Ovenu, has warned franchisors that a lack of public awareness is hampering franchisee recruitment. A recent independent study commissioned by Ovenu revealed that almost a third of people questioned have little idea of...

Ink World gets shirty with NBAFC.(FOOTBALL COUP)
September 1, 2006... Nuneaton Borough AFC has just unveiled the name of its second shirt sponsor. With contracts drawn up and signed, Ink World is now the new rear shirt sponsor of the club alongside Stuart Plumbing, whose name appears on the front of the strip....

Threshers joins the bfa.(FRANCHISE NEWS)
September 1, 2006... THE THRESHER Group, which launched its franchise scheme to the public last month, has become a member of the British Franchise Association (bfa). The off-licence chain, which aims to franchise about 600 of its Thresher and The Local...

Myhome acquires Ovenclean.(FRANCHISE NEWS)
September 1, 2006... MYHOME International Plc has acquired Ovenclean Ltd. Myhome will now operate four premium residential services brands: Myhome Clean: Nicenstripy, Surface Doctor and Ovenclean. This group will nave more than 250 franchisees, with over 350...

Irish Franchise Awards 2006.(FRANCHISE NEWS)
September 1, 2006... NOMINATIONS ARE now open for the Irish Franchise Awards 2006. The awards categories are: Franchise of the Year; Franchisee of the Year; Best Emerging Franchise; and Franchise Person of the Year. Nominations are open until 29 September 2006...

The human side of enterprise: with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), charity work and sustainable development racing up the agenda for companies of all sizes these days, Business Franchise has decided over the next few months to take a closer look at the human side of franchising.(FRANCHISE NEWS: CHARITY REPORT)
September 1, 2006... EVER SINCE Brody Sweeney launched O'Briens Sandwich Bars as a franchise 12 years ago, he has ensured the business has had a strong heart by encouraging franchise partners to reach out to the local communities that have supported the company and...

New bfa members.(bfa NEWS)
September 1, 2006... THE bfa's membership continues to grow, with more new and existing franchisors seeing the benefit of bfa membership. For those considering franchising, bfa membership provides a degree of knowledge that the franchisor has been positively...

Franchise voice.(bfa NEWS)
September 1, 2006... FRANCHISEE REPRESENTATIVES of member organisations gathered together on June 14 for the bfa's Franchisee Forum and Joint Board meeting. The Forum has been running for two-and-a-half years, and meets twice a year and then twice jointly with...

Newsline reaches out to more than 20,000 potential franchises.(bfa NEWS)
September 1, 2006... THE bfa's franchisee newsletter--Newsline--has broken the 20,000-subscription barrier. The monthly email bulletin goes out to potential franchisees who have all actively opted-in to receiving the latest franchising news directly to their...

bfa Franchisee of the year awards 2006: 10 entrepreneurs battle it out for the top prize: ten franchisees from all over the UK are toasting their success after discovering they have reached the National Finals of this year's bfa Franchisee of the Year Awards, sponsored by HSBC and Express Newspapers.(bfa NEWS)
September 1, 2006... THE 10 Finalists, who include a 27-year-old ex pizza delivery boy, two husband-and-wife teams and a former paediatric nurse, will now attend the glittering black-tie Awards Dinner in Birmingham on Thursday October 5, the eve of the National...

Future perfect: the bfa's Annual Conference 2006 went 'Back to the Future', and proved to be an invaluable event for all concerned.(bfa NEWS: ANNUAL CONFERENCE)
September 1, 2006... THIS YEAR'S British Franchise Association Annual Conference was the biggest yet and took place on June 15 and 16 at a luxurious new venue--Heythrop Park Hotel in Chipping Norton. The conference, sponsored by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles,...

What's out there: Niche-Ly does it.(MARKET FOCUS)
September 1, 2006... Of the 600 or so franchises in the UK--around half of which are registered members of the British Franchise Association--most will fall into distinct categories, such as 'cleaning services' or 'furniture repair and restoration franchises'. And...

Star signs: leading signs and graphics franchise, Signs Express, has over 80 centres across the UK and Ireland. With a reputation for providing excellent service and quality products, the network continues to go from strength, with the majority of the group operating above budgeted levels and some reaching unprecedented levels.(Cover story)
September 1, 2006... LOOK INTO YOUR FUTURE BY READING OUR 'STAR SIGNS! From this success arise the shining stars of the network--franchisees who have seized the opportunity of running their own business to become excellent examples of what the Signs Express...

