Come to where the grass is greener: with Countrywide Grounds Maintenance established as one of the major success stories of UK franchising, its founders plan to use the same formula to make sure its new offshoot, Countrywide Lawn Doctor, is every bit as fertile.(In focus)(National Franchise Exhibition)

As she wandered around the National Franchise Exhibition looking at potential franchises, the young woman hardly gave two stone-effect figures a second glance. But when one of the living statues suddenly moved, she jumped high in the air and crashed into the restaurant doors behind.

'Just remember where this happened to you,' murmured Countrywide's Peter Fielding, slipping a brochure into her hands as she reconvered from the shock. Another man scattered papers everywhere, and a crowd quickly gathered to watch. So Fielding gave them brochures too, telling them that was the price for watching.

"This is the best year we've had for a long time, and we've attracted massive interest,' says Fielding, marketing and business development manager at Countrywide Grounds Maintenance and its new baby, Countrywide Lawn Doctor. 'We considered asking the organisers, Venture Marketing, to close the doors because we couldn't cope.'

That attention-grabbing statue stunt--dreamed up by Countrywide managing director Simon Stott--is …