This woman's work: are more women signing up to the franchise game today? Or are there worrying statistics that suggest that more women need to be recruited? John Bensalhia speaks to six different female franchisees and franchisors to discover the whole picture.(BF WOMEN IN FRANCHISING)
September 1, 2006... Soul crooner James Brown once hollered that this is a man's world. Of course that was back in the halcyon days of the 1960s, when gender equality wasn't as established as much as it is today. Nowadays, in the rat race, women and men are on an...

Cream of the crepe: John Bensalhia discovers the masterplan for Crepe a Croissant's franchise, unlocking a tale of dynamic images, shopping malls and a very promising future.(NEW LAUNCH: CREPE A CROISSANT)
September 1, 2006... World domination. In the hands of a Bond-esque villain, it can cause much eye rolling, bwa-ha-ha-ing and feeding hapless lackeys to a horde of hungry piranha fish. Put world domination in the hands of a franchisor though, and you get a...

Dressed to thrill: the designer dress and the reasonable price do not necessarily go hand in hand, unless you pay a visit to women's fashion business Sequels, which is starting to allow franchisees the chance to help.(NEW LAUNCH: SEQUELS)
September 1, 2006... With my wedding taking place this month, some of the female guests have been concerned about the prices of their outfits. The word around the campfire is that some of the designer dresses are retailing for eyewatering four-figure sums, a...

Chauffeur, so good: if you want to ferry customers around in style, then a Maserati Chauffeur Drive franchise is for you, John Bensalhia gets in the driving seat to test drive this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.(NEW LAUNCH: MASERATI CHAUFFEUR DRIVE)
September 1, 2006... TV, double-glazing, fridge and air conditioning--the lap of luxury, but in an area that is just over two metres in length? What's going on here? Perhaps the world's smallest mansion has been built. Perhaps Doctor Who's gone upmarket with...

Care for a franchise? Build up a profitable business while giving something back to the community. John Bensalhia finds out about Caremark, a top domiciliary care market franchise.(FRANCHISE FOCUS: CAREMARK)
September 1, 2006... "Our mission is to achieve greatness in domiciliary care in the UK," says Kevin Lewis, founder of Caremark, and with the launch of its franchise this year, the business is set to be a top name in the industry. Kevin is totally dedicated to...

If you are not aware of the most successful franchise in design furniture don't blame us! Franchisee Jamie Kerner tells Alison Ledger why he is a strong believer in BoConcept, and that if you can't find what you're looking for--then don't blame them, as this unique furniture store has everything you could possibly need.(PROMOTIONAL FEATURE: BOCONCEPT)
September 1, 2006... Flicking through the latest glossy BoConcept catalogue with its vast collection of furniture options, you would undoubtedly be impressed. Even more so when you realise that the hefty 180-page brochure represents only a small portion of the...

Young dancing: a few days after the birth of her third child, Claire O'Connor is back to running her business, proving that babyballet truly is a flexible and fun franchise.(NEW LAUNCH: BABYBALLET)
September 1, 2006... Juggling a young family--the latest addition being only days old--while nationally launching the franchise model for your business is no easy task, but Claire O'Connor is only too happy to be back at work. She says: 'Teaching dance to children...

Smart operators: ChipsAway franchisees Anatol Poyer-Sleeman and Michelle Clark are motoring ahead with their business. Within two-and-a-half years of launching their franchise, the couple have acquired two further territories and vehicles and are busily planning their future expansion ...(FRANCHISE FOCUS: CHIPSAWAY)
September 1, 2006... Initially, former graphic designer Michelle Clark and ex police inspector Anatol Poyer-Sleeman discovered ChipsAway as customers. The company introduced SMART (Small and Medium Area Repair Technology) repairs to the UK more than 11 years ago....

Bank on it: since quitting his highly paid job as a business banking manager seven months ago, Martin Radford is already close to earning his previous salary after joining 80:20 Financial Management, and he's confident that the business will grow.(FRANCHISE FOCUS: 80:20 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT)
September 1, 2006... 'Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort,' said Franklin D. Roosevelt, and franchisee Martin Radford, 47, couldn't agree more. Martin explains: 'Although the money...

Romancing the stone: a chance meeting on a train led former barrister and mother-of-two, Diana Serle, to franchise her jewellery company, creating a unique business opportunity for other women too.(FRANCHISE FOCUS: SILVERDAZE)
September 1, 2006... It takes guts to quit your job and take a complete U-turn in your career in search of a better lifestyle: it could all go horribly wrong. However, franchisor Diana Serle took the plunge in 2000, and the excitement in her voice during this...

The professionals: 'security is a job for professionals,' says Chamberlains Security's founder director, Graham Venn. Business Franchise questions two franchisees to uncover the truth about life in the security sector.(FRANCHISE FOCUS: CHAMBERLAINS SECURITY)
September 1, 2006... In the early 1980s, crime was on the increase, police resources were stretched and the demand for private security services began to escalate, leading to the conception of Chamberlains Security. 22 years on, the need for such services has by no...

Sailing into franchising: standing on the pier at Hopeman in Scotland when he was 16, Andrew Orr was asked to be a deep-sea fisherman, and he truly loved his job until he discovered Card Connection.(FRANCHISE FOCUS: CARD CONNECTION)
September 1, 2006... 'When I was a deep-sea fisherman, and I was on the boats, all I thought about was fishing,' Andrew recalls. 'I loved it but it was incredibly hard work. We used to work nine-day shifts with just one-and-a-half days off before we headed out to...

Future perfect: Business Franchise meets tenacious Chemex franchisee John Heslop, a candidate for the bfa's Franchisee of the Year and a 'real franchising success story'.(FRANCHISE FOCUS: CHEMEX)
September 1, 2006... John Heslop, former mining engineer, is the face of the future for cleaning and hygiene specialist, Chemex International. Having been a franchisee for six years, John has built his business into a highly profitable multi-van operation and has...

The record breaker: dedication's what you need, according to the popular TV show, and that's never more apt in the world of franchising. SportsCoach franchisee Jonathan Mills reveals his secrets and also explains two of his own personal records ...(FRANCHISE FOCUS: SPORTSCOACH)
September 1, 2006... RECORDS HAVE tumbled since management consultant Jonathan Mills took his own advice on how to improve his work-life balance. He quit the corporate rat race and now runs the largest SportsCoach school in the UK. And he is the first...

Brum's the word: Birmingham prepares for the nation's largest franchising exhibition.(EXHIBITION PREVIEW)
September 1, 2006... THE NATIONAL Franchise Exhibition 2006 takes place on October 6 and 7 at Birmingham's NEC. As Britain's largest and leading franchise exhibition, it is designed to give visitors from all walks of life the prime opportunity to find out as much...

Industry wants girl power.(Women in Franchising)
September 1, 2006... The Women in Franchising Zone is a dedicated platform for promoting, encouraging and celebrating women's involvement in the UK's 10 billion [pounds sterling] franchise industry. The Women in Franchising Zone, supported by Rosemary Conley...

Future events.(EXHIBITION PREVIEW)
September 1, 2006... THE IRISH FRANCHISE EXHIBITION Incorporating the Growing Your Own Business Showcase & Conference RDS, Dublin, November 17& 16 2006 THE BRITISH FRANCHISE EXHIBITION Incorporating the Growing Your Own Business Exhibition &...

The exhibitor presentation theatre.(EXHIBITION PREVIEW)
September 1, 2006... Hearing the founder of a leading franchising company explain the idea behind the business can be fascinating. Plan to take a break to listen to one of the experts at the Exhibitor Presentation Theatre, a highly interactive and valuable element...

Move with the times: franchising could be the success story your life is waiting for, and the NFE the place to make it happen. Here are five examples of how it can work for you ...(The National Franchise Exhibition)
September 1, 2006... FROM FORCES TO FRANCHISE THE ASBESTOS GROUP Andy Grantham THE NATIONAL Franchise Exhibition was where The Asbestos Group first met one of its most successful franchisees, Andy Grantham. Andy spent numerous years in the forces specialising...

Presenting the nation's leading entrepreneurs: free advice seminars, leading entrepreneurs and a host of business experts will make the Growing Your Own Business Exhibition & Conference the ideal way to find out how to build your business.(GROWING YOUR OWN BUSINESS: exhibition & conference)
September 1, 2006... AS THE premier British event for small business owners, the Growing Your Own Business Exhibition and Conference, co-located with The National Franchise Exhibition, has all the expertise an entrepreneur needs to increase their business success....

Gym'll fix it: now then, now then, howzabout that then? A franchise tailor-made to appease female gym-goers in the shape of Contours Express. John Bensalhia speaks to Sue Arrowsmith to find out more.(FRANCHISE FOCUS: CONTOURS EXPRESS)
September 1, 2006... The heat is on. That was the theme for July 2006 without a shadow of a doubt. Those recent record-breaking, thermometer-busting temperatures were so hot, that just a 10-minute stroll in the sun was like walking around in a sweatbox. But as...

Property problems and solutions: Nicola Broadhurst take Business Franchise through the issues and implications associated with the lease ownership for premised-based franchises.(HOT TOPIC)
September 1, 2006... WHEN GRANTING a premised-based franchise, both franchisors and franchisees need to be aware of the issues and implications associated with the ownership of the lease. Often a landlord will not be willing to lease premises to an...

Location, location, location.(Q&A)
September 1, 2006... I am thinking of joining a retail franchise that either sells from a large shop premises, or a smaller scale kiosk. Financially, which of these two options makes more sense? Lenny Geiger, Cuddington Cathryn Hayes replies Both...

Success and failure.(Q&A)
September 1, 2006... I am putting a franchise together, but what sort of things should I include in the legal small print?. Thelma Baxter, Goring John Pratt replies The first point is that you should not view the franchise agreement as 'legal small...

Early advantage.(Q&A)
September 1, 2006... I am still at college, but am thinking of making previsions for one day becoming a franchisee. What sort of things will I need to prepare? Elliott Shale, Warwick Peter Williams replies In contemplating your entry to the franchise...

Excellence in franchising.(Q&A)
September 1, 2006... On what basis do you decide the winners of your awards ceremonies, for example, the Franchisee of the Year Awards? Huey Harper, Galway Brian Smart replies Our annual Franchisee Awards programme is run in conjunction with our...

Crisis? What crisis? Never one to shirk away from the oncoming storm of a crisis, Richard Watson advises franchisors how to face the battle head-on.(BF FRANCHISING AND THE PRESS)
September 1, 2006... There is a secret studio, close by the Palace of Westminster, where politicians are sent to hone their presentational skills. It is here that they are taught the three Ds--dissembling, double-dealing and duplicity. Mannerisms are changed....

Renewal letters: Manzoor Ishani addresses the issues regarding franchisees' renewal options and the conditions that surround them.(FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS)
September 1, 2006... The general practice on the expiry of a franchise agreement has been for a franchisor to grant its franchisee an option to renew the franchise for a further term. However, such options are usually subject to various conditions with which a...

Jo Jingles: through determination and careful business planning Emma Davis is turning around a franchise are that had been struggling and left under-developed.(FRANCHISE OF THE MONTH)
September 1, 2006... HAVING TAKEN her own children to Jo Jingles classes when she lived in Hertfordshire, Emma was already aware of the franchise opportunity and when she moved to Somerset in 2004 was keen to develop a new career for herself. She carefully...

Flying circus: Nigel Toplis took a flight to the US and suffered at the hands of an industry bereft of customer service. What went wrong and how could a franchisee have done better?(SPEAKER'S CORNER)
September 1, 2006... 'IT WAS a simple trip (or so I thought)... Plane at 06:15 out of Birmingham to Amsterdam: then the 10:10 from Amsterdam to Houston--easy! Arrived at Birmingham (raining). At check-in asked for an aisle seat for both legs (already...

Live and let live: as the glut of property-buying TV shows have demonstrated, letting is still a valuable alternative. John Bensalhia finds out how Belvoir is making a difference, both to its clients and to its franchisees.(FRANCHISE FOCUS: BELVOIR LETTINGS)
September 1, 2006... Emergency! House prices are rising, and if you're a first-time buyer eager to get on the property ladder, it's fast becoming hard enough to touch it, let alone get on the first rung. If you've watched one of those omnipresent TV programmes...

Recognition Express: the corporate recognition specialists that produce name badges, signs, plaques, corporate gifts, plus personalised promotional items.(RESALE OF THE MONTH)
September 1, 2006... FIRST IMPRESSIONS really do count. It s crucial that the image companies project s both positive and enduring. Every organisation needs to De instantly recognisable in today's highly competitive market place. Recognition Express has been...

A-Z franchise directory.(Directory)
September 1, 2006... Key Terms * Number of outlets Current number of franchise units in network * BFA member status Franchisor's level of BFA accreditation * Initial franchise fee Initial amount paid to franchisor ...

A no-mag existence: we sent Bill Ewbank on the trail of a couple of copies of business franchise to buy at a local station. Alas, the results weren't that forthcoming ...(FRANCHISE RESEARCH)
September 1, 2006... This magazine is dedicated to a god--the god in question is money. The whole ethos of the publication is that money is what we all want. And to be fair, that is what you would expect from the readership of a magazine named Business Franchise....